Antonio Mohamed gives the thumbs up sign after being presented as Club America's new head coach at a press conference on December 17, 2013. (Photo: Mexsport)

 

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Antonio Mohamed was introduced Tuesday as the new head coach of Club America.  He replaces Miguel Herrera, who will be Mexico’s full-time manager after guiding the Tricolor to a berth in the 2014 World Cup finals under pressure-filled conditions.

The Argentine possesses abundant experience in Mexican football, playing with seven different clubs and leading six others from the sideline.

“I am very happy to be here,” said Mohamed.  “I think it is a very important challenge that we have as a coaching staff.  We believe we are ready, we are eager and well.  We will only look for success working day to day.”

It was his tenure with Club Tijuana that Mohamed had his greatest achievement as a head coach, piloting the Baja California team to the 2012 Torneo Apertura title only six years after it was founded.

Earlier this year, he guided the Xolos to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores, where they fell to eventual champion Atletico Mineiro.

After that success, Mohamed returned to his native country to take charge of Huracan for a second time, but left within four months.

The 43-year-old will now oversee the fortunes of a team that captured the 2013 Liga MX Clausura crown, but was defeated in the 2013 Apertura final by Leon, 5-1 on aggregate. 

“It is not normal that a coach comes to a team that was a super leader, a champion and a runner-up,” Mohamed noted.  “Always, when a coach comes to a club it is because things went wrong.  Thus, it makes me very proud to have been appointed to this coaching group when things are going great.”

Ironically, Mohamed will make his Aguilas’ debut in a friendly against one of his former clubs -- Club Tijuana -- on December 28at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California.

Club America will compete in its second straight CONCACAF Champions League, qualifying for the 2014-15 edition by virtue of advancing to this season’s Apertura finale.