\u201cYes, his contract is already signed,\u201d Davino told FOX Sports MX<\/a>. \u201cHis technical staff is practically at an 80% set. It will be Rafa\u2019s decision [who will be included in the technical staff], he will have to tell us what his idea is.<\/p>\n \u201cBut yes, he\u2019s already signed and he is considered towards 2030.\u201d<\/p>\n M\u00e1rquez has been working as Aguirre\u2019s assistant coach since the manager\u2019s return for a third stint in charge of El Tri in the summer of 2024. <\/p>\n Why Mexico Picked Rafa M\u00e1rquez As Next Manager M\u00e1rquez (right) spent two years as Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic manager. | Urbanandsport\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Davino only confirmed what many already knew. The plan for M\u00e1rquez to inherit the role from Aguirre has been the plan since the aftermath of the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica, when El Vasco took over as Mexico\u2019s manager from Jaime Lozano. <\/p>\n M\u00e1rquez began his preparation as a manager soon after hanging up his boots following the 2018 World Cup. The five-time World Cup captain returned to Barcelona to get his managerial education at the place where he spent the prime years of his career. <\/p>\n In 2022, M\u00e1rquez was appointed as Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic (Barcelona B) manager. He spent two seasons at Bar\u00e7a B and managed a number of the current crop of Barcelona<\/a>\u2019s La Masia talents, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubars\u00ed, Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez, Marc Bernal, Gerard Mart\u00edn and Marc Casad\u00f3.<\/p>\n In fact, M\u00e1rquez was one of main contenders to become Barcelona\u2019s manager after the departure of Xavi Hern\u00e1ndez. When Hansi Flick was appointed as Xavi\u2019s successor, M\u00e1rquez swiftly left Barcelona and accepted the offer to become Aguirre\u2019s assistant with El Tri, with the promise he would inherit the managerial role two years later after the 2026 World Cup. <\/p>\n With M\u00e1rquez confirmed as Aguirre\u2018s successor, reports suggest Mexico\u2019s most capped player of all time, Andr\u00e9s Guardado, will join his technical staff following the World Cup, alongside long-time El Tri goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, who\u2019s expected to become Mexico\u2019s next goalkeeper coach. <\/p>\n Rafael M\u00e1rquez\u2019s Legacy Speaks for Itself Rafael M\u00e1rquez won two Champions League titles with Barcelona. | IMAGO\/Uwe Kraft<\/p>\n \u201cEl Kaiser\u201d is considered alongside Real Madrid legend Hugo S\u00e1nchez as the two greatest Mexican players of all time. <\/p>\n The Atlas academy graduate migrated to Europe with AS Monaco, where he became Ligue 1 champion before spending the prime years of his career with Barcelona. There, he became the first Mexican player ever to win the Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n No Mexico international has captained El Tri in five separate World Cups apart from M\u00e1rquez, and his 148 caps are the fourth most all time in team history. <\/p>\n His legacy in Mexican soccer is written in golden letters and Davino has no doubt that he can enjoy the same level of success as a manager as he did during his illustrious career as a player. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known him since he was 15,\u201d\u00a0Davino said. \u201cRafa outside the pitch has one personality and as a player inside the pitch [he had a different one]. Well, now as an assistant and as a manager, he\u2019s like he was as a player.<\/p>\n \u201cHe transforms himself in the dressing room, on the training ground, on the pitch. Inside the pitch he transmits, he\u2019s contagious, and players obviously view him as Rafa M\u00e1rquez should be viewed.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"M\u00e1rquez](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kpsagr9gpx56tn79wp.jpg\" "\\"M\u00e1rquez")
<\/p>\n![\"Rafa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01j7za9xwdg0ygfpez4a.jpg\" "\\"Rafa")
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