Luis Fernando Tena (right) speaks to the media after being named head coach of Cruz Azul on December 11, 2013. (Photo: Mexsport)
MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Cruz Azul announced Wednesday that Luis Fernando Tena will return for his fourth stint as head coach at the club, replacing Guillermo Vazquez, who was let go more than a week ago.
Tena, who guided the Mexico City-based side to its last domestic-league title in 1997, directed Mexico to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Earlier that year, he led the Tricolor to the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament title.
The Mexico City-based side has advanced to this season’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals with a perfect 4-0-0 record in the group stage, but was eliminated from the Mexican Apertura playoffs at the quarterfinal stage by Toluca, 4-1 on aggregate.
Most recently, Tena was in charge of Mexico for one game, a 2-0 loss at the United States in a World Cup qualifier on September 10, 2013. He was a short-term replacement for Jose Manuel de la Torre, who was relieved of his duties after a string of mediocre results.
The 55-year-old also won the 2000 Invierno with Morelia.
