Luis Fernando Tena


Luis Fernando Tena Garduño is a Mexican professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of the [Guatemala national Association football|football team|Guatemala national team].
Over a professional career spanning more than three decades, Tena has managed ten different clubs in Mexican football, winning two Primera División championships and three CONCACAF Champions Cup titles. He is best known for leading Mexico’s Olympic team to a historic gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
His brother, Alfredo, is also a manager and former footballer.

Club career

Born in Mexico City on January 20, 1958, Tena began his professional career with Atlético Español in 1976. He later played for Oaxtepec and Guadalajara before finishing his career with Atlante, where he retired in 1988.

Managerial career

Cruz Azul

After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career in 1994 with Cruz Azul, the club where he achieved his greatest success and with which he is most closely identified, having managed the team on four different occasions.
In his first spell, he turned Cruz Azul into a league contender and lifted the 1996 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, his first title as a coach. In his second spell, he reached his greatest triumph: winning the Invierno 1997 championship, which ended a nearly 17-year league title drought. Earlier that same year, he had also secured the 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. He later returned for a fourth stint, delivering the club’s sixth CONCACAF Champions' Cup title.

Monarcas Morelia

After his initial tenure with Cruz Azul, Tena took charge of Monarcas Morelia, a club then seeking prominence. In his first campaign, he guided the team to their first league title, the Invierno 2000 championship.

América

In 2006, Tena faced one of the biggest challenges of his career when he managed Club América. He led the team to the final of the Clausura 2007, but ultimately lost to Pachuca.
In November 2010, he was appointed assistant coach to José Manuel de la Torre with the Mexico national team. However, starting in March 2011, he took charge of the under-23 side.
In October 2011, he guided the team to a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, defeating Argentina 1–0 in the final. In April 2012, Mexico qualified for the Summer Olympics in London by beating Honduras 2–1 in extra time in the pre-Olympic final.
At the Olympics, Mexico advanced from the group stage as leaders. They faced Senegal in the quarterfinals, winning 4–2 in extra time. Three days later, they defeated Japan 3–1 to reach the final. Mexico secured the Olympic gold medal in football by defeating Brazil 2–1 at Wembley Stadium. This accomplishment is widely regarded as one of the most significant milestones in the history of Mexican football and, more broadly, in the nation’s sporting achievements.

Guadalajara

In 2019, Tena was appointed head coach of Guadalajara during a complicated period for the institution. He managed to lift the squad’s spirits and qualified the team for the Guardianes 2020 playoffs. However, after an inconsistent start in the following tournament, he was dismissed.

Guatemala

On 9 December 2021, he became the manager of the Guatemala national team.

Honours

Manager

Cruz Azul
Morelia
Mexico U23