Cruz Azul appoints Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti as new manager | OneFootball

Cruz Azul appointed Liga MX veteran Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti as the new head coach, replacing Raul ‘Potro’ Gutierrez after a string of negative results.

"It's an excellent opportunity to be able to coach one of the biggest teams in the country like Cruz Azul, one of the 'Big Four,' so it's a great feeling," said the manager when he arrived in Mexico City just hours before the announcement.

Gutierrez initially departed after the team’s 3-1 defeat to Toluca. He led Cruz Azul to 17th place on the Liga MX table with just one point, after managing four defeats and one draw to record their worst start to a campaign in 18 years. At the time, La Maquina stood as one of three teams without a victory in the 2023 Clausura, joining Queretaro and Mazatlan.

"The Board of Directors of the Cruz Azul Soccer Club informs that according to the results obtained in the last matches, the decision was made to dismiss the technical director Raul Erasto Gutierrez Jacobo," said the team when firing Gutierrez.

Potro Gutierrez initially joined Cruz Azul amid the 2022 Apertura as a temporary solution, following the firing of Diego Aguirre. He originally served as the club’s Under 20 coach, before being promoted on an interim basis as the club searched for a permanent replacement. But his results were enough to initially convince Cruz Azul owners.

Now, Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti will take over to salvage the rest of the 2023 Liga MX Clausura. He joins on a three-year contract, with Guillermo Vazquez Jr. and Joaquin Moreno as his assistants. Moreno served as interim manager for Cruz Azul after Gutierrez's firing.

Prior to joining Cruz Azul, Ferretti enjoyed stints with Liga MX sides Pumas, Chivas, Tigres, Toluca, Morelia and FC Juarez. The Brazilian led Chivas and Pumas to league titles, but his run with Tigres remains the most iconic.

The manager managed a stunning five year run with the Monterrey team, lifting five Liga MX trophies in the 2011 Apertura, 2015 Apertura, 2016 Apertura, 2017 Apertura and 2019 Clausura.