Cruz Azul

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This article is about the Mexican football team based in Mexico City. For other uses, see Cruz Azul (disambiguation).
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul AC logo.svg
Full name Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C.
Nickname(s) La Máquina (The Machine)
Los Cementeros (The Cementers)
Los Celestes (The Sky-Blues)
Founded 22 May 1927; 97 years ago (1927-05-22)
Ground Estadio Azul
Mexico City, Mexico
Ground Capacity 36,681[1]
Owner Cooperativa Cemento Cruz Azul
Chairman Guillermo Álvarez Cuevas
Manager Tomás Boy
League Liga MX
Clausura 2015 9th
Website Club home page

Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C, simply called Cruz Azul (pronounced: [kɾus aˈsul], "Blue Cross"), is a Mexican football league system football club based in Mexico City, which was originally based in the town of Jasso (now part of the "city cooperative" Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul), south of Tula de Allende in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Cruz Azul plays in the top division Liga MX at its home venue the Estadio Azul, located in the southwestern part of Mexico City in the Colonia Ciudad de los Deportes, adjacent the Nápoles neighborhood. The team moved there in 1996, after playing for many seasons at the Estadio Azteca. Its headquarters are in La Noria, a suburb within Xochimilco in the southern part of Mexico City.

They have been the Primera División champions 8 times, trailing Toluca's 10, C.D. Guadalajara's 11 and Club América's 12. Cruz Azul's six titles makes it the most successful club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions League, the most prestigious international club competition in North American football. Cruz Azul was also the first CONCACAF team to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious club competition in South American football (which has invited top Liga MX clubs since 1998), losing on penalties to Argentine football giants Boca Juniors in 2001. In the 1968–69 season, Cruz Azul became the first CONCACAF club (and fifth worldwide club) to complete a rare Continental Treble, winning the Mexican Primera División championship, the Copa México national tournament, and the CONCACAF Champions League.

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics, in its Club World Ranking for year ending December 31, 2014, places Cruz Azul as the 99th best club in the world and the 3rd best club in CONCACAF.[2] According to several polls published, Cruz Azul is the third most popular team in Mexico, behind only C.D. Guadalajara and Club América.[3]

History

Winning multiple championships in the 1970s earned the nickname "The Celestial Machine", comparing it with a locomotive.

Cruz Azul was founded under the name of Club Deportivo Cruz Azul as an amateur team on 22 May 1927. The founders were the workers of cement maker Cemento Cruz Azul; the team played in the town of Jasso (now part of the "city cooperative" Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul) in the state of Hidalgo. Cemento Cruz Azul was the only official sponsor until 1997, and remains a primary sponsor through modern times. Guillermo Álvarez Marcia and Carlos Garcés were the main force behind the effort to organize the club, and the quick success of the team led to frequently representing the state of Hidalgo in national amateur tournaments.

From 1927 to 1960, the amateur team played many times in Mexico City against the reserve squads of established professional teams such as América, Necaxa, Atlante F.C., Asturias F.C. and Club Deportivo Marte. Cemento Cruz Azul changed its name to "Cooperativa Cruz Azul", and in 1960 the consistent success of the team caused the new administration of the cement company to build the Estadio 10 de Diciembre in Jasso. The team entered professional competition in the Segunda División de México for the 1960–61 season.

Hungarian coach Jorge Marik stirred the team to the Segunda División championship for the 1963–64 season, elevating them to the Primera División the following season. That season ended with an eighth-place finish. Four years later, Cruz Azul won its first Primera División league tournament, under coach Raúl Cárdenas.

Betweern 1970–1980, Cruz Azul led the Primera División with six league tournament championships; four under Cárdenas and the last two under Ignacio Trelles. This powerful version of the team earned the nickname La Máquina Celeste (The Celestial Machine), which continues as one of the unofficial nicknames of the team.

The team earned its eighth and most recent championship in 1997 under coach Luis Fernando Tena, beating León 2–1 on a last minute penalty kick scored by Carlos Hermosillo. This is still (2015) the quickest that a Primera División club has won eight championships, achieving the feat within 33 years of entering the Primera División.

In April 2012, Cruz Azul changed their official name from Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, A.C. to simply Cruz Azul Futbol Club, A.C.

Cruz Azul televised matches for several years were on ESPN Dos in Mexico (Azteca America in the United States), but in the fall of 2013 they moved to Televisa in Mexico (Univision in the U.S.).[citation needed]

Copa Libertadores 2001

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Main articles: 2001 Copa Libertadores and 2001 Copa Libertadores Finals

In 2001, Cruz Azul was invited to a tournament between select Mexican and Venezuelan teams that would then compete in the Copa Libertadores, a tournament of all the best teams of South America.[clarification needed] The two best teams of this qualifying tournament earned immediate placement on the rooster[clarification needed]

Cruz Azul was one of the seated teams and reached the 2001 Copa Libertadores final match. Cruz Azul started the tournament in Group 7 along with teams such as Sao Caetano, Defensor Sporting, and Olmedo. Cruz Azul finished as leader of the group with 13 points. In the round of 16 Cruz Azul faced Cerro Porteño. The first leg was played in Asunción and Cruz Azul lost 2–1. The second leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won the game 3–1. The aggregate score was 4–3 in favor of Cruz Azul and they moved on to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals Cruz Azul faced CA River Plate of Argentina. The first leg of the match was played in Buenos Aires and ended in a 0–0 draw. The second leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won 3–0. Cruz Azul was having a great run and played Rosario Central in the semifinals. The first leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won the game 2–0. The second leg was played in Rosario in a very exciting match which ended in a 3–3 draw in favor of Cruz Azul due to the 2–0 victory in the first leg.

