Fernando Ortiz, who had previously played for Club Tigres, took over as CF Monterrey’s coach in May of this year, becoming someone who has been on both sides of the Clásico Regio. This year, he added a new chapter to the rivalry’s history by leading Monterrey to a 1-0 win in the Leagues Cup 2023 round of 16.
Ortiz arrived to replace the Mexican Víctor Manuel Vucetich. He had left his job as the coach for Club América, a team he led for three tournaments, after losing in the Clausura semifinal against Chivas de Guadalajara.
As a player he debuted in Boca Juniors in 1999 and alternated with clubs in Argentina and Mexico. It was not until July 2009 that he was on loan at Club Tigres, coming from Club América. He played 26 games until June 2010 when he returned to Las Águilas. He retired from Racing Club de Argentina in July 2014.
Born in Corral de Bustos, Argentina, he began his soccer coaching career in Paraguay where he managed Sol de América and Sportivo Luqueño. His move to Las Águilas, the team with the most Mexican league titles, took place in 2022.
He was first hired by Club América to lead the U20 squad, but in the middle of the Clausura of that year he became the interim manager of the first team Santiago Solari was fired for poor performance.
During his time with the first team, he had good regular seasons. He earned a one-year contract as the official manager after leading the club to a fourth place finish in the 2022 Clausura. With the interim tag off, his team finished atop the table in the 2022 Apertura. In the 2023 Clausura, he led the club to a second-place finish.
But his undoing was his inability to win in the playoffs. In each of those three seasons, his team fell in the semifinals: first against Club Pachuca, then against FC Toluca, and finally against Chivas de Guadalajara.
CF Monterrey is just the second Mexican team he has led and he seems to be exceeding expectations as evidenced by the club’s 1-0 win over their rivals. With his club in the quarterfinals, can he lead them to win the whole thing?
