Manuel Lapuente (1944-2025) was probably the most essential Nationwide Crew coaches within the Nationwide groups historical past. With two tenures on the helm, his second tenure was probably the most profitable in all probability in historical past with the 1999 Confederations Cup win in addition to the win within the 1998 Gold Cup. As we have a good time the lifetime of the late Mexican coach, we glance again on the historic tenure from 1997-2000, the place Lapuente guided Mexico to a few of the most essential occasions in Mexican Soccer historical past.
In 1997 Mexico certified to the 1998 World Cup in a really turbulent method. After an excellent begin underneath Coach Bora Milutinovic, the group began taking part in lackluster for followers and stopped getting outcomes. Bora bought severely criticized by followers and gamers particularly after a few unhealthy losses in friendlies in opposition to England and Brazil. Though Mexico improved loads and bought a third place end in Copa America, the 2nd half of the hexagonal World Cup qualifiers have been key in what ended being Milutinovic’s undoing. Again to again ties in Estadio Azteca in opposition to the US and Costa Rica (when Mexico was anticipated to by no means drop factors at house) ended up with Milutinovic dropping his job even when he certified Mexico, who additionally led to first place in an indication of issues to come back (Mexico wouldn’t end once more in first place of qualification till 2018). One of many greatest critics of Bora was additionally the primary alternative of most to interchange him, Manuel Lapuente. Lapuente had guided Necaxa to again to again Liga MX titles with Necaxa and beforehand with Puebla. Lapuente additionally wished a rematch after he had coached Mexico in 1991 however resigned after Mexico misplaced the Semifinals of the Gold Cup to the US by a 2-0 rating. Thus to nobody’s shock, Lapuente can be the named Nationwide Crew coach in 1997.
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Lapuente’s tenure had a horrible begin when Mexico went to play within the 1997 Confederations Cup. Mexico had certified to the match because of profitable the 1996 Gold Cup however they might stumble badly as they misplaced their debut by a 3-1 rating in opposition to Australia. Whereas Mexico would bounce again with a stable 5-0 win in opposition to hosts Saudi Arabia, they might have a do or die match in opposition to Brazil. They’d lose the match by a 3-2 rating and exit within the Group Stage. Mexico would begin Lapuente’s second period with a failure.
Mexico’s subsequent goal was the 1998 Gold Cup, the identical match the place Lapuente had coached and failed. Mexico would begin with a convincing 4-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago after which defeated Honduras by a 2-0 rating to win their Group. Mexico would face off within the Semifinals in opposition to Jamaica, the place they wanted a golden purpose in further time to win by a 1-0 rating. Mexico would face the US within the closing in a match have been they might have the gang assist however wouldn’t be favorites as the US got here into the ultimate having eradicated Brazil. But within the closing, Mexico gave an excellent efficiency to win by a 1-0 rating and proclaim themselves champions of North America. Lapuente not solely had the revenge of profitable the cup however did so in opposition to the group that had eradicated him and prompted him to finish his first tenure.
Wining the 1998 Gold Cup in addition to the time-frame, all gave Lapuente the increase that he would take Mexico to the 1998 World Cup. But the way in which in the direction of the World Cup was rocky. Mexico began with a few unhealthy outcomes like dropping in opposition to the Netherlands 3-2 (who that they had been grouped with within the World Cup) and solely tying in opposition to Paraguay within the closing pleasant in Mexico, performed in Estadio Azteca. The massive failure although was South America tour the place Mexico misplaced all three matches. First it was a 3-1 loss in opposition to Boca Juniors, 2-1 in opposition to Chile’s U20 and the more severe being a 5-1 loss in opposition to Universidad Catolica de Chile. Lapunete was in a position to get the groups to launch the gamers early and so they traveled to Europe to carry coaching camp in Italy. The matches had loads off outcomes off all types, from optimistic (6-0 win in opposition to Estonia, 2-1 victory in opposition to Japan) to disastrous (5-2 loss in opposition to Norway, 4-1 loss in opposition to Wolfsburg).
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Right here’s a video of a preview carried out the place Mexico’s preparations have been questioned.
By the point the 1998 World Cup began, all people anticipated the more severe for Mexico and as soon as Mexico trailed 1-0 in opposition to South Korea, it appeared unhealthy however when purpose scorer Ha Seok-ju bought crimson carded, Mexico took benefit. An awesome 2nd half led Mexico to a 3-1 victory over South Korea. Of their subsequent match in opposition to Belgium it was Mexico who was dominating Belgium when a crimson card to Pavel Pardo ended hurting the group. Belgium climbed to a 2-0 lead however when Belgium had Gert Verheyen commit a PK that earned them a crimson card, Mexico as soon as once more took management of the match to get a 2-2 tie. Their closing match was in opposition to the Netherlands, a candidate for the World Cup title. They performed just like the favorites in path to a 2-0 lead however as soon as once more Mexico battled again to seize a final minute purpose that gave them the 2-2 tie and the ticket to the Spherical of 16 as 2nd place of Group E. Sadly for Mexico, Germany was subsequent and but Mexico battled again and even took the lead within the 2nd half however two late objectives ended Mexico match with a 2-1 loss. Nonetheless Mexico had an incredible efficiency within the World Cup, simply the perfect ever outdoors of Mexico at the moment and Lapuente had carried out an incredible job in participation that’s nonetheless acknowledged to this present day.
