From SI Mexico · · 2m
Pumas bet on Juan Carlos Ortega to revive their youth academy
After years of youth titles but few first-team stars, Pumas turn to a proven developer of Mexico's national team talent.
In brief
After years of youth titles but few first-team stars, Pumas turn to a proven developer of Mexico's national team talent. Pumas hired Juan Carlos Ortega, architect of Mexico's 2011 U-17 World Cup win, to rebuild the pipeline from their youth academy to the first team. Originally reported by SI Mexico.
Winning titles, losing players
Pumas youth teams kept winning championships, but fewer academy graduates became important first-team players. The disconnect grew after coach Andrés Lillini left in 2022.
Lillini kept the bridge open
In Lillini's first tournament as head coach, 10 academy players logged 5,273 minutes. He debuted 15 youth products during his tenure and kept the pathway to Liga MX strong.
Erik Lira showed the potential
Lira went from Pumas academy to Cruz Azul in 2022, then started four of five Mexico matches at the World Cup. Monaco offered him a move to Europe that fell through at the last moment.
Minutes collapsed after Lillini
Under three different coaches after Lillini, academy players saw their minutes drop sharply. The Apertura 2025 finally reversed the trend with 6,821 minutes across 14 players.
Alpízar's complicated six years
Raúl Alpízar led the academy from 2020 to 2026, winning three youth titles. But a 2022 investigation alleged improper payments for player registration and playing time.
Club cleared him, then moved on
Pumas temporarily suspended Alpízar, then reinstated him after finding no proof of corruption. He stayed until September 2026 when the club announced his departure by mutual agreement.
Ortega built Mexico's golden generation
Juan Carlos Ortega joined Mexico's federation in 2009 and helped create the system behind the 2011 U-17 World Cup win and third place at the 2011 U-20 World Cup.
“This good work of youth national teams is good work by Juan Carlos Ortega and Guillermo Hernández”
He won as a coach too
Ortega coached Mexico U-15 to the 2017 Concacaf championship with five wins, 15 goals scored, zero conceded, and a 2-0 final victory over the United States.
Galaxy and Tigres stints
After leaving the federation, Ortega directed methodology at LA Galaxy and spent four years running Tigres youth system. At Tigres, he expanded the structure but didn't produce a core generation.
The challenge at Pumas
Pumas need homegrown stars like Eduardo Herrera, who joined at 15 and left for Rangers at 22. Ortega's job is to rebuild that production line from the ground up.
At a glance
Pumas hired Juan Carlos Ortega, architect of Mexico's 2011 U-17 World Cup win, to rebuild the pipeline from their youth academy to the first team.
