The 2023–24 Club de Futbol Cruz Azul season was the 97th season in the football club's history and the 59th consecutive season in the top flight of Mexican football. Cruz Azul competed in Liga MX and the Leagues Cup.
This season was the first without captain José de Jesús Corona, who leaved the club after 14 years (since 2009–10 as a first team player). It was also the first season since 2005–06 without the center-back Julio César Domínguez.
Kits Supplier: Pirma Sponsors: Cemento Cruz Azul (front), Caliente (back)
Season overview May On 31 May, Uriel Antuna and Carlos Rodríguez were called up to the Mexico national team squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
June On 1 June, Rafael Guerrero and Rodrigo Huescas were called up to the Mexico national under-23 team for friendlies in Europe and the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.
On 27 June, the Leagues Cup announced Cruz Azul's first match against Inter Miami would be rescheduled as the tournament's inaugural match due to Inter Miami's high-profile signings of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
July On 5 July, Ivan Morales' contract was rescinded and he became a free agent.
Willer Ditta did not travel with the team to the United States for the first Leagues Cup match due to work visa issues. On 24 July, Cruz Azul announced Ditta obtained his visa and would travel to join the team.
Rodrigo Huescas was subbed out in the 30th minute of the match against Inter Miami due to injury. On 24 July, Cruz Azul announced Huescas had suffered a sprain in his right MCL.
August
On 7 August, Cruz Azul announced they had parted ways with manager Ricardo Ferretti and would appoint assistant coach Joaquín Moreno as manager for the remainder of the Apertura 2023 season.
September
On 1 September, Uriel Antuna and Carlos Rodríguez were called up to the Mexico national team squad for friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan. Érik Lira and Rodrigo Huescas were called up to the Mexico national under-23 team for friendlies against Colombia under-23. Rafael Guerrero was called up to the Mexico national under-20 team for friendlies against Argentine Primera División clubs.
Coaching staff
Apertura 2023 Rounds 1–3, Leagues Cup Position Name Nationality Year appointed Last club/team References Manager Ricardo Ferretti 2023 FC Juárez (as manager) Assistant managers Guillermo Vázquez 2023 Necaxa (as manager) Joaquín Moreno 2023 Cruz Azul (as interim manager) Enrique Cruz 2023 Pachuca (as assistant manager) Medic Juan José Pérez 2021 Veracruz Ernesto Prado 2015 Cruz Azul Hidalgo José Morales Ángeles 2023 None Fitness trainer Guillermo Orta 2023 FC Juárez Kinesiologist Juan Rubio 2009 Paolo Arriaga 2023 Veracruz
Apertura 2023 Rounds 4–17 Position Name Nationality Year appointed Last club/team References Manager Joaquín Moreno 2023 Cruz Azul (as assistant coach) Assistant managers Joel Huiqui 2023 Cruz Azul U23 (as manager) Enrique Cruz 2023 Pachuca (as assistant manager) Medic Juan José Pérez 2021 Veracruz Ernesto Prado 2015 Cruz Azul Hidalgo José Morales Ángeles 2023 None Fitness trainer Fernando Ramos 2023 Leones Negros Kinesiologist Juan Rubio 2009 Paolo Arriaga 2023 Veracruz
Clausura 2024 Position Name Nationality Year appointed Last club/team References Manager Martín Anselmi 2024 Independiente del Valle (as manager) Assistant managers Facundo Oreja 2024 Independiente del Valle (as assistant manager) Luis Pastur 2024 Independiente del Valle (as assistant manager) Goalkeeper coach Esteban Herrera 2024 Argentina U17 Medic Antonio Acevedo 2024 UNAM Juan Pérez 2021 Veracruz Fitness trainer Diego Bottaioli 2024 Independiente del Valle Fernando Ramos 2023 Leones Negros Alberto Sciegata 2024 Independiente del Valle Kinesiologist Paolo Arriaga 2023 Veracruz Juan Rubio 2009
Squad No. Player Nationality Date of birth (age) Since Signed from Goalkeepers 1 Andrés Gudiño 2019 Venados 12 Luis Jiménez 2024 Necaxa 23 Kevin Mier 2024 Atlético Nacional Defenders 2 Rafael Guerrero 2023 Cruz Azul Academy 3 Carlos Salcedo (vice-captain) 2023 Juárez 4 Willer Ditta 2023 Newell's Old Boys 13 Camilo Cándido 2024 Nacional 26 Carlos Vargas 2023 Mazatlán 31 Luis Iturbide 2024 Cruz Azul Academy 33 Gonzalo Piovi 2023 Racing Club Midfielders 6 Érik Lira 2022 UNAM 7 Uriel Antuna 2022 Guadalajara 8 Lorenzo Faravelli 2024 Independiente del Valle 14 Alexis Gutiérrez 2019 Cruz Azul Academy 15 Ignacio Rivero (captain) 2020 Tijuana 18 Rodrigo Huescas 2021 Cruz Azul Academy 19 Carlos Rodríguez 2022 Monterrey 29 Carlos Rotondi 2022 Defensa y Justicia 32 Cristian Jiménez 2021 Cruz Azul Academy Forwards 9 Ángel Sepúlveda 2023 Querétaro 27 Gabriel Fernández 2024 UNAM
