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==Honors==
==Honors==CHIVAS SUCK
===National ===
===National ===
*'''[[Primera División de México|Mexican Championship]]: 10'''
*'''[[Primera División de México|Mexican Championship]]: 10'''

Revision as of 17:16, 21 April 2008

América
File:ClubAmericaLogo-1.png
Full nameClub America
S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)Águilas (Eagles)
FoundedOctober 12, 1916
GroundAzteca,
Mexico DF
Capacity114,465
OwnerMexico Televisa
ChairmanMexico Guillermo Cañedo White
ManagerArgentina Ruben Omar Romano
LeaguePrimera División
Repechaje (pre-playoffs)
6th (league)

América, most commonly known as Club América or just América, is a professional Mexican football club playing in the Primera División. The team is one of the two most popular football clubs in Mexico, the other being Chivas. América is the richest team in Mexico, owned by Televisa (which also owns Necaxa, San Luis, and Socio Aguila). It is one of the most successful teams in CONCACAF tournaments, having won five Champion's Cups and one Giants Cup.With this, America is the most successful team in CONCACAF. America was also voted by the IFFHS as the twenty first best team in the world, the first Mexican team in being in the top ten. 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 at least twice a year and signal a national derby. America has won most of the clasicos. Their club colors have been yellow and blue since the team was founded. The team mascot is the eagle, one of which, named ("Celeste"), is flown around the stadium before important matches. The clausura 2008 tournament is the worst ever in club's history.

History

Foundation

In 1916, two cousins and students from Mascarones Jesuit College, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez and Germán Nuñez Cortina, decided to form a team, which was to be called 'Record.' Their team joined with another from La Perpetua College.[1]

Players from and Record met on 12 October, 1916 . Many names were considered but it was Pedro 'Cheto' Quintanilla who had proposed America since they had formed a team on Columbus Day (Dia de las Americas), a day in which the Americas were discovered. The players soon designed a crest which had the map of the Americas encircled and placed a 'C' and an 'A' on both sides of the Americas. After they had created their logo, the players had to decide on their team colors. Rafael got some of his father’s navy blue trousers and a yellow shirt and it was decided amongst the group that those would be the club's colours. Since then, they have shared the spot of being the first most popular team in Mexico with Chivas de Guadalajara, their fiercest and most hated rival.

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. They 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. 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 considered 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 its toll on the club which led the team to become a bottom feeder for much of the beginning stages of the professional era7.

1950s-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. Emilio Azcarraga knew that his club could not compete with the top team (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 national and international level which allowed the club to enjoy financial growth. Under Azcarraga, the team has won 10 League championships, the first being the 1965-1966 season.

1970s Signs of Greatness

In the 1970s, when Mexico's league championship format was changed to a play-off 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 América uniform.

1980s The Golden Age

During the 80's America was an unforgettable team. They were always considered a favorite to win the championship in any tournament they participated in.

1990s A Decade to Forget

The '90s 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.

América at the Club World Cup in a game against Cheonbuk Motors

2000s 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 son, Emilio Azcárraga Jean continues the legacy begun by his father 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.

2007 - America had a good start in the Clausura 2007. They made the playoffs of the Clausura and were in Copa Libertadores 2007 finals as well. Their then manager Luis Fernando Tena made very controversial by leaving the starters in Mexico to play the Clausura, and he started their substitutes and youth players in the Libertadores Away game in Brazil against Santos. They lost the away game (2)2-1(1). Another upsetting moment cam when America lost the final of the Clausura to Pachuca It was also very close. They tied in Pachuca's home (1-1) and lost in their home (2-1). This also saw a sad moment of Las Aguilas, this being Cuauhtémoc Blanco, an America icon's final game for America. He had signed a contract with Chicago Fire of the MLS to migrate there at the end of the Clausura. Aftere scarce results and questionable decisions, Luis Fernando Tena was fired halfway into the Apertura 2007 and was replaced by one of America's legendary players of the 80's, Daniel Brailovsky. In December of 2007, America had a season to forget. Las Águilas lost to Monarcas de Morelia in two very difficult games of the repechaje (re-qualifiers) of the Apertura 2007. They also had an opportunity to be champions of the Copa Sudamericana 2007, but lost to Arsenal de Sarandi after many controversial decisions made my many people on and off the field. Those people included the Board of the CONMEBOL

In 2006, America qualified to the FIFA Club World Cup, in this tournament, America just won its 1st match against the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea). America went on to lose the next match against FC Barcelona (Spain), America ended its participation in the tournament, losing the 3rd place spot to Al-Ahly (Egypt). They finished 4th in the 2006 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Stadium

América in a match against Cruz Azul
Main article: Estadio Azteca

América plays their home games at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The stadium briefly used by Atlante, Cruz Azul and Necaxa before they moved to the Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo in 2007, 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 was 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.　

