José Pékerman

1.1. Club Career

Pékerman began his professional career in 1970 with Argentinos Juniors in Argentina. During his tenure until 1974, he played in 134 matches and scored 12 goals. In 1974, he transferred to Independiente Medellín in Colombia, where he continued to play until 1977. For Independiente Medellín, he appeared in 101 matches and scored 15 goals.

1.2. Injury and Retirement

His playing days came to an abrupt end at the age of 28 due to a serious knee injury. Following his early retirement from football, Pékerman took on various odd jobs to support himself and his family, including a period working as a taxi driver.

2.1. Youth Coaching

Upon returning to Argentina after his playing career, Pékerman began his coaching journey in youth football. He first worked as a youth coach for Chacarita Juniors, followed by a similar role with Argentinos Juniors. He then moved to Chile to coach the youth divisions of Colo-Colo.

In 1994, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) offered him the position of coach for the Argentina national under-17 and under-20 teams. This appointment surprised many, as his résumé did not include major achievements at that stage. He formed a coaching team with Hugo Tocalli and Eduardo Urtasun. Pékerman's success quickly silenced any critics: his Argentina U-20 team achieved remarkable feats, winning the FIFA World Youth Championship three times in 1995 (held in Qatar), 1997 (held in Malaysia), and 2001 (held in Argentina). He famously named his three pet dogs Qatar, Malaysia, and Argentina in honor of these victories. The team also secured two South American Youth Championship titles in 1997 and 1999.

After Daniel Passarella resigned as the senior Argentina national team coach following the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Pékerman was offered the position but declined, deeming it too soon. Instead, he assumed the role of general manager for all national teams. He recommended Marcelo Bielsa as the senior team coach, who remained in charge until after Argentina's gold medal performance at the 2004 Summer Olympics football tournament. In 2003, Pékerman briefly moved to Spain to serve as director of football for CD Leganés, a Spanish Second Division side, at the request of Argentine businessman Daniel Grinbank. However, the project quickly collapsed, and Pékerman left Spain after a few months. When Marcelo Bielsa resigned in 2004, Pékerman was again a strong candidate for the senior coaching job, alongside Carlos Bianchi, who opted for a sabbatical.

2.2. Argentina National Team

On 15 September 2004, Pékerman was officially named coach of the senior Argentina national football team. His first major competition with the team was the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Argentina reached the final but ultimately lost to Brazil by a score of 4-1.

Pékerman then led Argentina to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The team performed strongly in the group stage, dominating their first two matches and drawing with the Netherlands in the third, securing the top spot in their group on goal difference. In the Round of 16, the Albicelestes overcame Mexico with a 2-1 victory after extra time. In the quarter-finals, Argentina faced host nation Germany. Argentina took a 1-0 lead, but Germany equalized late in the match through a Miroslav Klose header. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout, which Germany won, eliminating Argentina from the tournament. Pékerman faced significant criticism for his substitutions during the match, particularly for replacing Juan Román Riquelme with Esteban Cambiasso and for not giving Lionel Messi an opportunity to play. Following the loss, Pékerman announced his resignation. Despite attempts by Argentine Football Association (AFA) President Julio Grondona to persuade him to stay, Pékerman's departure was confirmed, and Alfio Basile was appointed as his successor. The team's frustration after the elimination reportedly led to a large brawl, which was considered a contributing factor to his resignation.

2.3. Coaching in Mexico

Pékerman resumed his coaching career on 30 May 2007, taking over as head coach of Club Toluca in Mexico, succeeding fellow Argentine Américo Gallego. He remained with the club until the end of the Clausura 2008 tournament, after which he was replaced by José Manuel de la Torre.

On 23 February 2009, Pékerman was appointed head coach of UANL Tigres following the dismissal of Manuel Lapuente due to a series of poor results. However, his tenure was brief, as he was terminated after the Clausura 2009 tournament and replaced by Daniel Guzmán. In July 2010, there were reports of serious discussions between Pékerman and the Australia national team, as well as the Japan national team, regarding their vacant senior manager positions, but he ultimately did not take either role.

2.4. Colombia National Team

In January 2012, Pékerman was appointed the new coach of the Colombia national football team, replacing Leonel Álvarez. He was the third coach for Colombia during the South American World Cup qualifiers, following Álvarez and Hernán Darío Gómez. His first match, a friendly against Mexico, saw Colombia secure a comfortable 2-0 victory, impressing observers. In his first qualifying match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a struggling Colombia managed a 1-0 away win against Peru in Lima. However, Pékerman faced criticism for employing a long-range style of play instead of a close midfield passing control, which contributed to a 1-0 away loss to Ecuador, his first defeat as Colombia coach.

In his home debut, Pékerman orchestrated a dominant performance as Colombia defeated 2011 Copa América champions Uruguay 4-0 in the seventh round of World Cup qualifiers. Under his direction, Colombia also achieved a 3-1 away victory over Chile and a 2-0 home win against Paraguay in Barranquilla. Pékerman continued to experiment with his squad, resting key players like Radamel Falcao and James Rodríguez in a 3-0 home victory against Cameroon. The year 2012 concluded with a 1-1 draw against 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil, despite Colombia missing two of its star players.

