Manuel Lapuente, one of the necessary and finest coaches in Mexican Foootball historical past has handed away. A 5 time Liga MX winner with Membership Puebla, Necaxa and America, he grew to become Mexican Nationwide group Coach the place he received a Gold Cup and led Mexico to one in every of their finest ever performances in a World Cup in 1998. But a 12 months later he had the most important achievement when he coached Mexico to the 1999 Confederations Cup title, the most important title received by a senior Mexican Nationwide Staff.
Manuel Lapuente was born on Could 15, 1944 within the metropolis of Puebla. As a participant he would make his debut with Monterrey in 1964. In 1966 he would be a part of the group the place he would have most of his success as a participant and coach with Necaxa. In 1967, with Necaxa, he would have his greatest achievement as a participant the place he could be a part of the Mexican Nationwide group that may win gold for Mexico within the 1967 Pan American video games. This was Mexico’s first gold medal within the Pan American Video games, one thing the one received 3 times since then (1975, 1999, 2011). Lapuente would go on to hitch the group of his metropolis, Puebla in 1970. Lapuente made the Nationwide group that may participate within the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers held in Haiti. Whereas Lapuente would rating a aim within the match, Mexico would fail to qualify to the World Cup, lacking out on a World Cup for the primary time since 1938 and Lapuente misplaced his alternative to play in a World Cup. He would be a part of Atlas in 1974 earlier than retiring as a participant in 1975.
Manuel Lapuente began his membership profession in his hometown membership Puebla in 1978. He would final from 1978 all the best way to 1984. Throughout this time he would win Puebla’s first ever Liga MX title within the 1982-1983 season the place they defeated Chivas within the Last. After his spell there, he would transfer to Tigres the place he lasted there from 1984 to 1986. In 1986 he would return to Puebla however this time to the Angeles group. He would solely final a 12 months earlier than going to Atlante, the place he would coach only a 12 months. He would have a really brief spell teaching Cruz Azul earlier than returning to Puebla that very same 12 months. As soon as once more he would have an excellent spell in Puebla, the place he would win the one different league title by Puebla (which implies Lapuente received each of them) within the 1989-1990 season after defeating Universidad de Guadalajara within the closing. Lapuente would additionally win the Copa de Mexico and the one CONCACAF Champions Cup in Puebla’s historical past in 1991. Lapuente success in Puebla led him to turn out to be the coach of the Mexican Nationwide group however after a disastrous loss within the first ever Gold Cup in 1991 towards the US, he would resign.
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In 1994, Lapuente would return to teach in one other membership he performed, Necaxa. With Necaxa he would have his most profitable spell as a membership coach. He would lead Necaxa to their first Liga MX titles within the fashionable period when he received again to again titles within the 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 titles. He would additionally coach the group to the ultimate within the first ever brief season tournaments (which is what we at present have as a system in Liga MX) however they misplaced their probabilities to a 3 peat after dropping that closing towards Santos Laguna. Lapuente’s success led to a controversial motion by fan’s and homeowners that ended with Manuel Lapuente changing Bora Milutinovic as Nationwide group coach. Lapuente would coach the Nationwide group from 1997 to 2000. That spell is without doubt one of the finest if not the highest eras of the Nationwide group. Lapuente would win the 1998 Gold Cup, have an excellent efficiency within the 1999 World Cup and win the 1999 Confederations Cup in a spell that deserves a future recap.
After a controversial finish to his tenure within the Nationwide group (through which he resigned after qualifying Mexico the ultimate spherical of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers), Lapuente would coach in Atlante, the place though his group could be relegated, they’d win the playoff towards Veracruz and keep in first division though like with the Nationwide group, Lapuente would finish his tenure after that victory. Lapuente would turn out to be coach of Membership America in 2001 till 2003. Throughout this time he would win his closing Liga MX title within the Verano 2002, the primary title since 1990. He would transfer on from coach to the sporting director of the group, leaving his protege Mario Carrillo. Lapuente would return to teach the group in 2006 the place he would win his closing title in 2oo6. He would have a brief spell in Tigres 2008 earlier than returning to Membership America from 2010 to 2011 in his final necessary job. Lastly he would have a brief spell in 2013 along with his hometown membership, Puebla.
Manuel Lapuente was an historic coach in Mexican soccer. In my view he’s the most effective ever Mexican Nationwide group coach however whereas that’s an opinion, he had the most important achievement for the Senior Nationwide group with the 1999 Confederations Cup (the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal was an achievement of the U23 Nationwide Staff). Lapuente is a part of Mexican historical past and can also be a member of the Corridor of Fame. Fairly merely a legend. He will likely be missed and should he relaxation in peace.