Patience ran out quickly on the border. After a nightmare start to the Apertura Tournament, FC Juárez announced on Sunday the immediate firing of Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha, leaving the team adrift just on the eve of international competition.
With three straight losses in the first three matchdays of the national championship, the Bravos have sunk to the bottom of the overall standings without a single point. The on-field crisis made it untenable to keep a coach who never managed to get his squad to perform.
A Tenure Marked by Mediocrity
Caixinha arrived in Ciudad Juárez last semester with the promise of bringing discipline and order to a historically unstable franchise. However, his tenure fell far short of expectations, and the results ultimately sealed his fate.
The Portuguese coach’s record at the helm of the border-town team reflects an alarming lack of results. In 20 games managed, his record was dismal:
- 5 wins
- 4 draws
- 11 losses
The disastrous start to the current Apertura season, in which the team appeared ineffective and unable to respond, ultimately hastened a dismissal that was already on the horizon.
The Statement and the Imminent Change
As is customary, the club confirmed the news via a brief official statement to close the chapter on the European coach’s tenure:
“Fútbol Club Juárez announces that it has terminated its employment relationship with head coach Pedro Caixinha and his coaching staff. We thank Pedro and his team for the time, dedication, and commitment they demonstrated in taking on the challenges of our club, and we wish them the greatest success in the future.”
The dismissal, though necessary due to the team’s lack of points, exposes the board’s lack of planning, as the team will have to face its next major international challenge with a stopgap coach.
Ahead of their debut in the Leagues Cup—a tournament pitting Liga MX against MLS—the first team will be led by Salvador Valero, the current head coach of the U-21 team, who will take over on an interim basis.
Juárez has no time for regrets or to process the change. This very Tuesday, Valero’s makeshift team will have to take the field for an away match against Minnesota United. It will be a litmus test for a squad whose morale has taken a hit and a front office that, tournament after tournament, continues to show it has lost its sporting compass.
