Efraín Juárez's European Dream Ends: Gyori ETO Knocked Out of Conference League After Just Two Months

Efraín Juárez's European dream lasted just over two months. The Mexican coach, who left Pumas in June amid a tense atmosphere, watched his new project at Hungary's Gyori ETO get eliminated from continental competition after falling in the UEFA Conference League. A bitter ending for a man who left Ciudad Universitaria without even saying goodbye to the fans.

Let's rewind to see how it got here. Pumas and Efraín Juárez parted ways last June, with a mutually agreed contract termination even though the coach still had six months left on his deal. Disagreements over the sporting project became untenable, and both sides went their separate ways. Juárez, with his sights set on Europe, found a new home at the Hungarian club, which unveiled him with the stated goal of competing on the international stage.

Gyori ETO had already taken a hit, having been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Iceland's Vikingur, so the Conference League became the last remaining door to stay alive in Europe. The team improved steadily under Efraín's guidance, and everything pointed to the project taking shape as it reached the third round.

That's where Riga of Latvia stood in the way. Had ETO gotten past them, they would have advanced straight to the final playoff to lock up a spot in the tournament, and it also would have opened the door to fighting for a Europa League berth next year if things didn't go well domestically. But the aggregate result didn't go their way: 1-2 in favor of Riga, a tough blow that left Efraín Juárez and his new club out of Europe, with only the Hungarian league left to play for.

Back Home: Pumas Without the Coach Who Once Racked Up Headline Wins

Meanwhile, back in Mexico, the story kept moving. Pumas had reached the final of the 2026 Clausura, but lost it to Cruz Azul. The initial plan was to renew Juárez's contract, even at the express request of club president Luis Raúl González. However, just days after the tournament ended, the differences became irreconcilable and the exit followed.

The fallout also hit the transfer market: Pumas tried to sign Jordan Carrillo, a standout from the previous season, but Santos Laguna, who held his rights, ended up striking a deal with Chivas instead. Esteban Solari took over on the bench, a former Pumas player from nearly two decades ago who lost a final in the club's colors in the 2007 Apertura against Atlante. His start wasn't easy: a 0-3 home loss to Pachuca that stoked doubts and drew boos from the stands.

Two road wins, against Toluca and Juárez, calmed things down. New arrivals like Sebastián Córdova, Cristian Calderón, Víctor Arteaga and Luciano Herrera came in, though the Leagues Cup proved to be a rough patch: just one point in three matches and two significant injuries. Córdova suffered a torn ACL and will be out for around nine months, while Álvaro Angulo will miss three weeks with a sprain. Now, with Liga MX back underway, Pumas will look to maintain the form they showed before the break.