NATAL, Brazil – Rafael Marquez was done.
The boos from fans on both sides of the border through 2011 into 2012 and 2013 told him as much. So did the constant criticism in two languages from the media. And so did his cell phone, which rarely rang anymore with invitations from the Mexican Football Federation even as El Tri teetered on the brink of not qualifying for the World Cup.
Marquez, Captain Mexico, the standout central defender at Barcelona for one of the game’s all-time greatest sides, was history.
History indeed.
While becoming the first player to captain a team to four World Cups, Marquez, 35, has guided a Mexico side, like himself written off only months ago, to one of the biggest surprises of tournament and the brink of reaching Brazil ’14’s second round.
“I’m here,” he said. “So nobody gave me this like a gift. I worked a lot to be here.”
And Marquez plans to stick around for a while. Knocking off Cameroon and then stunning pre-tournament favorite Brazil in a 0-0 draw earlier this week, Marquez and Mexico are convinced they can still be playing when the tournament carries into July.
“Our group is strong and in our minds we believe we can make it all the way to the final and make history,” Marquez said.
That Mexico is even here, let alone needing only a draw against Croatia on Monday to advance to the round of 16 for a sixth consecutive World Cup, is largely because of the stability Marquez has brought. The previously dysfunctional, underachieving side went through four head coaches in six weeks last year and has had six coaches in four years.
“Bringing Marquez has had a great impact on a team with a lot of young players,” current Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said. “He’s been the leader we’ve wanted, needed on the field. I think he’s been huge.”
“He’s crucial,” said Leon Krauze, a longtime Mexican soccer historian.
For parts of three decades, Marquez has been a larger-than-life presence over not only the Mexican game but CONCACAF and the U.S.-Mexico rivalry.
“He’s a footballing genius,” Krauze said. “Rafa Marquez is the best soccer player we’ve ever had. Hugo Sanchez (former Real Madrid striker) was a specialist, a fantastic specialist. Rafa Marquez is a fantastic leader. He’s won championships in every country he’s played in.”
Marquez was a key player in elevating the Mexico-U.S. rivalry to a level where the world had to take notice. While Marquez was frequently the best player on the pitch, he is best remembered in the rivalry for being sent off for head-butting Cobi Jones in a 2-0 U.S. 2002 World Cup second-round victory.
“I think he’s been good for the rivalry, U.S. and Mexico,” said Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, the former U.S. national team coach. “If it wasn’t for the Rafa Marquez, I don’t think we’d quite have some of the excitement we’ve had.”
Marquez won four La Liga titles and a pair of UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona. He was part of a Barca side that in 2009 won the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup championship.
A year later, he moved to the New York Red Bulls after the World Cup. Bothered by injury, Marquez struggled in Major League Soccer and was released in December 2012. His struggles continued with Leon in MX Liga. Booed by the fans, ripped in the media, many in Mexican soccer thought Marquez would retire.
Through it all Marquez never lost his hunger.
“I never want to stay content,” he said. “I always want more and more and more.”
He regained his health and then in 2013 led Leon to the first of back-to-back Mexican titles.
One of the first calls Herrera made after being hired to salvage Mexico’s World Cup hopes in a two-game playoff with New Zealand in late 2013 was to Marquez, who had been largely out of the national side in recent years.
Marquez’s influence has been unmistakable, especially in the Brazil shocker where a Mexican side that was quick to fold in World Cup qualifying never panicked in the face of a constant barrage from Neymar & Co.
“I think we’ve all been pretty surprised that he’s been back in the team to this extent, but they’ve been a better team with him,” said Landon Donovan, the former U.S. standout. “I think one of their big problems with their struggles was their lack of leadership. They didn’t have any guys on the field that in tough times you could really lean on. And so I think he’s brought that to them and it’s been very helpful to them.”
And now Marquez wants to lead Mexico into uncharted territory. El Tri has never advanced past the second round of a World Cup held outside of Mexico.
“This is a special window for all of us,” he said.
Contact the writer: sreid@ocregister.com
