Tijuana Xolos present roster for 2023 Apertura season, name new team captain
Credit: XoloGuero/EVT Sports
This Friday, June 23, the Tijuana Xolos presented their roster for the upcoming Liga MX 2023 Apertura season via a block party event in downtown Tijuana.
Thousands of people are always in downtown Tijuana on a Friday night, and thousands were present for this event at the iconic Avenida Revolucion.
This event took place as the team came back from its preseason in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, and prepares to start the new season at the Estadio Caliente on Friday, June 30, against Pumas UNAM. The event began with members of Club Tijuana’s organization saying some words, including Head Coach Miguel Herrera.
Herrera specifically expressed that the team is in “debt” to just about everyone involved, including fans, ownership, and even the sponsors. The Xoloitzcuintles had a disastrous 2023 Clausura campaign, finishing 15th in the league with just 16 points from 17 games played.
The border city club will now look to get back on track with a manager (Miguel Herrera), who led the team to back-to-back first-place finishes in his first stint with the club. The Aztec Canines announced all of their signings for this tournament which are Carlos Gonzalez, Fernando Madrigal, Kevin Balanta, Christian Rivera, Diego Barbosa, Rafael Fernandez, and Jose de Jesus Corona.
Plenty of people in downtown Tijuana for the #Xolos event tonight.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/MSwc02h2CE
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) June 24, 2023
A few of these signings had not been officially announced by Xolos, including “Chuy” Corona, who was not present at the event, but Miguel Herrera named him towards the end of the presentation. Miguel Herrera also told Fox Sports Mexico reporter Brenda Alvarado that Jonathan Orozco will not form part of the team, as his contract has expired.
Club Tijuana goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez will be with the Mexico national team to start the new season, as Corona will serve as the clear starter in his absence.
Apart from the new players, Miguel Herrera also announced a new team captain on the night, as Lisandro Lopez will now play with Queretaro. The new skipper will be Alexis Canelo, who led Xolos with five goals scored in the previous Liga MX 2023 Clausura season.
Canelo is a Liga MX veteran with over seven years of experience in Mexico’s top-flight league under his belt. The 31-year-old Argentine forward has only played two seasons with Club Tijuana but was clearly one of Miguel Herrera’s most trusted players last season.
Apart from everything with the Liga MX team, the Xolos women’s team also presented its team for the new season, and the new uniforms for both the men’s and women’s team were put on display, along with the new apparel for the campaign. There were also several giveaways for fans in attendance in what proved to be a very successful event for Club Tijuana after a highly disappointing 2023 Clausura season.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.