Larcamón accepts double challenge at Cruz Azul: titles and style

Nicolás Larcamón was officially introduced as Cruz Azul's coach ahead of the 2025 Liga MX Apertura tournament. According to reports, he signed a two-year contract with an option to renew for a third.

This is the Argentine's fourth team since arriving in Mexico to coach Puebla in the 2021 Clausura, where he surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals. In the 2023 Clausura, he joined León and won the Concacaf Champions Cup, while in the 2025 Clausura, he signed with Necaxa and led them to their first direct Liguilla since 2019.

However, the 40-year-old South American is aware that Cruz Azul represents a much bigger challenge than his three previous Liga MX positions.

“Fully understanding that Cruz Azul's standards are much higher, and with that conviction that we're capable, I feel a very good synergy. We've been in the league for several years, and we know the components that are crucial to having a great semester, the rationale, and, above all, deserving to be that team that wins those titles.”

Cruz Azul president Víctor Velázquez attended Nicolás Larcamón's presentation along with his coaching staff: Javier Berges (assistant), Miguel Vásquez (video analyst), and Juan Cruz Mónaco (physical trainer). They will be joined by Joel Huiqui, who served as Vicente Sánchez's assistant last semester.

The new manager of the cement company emphasized his two main obligations: establishing a leading style of play and fighting for titles.

"In terms of objectives, it's not that the board told me, but rather an agreement on what this project is for, and it has to do with the intention of forging something from football expression, but it's in line with being that competitive team every day. Cruz Azul demands it.

“From a football perspective, we are clear, in keeping with my unique traits as a coach, about a line that Cruz Azul has pursued for several tournaments: to be a team that expresses something that greatly represents its history and fans, to be that dominant and leading team to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.”

La Máquina recently won the Concacaf Champions' Cup with Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez as coach. In Liga MX, they reached the semifinals and finished third in the standings. They also led the 2024-25 season in points, which earned them a $1 million prize.

However, various unofficial reports suggested that the board was looking for a coach with a more aggressive playing style, similar to the one Larcamón has used in less demanding rosters, especially in Puebla and Necaxa.

“The challenge is to achieve that version of the team that will be a milestone. We're truly committed to building something that will be remembered for many years to come, as happened with previous teams. It's a personal desire to begin today a stage that will be long remembered,” Larcamón emphasized.

In the second half of 2025, Cruz Azul will compete in the Leagues Cup in addition to Liga MX's Apertura tournament. In the first round, their opponents are the Seattle Sounders, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the Colorado Rapids, all looking to reach the quarterfinals.

In those two tournaments, Larcamón will try to win over the Sky Blue fans: “Today marks the beginning of the most important process of my career. I'm reaching a place where I truly hope for a long and, above all, a deep connection with our fans. I believe the best way to achieve that connection lies in what we express on the field, a game that, in addition to being a protagonist, includes commitment to excellent ball control, aggressiveness, cooperation, and humility combined with the ambition to be a dominant and hegemonic team.”

So far, Nicolás Larcamón's only career title is the 2023 Concacaf Champions League with León. The goal is to expand that list of achievements with Cruz Azul.