From Liga MX oblivion to Venezuela’s national team bench

Oswaldo Vizcarrondo’s time with Club América left little impact on the pitch, but today the former Venezuelan defender is back in the spotlight after being officially confirmed as head coach of the Venezuela national team.

The confirmation comes after La Vinotinto failed in its bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. With the focus now shifting toward the 2030 cycle, Vizcarrondo will lead a new phase aimed at laying solid foundations and restoring competitiveness to the South American side. The news contrasts sharply with América’s current situation, as the club is struggling at the start of the Clausura 2026 in Liga MX. Las Águilas remain winless in the opening rounds, a scenario that is already putting pressure on head coach André Jardine and his staff.

Vizcarrondo joined Club América in 2012 from Argentine football, arriving after a strong spell with Olimpo de Bahía Blanca. At Coapa, he was part of the project led by Ricardo Peláez and Miguel Herrera, who hoped he would help stabilize a defense coming off difficult seasons.

The Venezuelan defender made just over ten appearances in the Clausura 2012 and failed to cement himself or meet expectations. After only one season, the club decided to loan him out to Lanús, effectively closing a chapter often remembered as one of the early missteps of that management era.

Today, Vizcarrondo faces a very different reality on the sidelines. After serving as interim head coach of Venezuela, the federation chose to ratify him as the national team’s manager, trusting his leadership and understanding of the environment. His mission is clear: to build a competitive project capable of finally leading Venezuela to a World Cup qualification in 2030.

From being forgotten in Liga MX to carrying the highest responsibility with his national team, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo now takes on the biggest challenge of his career—this time from the bench, with an entire country watching his every move.