André Jardine at Club América: From unprecedented glory to historic slump
The Brazilian coach became América’s most decorated manager, but early 2026 has brought unexpected struggles.
André Jardine’s tenure at Club América is already remembered as one of the most remarkable in the team’s history. Under his leadership, the club reached an era of dominance that once seemed unattainable. The Brazilian tactician cemented a historic hegemony, achieving the first three-peat in the short-tournament era, winning an official trophy roughly every three months. This rapid accumulation of silverware not only restored the team’s prestige but also made Jardine the most decorated coach in América’s history, surpassing legends like Raúl Cárdenas.
However, the cycle of triumph is now facing a significant crisis, with the team’s previous dominance giving way to deep uncertainties in early 2026.
The golden years
During his peak, Jardine built an enviable trophy case with six official titles in just two years. The cornerstone of his success was the Liga MX three-peat, covering Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, and Apertura 2024 - an unprecedented achievement under the current short-tournament format.
In addition to the league crowns, Jardine added the Campeón de Campeones, the Liga MX Super Cup, and the Campeones Cup to his resume. During this period, América became a resilient squad, capable of turning around difficult matches and securing crucial points even when trailing.
Trouble in paradise
But the darker side of Jardine’s era soon emerged with a “Penta-failure,” a stretch of five eliminations or defeats in key tournaments over just seven months. The first blow came in April 2025, when Cruz Azul knocked América out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, ending the team’s hopes of reaching the Club World Cup.
Only weeks later, the dream of a four-peat in Liga MX ended with a 2-0 aggregate loss to Antonio Mohamed’s Toluca in the Clausura 2025 final. Six days afterward, América was eliminated from international competition again, this time by LAFC in the Club World Cup playoff. The losing streak closed in July with another defeat to Toluca in the Campeón de Campeones final, along with a poor showing coaching the Liga MX All-Stars in the MLS All-Star Game.
Clásico struggles
This decline on the international stage was accompanied by a dramatic drop in the team’s performance in Clásico matchups. After starting with a perfect streak of seven consecutive wins against rivals Chivas, Cruz Azul, and Pumas, América has managed just three victories in the last 13 encounters.
The loss in the Clásico Nacional to Chivas on February 14 confirmed that opposing coaching staffs have cracked Jardine’s system. This trend signals that the strategic edge that once defined América under Jardine has diminished sharply.
A critical moment for the team
The team’s present situation has reached alarming levels, with the worst offensive start in years. Jardine became the first coach in América’s history to reach Matchday 6 of a short-tournament season having scored only three goals. This historic drought included a 270-minute span without a single goal against Tijuana, San Luis, and Pachuca at the start of Clausura 2026.
Between poor finishing from key players, ongoing muscle injuries, and evident fractures within the squad, the record-holding coach’s credit is running out. His future in Coapa now depends on a drastic turnaround in the remainder of the tournament.
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