In 2013, Pékerman again experimented, deploying only substitutes in a 4-1 friendly victory against Guatemala. In the qualifiers, Colombia comfortably defeated Bolivia 5-0 at home using a promising 4-2-2-2 formation. However, Pékerman's decision to switch to a 4-4-1-1 formation resulted in a surprising 1-0 away loss to neighboring Venezuela, drawing heavy criticism for his tactical experimentation. A hard-fought 0-0 draw against his home nation, Argentina, also led to questions about his lineup choices.

After Colombia qualified for the 2014 World Cup following a thrilling 3-3 home draw against Chile, Pékerman expressed immense joy, calling it "one of the greatest joys in his life" to help Colombia return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence. Following this achievement, President Juan Manuel Santos offered Pékerman Colombian citizenship, though he ultimately did not accept it.

At the 2014 World Cup, Colombia won all three of its group matches, scoring nine goals and conceding only two. They then defeated Uruguay in the Round of 16 before losing to host nation Brazil in the quarter-finals, marking Colombia's best-ever performance at a World Cup. In August 2014, Pékerman extended his contract with Colombia until 2018.

Pékerman successfully qualified Colombia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, marking the second consecutive World Cup qualification under his leadership. Colombia suffered a controversial defeat in their first group stage game against Japan, but rebounded with a decisive 3-0 victory over Poland, effectively eliminating them. A 1-0 win against Senegal in their final group match secured Colombia's progression to the Round of 16 as group winners. In a fiercely contested match, Colombia lost to England 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In September 2018, Pékerman decided not to renew his contract and departed from his position as Colombia manager after six years. He was succeeded by Carlos Queiroz.

2.5. Venezuela National Team

In November 2021, Pékerman was appointed head coach of the Venezuela national football team. His first match was a 4-1 victory against Bolivia on 28 January 2022. However, despite this initial success, Venezuela failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, finishing at the bottom of the South American qualifying group after suffering three consecutive losses in subsequent matches. On 8 March 2023, the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) announced that it had parted ways with Pékerman. While the FVF did not elaborate on the reasons for his dismissal, Pékerman reportedly resigned citing a breach of contract by the FVF, leading to a contentious end to his tenure.

3.1. Team Honours

• Argentina U20
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup (3): 1995, 1997, 2001
  • South American Youth Football Championship (2): 1997, 1999
  • South American Youth Championship runner-up (2): 1995, 2001
• Argentina
  • FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up (1): 2005
• Colombia
  • Copa América Third-place (1): 2016

3.2. Individual Awards

• South American Coach of the Year (3): 2012, 2013, 2014
• IFFHS Best National Coach of the Year Nominee: 2013 (5th place)

4.1. Coaching Philosophy

Pékerman's coaching philosophy often involved meticulous tactical planning and a willingness to make controversial player selections or lineup changes to suit his strategic vision for a particular match or opponent. He was known for experimenting heavily with his youth squads, fostering adaptability and a deep understanding of his tactical systems. During his tenure with the senior Argentina national team, he faced criticism for some of his decisions, such as omitting established defenders Javier Zanetti and Walter Samuel from the 2006 World Cup squad. His substitution of Juan Román Riquelme for Esteban Cambiasso in the 72nd minute of the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Germany also drew significant backlash, as it was perceived as a defensive move that contributed to Argentina's eventual elimination.

4.2. Evaluation and Impact

Despite the controversies and the dramatic loss in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals, Pékerman was widely hailed by many fans and the press as a highly effective coach. The period under his management for Argentina, often referred to as the "Pékerman Era," is regarded as one that brought a significant sense of pride to the country, particularly due to the attractive style of play and the development of young talents. His departure from the Argentina national team was also influenced by a large brawl that occurred among players after their elimination from the 2006 World Cup.

His impact on the Colombia national football team was transformative. He successfully ended their 16-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, leading them to their best-ever performance in 2014. His ability to integrate young, talented players like James Rodríguez into a cohesive and exciting team earned him widespread acclaim and solidified his legacy as a coach who could elevate national teams to new heights. His three consecutive South American Coach of the Year awards (2012-2014) further underscore his significant influence and success in the region.

5.1. Early Life and Background

José Néstor Pékerman Krimen was born on 3 September 1949, in Villa Domínguez, a town located in the Entre Ríos Province of Argentina. His grandparents were Ashkenazi Jews who had immigrated from Ukraine and settled in the agricultural colonies of Entre Ríos Province. Pékerman once mentioned that his grandfather, known for his outspoken nature, would jokingly claim that Hollywood actor Gregory Peck was his nephew.

Following Colombia's qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Pékerman expressed a desire to become a naturalized Colombian citizen. This request was granted by then-President Juan Manuel Santos; however, Pékerman ultimately did not accept the Colombian citizenship.

6.1. Coaching Career Statistics