Fernando Ortiz, the head coach of Santos Laguna, finds himself amid tumultuous times following his two resignations within just four matches of the Liga MX Clausura 2025 season. Currently, Santos Laguna is at the bottom of the league table, having lost all four of their games, including the latest defeat against FC Juárez on January 31.
When Ortiz took over this year, he came with high hopes of revitalizing the struggling team. Unfortunately, the outcomes so far have been far from promising, prompting speculation about his future. Despite his dedication and effort, the lack of results and support has left Ortiz disheartened. He openly expressed doubts after two recent losses, indicating he might not be able to continue.
According to renowned journalist David Faitelson, on his show 'Faitelson Sin Censura', Ortiz has officially submitted his resignation twice since the season began. "En sólo cuatro fechas Fernando 'el Tano' Ortiz, ex entrenador de Rayados y del América, ha renunciado dos veces,” reported Faitelson, highlighting the precarious situation Ortiz is grappling with.
To intensify matters, Santos Laguna has not added any new players to strengthen the squad, leaving Ortiz with the same limitations he inherited. Yet his ambition to create a competitive team seems hindered. "El equipo suma 4 derrotas y los refuerzos que pretendía el entrenador no llegaron ni va a llegar,” Faitelson added, underscoring Ortiz’s frustrations.
Despite the negative start, Ortiz remains hopeful. After the loss against Juárez, he stated, "A nadie le gusta perder, llevamos cuatro derrotas consecutivas... esperamos poder darle la vuelta.” He believes there are positives to draw upon even during this rough patch, and he aims to turn the team's fortunes around.
“Me gusta la entrega de los jugadores,” Ortiz expressed, acknowledging the effort from his players even amid disappointment. He emphasized the need for strategic adjustments, remarking, "Ahora es un reto más grande. Es parte de esto. Necesito pensar, analizar y veremos qué pasa.” His focus now is on the upcoming must-win match against Puebla, stating, "El domingo jugamos ante Puebla, un partido que es trascendental, fundamental para nosotros.”
The upcoming clash against Puebla is deemed pivotal for Ortiz, as failure to secure points may solidify calls for his exit. Santos Laguna's management, led by Aleco Irarragorri, has been questioned about their support for Ortiz during this troubling time.
While Ortiz has voiced his commitment to Santos Laguna on multiple occasions, the mounting pressure from fans and the media about his future intensifies as the team continues to falter. Many fans believe he should walk away from the club to preserve his coaching prestige, as the challenges within Santos seem to stem from deep-rooted management issues and inadequate resources.
The negative repercussions of this struggle are palpable; Santos, once recognized as a strong contender within the league, now carries the burden of disappointment. They last found success during the Apertura 2022, when they qualified for the playoffs, but the steep decline since then has been alarming.
Fans are losing patience, with some urging Ortiz to step down, arguing he may have bitten off more than he can chew by taking on such a limited and struggling team. The hope now remains for Ortiz to find a way to rally his team against Puebla, which could be the turning point needed to restore faith with the supporters.
The situation for Fernando Ortiz and Santos Laguna continues to be delicate, and solutions must be found soon to avoid falling even farther behind both the competition and community expectations. The outcome of the clash against Puebla on February 4 could present Ortiz with either the opportunity to reclaim control or the ultimatum to finalize his resignation and step away from the club altogether.