Argentine manager Fabián Bustos has agreed to return as head coach of Peruvian football club Universitario de Deportes, replacing Héctor Cúper for the final stretch of the Torneo Clausura season.
The 57-year-old strategist is set to arrive in Lima in the coming hours to begin his second spell at the helm of the club. His primary objective is leading Universitario to their fourth consecutive Liga 1 national championship title.
According to sports journalist Gustavo Peralta, Bustos reached an agreement to take over after the club concluded its working relationship with Cúper. Writing on Twitter, Peralta reported that the Argentine has already become the new head coach of Universitario de Deportes to initiate a new chapter with the team.
Coaching staff and transition
Peralta also addressed the position of interim head coach Piero Alva, who was put in charge of first-team duties immediately following Cúper's departure. Alva, a former Peru international forward affectionately nicknamed El Zorrito, will not form part of Bustos' permanent coaching staff. Once his temporary stint ends, Alva will return to his regular role within the club's technical structure.
Bustos previously managed Universitario during the 2024 season, when he guided the team to the national league title. Founded in 1924, Universitario de Deportes is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Peru, playing its home matches in the capital city of Lima. The club's supporters hold Bustos in high regard due to his past silverware success during his initial spell.
Cúper's exit marks another managerial change during the 2026 campaign. The Peruvian top flight, known as Liga 1, is split into two distinct seasonal competitions, the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. The winners of each tournament qualify for the end-of-season championship playoffs, making every remaining league match critical for Universitario's title ambitions.
Torneo Clausura title race
Universitario currently occupies second place in the Torneo Clausura standings after dropping points in a heavy loss against Deportivo Garcilaso. The defeat leaves the team with seven matches left in the campaign to reverse their fortunes, claim the Clausura title, and maintain their pursuit of a fourth straight championship.
However, Bustos will not be able to take his position on the touchline immediately. Due to an outstanding disciplinary sanction carried over from his first period managing Universitario, he is barred from directing the team from the bench until matchday 14, when Universitario hosts Sport Boys.
Remaining fixture schedule
Universitario faces a demanding series of seven remaining fixtures to complete the Clausura campaign, featuring a mix of home matches in Lima and challenging away trips across Peru:
- Matchday 11: Universitario vs FBC Melgar (Home)
- Matchday 12: Alianza Atlético vs Universitario (Away)
- Matchday 13: Universitario vs Juan Pablo II (Home)
- Matchday 14: Universitario vs Sport Boys (Home)
- Matchday 15: Atlético Grau vs Universitario (Away)
- Matchday 16: Universitario vs CD Moquegua (Home)
- Matchday 17: Sport Huancayo vs Universitario (Away)
The closing run-in includes home encounters against Arequipa side FBC Melgar and Callao outfit Sport Boys, alongside tough away journeys to face Atlético Grau in Piura and high-altitude side Sport Huancayo. Winning the Clausura remains essential for Universitario as they attempt to complete a historic four-year domestic winning streak.
