Guadalajara retains Ramirez as manager

As Chivas de Guadalajara players gather to begin preparations for the Apertura 2009 season, club officials announced Francisco "Paco" Ramirez will be around to guide them once more.

The club announced that Ramirez will stay on for the Apertura 2009 and Clausura 2010 seasons, despite having failed to lead Chivas to the Liguilla last season. Chivas needed a victory over Indios in its season finale to reach the postseason but Indios won 3-1 and went on to make a surprising run to the semifinals.

Chivas also saw its Copa Libertadores chances go up in flames when the Mexican Football Federation pulled all its teams out of South American competition.

For Ramirez, the chance represents many firsts. This will be his first full offseason as manager, and his first chance to run a club through an entire preseason.

Also, he will begin a season as manager for the first time -- Ramirez had never coached in the Primera Division before Chivas brought him in to manage the last four games of the Clausura '09 season. Ramirez defeated America in his first game, tied a pair before losing to Indios to close out the season. --Goal.com