Juan Carlos Osorio coached Mexico into the Round of 16 at Russia 2018. (FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Juan Carlos Osorio won’t be coaching the U.S. national team any time soon.

Osorio, the ormer Mexican national coach who has been linked to the red, white and blue, Osorio was named coach of the Paraguay national team, the Paraguayan Football Association announced Monday.

The one-time head coach of the Red Bulls and Chicago Fire will direct the South American side in its quest to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He also will guide the side through Copa America 2019.

Osorio most recently guided El Tri at the 2018 as the side reached the Round of 16 after besting 2014 world champion Germany in the Group Stage.

Mexico closed out the group stage with a defeat to Sweden. El Tri lost to Brazil in the Round of 16, which ensured the Mexicans’ seventh successive appearance in the competition without reaching the quarterfinals.

Osorio, who guided the Red Bulls to their only appearance in the MLS Cup final in 2008, ended his tenure with Mexico with the best winning percentage in team history (33-10-9, .634) and tied for fifth most wins in team history.

A native of Colombia, the 57-year-old Osorio also has coach Millonarios, Once Caldas and Atletico Nacional (Colombia), Puebla (Mexico) and Sao Paolo (Brazil). Besides the Red Bulls, Osoario has a strong New York connection, have played with the Brooklyn Italians for several years and was an assistant coach with the Staten Island Vipers (A-League).

Osorio had been mentioned as a possible coach of the U.S. team. The Americans still haven’t named a full-time coach since Bruce Arena resigned last November after they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia. Dave Sarachan has directed the team since late last year on an interim basis.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.