Francisco Javier Cruz

Lore & Background

Cruz scored goals for both Rayados and Tigres, including in the Clásico Regiomontano. Because of this, he is loved by fans of both teams, a rarity in the competing atmosphere of Monterrey. He also played for a short time in Spain, for CD Logroñés.

Reader's Guide

Cruz was born in Cedral and moved to Monterrey at age 5. He is the 8th youngest of 10 children. His father discouraged him from pursuing football. He was instrumental in the conquest of the first championship for Rayados and was topscorer for the Mexico 86 tournament (tied with Sergio Lira from Tampico with 14 goals).

He also served the assist to Sergio "Alvin" Perez's goal that kept the team from being relegated in May 1999. He played with Tigres UANL for a while, scoring many goals, and was instrumental in returning the team to the First Division after its privatization. In April 1998, he signed with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL. He played several games with Mexico, including the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against West Germany, where he scored a goal that was annulled due to offside.

He missed the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to an injury suffered by scoring the goal that qualified Mexico. He retired as a player on May 9, 1999. As of April 16, 2006, he tried to get a team as a coach but never did; he also started working with Tigres as a recruiter but let that down. He aspires to coach a team in the Liga de Ascenso.

He gave himself the nickname El Abuelo in his teenage years in honor of his late grandfather. After retirement, he fell into depression; his mental state worsened after his mother's death in 2004 and his father's death the year later. He developed an eating disorder and reached 313 pounds, then underwent gastric bypass surgery after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes. He has three daughters from a previous marriage.