Club América

América
	Club America
Full name	Club de Fútbol; América S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)	Aguilas (Eagles) ; Azulcremas (blue-creams)
Founded	October 12, 1916
Ground	Azteca,; Mexico, DF
Capacity	129,000
Chairman	Guillermo Cañedo White
Assistant Coach	Luis Fernando Tena
League	Primera División
Apertura 2006	3rd (playoffs); 3rd (league); 2nd (group)
Home colours	Away colours

Club de Fútbol América, most commonly known as just América, is a Mexican professional football club. América plays in the Primera División. The team is the one of the most popular and traditional football clubs in Mexico. América and Chivas share the distinction of being the most successful teams in league play - America with 10 professional championships, and Chivas with 11. The two also have a long-standing rivalry. Their meetings, which have become known as Clásicos are played twice a year and signal a national derby.

The team has also had success in international tournaments including 5 CONCACAF Champions' cups, tying Cruz Azul for the most titles all time, and two Copa Interamericana victories. América has also had strong showings in the Copa Libertadores, finishing as semi-finalists in Copa Libertadores 2000 and 2002. They have also finished 4th in the 2006 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

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Their club colors have been yellow and blue since the team's foundation. The team mascot is the eagle, one of which is flown around the stadium before important matches.

Amateur Era

In 1916, Club América had to prove themselves in order to be accepted into the Mexican League (Liga Mexicana de Aficionados de Futbol Asociacion)¹. Necaxa, Atlante, Real España, Germania, and Asturias were already members of the league when América wished to join the amateur league. América's acceptance into the league depended on 3 games. If they lost a single one, they would not be accepted into the league. América’s first game was against Germania. América won the game and was then scheduled to play against España, which resulted in a draw. América was accepted as a result and formed part of the league. Their first season did not go so well, but they were able to capture a fanbase. At the time, América was the only team in Mexico City with an all-Mexican club.

In 1918, the team changed its name to Union. The name didn’t stand too well and changed back to América in 1920². From 1924 to 1928, América were crowned league champions and were able to attract impressive crowds. In 1926, América became the first Mexican club to play outside of Mexico². Aside from broadening their horizons, Club América along with Atlante petitioned to reduce the number of foreign players in the league. Shortly after the Mexican Football Federation was formed in 1928, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez , América's founder, was designated as the National Team Head Coach. Most of the players that participated in the 1928 Olympics and 1930 World Cup were players that played for América.

Professional Era

1940's Mexican League Beginnings

Up until 1942, every league in Mexico was considered a regional league even though the league in Mexico City was the strongest of them all. In 1942-43, the first National League was established and it was known as the Liga Mayor (Major League). Club America wasn't the team it was during the 1920s on through the early 1930s. Aging players, lack of resources, and lack of interest took a toll on the club which led the team to become a bottom feeder for much of the beginning stages of the professional era⁷.

1950's-60's First League Title

In 1956, the club was sold to a soft drink manufacturer. The new owner was trying to build upon the club's National Cup titles in 1954 and 1955 against Guadalajara, their soon to be nemesis. To the dismay of many, the owner failed to build upon the success and on July 22 1959, Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, owner of Telesistema Mexicano (Televisa), bought America from Isaac Bessudo³.

It is said in Mexico that the club was founded in 1916, but reborn in 1959, with the vision and values that were set forth by the son of Televisa's founder, Emilio Azcarraga Milmo. The vision he embarked upon was to convert football into a form of entertainment for the masses. Following the acquisition, Azcarraga told his players, 'I do not know much about football, but I do know a lot about business, and this gentlemen, will be a business⁷'.

It was obvious to Emilio Azcarraga that football in Mexico needed an antagonist, in other words, a common bad guy. Emilio Azcarraga knew that his club could not compete with the good guy in the movie (in this case, Chivas). The new owner sought out to be the villain. Soon after, the club started to spend obscene amounts of money in acquiring foreign talents, which offended fans. Emilio Azcarraga hired the Mexican Leagues most successful football executive of that time, Guillermo Cañedo as President and Ignacio Trelles as head coach. It was then when Emilio Azcarraga revolutionized the game in Mexico. He laid down a foundation for the club’s future by investing in scouting, player development, infrastructure, and merchandising⁷. He marketed his team both at the national and international level which allowed the club to enjoy financial growth. Under Azcarraga, the team has won 10 League championships, the first after the 1965-1966 season.

