A few months ago, Cruz Azul seemed to be seeing the end of one of its most important projects in recent years. With the departure of Nicolás Larcamón, the fans and the team lost all hope of competing, or at least that's what they thought. However, from the shadows, the Mexican Joel Huiqui arrived to say: "We're here".
What happened?
With time on his side, a demanding evaluation and a possible international competition, Joel Huiqui made it clear that the important thing is to work. The Mexican strategist made a champion of a Cruz Azul that, more than walking, "flew", besides leaving aside all the doubts about its continuity. As an interim, Huiqui not only reaffirmed his credentials as a coach, but he achieved something that other technicians dream of: conquering a title with La Máquina. In less than 10 games, the former player was consecrated as one of the few coaches who have been champions with the celestial team, besides heading a project that, without making much noise, advances with stability and security.
Why it matters for Club Necaxa?
After defeating Pumas at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Huiqui did it again and now conquered the Champion of Champions, defeating none other than the Toluca of Antonio 'Turco' Mohamed, one of the most successful coaches in Mexican football. With this new championship, Joel Huiqui already boasts two official titles as Cruz Azul's coach, a figure that even surpasses the one achieved by Ricardo Antonio La Volpe in Mexican football clubs (Atlante 92-93). The now strategist has achieved that mark in just a few weeks at the helm of the team.
What comes next?
In his first 10 appearances on the bench of La Máquina, Joel Huiqui has not known defeat, besides conquering two titles faster than any other coach in recent history of the club. His start begins to place him in the conversation alongside coaches who marked an era, such as André Jardine with Club América. Along with the Champion of Champions, Huiqui maintains Cruz Azul in second place in the Apertura 2026, with two victories in two games, projecting one of the most promising scenarios for the institution in recent years, something that was not seen since the title won in 2021 under Juan Reynoso's management. What began as an emergency interim has become one of the most captivating stories in Mexican football, with a coach who has responded with titles and an unbeaten record that keeps the celestial fans hopeful. Currently, Cruz Azul is in 8th place in the Liga MX with 3 points, 1 win and 0 losses in 1 game, with a +1 goal difference. They are also 3 points behind the leaders of the tournament, Club Tijuana.
