It is said one should never go back, loosely based on the principle it is never as good the second time around. Javier Aguirre has not only gone back but he firmly believes the relationship will be stronger than before and wants his people to dream big.

The head coach of the Mexican national team is in the latter stages of planning his country's assault on the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Aguirre has been this way before. He took Mexico to South Korea/Japan in 2002 where, after a strong start, his team stumbled, disappointingly, against the U.S. in the round of 16.

The Mexican Federation did not tarry in its decision. Losing to its northern neighbour was simply unacceptable and Aguirre was fired before he had a chance to do the honourable thing.

Aguirre's back

Eight years later, at the age of 51, Aguirre insists he has matured as a coach and leader. He is adamant the mistakes which cost him his job then will not be repeated. The errors of late have not been of his doing. The Federation hired then fired Sven-Goran Eriksson as the qualifying campaign ran off the rails.

Aguirre's return from Europe and back into the welcoming arms of a desperate nation was timed to perfection. He'd been coaching in Spain with some success while Mexico flirted with disaster an ocean away. He was the Federation's go-to guy just as he'd been en route to the Far East in 2002.

He inherited a mess when he accepted the position in the spring of 2009. Eriksson's success in Europe at club and national level simply did not export and Aguirre was left to pick up the pieces. Mexico was battling five other teams for three and a half spots in South Africa and the campaign was floundering.

Initially the signs were not encouraging. Aguirre's first match back in charge ended in a 2-1 loss to El Salvador leaving Mexico in crisis with three defeats out of four in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. Four days later his team ground out a 2-1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago and the die was cast.

Aguirre led his nation to five straight qualifying wins over the next four months. By the time the streak ended in a 2-2 draw in the final match against T&T, Mexico had already punched its ticket to the World Cup for the fifth successive cycle with a game to spare. Panic over.  

Youth movement

There is no question Aguirre's ability to coax 'Temo' Blanco out of international retirement was hugely significant. But the talk has shifted away from the 37-year-old veteran and onto the next generation. It is likely Mexico's final roster will be one of the youngest in South Africa.

Almost five years ago Mexico's rising stars blew away Brazil 3-0 to lift the U17 World Cup in Peru. The mainstays of that 2005 team are now coming of age and Aguirre will benefit from their presence. Giovanni dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Efrain Juarez and Adrian Aldrete could all make his 23-man squad.

"I probably have in my hands the best generation of young Mexicans ever," purred the coach in a recent interview.

Aguirre's job over the next two months is to decide which of them are ripe for picking. His ability to blend the newcomers with the old guard is crucial to his goal of reaching the quarter-finals.

According to Aguirre, there are "solid arguments to allow us to dream". Approaching his first anniversary back in charge of Mexico, the coach can reflect on a job well done. The Gold Cup is in the bag and the World Cup is looming. Turning the dream into reality is his next challenge.