- On 28 November, Alexander Medina will look to lift the trophy with Estudiantes de La Plata that has so far eluded him both as a player and as a manager: the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
- The 'Cacique' will be seeking redemption at a decisive stage of the continent's most prestigious club competition. In 2009, as a forward for Nacional, he reached the semi-finals, only to be knocked out by 'Pincha' — the side that would go on to lift the trophy that year.
The Uruguayan manager has finally broken that barrier. In his ten previous appearances in the competition — seven as a player and three as a manager — he had never reached the Final. At the Maracanã, his side showed great character to overcome Flamengo, the defending champions, in an unforgettable penalty shoot-out in which another Uruguayan stole the spotlight: goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
The Argentinian side had not only brought Medina's continental dream to an end in 2009. In his first international campaign as Nacional manager, in the 2018 edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, the Montevideo club were drawn in Group F alongside Santos (Brazil), Real Garcilaso (Peru) and Estudiantes de La Plata.
With qualification for the Round of 16 still to be decided on the final matchday, 'León' beat Nacional 3-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to progress to the knockout stage. 'Bolso', meanwhile, finished among the best third-placed sides and secured a place in the 2018 CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
Medina took on a demanding challenge when he arrived at Estudiantes de La Plata following Eduardo Domínguez's departure. Domínguez had overseen a successful spell, winning five domestic titles between 2023 and 2025.
In his first season, Medina guided the Argentine side back to the CONMEBOL Libertadores Final for the first time in 17 years. Estudiantes finished second in their group behind Flamengo, beat Universidad Católica 4-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16 and followed that up with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Corinthians in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they came up against defending champions Mengão and brought the famous 'Pincha' spirit to the fore in a memorable tie. After 180 minutes of regulation time ended goalless, Muslera became the hero, saving three penalties — from Jorginho, Paquetá and Bruno Henrique — to send Estudiantes through to their sixth continental Final.
Seventeen years later, the Centenario Stadium and Estudiantes will once again feature in Alexander Medina's story. In 2009, the Uruguayan scored against 'León' in Nacional's 2-1 defeat in the second leg of the semi-finals at the iconic Montevideo venue.
Fate had another opportunity to make history in store for him. At the Centenario, the iconic stadium that has hosted more CONMEBOL Libertadores Finals than any other venue, Estudiantes and Palmeiras will decide on 28 November who is to be crowned champions of South America.
