Rafa Marquez embraces the Mexico-USMNT rivalry, including his role as leading villain

U.S. soccer fans do not remember Mexico head coach Rafael Márquez for his stylish play on the ball. They don’t revere the Mexican national team legend for the stardom he earned as a central defender for Barcelona, either. Rivalries tend to be myopic. Fans remember the pain or joy that an international derby conjures.

When the U.S. and Mexico face off Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Márquez will be on the sideline in street clothes, coaching his third game in charge of Mexico and seeking his first win. And yet, American soccer die-hards will have a hard time forgetting the two violent red cards he earned against the USMNT in his 14 appearances against Mexico’s archrivals.

The infamous flying-kick-head-butt challenge on Cobi Jones during the 2002 World Cup round of 16 was followed by a kung-fu-like kick on Tim Howard in the frigid Columbus air in World Cup qualifying in 2009. Both red cards came in two of the most important U.S. wins in the history of the rivalry.

Márquez was a tone-setter for Mexico who routinely crossed the line. He did so in MLS as well during his notorious stint with the New York Red Bulls, inciting a post-whistle fracas during a playoff series by throwing the ball at U.S. foe and LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan.

On Friday, Mexico reporters didn’t remind Márquez of those incidents. Instead, his 89th-minute game-winning goal against the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier in 2016 — a mystique-busting goal that accelerated Jurgen Klinsmann’s downfall as U.S. coach — was mentioned as one of Márquez’s iconic moments as Mexico’s captain.

“We changed our history in Columbus that day,” Márquez said. “Before that it had always been losses.”

Asked if he understands why U.S. fans view him as a villain, Márquez, a five-time World Cup veteran, smiled.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Márquez, who scored twice against the U.S., his other goal coming at Saturday night’s venue in a 2014 friendly. “I’ve already forgotten about that.”

For as aggressive as he was as a player, Márquez is much more measured, and frankly, soft-spoken as a head coach. He admitted that he isn’t feeling any pressure to win his first rivalry game in charge. Tactically, Márquez said he hopes to see improvement in all aspects of the game come Saturday. Against Colombia on Sept. 26, a physical 1-1 draw, Mexico dominated the first half despite going into halftime down 1-0.

Mexico kept its cool, which might come as a surprise considering Márquez’s notoriously short fuse as a player. The Colombians sought to get under the skin of 17-year-old Gilberto Mora with late challenges and off-the-ball intimidation tactics, but Mexico stood firm. Mora would equalize in the 62nd minute.

The teenage phenom has been nursing an ankle injury that he picked up in training this week. On Friday Márquez calmed any fears that Mora would miss the game against the U.S. “He had some routine tests done. He had some slight discomfort, but he’s progressing really well, so he’s eligible for the next match.”

Márquez added that his players do not need a reminder about the importance of a game against the U.S.

“They are clear about (this game),” he said. “We know who we’re facing, so it doesn’t change the mentality we want to instill. Whoever the opponent is, we want to play at the same level, be very competitive, and try to win every game we can. That hasn’t happened yet, but that’s the goal: compete, get people to identify with the team, and hopefully the results come.

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Márquez, unlike U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino, did not downplay the Concacaf clásico. While Pochettino said that the game should be viewed in the same vein as a friendly against Peru, Márquez answered like someone who has had a starring role in the rivalry.

“We all know what it means to face the United States, so it’s going to be a very competitive game, just like against Colombia,” he said. “We’ve seen a very competitive U.S. team (under Pochettino) so it should serve what we’re looking to accomplish.”

There is some history between the two head coaches. The pair faced each other in the Catalan derby during their time in Spain, when Pochettino was a defender for Espanyol.

“I played against Rafa,” Pochettino said. “He was a tremendous player and now a coach who has all the ingredients to be a tremendous coach. He has the knowledge of the game. He only lacks the time to show all his quality. He’s had very good teachers, very good coaches.”

Márquez said the admiration was mutual and then revealed he had spent time with Pochettino during the Argentine’s time as Tottenham manager.

“I’ve known Mauricio a long time, since the days of Espanyol and Barcelona, and I visited him when he was at Spurs to talk with him,” Márquez said. “He’s a great coach who’s had a lot of opportunities at big clubs.

“As for the rivalry, I don’t think I need to say much. We all know what a game against the U.S. represents.”