Football is a cruel business. One day you’re the savior of a nation, and the next, you’re packing your bags at the San José airport while local reporters pick apart your every move.
Miguel "Piojo" Herrera knows this better than anyone.
When the Mexican strategist took over the Costa Rican national team in January 2025, the vibe was actually pretty optimistic. People thought his fiery personality and World Cup experience were exactly what La Sele needed to navigate the 2026 cycle. But man, things went south fast.
Honestly, the "Piojo Herrera Costa Rica" era will likely be remembered as one of the biggest "what ifs" in Central American football history—or maybe just a massive, expensive mistake, depending on who you ask in the streets of Heredia or Alajuela today.
The Appointment: Why Piojo Herrera and Costa Rica Felt Like a Match
It wasn't a random choice. Following the departure of Gustavo Alfaro to Paraguay, the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF) was desperate. They needed a big name. They needed someone who wouldn't be intimidated by the pressure of a 48-team World Cup qualification process where, ironically, the "big three" (USA, Mexico, and Canada) weren't even in the way.
Piojo was the guy.
He was presented officially on January 10, 2025. I remember the press conference; he looked sharp, talking about "making history" and taking Costa Rica to a "vistoso" (flashy) World Cup. The FCRF, led by Osael Maroto, bet the house on him. It was a historic move, too, since Herrera became the first Mexican to ever coach the Costa Rican senior national team.
The goal was simple: qualify for 2026. With the expanded format, it seemed like a slam dunk.
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The Wheels Fall Off: A Qualification Nightmare
If you look at the stats, they don't tell the whole story. Herrera managed 15 games. He actually won seven of them. That doesn't sound like a disaster on paper, right? But in international football, it's not about how many you win; it's about which ones you win.
The trouble started in the CONCACAF qualifiers.
Costa Rica was placed in Group C. On paper, they should have walked through it. Instead, they struggled to find the back of the net. They drew 1-1 against Nicaragua in Managua—a result that felt like a loss to the Tico fans. Then came the home game against Haiti. Costa Rica led, they had the control, and then... they choked. A 3-3 draw at home is basically a death sentence in these short tournament formats.
By the time they reached the final match against Honduras in November 2025, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
The math was brutal. They needed a win.
They got a 0-0 draw.
Just like that, for the first time since 2010, Costa Rica was out of the World Cup. Haiti took the automatic spot, and Honduras—despite the draw—left both teams crying on the pitch. It was a "fracaso rotundo," as the local papers put it. A total failure.
Why It Failed: Tactics, Ego, and the Press
You've gotta wonder why a guy who took Mexico to the Round of 16 in 2014 couldn't get a talented Costa Rican squad past Haiti.
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Part of it was the transition. Keylor Navas was at the end of an era. The squad was young. But mostly, it was the "Piojo" factor. Herrera’s style is high-energy, high-emotion. When it works, it’s infectious. When it doesn't, it looks like a lack of discipline.
The Costa Rican press is notoriously tough. They didn't give him a honeymoon period. Herrera lately complained that the local media "wasn't prepared" and treated him "like a criminal."
There was even an incident at a press conference—classic Piojo—where he snapped at a reporter. We’ve seen this movie before (remember Philadelphia 2015?), and it never ends well for the coach.
The Financial Sting
Ending the "Piojo Herrera Costa Rica" experiment wasn't cheap. While reports suggest his severance was less than the $500,000 paid to Luis Fernando Suárez previously, it was still a massive hit to a federation that just lost out on the millions of dollars in FIFA prize money that comes with a World Cup appearance.
What’s Next for Miguel Herrera?
On November 20, 2025, the FCRF made it official: Herrera was out.
Since then, it's been a bit of a media circus. Herrera returned to Mexico, admitting that this was the lowest point of his career. He even said it hurt more than getting relegated with Veracruz or Tecos back in the day.
As of January 2026, Piojo is currently without a team.
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Interestingly, he’s been linked to various TV networks. David Faitelson recently hinted that Herrera might join the "Los Maestros" analysis table for the 2026 World Cup coverage, potentially sitting alongside guys like Ricardo La Volpe and even José Mourinho.
He’s basically said, "Look, I have more offers to be on TV than on the bench right now."
But knowing him, he won't stay away from the sidelines for long. He’s a "field guy." He wants to be in the grass, yelling at refs and celebrating goals until his face turns that specific shade of Herrera-purple.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans and Analysts
If you're following the fallout of the Piojo Herrera era in Costa Rica, keep these points in mind for your next "football talk" at the bar:
- Watch the FCRF Restructuring: President Osael Maroto isn't just looking for a new coach; he's talking about a "ground-up" rebuild of the entire Costa Rican football ecosystem. Expect a European or South American "Director of Football" type to be hired soon to oversee youth divisions.
- The Caribbean Rise is Real: Don't sleep on Haiti or Curacao. Herrera's failure proved that the gap in CONCACAF is closing. Any team that assumes they’ll qualify just because of their "history" is going to get punched in the mouth.
- The "Coach Personality" Tax: When hiring a "big" personality like Herrera, federations need to weigh the PR risk. If you don't win immediately, the personality becomes a liability, not an asset.
The Costa Rican national team is now in a race against time to rebuild for the next Gold Cup. As for Piojo, he'll likely be talking about the game on your TV screen this summer instead of coaching in it.
If you want to stay updated on who Costa Rica picks to replace Herrera or where "Piojo" lands next, keep an eye on the official FCRF announcements and Mexican sports outlets like TUDN, as the rumor mill for the Liga MX Apertura 2026 is already starting to heat up.