Club: Cruz Azul

Season / Period: Around 2016–17

• Country: Mexico
• Home stadium: Estadio Azul (until 2018; matches also played at Estadio Azulgrana/other venues occasionally)
• Nickname(s): La Máquina (The Machine)

Head coach (around 2016–17): Tomás Boy

• Tomás Boy (Mexican former midfielder and manager) was appointed Cruz Azul head coach in October 2016, replacing Paco Jémez.
• Boy led the team through the remainder of the Apertura 2016 and into the Clausura 2017 / the 2017 part of the cycle, overseeing efforts to stabilize results and adjust tactics after the prior coach's tenure.

Context and performance highlights around that time:

• 2016 Apertura: Cruz Azul had a turbulent Apertura 2016 under Paco Jémez and then Tomás Boy took over in October; the club did not win a title in 2016.
• 2017 Clausura and Copa MX: The team continued competing in Liga MX (Apertura/Clausura split seasons) and domestic cup competitions; Cruz Azul’s well-known long title drought (rarely winning Liga MX since 1997 league title) remained a defining narrative for the club during this era.
• Squad notes: Typical squad members around this period included established domestic and foreign players (goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards commonly associated with Cruz Azul), though exact rosters changed season-to-season with transfers in winter/summer windows.

Notable characteristics of Tomás Boy’s management:

• Known for an attacking-minded approach and encouraging offensive play.
• Experienced manager and former national team player, brought leadership and familiarity with Mexican football culture.

Short summary: Tomás Boy took charge of Cruz Azul in October 2016 and managed the team through the late 2016 and into 2017 period. The club continued to compete in Liga MX and domestic cups, seeking to return to top form while still carrying the long-running expectation from fans to end their league title drought.