Mexico had a vital summer time in 1999, the place they might play within the Copa America and host the 1999 Confederations Cup. Mexico began the 12 months by taking part in the 1999 Carlsberg Cup, a pleasant match, by which they might defeat Hong Kong on Penalties to get to the ultimate. Within the closing, they might defeat Egypt by a 3-0 to wint the title. They’d then play within the US Cup, a pleasant match that was performed and which Mexico had received within the final two editions (1996,1997). Mexico began it by defeating Bolivia by a 2-1 rating to qualify to the ultimate. Within the closing, they wold defeat their major rivals, the US, by a 2-1 rating to win the match for a 3rd straight time. Mexico would play yet another cup earlier than the summer time, the Korea Cup however would finish in second place, behind winners Croatia.
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Mexico went to the 1999 Copa America in Paraguay. They began with a stable 1-0 victory over Chile, in the important thing group match. Mexico would fall by a 2-1 rating in opposition to group favorites Brazil after which defeat Venezuela by a 3-1 rating, in a match have been Cuauhtemoc Blanco bought crimson carded. Mexico can be rocked after that match by the doping suspensions in opposition to Raul Lara and Paulo Cesar Chavez. This plus lacking Blanco harm then within the Quarterfinals match in opposition to Peru, however a late purpose was in a position to tie the match at 3-3 and so they proceeded to win in PKs. Sadly for them, as soon as once more they confronted Brazil within the Semifinals, and they might exit with a 2-0 loss to the eventual champions. Mexico would bounce again to defeat Chile by a 2-1 rating within the third place match.
Mexico would host the 1999 Confederations Cup the place Lapuente and firm made historical past. They opened the match by crushing Saudi Arabia by a 5-1 rating. Sadly for Mexico, they led go of a 2-0 lead and ended up tying by a 2-2 rating in opposition to Egypt in a match the place the group bought a whole lot of criticism. Mexico was in a position to defeat Bolivia by a 1-0 rating in a match the place they barely improved nevertheless it was sufficient to win the group. Within the Semifinals they confronted off in opposition to the US in a really troublesome match. Mexico was in a position to battle and maintain on to further time the place a golden purpose by Blanco gave Mexico the 1-0 win. Within the closing, they confronted off in opposition to Brazil and gave top-of-the-line performances ever by a Nationwide group in path to a 4-3 win and the primary ever FIFA sanctioned worldwide title and the one one thus far in what’s the finest ever achievement for Mexican Nationwide Crew. Here’s a overview of Mexico’s match.
2000
Sadly for Manuel Lapuente, his final 12 months wasn’t the perfect efficiency. Mexico began by taking part in the Carlsberg Cup, the place they might defeat Japan within the Semifinals however lose the ultimate in opposition to the Czech Republic by a 2-1 rating. Mexico would then go to the Gold Cup with a combination group of A group gamers and the U23 group that was competing to qualify to the Olympic Video games. Mexico would battle and after defeating Trinidad and Tobago and getting a tie with Guatemala, Canada would eradicated them with a golden purpose within the Quarterfinal by a 2- 1 rating. Worse but for Lapuente was that Mexico wouldn’t qualify to the Olympic Video games after dropping the Semifinal to Honduras of the U23 CONCACAF Championship in Penalty Kicks. Whereas Lapuente wasn’t technically the coach (it was Gustavo Lopez), he can be the supervisor who arrange Lopez. Additionally simply as he had pressured to have Bora stepped down in 1997, now it was Lapuente who was being pressured by President Rafael Lebrija in addition to followers who all wished Toluca’s coach, Enrique Meza on the helm. This led to Lapuente not teaching the senior group within the US Cup (Hugo Sanchez would coach a Nationwide group made up of principally Pumas gamers to a third place end) and after struggling to qualify to the ultimate spherical of Mexican qualifiers, he would resign after defeating Panama (7-0) and reserving the ticket to that closing spherical. Enrique Meza would take over the group and coach the ultimate two matches of that World Cup qualifying spherical, the place in a 7-0 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, Cuauhtemoc Blanco would have an harm that will have him out for six months and Meza’s tenure would become one of many worse ever in Mexican Nationwide group historical past.
Manuel Lapuente’s tenure on the Mexican Nationwide group was historic. It had a few of the highlights of the Mexican Nationwide group and it was ok to have Mexico win their highest honor with the Confederations Cup. A Gold Cup title, an incredible World Cup participation, a third place end within the Copa America and the Confederations Cup title. It won’t be laborious that this was as near a golden age, led to an incredible supervisor that sadly left us this week. Nonetheless the Corridor of Fame work earned him sufficient reward to be a legend in Mexican historical past.