Monterrey soccer players won the title of Mexican champion after beating America in the two finals, and for their Argentinian coach Ricardo Antonio Mohamed Matijević (49), it was a special moment in his life.
Namely, the coach of Lebanese, Syrian and Croatian origin long ago promised his son Farid that one day he would win the championship on the bench of Monterey, whose boy was a big fan.
Unfortunately, during the world championship in Germany in 2006, then nine-year-old Farid died in a car accident, while Antonio Mohamed, or "El Turco" (the Turk), as he is called in Argentina, almost lost his leg.
He fulfilled his promise 13 years after the accident by winning the championship title after great drama. After both final games ended with a score of 2:1, Monterrey won the title with a better performance of penalties.
Mohamed, whose last name is Matijevic on his mother's side - of Croatian origin, could not contain his emotions after returning the trophy to Monterey and thus fulfilling his promise to his late son. While his assistants celebrated and jumped, "The Turk" burst into tears holding a rosary in his hands as a memory of his son.
"In a moment your life can change. From that moment on, my life changed. I'm trying to release that pain, transform it into positive energy," said Mohamed, revealing that after the accident he lives in constant episodes of depression and thoughts of withdrawal.
"We all have a history of pain behind us, but I have to enjoy my children, my life and look positively forward."
During his playing career, he played for Fiorentina for two years, and for a number of South American clubs. He made only four appearances for Argentina, but won the Copa America in 1991 in the "gauchos" jersey. He played for Monterrey for two years and then he promised his son that one day he would return to the "El Gigante de Acero" stadium.
He returned in 2015 and managed the club for three years, but failed to win the league title, although before that he was a champion on the bench of America and Tijuana. Last year, he briefly tried his hand in Europe, he managed Celta Vigo for six months, but was fired.
After a short trip to Celta and Huracan, he sat on the bench of Monterrey again this season. At the recent Club World Cup, Liverpool did well in the semi-finals. His team held 1:1 until stoppage time, and then Roberto Firmino scored for the victory of the "reds".
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