Ricardo Ferretti

Ferretti launched his career in Brazil, entering the Botafogo youth academy, where his brother, Fernando Ferretti, was already playing professionally. He later moved to Vasco da Gama and Bonsucesso, though he found limited playtime at both clubs. In 1977, his agent arranged a move to Mexico to explore new opportunities. Ferretti arrived in Mexico to strengthen Atlas during the 1977–1978 season. His time with Los Zorros was modest: he joined midway through the campaign with the mission of avoiding relegation. Despite scoring nine goals, his efforts weren’t enough, and Atlas ultimately went down. He left the club at the end of the season and signed with UNAM. With Pumas, he reached the final of the 1978–1979 season, though Cruz Azul claimed the title. Ferretti, however, remained with the squad and quickly became a key figure. Under the guidance of Bora Milutinović, Pumas reached the final of the 1980–1981 tournament, defeating Cruz Azul 4–2 on aggregate. Ferretti’s stay with UNAM lasted until 1985. That year, they reached another final, this time falling to Club América, which marked his departure from the institution. After stints with Neza, Monterrey, and Toluca, Ferretti returned to Pumas for the 1990–1991 season. It was then that he reached the pinnacle of his playing career: in the final against Club América, he scored a stunning free-kick goal that delivered another league title to the auriazules. With 128 goals across all competitions, he cemented his place as the…

Early Career and Initial Success

Ferretti began his managerial career in 1991 with Universidad Nacional, marking the start of his long association with Mexican football. In the 1996–97 season, he moved to Guadalajara, where he achieved his first significant success as a manager. Ferretti led the team to victory in the Verano 1997 tournament, securing his first title in Mexican football. The following season, he guided Chivas to a runner-up finish, further solidifying his reputation. Over his eight seasons at the helm, Ferretti consistently led the team to the playoffs, missing out only once. In the Invierno 2000, Ferretti took charge of Tigres UANL, a club with a talented roster but struggling to meet expectations. In his first season, he led the team to the playoffs, and in the following season, they finished as runners-up. However, after Tigres were eliminated by Monterrey in the Clausura 2003 semi-finals, the club opted not to renew Ferretti’s contract.

Expanding Influence and Club Transitions

Ferretti moved to Toluca in the Apertura 2003. There, he helped the team maintain a strong record of playoff appearances, and under his leadership, the club won the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Despite these achievements, Ferretti’s tenure ended due to differences with the club’s star player, José Cardozo. Ferretti's next role was at Morelia, where he guided the team through a challenging period and helped them avoid relegation. He returned to Tigres for a second stint…

Player

UNAM

Mexican Primera División: 1980–81, 1990–91 CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1980, 1982 Copa Interamericana: 1981 Toluca

Copa México: 1988–89 Individual

Mexican Primera División Best Winger: 1980–81

Manager

Guadalajara

Mexican Primera División: Verano 1997 Toluca

CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2003 Campeón de Campeones: 2003 UNAM

Mexican Primera División: Clausura 2009 UANL

Liga MX: Apertura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2019 Copa MX: Clausura 2014 Campeón de Campeones: 2016, 2017, 2018 Interliga: 2006 CONCACAF Champions League: 2020 Campeones Cup: 2018 Mexico

CONCACAF Cup: 2015 Individual

Mexican Primera División Best Manager: 1996–97, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011, Apertura 2011 Liga MX Best XI Manager: Apertura 2017 CONCACAF Men's Football Coach of the Year: 2016 (2nd place)