1970's Signs of Greatness

In the 1970's, when Mexico's league championship format was changed to a playoff following the regular season (the previous format was akin to most European leagues, where the team with the most points after the end of the regular season is crowned the champion), America achieved more success - winning in the 1970-71 season(America 2 - 0 Toluca), and in the 1975-76 season, defeating Universidad de Guadalajara by a score of 4-0. The success in the 70's was due in large part to players like Enrique Borja, later an executive for the team, and Carlos Reinoso the gifted Chilean playmaker who is arguably the greatest player to wear an America uniform.

1980's The Golden Age

Eight more years would come to pass before America won another championship, but the team's fans would be rewarded thanks to the conquest of what has been called by many the greatest moment in the Eagles' history, a 5-3 victory over the team Chivas de Guadalajara at the climax of the 1983-1984 season, cementing the team's third league championship. The '84 championship gave the team new vigor it seemed, and America began to dominate the decade, steamrolling their way to four more titles in the 1980's. (1984-85, when they defeated UNAM Pumas 3-1; Prode 85 beating Tampico Madero 5 to 4, 1987-88 once again over Pumas by a score of 4-2 and ending their decade of dominance by defeating Cruz Azul at the end of the 1988-89 season 5-4)

1990's A Decade to Forget

The nineties would be a decade to forget for fans of the yellow clad warriors, with nothing to show for except an Interamericana Cup championship in 1993, and a CONCACAF Cup Championship in 1992. Years came and went with Televisa spending exorbitant amounts of money on both Mexican and South American (and even a few European and African imports) destined to return the club to its former glory which came to pass as nothing more than currency far from well spent. Internationally renowned coaches and executives were also brought to the team, producing no results that added to the team's woes. The only bright spots of the decade were the appearance of new young stars that developed in the club's youth squad, players like Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Germán Villa that would be instrumental to the team's success later on.

2000's Return to the Top

The new millennium brought renewed hope for Club America's fans, who would be rewarded quickly, with a CONCACAF Giants' cup in 2001, the first League championship in 13 years in the summer of 2002, and the team's tenth overall League title in 2005. The team, now being run by Azcarraga's grandson, Emilio Azcárraga Jean continues the legacy begun by his grandfather and the foundation he laid which eventually rewarded the club with - aside from the aforementioned 10 League titles- , 3 Cup titles, 3 Super Cup titles, 5 CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, and 2 Interamerican Cup titles.

Colors

The club's kit and uniform has always been blue and yellow, over the years however the club has used many different combinations in various seasons or in a particular game. The team's traditional uniform is a yellow top and socks, with blue shorts. América has also had different designs on the jersey, most notabley the 90th anniversary jersey used in special games throughout the 2006 season.

Home

Away

Stadium

Main article: Estadio Azteca

América play their home games at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The stadium is shared with Atlante, and was briefly used by Cruz Azul and Necaxa before they moved to the Estadio Azul in 1996 and Estadio Victoria in 2003 respectively. The stadium was designed by Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, and was inaugurated on May 29, 1966, with a match between América and Torino, which América tied 2-2. The Azteca is also the only stadium in history to host two World Cup finals. The First Goal in the stadium was scored for Arlindo Dos Santos.

Supporters

América have substantial Ultras fan support in the form of barras, the most popular of which is called La Monumental, who receive ten thousand tickets for every home game. This barra is unique in that it was not established or even organized by the fans, but rather was created by Javier Pérez Teuffer, the club's president at the time. He wanted a more family-oriented barra, but his creation soon went awry. La Monumental is notorious for being the most rabid and violent barra in Mexico, attacking rival barras like UNAM's La Rebel at first glance. The violence came to a head on May 11, 2004, when América were eliminated from the 2004 Copa Libertadores by Brazilian side São Caetano. During the game, Cuauhtémoc Blanco purposely elbowed an opposing player and was sent off. As São Caetano players celebrated the victory after the game ended, Blanco came back from the locker room and started a fight. Soon after, members from La Monumental invaded the pitch and began to attack São Caetano's goalkeeper and several members of security. They also damaged parts of the Azteca. Though the São Caetano players got away safely, both Blanco and La Monumental were condemned for the incident.

Apart from this, various América barras, including La Monumental, engage in acts of tifo, such as the popular Avalancha (avalanche). For this, supporters rush either up or down the stands whever América score a goal. This act is designed - like its name implies - to imitate an avalanche. Supporters also perform elaborate porras, or chants, the most famous of which is Vamos América. Though not necessary, the barras will frequently employ the use of drums or various other musical and percussion instruments to add rhythm to a chant.

Rivalries

Over the years América has formed fierce rivalries with many teams, this is due in large part not only because of the size and succes of the club, but because of the polarizing perception of the institution.

