Ownership presented the two “legends” with rather insulting, low-ball contract renewal offers and were promptly turned down. Their departure came about ignominiously, particularly for Domínguez who hoped he’d retire with the only club he played for. Unfortunately, “Cata” also had the habit of making bonehead mistakes at the worst posible time and over the past 10 years he became a favorite target of frustrated Cementeros fans who demanded he be sent packing. “Cata” holds the all-time franchise record for appearances (657 games played) while also helping “La Máquina” win two Copa MX trophies, two SuperCups, a Champions Cup, a Concacaf Champions League title and the aforementioned 2021 Liga MX crown. The first big move by the Cementeros was the announcement that skipper Jesús Corona and defender Julio César Domínguez would not return to La Noria.Ĭorona, 42, made over 500 starts for Cruz Azul since joining the team in 2009, posting 130 clean sheets and leading the Cementeros to the Apertura 2021 Liga MX championship to end the club’s 24-year league title drought.ĭomínguez, 35, joined the club at 15 and came up through the academy system, debuting with the senior team in 2006 at 18 years, 6 months. Bidding adios to a pair of Cruz Azul legends Then the increasingly inept front office went to work trying to bring in new faces … with mixed results. Two long-time Cementeros were given their walking papers – not without considerable hand-wringing (though a certain cohort of Cruz Azul fans cheered one-half of the decision). Only a month after “La Máquina Azul” knocked out of the playoffs in the wildcard stage by Atlas, the Cruz Azul brain trust has been working feverishly to remake the roster … with limited success. It wouldn’t be Cruz Azul without overwrought drama following yet another early postseason elimination.

(Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images) Here, “Cata” (right) grapples with Matías Vuoso during a 2008 contest. Julio César Dominguez is leaving Cruz Azul after 17 years during which time he set the all-time club record for games played (657).

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