Joel Huiqui aiming for a historic record in the Liga MX Final with Cruz Azul

The Clausura 2026 already has Cruz Azul in the grand final, and much of the credit belongs to Joel Huiqui, who has become the second-fastest coach in Liga MX history to take a team into the title decider.

Since taking over the Cruz Azul bench in the final round of the regular season, Huiqui has not lost a game. The Mexican coach has overseen five games across the regular season and the Liguilla, keeping La Máquina’s championship dream alive.

Huiqui arrived after the unexpected departure of Nicolás Larcamón, a situation that forced Cruz Azul into an emergency change. But the former player responded immediately, turning the team into one of the most solid sides in the Liguilla.

In just five games, he is already in the final

While other coaches need full tournaments to reach a final, Joel Huiqui has reached the decisive stage after just five games in charge, something very few managers have achieved in Mexican soccer.

The story could still become even bigger. If Cruz Azul beat Pumas in the final, Huiqui would win the championship after only seven games as a coach – an astonishing figure for someone who made his top-flight coaching debut directly in Liga MX.

The fastest coaches to reach a Liga MX final

The coach who reached a final the fastest remains Argentine Alberto Jorge, who took charge of Toluca during the Liguilla after Wilson Graniolati’s departure and led the Red Devils to the final after only four games in charge.

Another notable case is Robert Dante Siboldi, who took over Tigres during the Clausura 2023 and needed just eight games to reach the final. The Uruguayan coach then lifted the championship after beating Chivas.

In recent history, Antonio Mohamed also stands out. He returned to Monterrey in the Apertura 2019 and quickly took the team to the final. The “Turco” needed nine games to reach the title series and 11 to become champion.

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