Club América reasserted its dominance over Mexican soccer by drawing 1-1 with Monterrey to seal the Liga MX Apertura 2024 title. The 3-2 aggregate win secured the excellent work of coach André Jardine, who became only the second manager in history to win three consecutive league titles.
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André Jardine and the building of a legacy
Since his arrival at Club América in June 2023, André Jardine has taken the team to another level. In a year and a bit, the Brazilian coach has won six titles, turning Las Águilas into a consistent, competitive, and winning squad.
His titles with the team are Liga MX Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Campeón de Campeones 2023-24, Supercopa de la Liga MX 2024, Campeones Cup 2024, and now Apertura 2024. The numbers tell the story of Jardine's impact: 96 games, 52 victories, 174 goals scored, and just 95 conceded.
The three-peat crowned a season that wasn't without its challenges. América had to navigate through the absence of players due to the Copa América and injuries that complicated the early part of the campaign. Yet, Jardine overcame the criticism and delivered another title for the fans.
Jardine's achievement inevitably conjures up memories of Raúl Cárdenas, who won three on the bounce with Cruz Azul between 1972 and 1974. The Scot now features on a highly exclusive list of coaches who have asserted their dominance in Liga MX with such authority.
One of the biggest challenges América faced in its Apertura 2024 campaign was not playing at Estadio Azteca, the club's historic home. In fact, as Jardine himself mentioned, the absence of the Azteca weighed heavily throughout the season. Still, the team managed to turn those difficulties into motivation.
The future of Club América with Jardine at the helm
Now that the three-peat is in the bag, the question would be what more can André Jardine do with Club América? The answer seems clear. The Brazilian coach has proven he has the skills and the leadership to keep the club at the top of Mexican soccer, building further into his legacy.
Given these conquests, the discussion is inescapable: could André Jardine already be considered one of the best coaches in Mexican soccer history? The three-peat had placed him in an historic tier, and the fast adaptation to Liga MX really speaks volumes on the weight of his job. Provided he can sustain this rhythm, he will no doubt join the annals of the true legends of Mexican soccer.