Mexico winning the U-17 World Cup was no fluke, writes Tom Marshall. Over the past two decades, culminating in the 2005 U-17 World Cup title in Peru by beatingBrazil in the final, Mexican soccer came to its senses. A number of clubs started seriously investing in their youth systems, and it’s starting to pay.
The head-bandaged heroJulio Gomez is from the border state of Tamaulipas, but the man-of-the-tournament plays at Pachuca, where there is a soccer university. Dutch maestro Hans Westerhofhas recently been installed as director of youth development.
Striker Carlos Fierro has been brought up at all-Mexican Chivas de Guadalajara, where owner JorgeVergara regularly tells fans that new first-team “signings” will come from the youth system.
Captain Antonio Briseno came from Chivas crosstown rivalAtlas, which spawned Rafa Marquez, Pavel Pardo and Andres Guardado. Jorge Espericueta, the Silver Ball winner, is from Tigres, where DutchmanDennis te Kloese took over the youth program in 2008
You mean no trainers from England????