Martín Varini

Martín Varini is the Head Coach of Club Necaxa

Martín Varini is one of the Uruguayan coaches with the greatest international projection. After a brief playing career at Defensor Sporting — where he captained the youth teams and reached the final of the U-20 Copa Libertadores — he hung up his boots at the age of 22 and began a different path: he earned a degree in Business Administration and later returned to football as a coach, bringing with him a modern mindset and a clear tactical vision.

He made his professional debut with Rentistas in 2021, becoming the youngest coach in the Copa Libertadores. He then joined Paulo Pezzolano‘s coaching staff at Cruzeiro and Real Valladolid, experiencing two consecutive promotions in Brazil and Spain.

In 2024 he returned as head coach to Defensor Sporting, where he won the AUF Uruguay Cup and had a great season. That same year, he took charge of Athletico Paranaense (Brazil), competing in three tournaments and leaving a strong impression. In November, he began his tenure at FC Juárez in Mexico, where he achieved historic milestones such as the club’s first-ever qualification for the Liguilla, its highest points total in a single tournament, and avoiding payment of league fines in both tournaments he led from the bench.

After a 2025 season in which he established himself as one of the best managers in Mexican football, Martín Varini took charge of the Necaxa bench.

Varini is committed to a flexible style of play, building out from the back, applying high pressure, and maintaining an offensive mindset. He combines academic training, international experience, and strong leadership. At just 33 years old, he is one of the standout names to watch among South American coaches.

Career as a coach

• 2017–2021: Defensor Sporting (U14)
  Youth development experience with U-12 to U-14 teams, applying his methodology from the foundational stages.
• 2021: Rentistas (Uruguay)
  Debut as a head coach in the Copa Libertadores. He was the youngest manager in the tournament.
• 2022–2023: Assistant in Cruzeiro (Brazil) y Real Valladolid (Sparin)
  Member of Paulo Pezzolano’s coaching staff, achieving two consecutive promotions.
• 2024: Defensor Sporting (Uruguay)
  Winner of the Copa AUF Uruguay. Recorded a 63% win rate across 26 matches.
• 2024: Athletico Paranaense (Brasil)
  Participation in the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, and Copa Sudamericana, showing competitive performance.
• 2025: FC Juárez (México)
  Youngest manager in Liga MX. Qualified Juárez for the Liguilla for the first time in the club’s history and achieved the highest points tally ever recorded by the club in Liga MX.
• 2025 – present: Necaxa (México)