What Memo Ochoa teaches us about Mexican football

Some thoughts on Ochoa's first days in Italy

There’s something about Memo Ochoa that makes him different from the rest of Mexican goalkeepers that have ever played for El Tri — his tenacity.

I still remember how unjust that situation in 2010 was for him as Javier “Vasco” Aguirre” made the last-minute decision to give “Conejo” Pérez the starting role in the 2010 World Cup even though Ochoa had been the starter in the critical World Cup qualifying games leading up to South Africa. What did Ochoa do? He kept working.

Remember the clenbuterol case that prevented him from sealing a move to PSG? He kept working.

The easiest thing to do was for Ochoa to renew his contract with Club América or move to MLS. But he wanted to keep working to achieve a dream that doesn’t look so crazy right now: to play in a sixth World Cup and retire after the tournament is over.

His move to Salernitana is a declaration of intent. At 37-years-old and after many years of maintaining a strict work-out plan to stay in shape all these years, he said yes to a move to Serie A. Ochoa can officially say that he has participated in three of the top-5 leagues in Europe, not an easy feat.

The World Cup has become Ochoa’s tournament. It’s the moment when he goes viral, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed that since 2014, Ochoa has picked up four man of the match awards. Ochoa’s penalty save against Robert Lewandowski gave El Tri life until the last minute against Saudi Arabia. If that save doesn’t happen, El Tri would have been eliminated right after the final whistle against Argentina. Maybe “Piojo” Herrera isn’t a thing if Ochoa doesn’t make all those saves against Brazil in 2014…

It all goes back to his tenacity. He always says that he wants to face the best, and that’s why he’s back in Europe.

Time will tell if he will remain in Europe until 2026, but if that’s the case, let’s just celebrate an amazing career.

No Memo, No Party.