Cardozo replaces Almeyda as Chivas manager

Jose Cardozo is the new manager of Chivas, the club announced Tuesday.

Matias Almeyda took the club to the CONCACAF Champions League title this year and also won the league and two Copa MX titles during his tenure but announced his departure Monday with the club struggling financially and unable to strengthen the team as he hoped.

Carzodo will take over the club, which has 12 titles as is tied for most in Mexican history. It's the sixth stop in Mexico for the 47-year-old former Paraguay international.

While Cardozo is a familiar face for fans in Mexico, Chivas supporters may not receive him with open arms. Players have sent messages of support for Almeyda, and many fans are frustrated with owner Jorge Vergara's lack of investment as the club prepares for December's Club World Cup.

"I'm here to write my own story with Chivas. For me, glory doesn't have a price. That's why I'm coming here. I'm here to write my own story in Guadalajara," Cardozo said Tuesday at his introductory news conference. "Logically, the fans are annoyed with the way a winning coach who brought them titles is gone now. That's normal. But I think we're going to work with a lot of professionalism, a good relationship with the squad and I don't have any doubt we're going to play well."

Cardozo said he had nothing to do with the club's summer market moves, with Chivas bringing in Angel Sepulveda but letting attacker Rodolfo Pizarro, center back Oswaldo Alanis and goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota go. In addition to Almeyda's resignation, sporting director Francisco Gabriel de Anda also announced he is leaving the club.

Jose Luis Higuera, the CEO of Grupo Omnilife Chivas, said Tuesday at the news conference to announce Cardozo that the club is not for sale, nor is the ownership group looking for foreign investment.