El Clásico Joven

América has a long standing rivalry with Cruz Azul, it is considered one of Mexico's classic derbies because of the size of the two clubs and their popularity around Mexico City and the rest of the country. América and Cruz Azul rank second and third all-time in Mexican championships and are tied for the most CONCACAF Champions' Cups.

El Clásico Mexicano

The rivalry between América and Chivas is considered the important rivarly in Mexico and one of the most heated rivalries in the world. The derby transcends far beyond just the two corresponding cities, Mexico City and Guadalajara but around the country, different parts of central america, and in the United States(due to Latin immigration). América and Chivas have long been the two most successful teams in Mexico and currently stand one and two on the all-time first division table, Chivas recently taken the lead winning their eleventh star, while América has ten.

As of 2007 América have the lead winning 20 times, tying 65, and losing 101times, including the 1-0 victory in the Clausura 2007 and two victories in the Copa Libertadores.

Other Rivalries

América also has strong rivalries with fellow Mexico City side UNAM and Toluca, and its "brother" team Necaxa, as the latter is owned by the same conglomerate that owns América.

Honors

National

File:Minilogoprimera.jpgMexican Championship: 10
- 1965-1966, 1970-1971, 1975-1976, 1983-1984, 1984-1985, Prode 1985, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, Verano 2002, Clausura 2005
Campeón de Copa (Mexican Cup): 5
- 1953-1954, 1954-1955, 1963-1964, 1964-1965, 1973-1974
Campeón de Campeones (Mexican Super Cup): 5
- 1954-1955, 1975-1976, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 2004-2005

International

File:Concacaf logo.pngCONCACAF Champions' Cup: 5 (record, tied with Cruz Azul)
- 1978, 1987, 1991, 1993, 2006
File:Concacaf logo.pngCONCACAF Giants Cup:
- 2001
Interamerican Cup: 2
- 1978, 1991

Friendly Tournaments

Copa Independencia: 1967, 1975
Junta Espanola Covadonga: 1927
Copa Vizcaya: 1920
Copa Baltamar: 1922
Liga Excelsior: 1920
Copa Presidente Gustavo Diaz Ordaz: 1965
Copa Revolucion Mexicana: 1981
Copa Pachuca: 1997
Copa Houston: 2003
Copa San José: 2006

América at the Copa Libertadores

Year	Team	PG	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	GD	Stage
1998	América	8	2	3	3	7	7	9	0	Round of 16
2000	América	12	8	1	3	28	18	25	10	Semifinals
2002	América	12	9	2	1	19	8	29	11	Semifinals
2004	América	8	4	2	2	13	8	14	5	Round of 16
2007	América	8	5	0	3	18	12	15	6	Round of 16(in competition)
	Total	48	28	8	12	85	53	92	32

Current Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	MEX	Francisco Guillermo Ochoa
2	DF	MEX	Ismael Rodríguez
3	DF	MEX	José Antonio Castro
4	DF	MEX	Óscar Rojas
5	DF	MEX	Duilio Davino
6	DF	MEX	Diego Alberto Cervantes
7	MF	ARG	Daniel Ruben Bilos
8	MF	ECU	Luis Saritama
9	FW	PAR	Salvador Cabañas
10	FW	MEX	Cuauhtémoc Blanco
12	GK	MEX	Alberto Becerra
14	DF	MEX	Carlos Infante
16	DF	CHI	Ricardo Rojas
17	MF	MEX	Ignacio Torres


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
18	MF	MEX	Germán Villa
19	MF	MEX	Fabián Peña
20	MF	MEX	Alejandro Argüello
22	DF	MEX	Alvin Mendoza
23	FW	PAR	Nelson Cuevas
25	FW	ARG	Cesar Andres Carignano
28	DF	MEX	Raúl Alberto Salinas
30	GK	MEX	Armando Navarrete
52	MF	MEX	Juan Carlos Mosqueda
54	FW	MEX	Enrique Esqueda
55	FW	MEX	Santiago Fernández
57	MF	MEX	Fernando Julien Freire
59	DF	MEX	Rodrigo Iñigo

Reserve/Youth Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
25	GK	MEX	Óscar Antonio Miramontes
39	DF	MEX	Nestor Mauricio Casillas Ayon
51	MF	MEX	Juan Carlos Silva Maya
59	FW	MEX	Abrahm Octaviano
16	DF	MEX	Leandro Morales

Squad changes for Clausura 2007 season

In:

César Andrés Carignano- On Loan From FC Basel (for Copa Libertadores 2007 only)
Daniel Rubén Bilos - On Loan From AS Saint-Etienne
Luis Saritama - transferred From UANL Tigres