The Estadio Azteca has a seating capacity of 114,465 making it the fourth largest stadium in the world.

Supporters

América have substantial Ultras fan support in the form of barras, the most popular of which is called La Monumental. 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 one of the most rabid and violent barras 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 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 of 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. However, the "Ritual del Kaoz" have taken over and separated from the Ultra section or "El Gallinero" (how it is called in the cheap section). They have taken over in a way that now they have no affiliation with the stadium workers. They are completely independent and are now seen by people as the most feared firm by the PFP (Federal Preventive Police) of Mexico. They are mostly formed up by the people that were banned from "El Gallinero" because of the São Caetano incident where everyone that went on the field was banned for life.

Apart from this, various América barras, including La Monumental, Ritual Del Kaoz and La Disturbio engage in acts of tifo, such as the popular Avalancha (avalanche). For this, supporters rush either up or down the stands whenever 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.

Hymn

América, ¡a ganar! Estoy contigo, oye mi corazón. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! No te detengas, tú serás el campeón. Águilas vamos, sigan adelante, al ataque final. Con mucha garra y con entrega nadie nos detendrá. Hoy es día grande, en la cancha once estrellas verás. Son once águilas valientes de amarillo y azul. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! Estoy contigo, oye mi corazón. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! No te detengas, tú serás el campeón.

Rivalries

América, ¡a ganar! Estoy contigo, oye mi corazón. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! No te detengas, tú serás el campeón. Águilas vamos, sigan adelante, al ataque final. Con mucha garra y con entrega nadie nos detendrá. Hoy es día grande, en la cancha once estrellas verás. Son once águilas valientes de amarillo y azul. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! Estoy contigo, oye mi corazón. América, ¡Águilas! América, ¡a ganar! No te detengas, tú serás el campeón.

El Clásico Joven

América has a long standing rivalry with Cruz Azul called El Clásico Joven (The Young Classic). 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 Super Clásico Mexicano

Main article: El Clásico (Mexico)

The rivalry between América and Chivas is considered the most important rivalry in Mexico. The derby transcends far beyond just the two corresponding cities, Mexico City and Guadalajara but around the country and some parts of the United States. 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 has recently taken the lead by winning their eleventh star.


Youth Squad

Socio Águila is America's youth/reserve squad.

Club records

  • First Mexican team to get to the second round of the Copa Libertadores de America in 1998.
  • First Mexican team to get a point in the Copa Libertadores de America outside México against Vasco da Gama, the result was 1-1.
  • Has participated in most international competitions out of all Mexican teams, with 21, including Copa Libertadores 2008. These are the participations of Club America in the 21 competitions that it has participated in, of which they have gained 8, with an effectiveness of approximated of 40%
  • These are the number of times participated in international competitions:
  • 8 Cups of Champions and Runners-up of CONCACAF (1977, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2006)
  • 1 Giant's Cup of CONCACAF (2001)
  • 2 Inter-American Cups (1978 and 1991)
  • 2 Sudamericana Cups (2005, 2007)
  • 6 Libertadores Cups (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008)
  • 1 Superliga (2007)
  • 1 Fifa Club World Cup (2006)
  • Along with the Guadalajara, is the only club to have played all the matches in the first Mexican division.
  • Historical Record of most games without losing in Mexican Football, 28. (Closing 2005 - Opening 2005). The former record was 24 games without losing in 1971-1972.
  • Mexican team with most points in one short season, 43 (Apertura 2002).
  • First Mexican team complete 1000 victories in the Opening of the 2002 playing against Pumas of the UNAM Giving an olympic round in stage CU.
  • First team of CONCACAF to win the Inter-American Cup in 1978.
  • Winner of most international matches in Mexico and CONCACAF.
  • Only team of CONCACAF that has won the Inter-American Cup 2 times, in 1978 and 1991.
  • Winner of the most Champions Cup of CONCACAF, along with Cruz Azul Club, both with 5 titles each.
  • Only team of CONCACAF that has won arguably the most important international matches in the region:
  • Champions Cup of the CONCACAF
  • Inter-American Cup
  • Giant's Cup of the CONCACAF.
  • Has participated in more Copa Libertadores than any other Mexican team.
  • First Mexican team in the top 10 of the Club World Ranking of the IFFHS (December 2007).
  • Currently (December 2007) is the best Mexican team in the All-Time Club World Ranking of the IFFHS in the place 72 with 81 points.
  • First non-European and South American team in being World-wide Club of the month to win the award 2 times: August 2001 and May of 2002.

