Mexico coach Javier Aguirre (Allsport).

By Reece Killworth, Sportinglife.com

Javier Aguirre will join the select band of men that have played and coached a World Cup team when he leads out Mexico in the Far East.

Aguirre was part of the Mexican team that reached the quarter-finals when his country hosted the tournament in 1986 - and now he will manage them in Japan and Korea after turning their fortunes around.

Aguirre was appointed as Enrique Meza's replacement last June after Mexico had fallen to six straight defeats in qualifying.

Aguirre immediately stamped his authority on the squad, switching to a 4-4-2 formation with the focus on tough-tackling hard-working players, particularly in the middle of the park.

Alberto Garcia Aspe returned to the squad and the Mexicans won four out of their five remaining games to reach the Finals by finishing second in the CONCACAF standings.

Despite a limited career as a coach, Aguirre has already gleaned a Mexican Championship winners' medal with Pachuca and was Miguel Baron's assistant at the 1994 World Cup.

He demands 100% from his players at all times and is happy to criticise them publicly if they do not reach the standards he sets for them.

But that is a rare occurence as Aguirre has the respect of his squad and has moulded a team that matches his desire for players who "are prepared to put their soul on the table for their country".