From Penalty to Triumph: Toluca’s Journey
The present of the Diablos Rojos of Toluca, painted entirely in gold by the four titles won in 2025 (two Liga MX, one Campeón de Campeones, and one Campeones Cup), seems like a distant past when they had to pay a fine for poor performance in the coefficiency table.
In reality, this occurred in May 2022. They hit rock bottom by finishing in the penultimate position and had to pay a fine of 33 million pesos.
This was a turning point for the project led by Francisco Suinaga, the current vice president who has been with the institution since 2014. He is the primary operational leader appointed by the owner, Valentín Diez.
“Paying the fine was a shake-up to reconsider the entire project,” Suinaga told Claro Sports after securing the bicampeonato in the Apertura 2025 tournament. “We needed to strengthen many areas, and the sports area in general was crucial. You spend a lot of money on a player but invest in valuable people who provide data, negotiate well, stay vigilant, find opportunities, and are on the field all day.”
Toluca had eight coaches between 2010, when they last won a Liga MX title, and 2022, when they were fined. Each had different styles, but the last one, Ignacio Ambriz, established a change in philosophy that continues to the present day with Antonio Mohamed.
“We shouldn’t underestimate Nacho’s process, who reached a final, and then Renato Paiva’s, which perhaps lacked rounding off with a final or a title. Today, Turco is reaffirming that process with his ability, ideas, and management,” Carlos Adrián Morales, a former player, director of youth development, and interim coach for the Diablos, told El Economista.
“Toluca took 15 years to win another title again, but I always said this is a big team with the conditions to pursue titles semester after semester. I had the chance to be director of youth development and interim coach, and we suffered through that period, but today this is Toluca. Those 15 years of abstinence were to remodel some things,” Morales added.
Back on Track with Ambriz and Mohamed
With Ambriz, Toluca returned to the Liguilla directly in the Apertura 2022 and played its first Liga MX final in four years, despite losing 2-8 globally to Pachuca. However, the team began to reconnect with its winning DNA and, simultaneously, with full stadiums at Nemesio Diez.
Paiva enhanced that philosophy, leading Toluca to third and second place in the Clausura and Apertura 2024 tables, respectively. His mistake was being eliminated in quarters of both Liguillas, extending the title drought to 15 years.
Then came Mohamed with a 100% effectiveness rate after winning his first two Liga MX titles with Toluca, turning the history 180 degrees from that 2022 fine. What stands out is the consistency and evolution of the winning profile.
Stability in Motion
Satisfaction returned to Toluca in May 2025 when Mohamed and his players, many with prior work with Ambriz and Paiva, broke the streak in the Clausura final against America.
This immediately generated another doubt: the continuity of the project, given that Turco usually leaves a club once he achieves something positive.
“First and foremost, highlight the project’s continuity due to Turco’s decision to stay with full support from the board and strategic signings that backed his tactical idea,” Jesús Humberto López, a journalist and commentator for ESPN, W Deportes, and Uni Radio at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM), told this newspaper.
“Including a Santiago Simon, who eventually became a starter but mainly convincing Nicolas Castro, who had the opportunity to play in one of the world’s biggest leagues (Spain) and was persuaded to come to Mexico. The fact that Turco received support and these players were brought in means there would be a result because it wasn’t just about breaking 15 years of drought, but maintaining the top position,” López explained.
Toluca spent 8 million euros on transfers between the Clausura and Apertura 2025, according to Transfermarkt. This investment was less than León (10), Cruz Azul (14), Chivas (18.9), and America (21.6).
Historical Milestones
Mohamed has placed Toluca in a historical niche, as they had never been bicampeons in short tournaments. Moreover, he linked them with Pumas, León, Atlas, and America in the exclusive list of teams with consecutive titles in this stage, which began in 1996.
Three of them, Atlas, America, and Toluca, achieved this between 2021 and 2025, suggesting a paradigm shift.
“Other teams should look at these projects without a doubt. There are big teams like León, which is going through very low moments… Other long-standing ones like Puebla, which has been pared down and hasn’t taken the decision to bring a solid project. Mistakes have been made in certain teams, but now that these examples exist, they should try to imitate them, not to copy the formula entirely but to do something. If the successful, winning, and champion does things right, they should try to be a little like them,” the communicator with 33 years of experience exalted.
Turco has a contract with Toluca until summer 2026, with an option to renew for another year, as he explained in the post-bicampeonato press conference.
Looking Forward: Internationalization
What’s next in Turco’s continuity plan is the much-anticipated internationalization. The Diablos will play the CONCACAF 2026 Campeones Cup with their sights set on winning to secure a ticket to the 2029 Mundial de Clubes.
“Toluca needs that title. The Mundial ticket is what this team lacks, whether it’s a golden era or not. The internationalization aspect coming in 2026 is a great challenge for Turco and the institution,” Morales emphasized.
Turco’s focus on maintaining a strong, winning team from youth development to the first squad is crucial, according to Morales. “The primary focus should always be on the sports side, and it needs attention from youth development to the first team. If we maintain that solid foundation in sports, that unity of effort, we will continue to see these results.”
