Jorge Rodriguez (pictured) was named head coach of El Salvador on August 21, 2015. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Isidro Metapan head coach Jorge Rodriguez has been handed the managerial reins of El Salvador, the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol announced Friday.
He replaces Albert Rocha, who resigned on July 17 after the Cuscatlecos were eliminated from the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The appointment’s timing is critical as El Salvador will soon start preparing for next month’s two-game World Cup Qualifying, third-round series against Curacao (away, September 4; home, September 8).
“The truth is that I am honored to be here. First because there is a communication between Isidro Metapan and the Salvadoran Federation,” said Rodriguez at a press conference. “Metapan is playing its part in order to help me integrate and, as a Salvadoran, I have to give my bit in order to work and give something back to football what it has given us.”
Rodriguez, 44, is widely recognized as one of El Salvador’s finest-ever players. The defender/midfielder’s career spanned 20 years and included multiple titles at the club level, plus numerous appearances in World Cup Qualifying, the Central American Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In 2013, he was named head coach of Isidro Metapan, one of his former clubs as a player, leading it three domestic crowns (2013 Apertura, 2014 Clausura, 2014 Apertura).
Isidro Metapan (0W-0D-2L, 0 points) is in the midst of its eighth Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League appearance. It is unclear if Rodriguez will be in charge of the Jaguares’ next Group B game on September 17 against visiting Herediano.
