LIGA MX
Siboldi and Mohamed, the only previous champions left in the 2023 Apertura
The two South Americans are the only ones who have won the title in the past. That experience gives them an advantage in the Liguilla.
The Apertura 2023 Liguilla line-up is now complete. Of the eight surviving teams, two of them have an advantage of sorts in that their coaches have already lifted the title in the past - so their experience for the knockout round of the tournament could be one of the deciding factors to tip the balance in their favor.
Robert Dante Siboldi is head of the current defending champions Tigres, but his first title was obtained with Santos Laguna in Clausura 2018.
El Turco, three-time champion
Antonio Turco Mohamed will attempt to end Pumas’ 12-year drought without a trophy and establish himself as a winner of the competition for the fourth time - after achieving the title with Tijuana in the Apertura 2012, América in the Apertura 2014 and Rayados in the Apertura 2019.
2023 Apertura quarter finalists: Liga MX titles per club
- 13 América
- 12 Chivas
- 8 León
- 8 Tigres
- 7 Pumas
- 5 Chivas
- 2 Puebla
- 0 Atlético San Luis
Paunovic, runner-up in the Clausura 2023
Of the other six coaches, only Chivas’ Veljko Paunovic has had the opportunity to play in a final - the last one, six months ago when his side lost to Tigres. Meanwhile André Jardine (América), Nicolás Larcamón (León), Gustavo Leal (Atlético San Luis) and Ricardo Carbajal (Puebla) are in search of their first trophy as coaches in Mexican soccer.