Football coach abducted in Mexico

Kidnappers dragged Omar Romano from his car near his club

Mexican police are hunting for the coach of one of the country's biggest football clubs, who has been kidnapped.

Omar Romano, an Argentine national, was dragged from his car and bundled into another vehicle outside the training ground of his club, Cruz Azul.

Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his officials would do everything to ensure Mr Romano's safe return.

Mexico City has one of the worst records in the world for kidnappings - usually for ransom.

'Well-organised'

Police said they had few clues about who seized Mr Romano, 47.

Armed men in two 4x4 cars cut off his vehicle, fired an assault rifle and dragged him off, local media reports.

"Whoever did this kidnapping is a perfectly well-organised group," said police chief Joel Ortega.

He said no ransom demands had been received but local radio stations report the gang may have left a ransom note in a church asking for 5m pesos (£270,000).

Mr Romano, who has reversed first-division Cruz Azul's fortunes since taking over last December, is said to earn a monthly salary of up to $100,000 (£57,000).

Mexico has one of the highest number of kidnappings in the world, with some 3,000 reported cases in 2003.