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Cruz Azul Reserves and Academy
Cruz Azul Reserves and Academy represents the youth development and reserve team system of Cruz Azul. The reserve teams have historically provided a critical platform for players transitioning to professional football, competing in various levels of Mexican football. Over the years, Cruz Azul's reserves have been a cornerstone for developing young talent and ensuring continuity between youth and senior football. The current active reserve team is Cruz Azul Lagunas, which competes in the Liga TDP (Group II), the fourth tier of the Mexican football league system. Former reserve teams include Cruz Azul Hidalgo, which played in the Primera División "A" and later the Liga Premier, as well as Cruz Azul Oaxaca, Cruz Azul Jasso, and Cruz Azul Premier, which competed in various leagues before being disbanded. Cruz Azul Academy is the youth training system of the club, nurturing players from the U11 level to the U23 squad. The academy focuses on skill development, tactical training, and mental preparation for professional football. Joaquín Moreno serves as the Academy Director, overseeing all age groups and ensuring alignment with the club's philosophy.[2] Since its formation, the academy has achieved notable success, including winning the U15 league championship during the Apertura 2018 tournament. Several players have graduated from the academy to become prominent figures in Mexican football, including Fernando Bustos, Ignacio Flores, Octavio Muciño, Luis Hernández, Óscar Pérez, Francisco Palencia, Ricardo Osorio, Santiago Giménez, and Rodrigo Huescas, among others.[3] Reserve teamsCruz Azul HidalgoCruz Azul Hidalgo was established in 1930 as one of the most prominent reserve teams, which competed in the Primera División "A" from 1992 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2014. The team was based in Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul but briefly relocated to Oaxaca, adopting the name Cruz Azul Oaxaca. Cruz Azul Hidalgo encountered challenges in the Ascenso MX during the 2012–13 season due to its low performance but managed to avoid relegation by securing its position and relegating Pumas Morelos instead, ensuring its continuity in the league. On 15 May 2014, the club's board finalized the sale of Cruz Azul Hidalgo, which became the new Zacatepec team for the Apertura 2014 tournament. Following the dissolution of Cruz Azul Hidalgo in its original form, Cruz Azul Jasso from the Segunda División was renamed Cruz Azul Hidalgo. This restructured team continued to exist and competed in the Liga Premier de Ascenso of the Segunda División, preserving the legacy of the original club until it was disbanded in 2021.[4] Cruz Azul OaxacaCruz Azul Oaxaca functioned as a reserve team from 2003 to 2006. At the end of the Verano 2003 tournament, the club's management decided to relocate Cruz Azul Hidalgo to Oaxaca, adopting the name Cruz Azul Oaxaca. The team played its home matches at the Estadio Benito Juárez. During its three-year tenure in Primera División "A", Cruz Azul Oaxaca achieved its best result in the Apertura 2005 tournament, where it reached the final but lost to Puebla, narrowly missing promotion to the Primera División. Following the Clausura 2006 tournament, the franchise returned to Hidalgo and resumed its previous name, Cruz Azul Hidalgo, in the Apertura 2006. Cruz Azul JassoCruz Azul Jasso played in the Segunda División from 2006 to 2015. Cruz Azul Jasso began participating in the Apertura 2006 tournament in the Segunda División Zona Bajío under the name Cruz Azul Hidalgo. Its name was later changed to Cruz Azul Jasso due to the relocation of the now-defunct Cruz Azul Oaxaca back to Hidalgo, which adopted the Cruz Azul Hidalgo name. Cruz Azul Jasso achieved significant success, becoming champions of the Segunda División in the Clausura 2007 tournament. By the Apertura 2014 tournament, the club reverted to the Cruz Azul Hidalgo name following the sale of the Ascenso MX franchise to Zacatepec. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul Dublán, another reserve team, of the Tercera División adopted the name Cruz Azul Jasso, ensuring the club's continuity in the Tercera División. However, it lasted only one season before transforming into Cruz Azul Premier, which rejoined the Segunda División. Cruz Azul PremierCruz Azul Premier participated in the Segunda División/Liga Premier from 2015 to 2018. Cruz Azul Premier began participating in the Liga Premier de Ascenso as the official reserve team of Cruz Azul, without the right to promotion. This team was entirely separate from Cruz Azul Hidalgo. In 2015, the league made it mandatory for all Liga MX clubs to have a reserve team in the Liga Premier to keep players who exceeded the age limit for the U20 active, as well as those who had not yet consolidated in the first team. This led to the establishment of Cruz Azul Premier by the club. However, in 2018, this requirement was abolished, and the club decided to withdraw Cruz Azul Premier from the competition.[5] Cruz Azul LagunasCruz Azul Lagunas currently competes in the Liga TDP (Group II) as the active reserve team of Cruz Azul. This team transitioned from competing in the Segunda División to its current position in the Tercera División as part of a restructuring process. Cruz Azul Lagunas plays its home matches at the Deportivo La Laguna, located in the city of Lagunas, Oaxaca. The team continues to provide development opportunities for young talents and acts as a feeder team for the senior squad, ensuring the continuity of Cruz Azul's legacy in player development.[6] The AcademyFacilitiesInstalaciones La Noria Sports ComplexThe complex for the Cruz Azul academy, Instalaciones La Noria is the club's high-performance center and main headquarters, located in the La Noria neighborhood in the Xochimilco borough of Mexico City. Its history dates back to 1986 when Cooperativa La Cruz Azul acquired a 46,600-square-meter piece of land with the goal of constructing its own facilities to replace the Seminario Menor de Acoxpa, where the team had been training while renting the property.[7] After four years of planning and construction, the complex was inaugurated on 10 October 1990. Since then, La Noria has been the home of Cruz Azul, becoming one of the most important high-performance centers in Latin America.[8] The complex was designed with an ecological focus and includes various facilities aimed at the comprehensive development of players, such as 3 professional football fields (two with natural grass and one with synthetic turf), locker rooms, gymnasium, kitchen, clubhouse, auditorium, and other facilities.[7] Seminario Menor de AcoxpaThe Seminario Menor de Acoxpa complex served as the primary training facility for Cruz Azul for nine years before the inauguration of the La Noria complex in 1990. Located in the Acoxpa area of Mexico City, these facilities were utilized by the club's first team and youth divisions. After transitioning to La Noria, Cruz Azul continued to use the Seminario Menor de Acoxpa for various activities, including youth team tryouts and training sessions. For instance, in December 2022, official tryouts for the Under-15 and Under-13 categories were held at these facilities.[9] Similarly, in August 2023, tryouts for the Under-11 and Under-12 categories took place at the same venue.[10] PlayersUnder-23sNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Under-19sThese players can also play with the Under-23s and the senior squad. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Under-17sThese players can also play with the Under-23s, Under-19s and the senior squad. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Under-15sThese players can also play with the Under-23s, Under-19s, Under-17s and the senior squad. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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