Enrique Meza Enríquez is a Mexican football manager who most recently coached Veracruz. Prior to pursuing a career in coaching, he was a goalkeeper for Cruz Azul during their dynasty of the 1970s, albeit a backup to legendary goalkeeper Miguel Marín. He retired in 1976 and is one of the most successful managers of the professional era of the Liga MX.
Coaching career
Beginnings
Notably, Meza has been the coach of several professional soccer teams in the Mexico premier league and the Mexico national football team#Selección de fútbol de México. His career has been filled with impressive successes and disappointments. Meza started his coaching career in the first division Mexico league by coaching Cruz Azul from 1982 to 1983 and from 1992 to 1995. He led Cruz Azul to the Mexico league final in 1994, but lost. The next year he switched to coach Monarcas Morelia. Crucially, it was not until 1996 that his coaching truly started showing its capturing potential. His new team, Toros Neza, had a distinct style of football offensive play, resulting in their scoring numerous goals. During 1996, his Toros Neza team made it to the final, but lost to Chivas de Guadalajara by a high score.
Three times league Champion
Soon after losing the final, he announced that he was leaving to coach Club Toluca. His coaching proved to be very successful and spectacular. Meza was what Toluca needed, and the club became champion on three occasions: Verano 1998, Verano 1999 and Verano 2000, in just two years. In 2000 Meza left Club Toluca to coach the Mexico national team. The performance of the team was below expectations, and he resigned after only few months of accepting the appointment. In 2006 Meza took the coaching position at Pachuca Football Club.
In April, 2008, Pachuca reclaimed the CONCACAF Champions Cup and secured a berth for the Japanese hosted 2008 FIFA Club World Cup held in December 2008. Pachuca finished fourth after winning 1 match with 2 losses. Meza managed Pachuca to a second final in Clausura 2009, but he lost his second final against Ricardo Ferretti of Pumas UNAM by aggregate score 2-3. On June 1, 2009 Meza finished his contract with Pachuca; and some members of the media linked Meza to Cruz Azul. Meza's results have made him one of the greatest coaches in the Mexico League, making him the fourth most successful coach in the league's history. Cruz Azul's president, Guillermo Alvarez, Confirmed that Enrique Meza and Cruz Azul had reached an agreement - for what would be his fourth time as coach of Cruz Azul five years later. Enrique Meza returned to Cruz Azul with a new challenge and determination of giving Cruz Azul a title. Since the 1997 Mexico League Winter Tournament Cruz Azul have not won a title.
With the Mexico Clausura - closing - first half of the year football league ending in May 2012, Meza finished his term as head coach and technical director of Cruz Azul on Tuesday 15 May 2012. And on Friday 18 May 2012, Toluca Football Club hired Enrique Meza as their new coach and technical director for the 2012 Apertura - opening - second half of the year Mexico League. Subsequently, Meza led Toluca to come first in the 2012 Liga MX by points, but lost out to Tijuana in the final championship match of the playoffs involving the premier 8 ranked teams of the League.
Return to Pachuca
On Tuesday 3 September 2013, in a strategic move, the management of Pachuca Football Club held a press conference and announced that Meza was coming in as new technical director, coach and manager of the distinguished Hidalgo club. Meza took over from Gabriel Caballero who served as coach of Pachuca Football Club from November 2012 to 2 September 2013.
Meza was brought in on October 2017 to try and turn around a Puebla FC team that had hit rock bottom of the relegation table. By March 2018, Meza had received praise by the media in regards to his ability to turn around a modest roster into a playoff team.
Personal life
Meza is popularly called "Ojitos" because of his sharp eyes. His son Enrique Maximiliano Meza is also a football manager.
