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Guardado Says Atlas 'Closed the Door' on Return, Pursues Coaching Path With Tri

He describes a blocked Atlas return, signaling preparation for a possible role with Mexico's national team.

Overview

  • Andrés Guardado said Atlas ownership shut him out after he declined a 2017 homecoming, a rift he credits for ending his career elsewhere and ultimately retiring with León.
  • He confirmed his retirement in August 2025 after briefly returning to play for León when James Rodríguez signed for a Club World Cup bid that the club did not attend.
  • Based in Seville, he has begun coaching studies and voiced interest in joining a future national-team project potentially led by Rafael Márquez, with no formal appointment announced.
  • Guardado disclosed that Javier Aguirre had offered him a 2026 World Cup staff role, which he declined at the time because he had not finalized his retirement.
  • In recent interviews he criticized professionalism standards in Mexican football, saying players often view team concentrations as punishment, and recounted feeling underappreciated upon his Liga MX return.