Shirt Sponsorship

Shirt Manufacturer

Official Beer

Sponsors

==Honors==CHIVAS SUCK

National

  • 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

Amateur

  • Campeón de Liga (League Championship): 4
    • 1924-1925, 1925-1926, 1926-1927, 1927-1928
  • Campeón de Copa (Mexican Cup): 1
    • 1937-1938

Friendly

  • Copa Independencia: 1966-67, 1974-75
  • Junta Española Covadonga: 1927
  • Copa Vizcaya: 1920
  • Copa Baltamar: 1922
  • Liga Excélsior: 1920
  • Copa Presidente Gustavo Díaz Ordaz: 1964-65
  • Copa Revolución Mexicana: 1980-81
  • Copa Pachuca: 1997
  • Copa Houston: 2003
  • Copa San José: 2006

International Competitions

América at the Copa Libertadores

Year PG W D L GF GA PTS GD Stage
1998 8 2 3 3 7 7 9 0 Round of 16
2000 12 8 1 3 28 18 25 10 Semifinals
2002 12 9 2 1 19 8 29 11 Semifinals
2004 8 4 2 2 13 8 14 5 Round of 16
2007 12 6 1 5 23 16 19 7 Quarterfinals
2008 6 3 0 3 10 10 9 0 Round of 16 (In Progress)
Total 58 32 9 17 100 67 105 33

América at the Copa Sudamericana

Year PG W D L GF GA PTS GD Stage
2005 4 1 1 2 7 8 4 -1 Quarterfinals
2007 8 5 0 3 15 10 15 5 Sub-Champion
Total 12 6 1 5 22 18 19 4

América at the FIFA Club World Cup

Year PG W D L GF GA PTS GD Stage
2006 3 1 0 2 2 6 3 -4 4th Place
Total 3 1 0 2 2 6 3 -4

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 Mexico MEX Francisco Guillermo Ochoa
2 DF Mexico MEX Ismael Rodríguez
3 DF Mexico MEX José Antonio Castro (Vice-captain 2 )
4 DF Mexico MEX Óscar Rojas
5 DF Mexico MEX Diego Cervantes
6 DF Argentina ARG Sebastián Domínguez
7 FW Argentina ARG Federico Higuaín
8 MF Argentina ARG Federico Insúa
9 FW Paraguay PAR Salvador Cabañas (Vice-captain 1 )
11 FW Uruguay URU Richard Núñez
12 GK Mexico MEX Armando Navarrete
13 MF Mexico MEX Juan Carlos Mosqueda
14 DF Mexico MEX Carlos Infante
15 MF Mexico MEX Jesús Armando Sánchez
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF Mexico MEX Rodrigo Íñigo
17 FW Uruguay URU Hernán Rodrigo López
18 MF Mexico MEX Germán Villa (Captain)
19 DF Mexico MEX Edoardo Isella
20 MF Mexico MEX Alejandro Argüello
21 FW Mexico MEX Enrique Esqueda
22 MF Mexico MEX Raúl Alvin Mendoza
23 MF Mexico MEX José Joaquín Martínez
24 DF Mexico MEX José Guadalupe Zavala
25 MF Mexico MEX José de Jesús Mosqueda
26 MF Mexico MEX Juan Carlos Silva
36 GK Mexico MEX Milton Aguilar
46 FW Mexico MEX Daniel Márquez
Source: http://www.esmas.com/clubamerica/nuestroequipo/

Retired Numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in football (soccer)

Squad change for Clausura 2008 season

In:

Out:

Notable Players

Mexico:

Argentina:

Brazil:

Chile:

Colombia:

Costa Rica:

Germany:

Paraguay

Uruguay:

Cameroon:

Romania

Peru

Zambia:

Top Goalscorers in a season

Top Goalscorers

Selected Former Champion Managers

Selected Former Managers

Former Presidents

  • (1916-1920) Florencio Domínguez Cortina
  • (1920-1930) Guillermo Gómez Arzapalo
  • (1930-1932) Juan de Dios Bojórquez
  • (1933-1933) Carlos Herrera
  • (1933-1934) Louis Martinez
  • (1934-1937) Ernesto Sota
  • (1937-1938) Germán Núñez Cortina
  • (1938-1939) Salvador González de la Vega
  • (1939-1940) Francisco Bautista
  • (1940-1940) Filiberto Zapata
  • (1940-1945) César Martíno
  • (1945-1947) Francisco Bautista
  • (1948-1949) Antonio Hidalgo
  • (1950-1951) Miguel Ramírez Vázquez
  • (1954-1956) Julián Rodríguez Adáme
  • (1956-1959) Pedro Valdez
  • (1959-1961) Darío Pastrana
  • (1961-1981) Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena
  • (1981-1996) Emilio Díez Barroso
  • (1996-1997) Pablo Cañedo White
  • (1997-1998) Alejandro Orvañános
  • (1998-1999) Raúl Quintana
  • (1999-2004) Javier Pérez Teuffer
  • (2004-2008) Guillermo Jorge Cañedo White

References

  1. ^ Bigsoccer.com

Sources/External Links

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