Omar Pérez is ready to coach and dreams of returning to Santa Fe on the bench

Some players say goodbye to a jersey. Others stay tied to it forever. Omar Pérez belongs to the second group. Santa Fe's legendary number 10 is already thinking about the next step in his career, and this time it won't be with his boots on: he wants to coach, and deep down, he dreams of doing it from the Cardenal bench.

The Argentine spoke with Win Sports and didn't hold back. This isn't some idea he's floating out there. He already has his coaching certification in hand and says he feels ready to make that jump whenever the moment comes. For now, though, he'd rather not rush things.

Why the patience? Because Pérez is fully immersed in developing young soccer players, work that keeps him fulfilled and connected to the game from a different angle. Through his Liga del Dorado project, he gets the chance to showcase the kids he's helped train, something he values deeply at this stage of his life.

I know that down the road, my path is going to cross with theirs again. There's no doubt about that, and I've already prepared myself to be a coach. I already have my certification.Omar Pérez

Asked about his present, he was just as clear about how he's experiencing this transition between playing the game and directing it.

Right now I'm at peace, I'm content. This has been a really beautiful process, what we've built, what we had with the academy, being able to have that kind of development. With Liga del Dorado, I get the privilege of showing off the players we've trained.Omar Pérez

The Santa Fe itch

What stands out most from the interview isn't that Pérez wants to become a coach. That much was already known. What carries weight is the name that comes up when he talks about his first club: Santa Fe. The bond he built with the team during his playing days, marked by titles and a mutual affection with the fans, never faded after he hung up his boots.

Pérez hasn't settled on which team he'll debut with as a coach, and he won't commit to a timeline either. But when Santa Fe comes up, the answer comes almost without hesitation.

I'm going to be a coach. I don't know if it'll be at Santa Fe, but I hope so. I'm telling you, I have no doubt our paths will cross again.Omar Pérez

Nothing is written yet. Santa Fe has its sporting present sorted out with its own process underway, and Pérez remains focused on developing young talent. But the seed has been planted: the number 10 who defined an era at the club hasn't ruled out a return one day, this time with a folder under his arm, calling the shots from outside the lines.