Report: Juan Carlos Osorio emerges as Chivas’ top coaching candidate after Gabriel Milito turns down offer

With the Apertura 2025 and the Leagues Cup fast approaching, Chivas remain in search of a new head coach following the departure of Gerardo Espinoza, who officially left the club on April 21. As the squad prepares to return from vacation on May 21 to begin preseason training, several names have surfaced as potential replacements — among them, Matías Almeyda, Jaime Lozano, Robert Dante Siboldi, Guillermo Almada, Domenec Torrent, Gabriel Milito, and most recently, Juan Carlos Osorio.

According to a report from TUDN, Argentine coach Gabriel Milito was initially leading the race to take over the bench at Chivas. However, financial disagreements reportedly derailed the negotiations — a situation similar to what happened with Spanish coach Domenec Torrent. As a result, the focus has now shifted toward Colombian strategist Juan Carlos Osorio, who is no stranger to Mexican football.

Osorio most recently managed Club Tijuana during the Clausura 2025 campaign. Although he managed to take the Xolos to the Play-In, the team ultimately finished in 13th place and failed to qualify for the Liguilla, leading to his dismissal at the end of the season. Despite mixed opinions surrounding his potential appointment, Osorio brings a deep résumé and a long-standing connection with Mexican football dating back more than a decade.

His first stint in Liga MX came in 2012 when he took charge of Puebla. That tenure was brief — just eleven matches from January to March — and ended with a modest record of two wins, two draws, and seven losses. Puebla finished 12th in that tournament with 19 points and missed the postseason.

Osorio then found success in South America, taking the reins at Atlético Nacional, where he oversaw an impressive 239 matches, marking the longest managerial spell of his career.

In May 2024, Osorio returned to Liga MX to take over Tijuana. Over the course of 34 games, he recorded 12 victories, six draws, and 16 defeats. His tenure included a Play-In appearance but ultimately fell short of expectations.

Of course, Osorio is best known to Mexican fans for his time as head coach of the national team. He led El Tri from 2015 to 2018, a period in which he managed 52 matches and posted a record of 33 wins, nine draws, and ten losses. His tenure had high points — including the famous 1–0 victory over Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia — but was also marked by painful defeats, such as the 7–0 loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

As Chivas looks to stabilize and contend in the upcoming Apertura, Osorio’s experience, familiarity with Mexican football, and tactical versatility may give him the edge to secure the position. However, the club’s leadership, led by Javier Mier, has yet to finalize a deal — continuing a month-long saga in Guadalajara’s search for a new man on the touchline.

Following his three-year tenure with the Mexican national team — during which he led El Tri in 52 matches — Juan Carlos Osorio took over as head coach of Paraguay. However, his time there was short-lived and largely uneventful: he managed just one official match over a five-month span.

The main reason behind his early exit? Osorio frequently hinted in public appearances that his true ambition was to coach Colombia, his home country. His perceived lack of commitment ultimately led to a premature end to his stint with La Albirroja.

Since then, Osorio has had a string of managerial roles across Latin America and beyond, including returns to Atlético Nacional and América de Cali, as well as brief spells with Zamalek in Egypt, Athletico Paranaense in Brazil, and most recently, Xolos de Tijuana. Yet, despite his extensive résumé, he has struggled to replicate the success he once enjoyed earlier in his career — falling short of expectations in each of those assignments.

The team is set to return to training on May 21 to begin preparations for the upcoming preseason. So far, the only confirmed roster change is the transfer of young defender Mateo Chávez to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Most of the current squad, which failed to qualify for the Clausura 2025 Liguilla, is expected to remain largely unchanged. Sources indicate that Richard Ledezma could be announced as a new signing in the coming hours, with an agreement already in place.

Chivas will kick off their Leagues Cup campaign on July 31 against the New York Red Bulls. The group stage will also see them face MLS sides Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati.