Cruz Azul Reserves and Academy
| Full name | Club de Futbol Cruz Azul S.A. de C.V. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | La Máquina (The Machine) Los Celestes (The Sky-Blues) Los Cementeros (The Cement Makers) Las Liebres (The Hares) Los de La Noria (The Men from La Noria) | |||
| Founded | 22 May 1927 | |||
| Ground | Instalaciones La Noria | |||
| Capacity | 2,000 | |||
| Owner | Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, S.C.L. | |||
| President | Víctor Velázquez | |||
| Manager | Jürgen Castañeda (U23) Héctor Gutiérrez (U19) Laura Chávez (U19 Women) Antonio Taboada (U17) Ricardo Jiménez (U15) | |||
| League | Liga MX Youth League | |||
| Website | cfcruzazul.com | |||
|
| ||||
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. On the women's side, the academy currently operates only an Under-19 team, in accordance with the current structure of Liga MX Femenil's youth system, which has progressively evolved from U-17 and U-18 categories to the present U-19 format. 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.
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.