Francisco López, the interim manager who put out the fire and propelled Santa Fe to the BetPlay League final.

If Santa Fe manages to earn its tenth star on Sunday against Deportivo Independiente Medellín, one of the most important chapters in this story will feature a man who once put out a fire and ended up becoming a key figure for the semester.

This is Francisco López, a 42-year-old Bogotá native, a member of the Cardinal's household, who had returned to the club in February of this year as sporting director.

López had already worked at the club between 2011 and 2019, León's most glorious period, with a Copa Sudamericana title, three Liga titles, three Superliga titles, and a Suruga Bank Cup . After spells at La Equidad and Deportivo Pasto, he returned home.

He was barely unloading his belongings in Santa Fe when López had to take over the professional team. Uruguayan Pablo Peirano left after the Copa Libertadores elimination, and López, less than two weeks into his tenure as a club employee, took on the challenge. The debut was a dream come true: a 7-1 win against Envigado, Santa Fe's biggest win in short tournaments and the most comprehensive victory since a 7-1 victory against Bucaramanga in 1989.

López's work bore fruit numerically: seven matches, with five wins, one draw, and only one loss, in the second derby against Millonarios, after having won the first four days earlier. By then, Uruguayan Jorge Bava was in Bogotá, although he couldn't yet manage the professional team due to documentation issues.

Bava took a while to gel, but López's savings were enough to secure qualification. "He's a great coach, a great human being, a great strategist. What made it easier was sharing the knowledge we have of the group, of the environment, already being here. It's different watching and analyzing it on television. We already shared the day-to-day with them, that's what made it easier, that the four people who came with him—Bruno, Nacho, and Mauri—were willing to work with the coaching staff that was here," López said in an interview with Win Sports.

The "Cardenal" sporting director appeals to the club's spirit to keep its sights set on the title, after winning a tough four-team tournament against Nacional, Millonarios, and Once Caldas. "This has always been a straightforward club, humble in those aspects. There are absolutely no egos, and their work and ours have always been recognized," he explained.

Tuesday's 0-0 draw leaves the final wide open. Santa Fe appeals to its unity to seek its tenth star.

"We told the coach to stay together, united, and that if that were the case, we would surely get the final, and we hope we get our tenth star. That's how the whole club is doing: the administrative department, the sports department, the players, the fans, and if everything continues like this, we'll be celebrating on Monday, hand in hand with God and the Virgin Mary," insisted López, who managed to overcome the emergency.