Enrique Meza Enriquez
Encyclopedia
Enrique Meza Enríquez is a long-standing Mexican
football coach
and technical manager. Prior to being coach, he was a professional footballer, playing as the goalkeeper for Cruz Azul, retiring in 1976. Popularly nicked-named "Ojitos" because of his sharp eyes, he was the substitute for Miguel "Superman" Marin
, the superstar Argentinean goalkeeper. His son Enrique Maximiliano Meza
is a rising coach in Mexico and globally.
, had a very offensive style of playing football - resulting in their scoring numerous goals. Interestingly, during that 1996, his Toros Neza team made it to the final, but lost to Chivas de Guadalajara by a high score.
Soon after losing the final, he announced that he was leaving to coach Club Toluca
. His coaching proved to be very successful and spectacular. Meza was what Toluca needed, and the club became champion on three occasions: Verano 1998, Verano 1999 and Verano 2000, in just two years. In 2000 Meza left Club Toluca to coach the Mexican National Team. The performance of the team was below expectations, and he resigned after only few months of accepting the appointment. In 2006 Meza took the coaching position at Club Pachuca.
After a very bad start, Meza slowly transformed the team, leading C.F. Pachuca to its first Copa Sudamericana championship. This made C.F. Pachuca the first Mexican team to win a CONMEBOL title. In 2007 Meza took C.F. Pachuca to their second CONCACAF title, which entitled the team to participate in the World Club Cup, and lead C.F. Pachuca to its fifth league title. On 29 August 2007, his team won its first Superliga
title, after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy
at the Home Depot Center. In April, 2008, Pachuca reclaimed the CONCACAF Champions Cup and secured a berth for the Japanese hosted 2008 FIFA Club World Cup
held in December 2008. Pachuca finished fourth after winning 1 match with 2 losses. Meza managed Pachuca to a second final in Clausura 2009
, but he lost his second final against Ricardo Ferretti
of Pumas UNAM (first loss against Guadalajara while coaching Toros Neza) by aggregate score 2-3.
On June 1, 2009 Meza finished his contract with Pachuca; and some members of the media linked Meza to Cruz Azul. Meza's results have made him one of the greatest coaches in the Mexican League, making him the fourth most successful coach in the league's history.
Cruz Azul's president, Guillermo Alvarez, Confirmed that Enrique Meza and Cruz Azul had reached an agreement - for what would be his fourth time as coach of Cruz Azul five years later. Enrique Meza returned to Cruz Azul with a new challenge and determination of giving Cruz Azul a title. Since the 1997 Mexican League Winter Tournament Cruz Azul have not won a title.
On July 28, 2010 he was selected as interim coach of the Mexican national team, after Javier Aguirre
left the position. He gained new, endearing wide appeal for his only game as interim coach on 11 August 2010 at Mexico's hallowed home of footbal - Azteca Stadium
- because he tactically got a 1-1 draw against the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship
and 2010 FIFA World Cup
winners Spain
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
football coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and technical manager. Prior to being coach, he was a professional footballer, playing as the goalkeeper for Cruz Azul, retiring in 1976. Popularly nicked-named "Ojitos" because of his sharp eyes, he was the substitute for Miguel "Superman" Marin
José Miguel Marín
José Miguel Marín Ocotto was an Argentine football goalkeeper.Marín began his career with Vélez Sarsfield. He joined Cruz Azul in 1971, making his league debut at Guadalajara on 26 December 1971...
, the superstar Argentinean goalkeeper. His son Enrique Maximiliano Meza
Enrique Maximiliano Meza
Enrique Meza Jr. is a football coach plus techniques and teamwork professional. He is the son of distinguished coach and manager Enrique Meza. Notably, Meza Jr. was the assistant coach of Cameroon during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the African continent.-Coaching and Managerial...
is a rising coach in Mexico and globally.
Coaching career
Notably, Meza has been the coach of several professional soccer teams in the Mexican premier league and the National football team of Mexico. His career has been full of great successes and big disappointments. Meza started his coaching career in the first division Mexican league by coaching Cruz Azul from 1982 to 1983 initially; and again from 1992 to 1995. He led Cruz Azul to the Mexican league final in 1994, but lost. The next year he moved to coach Monarcas Morelia. Crucially, it was not until 1996 that his coaching truly started showing its capturing potential. His new team, Toros NezaToros Neza
Neza FC, also known as Toros Neza is a Mexican football team that plays in the city of Nezahualcóyotl. The club returned for the 2011 Clausura Liga de Ascenso tournament, taking the place of Atlante UTN who had been purchased by Monarcas Morelia...
