Is this the end for Efraín Juárez at Pumas?
After consecutive defeats, Pumas’ front office is reportedly considering the future of the Liga MX club’s head coach.
Pumas UNAM’s current form is anything but consistent. One week they look like a well-oiled machine; the next, their flaws are laid bare by opponents who exploit them with ease. This unpredictability has turned every matchday into a guessing game for fans, who never quite know which version of the team will show up. And after back-to-back defeats, alarm bells are ringing - with good reason.
The 3-1 loss to FC Juárez midweek was troubling, but the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Club América on Saturday, September 27, may have marked a turning point. That defeat in the Clásico Capitalino - especially after Pumas took an early lead - has intensified scrutiny on head coach Efraín Juárez and raised serious questions about the direction of the team.
Juárez on the hot seat
According to journalist Juan Carlos Zúñiga, the fallout from the América match - combined with Juárez’s behavior on the sidelines - has prompted Pumas’ leadership to reconsider his future. “Dr. Raúl González is evaluating Efraín Juárez’s continuity at Pumas,” Zúñiga reported. “Sporting director Eduardo Saracho already has two candidates lined up. Juárez’s attitude has upset the club’s top brass.”
While no official decision has been made, speculation is mounting. Juárez is expected to finish the Apertura 2025 campaign, but the numbers - and disciplinary record - are hard to ignore.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
— Juan Carlos Zúñiga (@JC_Zuniga) September 28, 2025
El Doctor Raúl González analiza la continuidad de Efraín Juárez en Pumas.
Eduardo Saracho ya tiene 2 candidatos en carpeta.
Las actitudes de Efraín, ya molestaron a la cúpula mayor de Pumas. pic.twitter.com/KixYN1DGqW
A questionable track record
Despite Juárez’s weekly insistence that he’s pleased with the team’s effort and that results don’t reflect the work being done, the stats tell a different story. In 28 matches since taking over in March, Juárez has led Pumas to 10 wins, 10 losses, and eight draws. That’s a win rate of just over 35%, with 42 goals scored and 44 conceded.
And then there’s the discipline. Pumas are currently the most penalized team in Liga MX, racking up 39 yellow cards and six reds so far this tournament. Juárez’s own coaching staff has been sent off four times - averaging one red card every 250 minutes. Juárez himself was ejected during the América match for arguing with the referee, and reports suggest he could face a suspension of two to three games.
What comes next for Pumas?
With Pumas sitting in 10th place and clinging to a playoff spot, the next few fixtures will be crucial. The team faces Guadalajara, Monterrey, Atlético San Luis, León, and Tijuana in October - a stretch that could determine not only their postseason fate but also Juárez’s future on the bench.
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