Ruiz takes over the first team of LD Alajuelense after the club parted ways with head trainer Ismael Rescalvo, who left the club following four consecutive losses. The 3-1 defeat against Cartaginés was Rescalvo's last match, despite LD Alajuelense still being at the top of the national league. Ruiz, who normally coaches the Under 20 team, will be in charge of the first team for the next two matches.
The first of these matches is the return leg of the Concacaf Central American Cup quarterfinals against Marathón, which ended in a 2-2 draw in the first leg. LD Alajuelense will then face Inter San Carlos in the league. Ruiz is expected to return to the youth academy once a permanent replacement for Rescalvo is found.
Ruiz has been involved in the youth academy of LD Alajuelense since 2023 and has also worked as an assistant coach for the first team. He currently coaches the Under 20 team and was named the best coach in the Under 21 league in Costa Rica last season. Ruiz is well-known in the Netherlands for his successful period at FC Twente, where he played from 2009 to 2011 and scored 24 Eredivisie goals in 2010. He also won the KNVB Beker and Johan Cruijff Schaal with the club.