Mexico manager Rafa Marquez already is a figure with plenty of clout amongst the El Tri faithful. But he has filled his coaching staff with a few other legendary figures, the Mexican federation announced Friday, Aug. 28.
Marquez will be assisted by Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lillo, the Spanish coach who served as a mentor to ex-Barcelona and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Also on the staff is Andres Guardado, the recently retired midfielder who has played more matches for the Mexico national team than any other player.
They are joined by analyst Vidal Paloma, goalkeeper coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Pol Lorente.
Why did Andres Guardado decide to be a Mexico national team assistant coach?
Guardado had been working as a youth coach at Real Betis, the club in southern Spain where he played before ending his career
with Club León in 2025.
While Guardado brings plenty of experience, having played in 180 matches for the Mexico national team over a 20-year playing career, he wanted to be sure he was ready to take on the challenge of working with El Tri.
“Obviously I know what I can bring to the table. I’d have to sit with them to ask what they really want from me, how they see me being able to support, and if we agree on what I can provide and that’s what they want? Let’s go," he told USA TODAY Sports before the 2026 World Cup. "But if they, maybe, want things that I don’t feel prepared to do? Maybe it wouldn’t be the best decision and I’d have to keep preparing here in Europe until I’m ready.”
Clearly, Marquez and the FMF felt Guardado was ready to take that step.
"New life, new challenge, new stage, new goals. Let's go!" he wrote on Instagram.
Who is Mexico assistant coach Juanma Lillo?
Lillo is a name that may be less familiar to Mexico fans, though he does have experience in the country. The Spain native coached Dorados de Sinaloa in 2005-06. It was there that a veteran defensive midfielder named Pep Guardiola concluded his career, moving to northwest Mexico to learn under the long-time coach.
When Guardiola lost Mikel Arteta from his Manchester City coaching staff, he eventually replaced the Arsenal manager with Lillo, who spent two years as an assistant and then returned from 2023-2025 after coaching Qatari squad Al-Sadd for a season.
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 28, 2026
Lillo began coaching at age 16, becoming the youngest manager to coach in La Liga when he debuted with UD Salamanca at 29. In addition to his time with Guardiola, he also has international experience, serving on Jorge Sampaoli's staff as the Argentine led Chile to the 2015 Copa América and 2016 Copa América Centenario.
Marquez and his new staff will make their debut on Sept. 26 in a friendly match against Colombia in Baltimore before facing Peru, the U.S. and Chile in the rest of the September-October international window.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico national team legend Guardado, Pep assistant Lillo join Rafa Marquez's El Tri coaching staff
