SportsSportsMexican soccer just got a new legend in the making. Joel Huiqui, a name once synonymous with a controversial play, has now rewritten his story as the interim head coach of Cruz Azul, leading the club on an improbable, undefeated charge straight to the Liga MX Clausura 2026 final. It's a turnaround that few saw coming, marking one of the most dramatic mid-season shifts in recent memory.
The seismic change at Cruz Azul occurred on April 22, 2026. The club made the difficult decision to part ways with Argentine head coach Nicolás Larcamón following a disheartening nine-match winless streak, which concluded with a 1-1 draw against Querétaro. Despite the team having already secured a playoff spot for the Clausura 2026 tournament, leadership, including Víctor Velázquez and sporting director Iván Alonso, cited a "results crisis" and "negative inertia" as reasons for the dismissal. They acknowledged the controversial timing but believed it was an "opportunity to intervene before the playoffs and try to change the trend, in order to safeguard the sporting project." Stepping into this high-pressure void was Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade, a 43-year-old former centre-back who had been coaching Cruz Azul's U-21 team.
Huiqui's impact was immediate and profound. Just four days after his appointment, on April 26, 2026, Cruz Azul, under his interim guidance, delivered a resounding 4-1 victory over Necaxa at Estadio Banorte. This win not only broke the team's lengthy winless streak but also signaled a dramatic shift in momentum. Since that debut, Huiqui has maintained an unblemished record, navigating Cruz Azul through five matches across the regular season and knockout rounds without a single loss. His strategic leadership saw them secure crucial victories against formidable opponents like Atlas and Guadalajara at Estadio Jalisco, ultimately propelling them into the Clausura 2026 final. This remarkable feat makes Huiqui the second-fastest coach in Liga MX history to lead a team to the title decider, achieving it in just five games. The record for the fastest remains with Alberto Jorge, who reached a final in four games with Toluca, while Robert Dante Siboldi also stands out, taking Tigres to the final in eight games and winning the championship in Clausura 2023.
Before his rapid rise as a coach, Huiqui was a familiar face on the Mexican soccer scene as a player. He emerged from Cruz Azul Hidalgo's youth academy, making his top-flight debut with Pachuca in 2003. He then spent six years with Cruz Azul's main squad until 2010, before moving on to play for Monarcas Morelia, Toros Neza, Cafetaleros de Tapachula, Potros UAEM, and eventually concluding his playing career with Las Vegas Lights. His playing days were not without their share of drama, most notably an incident dubbed "La Muertinha," a controversial handball during the Apertura 2009 semi-finals that became a memorable, if infamous, moment in his career. His coaching journey prior to this interim role included stints managing Cruz Azul's youth academy, leading Juárez in Mexico's fourth division, and serving as an assistant coach for Cruz Azul.
Huiqui’s unexpected ascension followed the departure of Nicolás Ricardo Larcamón, born in La Plata, Argentina, on August 11, 1984. Larcamón had taken the helm at Cruz Azul on June 16, 2025, succeeding Vicente Sánchez. During his introductory news conference, Larcamón, who had a track record managing clubs like Puebla, León (where he notably won the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League), Cruzeiro, and Necaxa, described the Cruz Azul role as "the biggest challenge" of his managerial journey. He expressed optimism about the club's direction, stating, "The demands are undoubtedly higher. But I believe the current environment at Cruz Azul is very favorable. The direction of the project, the ambitions of the club, and the footballing identity they've been building are all elements that attracted me here." However, his tenure was plagued by significant setbacks, including a devastating 7-0 defeat in the Leagues Cup against Seattle Sounders, an elimination in the 2025 Apertura semifinals by Tigres, and a loss in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup against Flamengo, ultimately leading to the "results crisis" cited by the club.
After the pivotal 4-1 victory over Necaxa that launched his unbeaten run, Huiqui lightened the mood with a self-referential quip, declaring, "La Liguilla no está muertinha," a playful nod to his infamous handball incident as a player. This moment of humor underscored the dramatic shift in atmosphere around the club. Reflecting on the initial decision to bring in Larcamón, the Argentine coach had spoken enthusiastically about the opportunity, noting, "The demands are undoubtedly higher. But I believe the current environment at Cruz Azul is very favorable. The direction of the project, the ambitions of the club, and the footballing identity they've been building are all elements that attracted me here."
However, when Larcamón was ultimately dismissed, the club's leadership emphasized their belief that the timing offered "an opportunity to intervene before the playoffs and try to change the trend, in order to safeguard the sporting project." More recently, as rumors surfaced about the influence of sporting director Iván Alonso on coaching decisions, Huiqui publicly clarified his position, stating firmly, "We work as a team, but I'm the one who makes the decisions."
This unexpected journey to the final has ignited the Cruz Azul fanbase, who are desperately hoping to see their club secure its tenth Liga MX title. The team has faced a championship drought since the Clausura 2021, and the current momentum under Huiqui offers a glimmer of hope for an end to that wait. The final itself adds another layer of intrigue, pitting Cruz Azul against classic rivals Pumas UNAM. This marks the third time these two storied clubs will clash for the coveted trophy, promising a high-stakes, emotional contest. Adding to the historical narrative, Cruz Azul once boasted an impressive 29-game unbeaten streak at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, which served as their former home.
The logistics for the final rounds were carefully considered to keep the passionate fanbase engaged. Although the club had relocated to Puebla in January 2026, the decision was made to play the final matches in Mexico City, avoiding travel and ensuring maximum fan presence. The first leg of the final is scheduled for Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on May 21, 2026, with the highly anticipated return leg at Ciudad Universitaria on May 24, 2026. Should Cruz Azul emerge victorious, Huiqui would achieve the remarkable feat of winning a championship after only seven games as a head coach, an extraordinary accomplishment for someone making their top-flight coaching debut. This would solidify his place not just as an interim solution, but as a pivotal figure in the club's history.
All eyes are now on the upcoming final, as Huiqui and Cruz Azul stand on the precipice of history. What began as a crisis intervention has blossomed into a fairytale run, with an interim coach potentially leading a storied club to long-awaited glory. The stakes are immense, and the culmination of this dramatic season promises to be a memorable chapter in Mexican soccer.