This Saturday it was announced that the Mexican coach, Manuel Lapuente, died at 81 years of age. But who was this character? Here we tell you.
“Manolo”as he was also known, was born on May 15, 1944 in Mexico City. His life always revolved around football; He debuted as a footballer at the age of 22 with Monterrey and he had a stint in teams like Necaxa, Puebla and Atlas.
However, his best moments in football came when he took the coaching baton.
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Harvest of championships with Puebla and Necaxa
With Puebla he achieved 2 League titlesthe only ones the club has achieved in its history within the Mexican championship, in the seasons 82-83 and 89-90. In addition to winning a Concacaf Champion of Champions in the 90-91 season.
Later, with NecaxaManuel Lapuente got a pair of Mexican soccer championships in the 94-95 and 95-96 seasons.
Manuel Lapuente, historic with La Franja that left a mark in the hearts of all the people of Puebla
Thank you for your legacy and love for this Club, which will remain forever. rest in peace#LaFranjaNosUne
pic.twitter.com/52HBjPMz7O
— Club Puebla
The historic 1999 Confederations Cup
Due to his great success with La Franja y los Rayos, “Manolo” Lapuente was designated as technician of the National Team in 1997.
With the Tricolor won a Concacaf Gold Cup in 1998 and in that same year, the team participated in the Football World Cupwhere he stayed in the round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Germany.
But history was still preparing something bigger for Manuel Lapuente. In 1999in the Confederations CupMexico achieved beat Brazil in the Final that was played in the Aztec Stadium. With the victory, the National Team achieved its first official FIFA tournament title.
Manuel Lapuente would leave the Tricolor bench in 2000.
End the drought in America
The coach would return to direct a club in the local tournament, the Atlas; but it only lasted six months.
Later, he would take the America’s benchwith whom he managed break a title drought that the club had harvested during the 90’s. With the new formats of the Mexican championship, America would win the 2002 Clausura title and then the Concacaf Champions Cup for the 2005/2006 season.
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“Manolo” also directed Tigres and Puebla. The last club he took charge of was Wolves BUAP in 2019.
Off the courts, it was Mexican soccer ambassador and there was a time when he took the microphones to be sports commentator.
The post Who was Manuel Lapuente? The historic Mexican coach appeared first on Veritas News.
