BELL GARDENS, Calif. -- Chivas USA executives are set to meet in Guadalajara soon to discuss the team’s head coaching position and, despite reports that Francisco Palencia will be the next man in charge, the club’s current director of soccer says a decision has not been made.
Rumors have Palencia replacing José Luis “Guero” Real (above), who took the helm in June but was noncommittal about his future in the final weeks of the season. At the time, Real said he enjoyed coaching in a new league but was unsure what would be his next duty within the organization.
Real has not been with the club the last few weeks during training sessions at the StubHub Center after leading the team to a 3-12-6 record after replacing José Luis “El Chelís” Sánchez Solá.
“At the moment, we are in a transition phase to see what is most important for the club,” Palencia told MLSsoccer.com. “It would not be ethical for me to comment on the coaching situation now given that we have ‘Guero’ as our coach.
“Sure, there are rumors, but they are just rumors until a decision is made. We’ll reunite in Guadalajara with ‘Guero,’ Dennis [te Kloese] and the owner, Mr. Jorge Vergara, and we’ll come to decision so the team here can have a plan.
The Rojiblancos have a final exhibition match scheduled for Friday in Arizona against FC Tucson, and Palencia expects a decision to be announced in the next few weeks.
“It won’t take much time,” added Palencia, who played with Chivas USA in 2005 and 2006.
