LIGA MX
Juan Reynoso could be first to win a title for Cruz Azul as both a player and a coach
The Peruvian manager of the ‘Machine’ is 90 minutes away from ending Cruz Azul’s 24-year championship title drought.
Juan Reynoso was appointed as the manager of Cruz Azul for the 2021 Guardianes tournament and now he is one game away from ending the team’s 24-year championship title drought. The ‘Machine’ had the best defense and offense at the end of the 17 match days of the regular season and now they are close to culminating their efforts with the league title.
Juan Reynoso on the verge of making history
Reynoso could become the first to win a league title as both a player and a coach for Cruz Azul in the franchise's history. The former Peruvian international won the league title in 1997 with the team from the capital of Mexico and he could end the team’s drought this Sunday against Santos Laguna in the second-leg of the final.
Cruz Azul beat ‘Los Laguneros’ 1-0 in the first leg thanks to a goal from Luis Romo and now they will host the second-leg at the Azteca stadium. Other former players have tried to end this drought, but they have all failed. Joaquin Moreno, Robert Dante Siboldi and Benjamin Galindo played for the ‘Machine’ at some point in their careers, but all failed to win the title as a manager.
There are only five managers in the history of Mexican football who have won the title with the same team as a player and manager. José Manuel de la Torre did it with Chivas, Carlos Reinoso with Club América, José Guadalupe Cruz with Atlante and Hugo Sánchez and Ricardo Ferretti with Pumas.