De la Torre to take charge of Mexico

Mexico's new manager Jose Manuel de la Torre is an unknown outside of his home country but during his five years as a coach has quickly gained an awesome reputation in Mexico.

Three league titles won in those five years shunted 44-year-old 'Chepo,' as he is commonly known, to the top of the Mexican Football Federation's list to take over from Javier Aguirre.

Known as a stern, attack-minded coach who will give short shrift to players that step out of line, Chepo had a distinguished playing career starting out at Guadalajara Chivas in 1984. In the 1986-7 season Chepo helped Chivas to the title. He also won titles with Puebla in 1989-90 and Nexaca in the Invierno 1998 tournament.

He was a regular for the national team but never played in a World Cup.

After he retired from playing in 1999, Chepo took up coaching positions helping managers such as Mario Carrillo, Leo Beenhakker and current America boss Manuel Lapuente.

Born in Guadalajara, it was Chivas that gave Chepo his first chance at managing. In just his second tournament in charge in 2006, Chivas won the league title, a feat he repeated with Toluca in the Apertura 2008 and again in the Bicentenario 2010.

Having only played one year outside Mexico for Real Oviedo in Spain, it's been argued that Chepo doesn't have the international experience required for the post of national team coach, especially during a time of crisis.

Chepo's brother, Nestor de la Torre, was director of the national team until he was forced to resign from the post earlier this month.

Chepo's first job when he officially takes over in January will be to finally put to bed the ongoing fallout from September's party after the game against Colombia in Monterrey.

Eleven players were fined and two (Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez) suspended for their role in the shindig, but all thirteen took offence at the very public nature of the investigation. All thirteen responded by refusing to play for the national team. The players then asked a public apology from Nestor before the recent friendly against Venezuela. When he refused, he was forced to resign.

Such examples of player power are rare in other countries. The Mexican press had a field day, one cartoon reading: "The party goes on!"

Finding the balance between appeasing the FMF and getting the players behind him will be difficult for Chepo. The hope is that it will be a smooth transition from successful club manager to international glory.

Chepo's first major tournament will be the Copa America 2011.