Victor Manuel Vucetich · Biography

Víctor Manuel Vucetich Rojas made his Mexican top-flight debut on 6 September 1978 for Atlante, in a 2-2 draw with Unión de Curtidores. Born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, on 25 June 1955, he had a modest playing career as a midfielder and a very long one as a coach, winning five league titles with four different clubs and three CONCACAF Champions League crowns with Monterrey. That run of trophies with different teams earned him the nickname «Rey Midas» (King Midas).

Youth years and playing career

He came through the youth ranks of Club Universidad Nacional and played for América’s reserves without ever reaching either first team. He started out as a forward, moved into an inside-midfield role and ended up as a defensive midfielder. After a spell with Cuautla in the second division, he joined Atlante, where he stayed from 1978 to 1981. He then moved to Oaxtepec, where he scored his only top-flight goal, against Puebla on 23 February 1983. He retired that same year.

First titles as a coach

He began coaching in 1988 with Potros Neza, whom he led to the Mexican second-division title in 1988-89. He did it again the following year with León, second-division champions in 1989-90, and on 29 September 1990 he took charge of his first top-flight match, against Monterrey. In 1991-92 he guided León to the league title, beating Manuel Lapuente’s Puebla in the final 2-0 on aggregate after extra time. Two years later he repeated the feat with Tecos of the UAG, who lost the first leg of the 1993-94 final 1-0 to Santos Laguna and turned it around with a 2-0 win in the return leg.

Cups with Tigres and Cruz Azul

In 1995 he took over Tigres for the first time and won the 1995-96 Copa México. The following season he coached Cruz Azul and lifted the cup again, in the 1996-97 edition. He returned to Tecos between 1997 and 1998, had a second spell at León in 1999 and went back to Tigres from matchday six of the Invierno 1999, staying on through the Verano 2000. He then coached La Piedad between 2001 and 2002 and Puebla between 2002 and 2003.

Pachuca and the transition years

With Pachuca he won the Apertura 2003, his third league title, beating Tigres 3-2 on aggregate in the final. He later coached Veracruz between 2005 and 2006 and Jaguares de Chiapas in 2007.

The Monterrey years

He arrived at Monterrey in 2009, beginning the most decorated period of his career. In the Apertura 2009 he won the title against Cruz Azul, 4-3 at the Tecnológico and 2-1 at the Estadio Azul. In the Apertura 2010 he repeated against Santos Laguna, losing 3-2 in Torreón and winning 3-0 at home. He added the InterLiga that same year. Then came three consecutive CONCACAF Champions League titles, in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, and third place at the 2012 Club World Cup, sealed with a 2-0 win over Egypt’s Al-Ahly.

Mexico national team

On 12 September 2013 he was appointed Mexico coach, replacing Luis Fernando Tena in the middle of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. He made his debut on 11 October with a 2-1 win over Panama and four days later lost 2-1 to Costa Rica. He left the post on 17 October 2013 and was succeeded by Miguel Herrera.

Querétaro, Chivas, Mazatlán and a return to Tigres

In 2015 he took charge of Querétaro and led them to the Clausura 2015 final, which they lost to Santos Laguna. In the Apertura 2016 he won the Copa MX with the club, beating Guadalajara in the final. He stayed at Querétaro until 2017 and returned between 2019 and 2020. His appointment at Chivas was made official on 13 August 2020, and two days later he debuted with a 2-1 win over Atlético de San Luis; he was dismissed in September 2021. On 2 March 2022 he returned to Monterrey, where he remained until May 2023, after a semi-final exit in the Clausura 2023. He coached Mazatlán from May 2024 and resigned in May 2025. On 20 August 2026 Tigres presented him as sporting vice president and interim coach, in his third spell at the club after those of 1995-96 and 1999-2000.