PETALING JAYA: Benjamin Mora (pic) is back in the dugout three months after leaving Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.
The 43-year-old was announced as the new coach of Mexican top division club Atlas in the Liga MX.
He replaces Argentinian coach Diego Cocca, who left the team two weeks ago after they finished 17th out of 18 in the top division.
Mora will start his duties with the club in the second division, which will start in January 2023 onwards.
Liga MX is considered the strongest league in North America and one of the best among Latin American nations.
Some of the popular teams from the league that have graced the Club World Cup competitions are Chivas Guadalajara, Club America, Monterrey and Tigres UANL.
Atlas president Jose Riestra unveiled Mora in a press conference on Thursday, saying that they have the same ideals and principles in football.
“He is the ideal person today to lead this process, not only because of his football knowledge but also because we share the same goal, we share a very clear idea, which is to win,” said Riestra in a statement issued by the club.
“The team have always had that dream of transcending, of leaving a legacy, of breaking borders. We want to add people who think the same, who have the same values, who seek to transcend, and the only way in football is to work and deliver results.”
Mora is looking forward to his new job.
“Thank you very much for believing, trusting and supporting this wonderful project and the beginning of a new cycle full of enthusiasm and passion! I appreciate the transparency and credibility,” said the Mexican.
“It is a privilege to find myself at this club after so much time away. Coming back in this way represents a dream situation. At some point, I had it as a goal, and today it is a reality.
“My only and most honest intention is to come to work, to give my all, and commit myself to the project, the idea, the vision, the mission, and the objectives, which I am sure will be challenging.”
During his time in Malaysia, Mora won four Super League titles, four Charity Shields, and one Malaysia Cup and led JDT to the AFC Champions League knockout rounds this year, which makes him the club’s most successful coach.
He had taken charge of 148 games over two stints as JDT coach since 2017, winning 102.
