Aguirre to stay on as Atletico Madrid coach (SN)

Mexico's Javier Aguirre said Monday he turned down the possibility of coach his country's national side again to stay on as Atletico Madrid manager next season after leading the club to the Champions League qualifiers.

“We were able to jump to the Champions League and it is very exciting. My batteries are charged and I am eager to grow with this club,” he told a news conference.

He said the Mexican Football Federation invited him to talk about a possible coaching position but no concrete financial offer was made because he decided to stay on in Spain.

“Anyone would be excited to coach their country's team and the Mexican team currently has the best generation of footballers. Going back to my country to work was very attractive. It was not easy,” said Aguirre.

Aguirre coached the Mexican national team in 2001 and 2002 before joining Spanish side Osasuna.

He had up until now refused to say whether he would take up the automatic one-year extension clause in his contract triggered by steering Atletico to the Champions League qualifiers with their fourth-placed finish this year.

The club last played in the competition in the 1996-7 season.