Manuel Lapuente, who coached the Mexican soccer team during the 1998 World Cup in France, died at the age of 81. He won five championships in the national league.
Mexico City, October 25 (However).- Manuel Lapuentealso known as “Manolo” Lapuente, former player and former technical director of the mexican soccer team in the 1998 World Cup in France, died at the age of 81, the journalist reported Raúl Orvañanos.
“A great friend and extraordinary footballer and coach has passed away. Manuel Lapuente. Rest easy, My Friend,” the commentator published in a post he shared through social networks.
So far, there is no information about the causes of his death.
Rest in peace Manuel Lapuente
A legend of Mexican soccer
pic.twitter.com/e5pWrOnDDs
— Raúl Orvañanos (@RaulOrvananos) October 25, 2025
Who was Manuel Lapuente?
Manuel Lapuente Díaz, full name of the former soccer player, was born on May 15, 1944 in the state of Puebla.
His career as a player began in 1964, when he debuted with the Monterrey team; However, it was not until 1970 when he reached his best level wearing the Puebla shirt.
“Manolo” also had the opportunity to represent Mexico as part of the national team, with which he managed to win a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, held in 1967.
It was in 1978 when he began his role as technical director, which he held until 2013.
Mourning in Mexican soccer. Manuel Lapuente died at the age of 81. As a coach he was champion with Puebla. Necaxa and America. He led the Mexican National Team in the 1998 World Cup and won the 1999 Confederations Cup. RIP
pic.twitter.com/yVTPiIe8qp
— AS México (@ASMexico) October 25, 2025
As a coach he was in charge of 12 teams in the Mexican league: Puebla (on three occasions), Tigres (on two occasions), Ángeles, Atlante (on two occasions), Cruz Azul, Necaxa and América (on two occasions).
Throughout his career as a technical director he managed to obtain five championships: Two with Puebla, two with Necaxa and one with América, which has maintained him to date as one of the winningest coaches in the history of Mexican soccer.
Lapuente also coached the Mexican soccer team between 1990 and 1991, and between 1997 and 200. It was during that second period that he led “Tri” to the 1998 World Cup.
With the national team he also won a couple of championships: the Gold Cup in 1998 and the Confederations Cup in 1999.
The LIGA BBVA MX mourns the death of Don Manuel Lapuente, a legend of our soccer as a player and technical director.
Champion, as a coach, of Puebla, Necaxa and America, his legacy will remain forever.
In all J15 matches, one minute of… pic.twitter.com/MJbi17cOEv
— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) October 25, 2025
Football regrets its departure
After the news about the death of Manuel Lapuente was announced, different Mexican soccer figures, as well as the Liga Mx teams and the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) itself, expressed their sadness at the departure of the former soccer player.
Through social networks, messages were spread lamenting the death of “Manolo”, who is recognized as a legend of Mexican soccer.
“The Mexican soccer family deeply regrets the death of one of the most important, endearing and influential players and coaches in our sport. Gift Manuel Lapuente He is and will be a football legend. rest in peace“, indicated the FMF.
“What a sad day… Today a dear friend, Manuel Lapuente, ‘Manolo’, died; he was a soccer savant, famous for his beret. My deepest condolences to his family. A great soccer player on the Puebla team, as a coach, he made it champion on two occasions. He directed the Mexican National Team in 1998 in France. He was an analyst in the programs we did for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina on channel 13. Rest in peace friend Manolo, fly very high”, wrote the journalist José Ramón Fernández.
The Mexican soccer family deeply regrets the death of one of the most important, endearing and influential players and coaches in our sport.
Don Manuel Lapuente is and will be a soccer legend.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/Qyr8flx5Vb
— Mexican Football Federation (@FMF) October 25, 2025
The post Manuel Lapuente dies at 81 years old appeared first on Veritas News.
