Will Fernando Gago replace Veljko Paunovic as Chivas head coach?

Sources close to Fernando Gago have denied that the Argentinian has spoken to Chivas Guadalajara about replacing Veljko Paunovic as head coach of the Liga MX club.

Insiders have told AS México that Chivas have not made contact with Gago, declaring that there’s “absolutely nothing” as things stand to rumours that the 37-year-old is poised to take over at Estadio Akron.

Paunovic to stay despite Apertura exit – Chivas sources

Last week, sources at Chivas assured this newspaper that Paunovic, who has been at the helm of Los Rojiblancos since October 2022, will stay on as boss for the Liga MX’s Clausura 2024 tournament.

In the Apertura 2023, whose final is to be contested by América and Tigres this week, Guadalajara were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Pumas.

The Clausura 2024 is due to get underway in early January.

Gago talks with Cruzeiro collapse after Racing Club exit

Gago, who is a former Real Madrid and Argentina midfielder, has been unattached since leaving Argentinian team Racing Club de Avellaneda in September.

In the wake of his Racing Club departure, he was linked with Boca Juniors and Vélez Sarsfield in his native country, before holding talks with Brazilians Cruzeiro.

Owned by ex-Brazil star Ronaldo Nazário, the Belo Horizonte club were keen to hire Gago, but negotiations fell through.

Gago’s coaching career so far: the lowdown

After retiring from playing in 2020, Gago began his coaching career in January the following year, when he took over at Argentinian club Aldosivi Mar del Plata.

In September 2021, he was appointed by 18-time Argentinian champions Racing Club.

In 109 games in charge at La Academia, he oversaw 53 wins, 28 draws and 28 defeats, and led the club to two domestic trophies: the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones and the 2022 Supercopa Internacional.