Soccer in Mexico is in mourning once more as Omar Trujillo, a former player who won the 2000 championship with Monarcas Morelia, passed away on Thursday night. He passed away at the age of 44 in his native Michoacán from a severe heart attack.
Social media rumours of the football player’s passing spread, but it was former teammate and journalist Moisés Muoz who provided official confirmation.
“I have just been informed that my former teammate and great friend Omar Trujillo, captain of Monarcas Morelia and national team player, passed away today, sad news, rest in peace my dear ‘Teco’,” he wrote.
Me acaban de informar que mi ex compañero y gran amigo Omar Trujillo capitán de Monarcas Morelia y seleccionado Nacional falleció el día de hoy, triste noticia, descanse en Paz mi querido "Teco" pic.twitter.com/Ba3yoR1nxq
— Moises Muñoz (@MoyMu23) December 2, 2022
Defender Trujillo made his debut with Monarcas Morelia in 1998. He was born in Michoacán in 1977, and with the help of his talent, he was able to make it to the Mexican first division by that time. He gained a spot in the first squad after competing at the highest level of the national league, and in the 2000 Invierno tournament, he was a crucial member of the Purépecha club that defeated Toluca on the Estadio Nemesio Dez field to win the league championship.
He spent the majority of his career with Monarcas, and it wasn’t until 2009 that he left the team. He then joined the Rojinegros del Atlas as a reinforcement, but he only played for them for one season before moving to the Sultana del Norte to play for the Tigers
Trujillo finished second twice, once in the Apertura 2002 and once in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He made his national team debut with Mexico in 2005 after Argentine Ricardo Antonio La Volpe gave him a thumbs up during a friendly match against Poland that was played in Chicago.
