Esteban Solari appointed head coach of Mexico's Pumas UNAM
Club Universidad Nacional announced on 21 June 2026 that Argentine coach Esteban Solari will take charge of the Pumas first‑team men’s squad for the Apertura 2026 tournament. Solari, who played for the club in 2007‑08, replaces Efraín Juárez after the latter led Pumas to a Clausura 2026 semi‑final. The new contract runs for two years (four short tournaments) and includes his own staff.
Solari arrives after a season with Pachuca, where he directed the team in 23 matches, posting a 62 % effectiveness record (13 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses) and reaching the Clausura 2026 semifinals before being eliminated by Pumas. The university’s board highlighted his international experience in Malaysia, Chile, Argentina and Mexico as a key factor in the appointment. The club’s immediate goals are direct qualification to the liguilla and breaking a 15‑year league‑title drought.