Diego Mejía (footballer, born 1983)
|
Mejía in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Andrei Mejía Campo | ||
| Date of birth | 12 October 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Querétaro, Mexico | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Atlético Ottawa (head coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2005 | Celaya | 30 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Querétaro | 26 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | León | 19 | (1) |
| 2007–2016 | Dorados de Sinaloa | 86 | (12) |
| 2008 | → Tijuana (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Tiburones Rojos (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2009 | → Albinegros de Orizaba (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Atlante UTN (loan) | 16 | (4) |
| 2011 | → Toros Neza (loan) | 11 | (5) |
| 2012 | → Morelia (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | → Toros Neza (loan) | 23 | (7) |
| 2013–2014 | → Delfines (loan) | 26 | (5) |
| 2016–2018 | Morelia | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 282 | (37) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021–2023 | Juárez (assistant) | ||
| 2023–2024 | Juárez | ||
| 2025– | Atlético Ottawa | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Diego Andrei Mejía Campo (born 12 October 1983) is a Mexican football manager and former professional footballer who serves as head coach of Canadian club Atlético Ottawa.
Playing career
In 2003, Mejía began playing with Celaya in the Mexican second tier Primera División A.[1]
In 2005, he joined Querétaro.
In 2006, he joined in the Primera División de México.[2]
In 2007, he joined Dorados de Sinaloa, making only four appearances in his first season due to injuries.[3] Between 2008 and 2009, he had loan spells with Tijuana, Tiburones Rojos, and Albinegros de Orizaba, before returning to the Dorados squad.[3] From 2011 to 2014, he had loan spells with Atlante UTN, Toros Neza, Morelia, Toros Neza, and Delfines.
In June 2016, he signed with Morelia on a permanent transfer.[4] In 2018, he retired and ended his playing career.[5]
Managerial career
After retiring from playing, he went to Europe to earn his UEFA coaching license. Afterwards, he worked with Manchester City as a talent scout.[6]
In 2020, he joined Liga MX club Juárez in their Sports Intelligence department.[7] In 2021, he was named as an assistant coach.[8] In April 2023, he was promoted to manager and technical director for the remainder of the season, following the dismissal of Hernán Cristante.[9] In May 2023, it was confirmed that he would remain as manager for the following season.[10] In November 2023, Juarez announced he would continue in charge for another tournament.[11] At the end of January 2024, he was fired, following the club earning only one point in their first three matches of the season.[12]
In January 2025, Mejía was named the head coach of Canadian Premier League club Atlético Ottawa.[13][14]
References
- ^ Rosales, Jorge (June 23, 2023). "Diego Mejía, un técnico debutante en la Liga MX con Bravos de Juárez" [Diego Mejía, a debuting coach in Liga MX with Bravos de Juárez]. Medio Tiempo (in Spanish).
- ^ Bonilla, Aldo (November 10, 2023). "Entrenador de los Bravos de Juárez jugó en el Club León" [The coach of the Juárez Braves played for Club León]. Canacha Politica (in Spanish).
- ^ a b Villa, Emor (June 26, 2009). "Diego Mejía por la revancha" [Diego Mejia for Revenge]. Dorados de Sinaloa blog (in Spanish).
- ^ "Monarcas presenta nuevos rostros para el A2016" [Monarcas presents new faces for the 2016 season]. Récord (in Spanish). June 23, 2016.
- ^ "Atlético Ottawa's new head coach is Mexico's Diego Mejía". CBC News. January 15, 2025.
- ^ Alva, Violeta. "¿Quién es Diego Mejía, técnico de Juárez que tiene al equipo en los primeros puestos?" [Who is Diego Mejía, the Juárez coach who has the team in the top spots?]. La Afición (in Spanish).
- ^ Estrada, Alberto (January 31, 2024). "¿Quién es Diego Mejía, el primer DT cesado del Clausura 2024 de la Liga MX?" [Who is Diego Mejía, the first coach fired from Liga MX's Clausura 2024 season?]. Uno TV (in Spanish).
- ^ Moro, Omar (April 3, 2023). "¡Oficial! Los Bravos de Juárez presentan a su nuevo DT para el Clausura 2023" [Official! The Juárez Braves announce their new manager for the 2023 Clausura]. TV Azteca (in Spanish).
- ^ "FC Juárez apuesta por un técnico de casa y nombra a Diego Mejía como su nuevo 'jinete'" [FC Juárez opts for a homegrown manager and names Diego Mejía as its new manager]. Latin US (in Spanish). April 4, 2023.
- ^ Guzman, Sam (May 13, 2023). "Diego Mejía to continue as technical director for FC Juárez". KTSM-TV.
- ^ "FC Juárez: Diego Mejía continuará al frente de Bravos" [FC Juárez: Diego Mejía will continue to lead the Bravos]. ESPN (in Spanish). November 23, 2023.
- ^ Llano, Elihu (January 30, 2024). "Diego Mejía habría sido despedido de Juárez; ¡El primer caído del torneo!" [Diego Mejía has reportedly been dismissed from Juárez; the first to be dismissed in the tournament!]. Esto (in Spanish).
- ^ O-Connor-Clarke, Charlie (January 15, 2025). "Atlético Ottawa name Diego Mejía third head coach in club history: 'Very inspiring for me'". OneSoccer.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 15, 2025). "Atletico Ottawa Staff Unveiled: Mejia Leads Refreshed Coaching Line-Up". Northern Tribune.