Mexican football mourns Manuel Lapuente, one of its most successful coaches, who died on October 25, 2025, at age 81. Known for his disciplined tactical style, Lapuente left a legacy with five Liga MX titles and the 1999 Confederations Cup win with the national team. His passing has prompted condolences from clubs, former players, and the Mexican Football Federation.
Manuel Lapuente Díaz, born on May 15, 1944, in Puebla, debuted as a professional footballer in 1964 with Rayados de Monterrey and also played for Necaxa, Puebla, and Atlas. He represented Mexico 13 times, winning gold at the 1967 Pan American Games. He retired in 1975 and began his coaching career in 1979, managing teams like Puebla, Necaxa, Tigres, América, Atlante, and Cruz Azul.
As a coach, he won five Liga MX titles: two with Puebla (1982-83 and 1989-90), two with Necaxa (1994-95 and 1995-96), and one with América (Verano 2002). His style, known as 'Lapuentismo', prioritized defensive solidity and efficiency over spectacle, inspiring iconic phrases like 'If you want spectacle, go to the circus'. He coached the Mexican national team in two stints (1990-1991 and 1997-2000), leading the Tri to the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup in France, the 1998 Gold Cup, and a historic 4-3 victory over Brazil in the 1999 Confederations Cup at Estadio Azteca.
Lapuente defended players like Cuauhtémoc Blanco, whom he described as 'a reference for Mexican football' and compared to Zinedine Zidane, highlighting his discipline despite initial criticisms. In 2020, he criticized former president AMLO for favoring baseball over football: 'The man doesn't like football, I don't know why. But he does like baseball... Because he doesn't like it, do we have to go to baseball?'. His death, whose cause has not been revealed, was confirmed by Liga MX and clubs on October 25, 2025.
Reactions flooded social media: the Mexican Football Federation called him a 'legend', Necaxa bid farewell to him as a 'pillar of Necaxismo', and figures like Carlos Reinoso and Raúl Orvañanos mourned the loss of a 'champion as a person and professional'. In 2023, he received a tribute from the FMF for his career.