Apertura 2011 – Santos Laguna

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” —Napoleon

My History with Santos Laguna:

My favorite Mexico soccer team is Santos from Torreon. I first became a fan of Santos Laguna back around April 2002. The team had difficulties that year due to key players playing that summer in the 2002 Japan/Korea World Cup for the Mexico national team. In 2004, Santos Laguna won the Interliga (also known as Copa Libertadores) but lost it’s main forward Jared Borgetti soon after. In 2006, another mainstay of the team ‘Pony’ Ruiz also left as the team steadily spiraled downward. Matias Vuoso (part of the 2004 Interliga team) also left in 2006.

Former Santos player Daniel “Travieso” Guzman took over as coach of the team and started rebuilding the team in 2007. Fresh off a championship win with Chivas of Guadalajara, the goalie and team leader Oswaldo Sanchez was hired away to rebuild Santos Laguna. Matias Vuoso was brought back from Club America and Daniel Ludueña joined the team. Clausura 2007 (1st Season) saw Santos Laguna not only avoid being dropped to the the Second League (based on 3 unsuccessful seasons) but also make a quarter final bid (losing to the eventual champions Pachuca). Apertura 2007 (2nd Season) Santos ranked 1st in the regular season and lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champions Pumas. Clausura 2008 (1st Season), Santos Laguna beat Cruz Azul to be the champions!

Update – Viva SANTOS:

• Apertura 2008 (Jul-Dec): Lost in semi-finals to eventual champions Toluca. Guzman coach.
•  Clausura 2009 (Jan-May): Did not make it into quarter-finals. Coach Guzman fired in March (went on to coach Monterrey team Tigres).
•  Apertura 2009 (Jul-Dec): Lost in quarter-finals to Monarcas.
•  Clausura 2010 (Jan-May):  Sub-Campeon (Runner-Up) Bicentenario (Clausura – Jan-May) 2010 (Toluca Campeon, Vuoso choked in penalties) Ruben Omar Romano coach. Vuoso traded to America.
•  Apertura 2010 (Jul-Dec): Sub-Campeon (Runner-Up) Apertura 2010 (Monterrey Campeon) Ruben Omar Romano coach
•  Clausura 2011 (Jan-May): Did not make it into quarter-finals. Coach Ruben Omar Romano fired in February. Benetiz traded to America in May.
•  Apertura 2011 (Jul-Dec): Cristian Suarez replaced Benitez. September coach Benjamin Galindo hired. Santos in the finals against Tigres.
•  2011 CONCACAF Champions League (Jul 2011 to Apr 2012): In the quarter-finals against Seattle Sounders next game 3/14/2012.