Atlas F.C.
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| Full name | Club Social y Deportivo Atlas de Guadalajara | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Zorros (Foxes) Los Rojinegros (The Red-blacks) La Academia (The Academy) | |||
| Founded | August 15, 1916 | |||
| Ground | Jalisco, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | |||
| Capacity | 56,700 | |||
| Chairman |  Alejandro Fernández | |||
| Manager | Benjamín Galindo | |||
| League | Primera División | |||
| Clausura 2009 | 16th (league) | |||
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Club Social y Deportivo Atlas de Guadalajara is a Mexican professional football club. Atlas is one of three teams that play in Guadalajara, Jalisco, along with Guadalajara and Estudiantes Tecos in the Primera División de México. The club's home stadium is Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara.
History
Club Atlas was founded in a café of Guadalajara, Mexico, where a few friends recalled their football experience at English college squads where they had spent the last few years. Alfonso and Juan José "Lico" Cortina, Pedro "Perico" and Carlos Fernández del Valle, the three Orendain brothers and Federico Collignon (who had studied in Berlin) finally decided in the summer of 1916, to set up a football team called "Club Atlas" [citation needed] and founded it in Tlaquepaque, outside the city of Guadalajara.
The technical ability that the "Atlistas" employed - triangular passing and skillful dribbling to avoid opponents' tackles - were impressive that they were seen as better than local squads. Atlas and Chivas have also been rivals because they are the oldest of all Mexican teams in their division, they are both known for their elicit histories, and because they play in the same city; the games they play against one another are known as the 'Clásico Tapatío'.
Youth Academy
Atlas has the best youth academies in Mexico. In the last decade Atlas has developed and let many young players play more than any other team in Mexico. Many young players go in Atlas youth academy knowing that they'll have a strong possibility to play with the first team. Although Atlas has only won the league championship once, their academy has been famous for developing national idols who have played with the Mexico national football team in the past decade like Jared Borgetti, Daniel Osorno, José de Jesús Corona, Pável Pardo, Oswaldo Sánchez, Rafael Márquez, Juan Carlos Medina, Jorge Hernández, Mario Méndez, Miguel Zepeda, Jose Vaquero Lopez, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Juan Pablo Garcia, Hugo Ayala, Jorge Torres Nilo, Edgar Ivan Pacheco, Andrés Guardado,and many more. As of 2007, most teams in Mexico's Primera División have at least one player who started their career in Club Atlas.
Club Atlas had a golden age in the year 1998 with promising players such as Rafael Márquez, Daniel Osorno, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Mario Méndez, Omar Briceño, and Miguel Zepeda. They lost the final to Toluca and next season became dominant 1st place overall but never claimed a title. Today many of the once young jewels of the team are on elite squads and play important roles.
International Competitions
Atlas has participated twice in Copa Libertadores. The first appearance been in the year 2000 when the team made it to the quarterfinals and lost to former cup champions Palmeiras. In 2008, Atlas had another chance participation in Copa Libertadores making it to the quarterfinals and losing to cup champions Boca Juniors. In June 2009 Atlas was chosen with other 3 teams from FMF to participate in the Superliga. The Superliga is a tournament that 4 teams from FMF and MLS participate. The winner receives the prize of $1 million.
Estadio Jalisco
Atlas currently plays in the stadium. Estadio Jalisco is the third largest stadium in Mexico and was constructed on January 31, 1960. It is a venue that has played host to historic matches and teams including Pelé's Brazil in 1970. In total, It was host for 8 games in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, 6 of which were from group stage matches, and two were quarter and semi-finals. Subsequently, the stadium was again host for 9 games in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, 6 of which were group stage matches, 1 was round of sixteen and the last 2 were quarter and semi-finals.
Fans
Atlas fans are collectively called La Fiel (the faithful) by themselves, but better known to the rest of the population as "Barra 51" ; La Barra 51 is the main organized supporter group. La Barra 51's name recalls Atlas' last and only championship in the Primera División de México in 1951. Through the team's struggling performance La Fiel has earned its name, supporting the team for more than 50 years without any major silverware.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current Technical Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | José Luis Mata
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| Assistant Manager | Benjamín Galindo
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| Physical fitness coach |  Diego Rousse
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| Team Doctor | Rubén Cruz
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| Massage Therapist | Guillermo López
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| Utilityman | Rubén Herrera
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| Goalkeepers coach | Raúl Morales
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Last updated: 18 April 2010
Source: F.C. Atlas Official Website
Honors
- 1950-51
- Copa México: 4
- 1945-46, 1949-50, 1961-62, 1967-68
- 1945-46, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1961-62
- 1954-55, 1971-72, 1978-79
- 1917-21, 1935-36
Friendly International Tournaments
- 1990