Transfers In DatePositionNo.PlayerFromTypeRef. 16 June 2023 DF 3 Carlos Salcedo JuárezTransfer 16 June 2023 MF 10 Moisés Vieira FortalezaTransfer 21 June 2023 FW 28 Diber Cambindo Independiente MedellínTransfer 27 June 2023 MF 5 Kevin Castaño Águilas DoradasTransfer 6 July 2023 DF 4 Willer Ditta Newell's Old BoysTransfer 13 July 2023 MF 8 Jesús Dueñas JuárezTransfer 29 August 2023 FW 9 Ángel Sepúlveda QuerétaroTransfer 22 December 2023 DF 33 Gonzalo Piovi Racing ClubTransfer 27 December 2023 DF 13 Camilo Cándido NacionalTransfer 28 December 2023 FW 27 Gabriel Fernández UNAMTransfer 30 December 2023 MF 8 Lorenzo Faravelli Independiente del ValleTransfer 30 December 2023 GK 12 Luis Jiménez NecaxaLoan 12 January 2024 GK 23 Kevin Mier Atlético NacionalTransfer
Out DatePositionNo.PlayerToTypeRef. 10 May 2023 FW 13 Michael Estrada TolucaLoan return 10 May 2023 FW 8 Gonzalo Carneiro SionLoan return 11 May 2023 DF 12 José Joaquín Martínez Free agentEnd of contract 17 May 2023 DF 25 Ramiro Funes Mori River Plate Released 18 May 2023 DF 3 Jaiber Jiménez Free agentEnd of contract 27 May 2023 DF 4 Julio César Domínguez Atlético San LuisReleased 10 June 2023 DF 28 Jordan Silva Atlético San LuisLoan 12 June 2023 MF 22 Rafael Baca Monterey Bay FCReleased 20 June 2023 MF 23 Ramiro Carrera Atlético TucumánLoan 23 June 2023 GK 1 José de Jesús Corona TijuanaEnd of contract 5 July 2023 FW 20 Iván Morales Not registered 12 August 2023 FW 21 Augusto Lotti LanúsLoan 29 August 2023 FW 11 Christian Tabó UNAMLoan 5 December 2023 GK 25 Sebastián Jurado JuárezLoan 28 December 2023 FW 10 Moisés FortalezaTransfer 29 December 2023 FW 28 Diber Cambindo NecaxaLoan 3 January 2024 MF 8 Jesús Dueñas Retired 16 January 2024 DF 17 Alonso Escoboza MazatlánTransfer 17 January 2024 FW 21 Iván Morales SarmientoReleased 21 January 2024 MF 5 Kevin Castaño KrasnodarTransfer 31 January 2024 DF 24 Juan Escobar TolucaLoan
Pre-season and friendlies
Matches
Competitions
Overview
Liga MX Apertura
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 8 June 2023.
Regular phase
Liga MX Clausura
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches The league fixtures were announced on 19 December 2023.
Regular phase
Final phase
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Leagues Cup
Group stage
Knockout phase
Round of 32
Squad statistics
Appearances Players with no appearances are not included on the list.
! colspan=12 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=12 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=12 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=12 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=12 style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Player(s) transferred out during the season:
Goalscorers Includes all competitive matches.
PlayerLiga MX AperturaLiga MX ClausuraLeagues CupTotal 1 MF 7 Uriel Antuna 5 9 1 15 2 FW 9 Ángel Sepúlveda 6 3 0 9 3 MF 29 Carlos Rotondi 3 3 0 6 4 FW 28 Diber Cambindo 4 0 0 4 MF 15 Ignacio Rivero 1 3 0 4 6 MF 8 Lorenzo Faravelli 0 3 0 3 7 DF 4 Willer Ditta 1 1 0 2 FW 10 Moisés 1 0 1 2 MF 18 Rodrigo Huescas 0 2 0 2 FW 27 Gabriel Fernández 0 2 0 2 11 DF 13 Camilo Cándido 0 1 0 1 MF 14 Alexis Gutiérrez 0 1 0 1 MF 19 Carlos Rodríguez 0 1 0 1 Own goals 0 1 0 1 Total 21 30 2 53
Clean sheets No.PlayerLiga MX AperturaLiga MX ClausuraLeagues CupTotal 1 Andrés Gudiño 2 0 1 3 23 Kevin Mier 0 10 0 10Total210113
Disciplinary record
Player Liga MX Apertura Liga MX Clausura Leagues Cup Total 1 GK Andrés Gudiño300000000300 2 DF Rafael Guerrero400200000600 3 DF Carlos Salcedo400300100800 4 DF Willer Ditta400311100811 5 DF Kevin Castaño200000000200 6 MF Érik Lira000300000300 7 MF Uriel Antuna200200100500 8 MF Lorenzo Faravelli000400000400 8 MF Jesús Dueñas000000200200 9 FW Ángel Sepúlveda200100000300 13 DF Camilo Cándido000200000200 14 MF Alexis Gutiérrez000100000100 15 MF Ignacio Rivero5007000001200 18 MF Rodrigo Huescas200200000400 19 MF Carlos Rodríguez301500000801 23 GK Kevin Mier000100000100 24 DF Juan Escobar700000100800 25 GK Sebastián Jurado101000000101 27 FW Gabriel Fernández000100000100 28 FW Diber Cambindo400000000400 29 FW Carlos Rotondi500200000700 31 DF Luis Iturbide100000000100 32 DF Cristian Jiménez100000000100 33 DF Gonzalo Piovi000300000300 204 MF Mauro Zaleta000100000100 210 FW Bryan Gamboa000100000100Total5002441160010013
References
External links