Cruz Azul is encountering significant turbulence within its management structure following the abrupt departure of head coach Martín Anselmi. Just as the team gears up to face Puebla on January 25, 2025, the club has appointed Joel Huiqui and Vicente Sánchez as interim coaches, illuminating the chaos enveloping this storied Mexican football institution.
Anselmi, who had been at the helm, is now moving to Porto, where he is set to take on the head coach gig. His exit, though, is not without controversy as it raises questions of legality and professionalism. Club president Víctor Velázquez confirmed the negotiations between Cruz Azul and Porto but emphasized the importance of adhering to formal procedures. "We told Martín to wait, to be patient and prudent," he explained (reported by ESPN). Nonetheless, Anselmi opted to follow through with his plans, leading to the club's frustration and the initiation of potential legal action.
The managerial reshuffle came quickly as Cruz Azul sought to stabilize the team under rapid-fire decisions. Initially, the club had extended the opportunity of interim head coach to Vicente Sánchez, who currently manages the sub-23 squad. Sánchez initially rejected the offer, expressing his preference to remain with the youth team for the entirety of the season. This shift opened the door for Huiqui to step in. Yet, with persistent discussions and pressures from Velázquez, Sánchez eventually accepted the interim role, finding himself at the top of the first team just days before the upcoming match. With this, Sánchez noted, "I am convinced we can be successful together" (unspecified report).
The urgency of the situation was underscored by the immediate need for leadership, especially with the team already engaged in Liga MX competitions. Armed with experience, Sánchez is expected to navigate the early stages of his tenure by rallying the players and staff around clear objectives as they face pivotal matches against Necaxa and Tijuana right after their clash with Puebla.
To complicate matters for Cruz Azul, investigations are currently underway concerning Iván Alonso, the club's sports director, for potential negligence relating to Anselmi's contract transfer to Porto. Rumors suggest Alonso accepted lucrative offers to liberate Anselmi from his agreement with Cruz Azul, which contains significant financial penalties—a matter now under legal scrutiny. The fallout from this could have sizable repercussions for Alonso personally and for the club as it grapples with the consequences of these managerial missteps. Any decision stemming from these investigations could determine the direction of the club moving forward.
Despite these challenges, Velázquez was optimistic about the club's future under the short-term guidance of Sánchez. He has publicly praised Sánchez’s methodology and approach, indicating there’s more at play than merely patching up current issues. “We are assessing his potential beyond this interim phase,” stressed Velázquez during his visit to La Noria, where he sought collaboration from all coaching tiers within the club.
The newly appointed interim coaches now have the challenging task of buoying team morale and reinvigorate players, who may be unsettled by Anselmi's departure. Both Huiqui and Sánchez, on board for the time being, will undertake significant roles, with Sánchez leading directly and Huiqui focusing on aligning with junior strategies.
For the fans and the broader football community, this fascinating episode continues to draw attention. What happens next at Cruz Azul reveals much about the club's internal climate and challenges. Are they poised to rise from this turmoil, or will the managerial crisis deepen? The upcoming games will certainly put their strategies—and resilience—to the test.
For now, it's all hands on deck with the immediate need for unity and determination as wealthy club history faces what could be one of its more turbulent periods. With the stakes high and numerous factors at play, Cruz Azul's future may well hinge on the outcomes of the decisions being made today.