Christian ‘Chaco’ Giménez admits he still cannot believe he is entering the International Football Hall of Fame in Pachuca.
The former midfielder joins the 2026 induction class as one of 18 figures chosen by specialized journalists, as latimes.com reported.
Giménez enters the Pachuca hall on November 10, experiencing the buildup with a mix of nerves and anxiety, according to latimes.com. He stated that when he first learned of the honor, he questioned whether his career truly warranted the distinction given the many important figures he views as superior, latimes.com reported.
Despite his doubts, he accepts the recognition out of respect for the voters and his own professional journey. He thanked football, Mexico, Grupo Pachuca, the Hall of Fame, and director Antonio Moreno, as latimes.com noted.
Giménez began in the youth ranks of Boca Juniors after signing in 1989, eventually winning three domestic titles and two Copa Libertadores trophies in 2000 and 2002, latimes.com reported. Following stints with Unión de Santa Fe and Independiente in 2003, he moved to Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz in 2004 before joining Club América, where he secured a Campeón de Campeones and a CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 2005, according to latimes.com.
His greatest club success came at Pachuca and Cruz Azul. With the Tuzos, he scored 44 goals across 120 matches, while adding 63 goals in 257 appearances for Cruz Azul, latimes.com reported.
Giménez points to Pachuca’s 2006 Copa Sudamericana final victory over Colo-Colo as a defining turning point for the club and Mexican football, latimes.com reported. Playing the second leg at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Pachuca won 2-1 with goals from Gabriel Caballero and Giménez to claim CONCACAF’s only title in a South American tournament, according to latimes.com.
He credited the achievement to a resilient squad, coach Enrique Meza, and executives Andrés Fassi, Jesús Martínez, and Armando Martínez, latimes.com reported.
Working now as a television commentator for FOX Deportes, Giménez emphasizes preparation and audience trust, latimes.com reported. Although he managed Cancún FC in the Liga de Expansión in 2020 and served as an assistant at Mazatlán FC in 2022, he noted that a closed system in Mexican football limits opportunities for coaches lacking vast experience, according to latimes.com.
For now, he enjoys family life and coaching his daughter’s youth team, keeping his professional doors open while embracing his upcoming hall of fame recognition, latimes.com reported.
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