, had a very offensive style of playing football - resulting in their scoring numerous goals. Interestingly, during that 1996, his Toros Neza team made it to the final, but lost to Chivas de Guadalajara by a high score.
Soon after losing the final, he announced that he was leaving to coach Club Toluca
Club Toluca
Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club is a Mexican professional football club. Toluca's stadium Nemesio Diez Riega is located in Toluca, State of Mexico in Mexico. Toluca plays in the Primera División de México and has been champion ten times...
. His coaching proved to be very successful and spectacular. Meza was what Toluca needed, and the club became champion on three occasions: Verano 1998, Verano 1999 and Verano 2000, in just two years. In 2000 Meza left Club Toluca to coach the Mexican National Team. The performance of the team was below expectations, and he resigned after only few months of accepting the appointment. In 2006 Meza took the coaching position at Club Pachuca.
After a very bad start, Meza slowly transformed the team, leading C.F. Pachuca to its first Copa Sudamericana championship. This made C.F. Pachuca the first Mexican team to win a CONMEBOL title. In 2007 Meza took C.F. Pachuca to their second CONCACAF title, which entitled the team to participate in the World Club Cup, and lead C.F. Pachuca to its fifth league title. On 29 August 2007, his team won its first Superliga
North American SuperLiga
The SuperLiga was an official North American association football competition between teams from the Primera División of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each country. The competition was sanctioned by CONCACAF, U.S...
title, after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
at the Home Depot Center. In April, 2008, Pachuca reclaimed the CONCACAF Champions Cup and secured a berth for the Japanese hosted 2008 FIFA Club World Cup
2008 FIFA Club World Cup
-Play-off for Quarter-finals:-Quarter-finals:-----Semi-finals:-----Match for fifth place:-Match for third place:-Final:-Scorers:3 goals Wayne Rooney...
held in December 2008. Pachuca finished fourth after winning 1 match with 2 losses. Meza managed Pachuca to a second final in Clausura 2009
Primera División de México Clausura 2009
The 2009 Primera División Clausura was the second football tournament of the Mexican Primera División 2008−2009 season. The tournament began on January 16th, 2009 and ended on May 31st, 2009. Necaxa was relegated to the Primera División A after being in last place of the relegation table. On May...
, but he lost his second final against Ricardo Ferretti
Ricardo Ferretti
Ricardo Ferretti de Oliveira, commonly known as Tuca, is a football coach, who has coached Pumas UNAM, Chivas, UANL Tigres, Toluca, and Morelia He played with Atlas. He is nicknamed "El Tuca", and is known for his aggressive style on the bench.After retiring as a player, Ferretti started to work...
of Pumas UNAM (first loss against Guadalajara while coaching Toros Neza) by aggregate score 2-3.
On June 1, 2009 Meza finished his contract with Pachuca; and some members of the media linked Meza to Cruz Azul. Meza's results have made him one of the greatest coaches in the Mexican League, making him the fourth most successful coach in the league's history.
Cruz Azul's president, Guillermo Alvarez, Confirmed that Enrique Meza and Cruz Azul had reached an agreement - for what would be his fourth time as coach of Cruz Azul five years later. Enrique Meza returned to Cruz Azul with a new challenge and determination of giving Cruz Azul a title. Since the 1997 Mexican League Winter Tournament Cruz Azul have not won a title.
On July 28, 2010 he was selected as interim coach of the Mexican national team, after Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre Onaindía , popularly nicknamed El Vasco , is a Mexican football manager and former midfielder. He was also a member of the Mexico national team and later became manager in two different occasions, but resigned after the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
left the position. He gained new, endearing wide appeal for his only game as interim coach on 11 August 2010 at Mexico's hallowed home of footbal - Azteca Stadium
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
- because he tactically got a 1-1 draw against the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship
2008 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2008, was the 13th UEFA European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament contested by European nations. It took place in Austria and Switzerland from 7 to 29 June 2008...
and 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
winners Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
.
Titles
- League Championships:
- Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000 with Club TolucaTolucaToluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
- Clausura 2007 C.F. Pachuca
- Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000 with Club Toluca
- CONCACAF Champion' Cup:
- 2007
- 2008
- Copa SudamericanaCopa SudamericanaThe Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
:- 2006