Cruz Azul in the final match played against the Argentinian club Boca Juniors, Cruz Azul lost at home the first leg 1–0, but came back to win the second leg with the same score, at Boca's La Bombonera stadium with Paco Palencia scoring the goal. Until then, no team had ever won a Copa Libertadores final match there. After the overtime due to the tie, the championship was decided by penalty kicks, where the more experienced Boca Juniors prevailed. Still, Cruz Azul surprised everybody with the unprecedented feat of reaching the final and defeating established Argentinian teams such as Rosario Central and CA River Plate.

2006–2007

In the 2006 Apertura, the team started off great but in the middle of the season, they had a hard time adding points on the board. Cruz Azul recovered and finished the regular season as the points leader. They have not won a title since the championship they won against Leon in 1997. For the Apertura 2006, Cruz Azul made it to the quarterfinals and faced Chivas in the Estadio Jalisco. In the first leg, Cruz Azul played a very poor game and lost 2–0. On November 25, 2006 Cruz Azul played the second leg at Estadio Azul and played a brilliant game. Cruz Azul started off strong and put Chivas keeper Oswaldo Sánchez to the test on many occasions. In the middle of the first half, defender Salvador Carmona pushed a Chivas player in the penalty area and cost Cruz Azul a penalty.Ramón Morales had no problem and put the score 1–0 in favor of Chivas in the 39th minute. Cruz Azul kept creating opportunities and at the end of the first half, César Delgado made a great play that Richard Núñez finished with a goal to tie the game right before halftime in the 45th minute. In the second half, Chivas scored thanks to Ramón Morales again to put the score 2–1 in favor of Chivas. Cruz Azul did not give up and Miguel Sabah tied the game 2–2 in the 62nd minute. Cruz Azul played a great game and ended up tying the game 2–2 but losing 4–2 on aggregate.

In the 2007 Clausura the team had a great start, finishing among the first 8 teams in the league that went to playoffs. The team had a great quarterfinal series against the Tecos of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, thanks to two magnificent goals from striker Richard Núñez and moved to semifinals against Pachuca FC, the top team in the league. Pachuca beat Cruz Azul in the Estadio Azul in the first leg of the series with a strong 3–1. Cruz Azul still had a chance to overcome the adverse score, but on that same evening, the Court of Arbitration for Sport communicated that team captain Salvador Carmona was declared ineligible with immediate and lifetime effect, because of a repeated doping indiscipline that occurred back in January 2006. The sanction was dated May 18, 2007, the very day of the first match against Pachuca. Arguing that player Salvador Carmona did play on that day for Cruz Azul, the Mexican Soccer Federation, aka Federacion Mexicana de Futbol sanctioned Cruz Azul by suspending the team one game from competition, under the argument of aligning an ineligible player. Many legal arguments have been raised by both the player's lawyer and Cruz Azul, but the sanction stood and Cruz Azul lost its opportunity to overcome the 3–1 and go to the final series against America. Cruz Azul had one of the best seasons of their victory against Mexiel.

Clausura 2008

In the Clausura the team played a great tournament, finishing in second place. The team won 9 games, had 4 draws 4 and lost only 4 times. In quarterfinals they played against Jaguares losing 1–0 in the first leg and winning 2–1 in the second leg with goals of Pablo Zeballos and Miguel Sabah. They moved to semifinals against San Luis, the first leg was played in San Luis and Cruz Azul won 0–1 with a goal of Miguel Sabah. In the second leg, Cruz Azul and San Luis played a formidable match that ended 1–1 with goals of Eduardo Coudet and Pablo Zeballos. In the final, Cruz Azul played against Santos Laguna, second place in the tournament. The first leg ended 1–2 with a victory for Santos, and in the second leg a 1–1 make Laguna team champions.

Apertura 2008

In the Apertura the team had a good tournament, finishing in 5th place on the Mexican league. The team won 7 games, drew 5 times and lost only 5 times. In the quarterfinals they played against Pumas UNAM with a 0–0 scoreline in the first leg in the "Estadio Azul", and won 3–1 in the second leg, in the "Estadio Olímpico Universitario 1968" leaving Pumas on the way. They moved to semifinals against Atlante, the first leg was played in Mexico City, and Cruz Azul won 3–1. In the second leg, Cruz Azul and Atlante played a regular match in Cancún, Quintana Roo, that ended 1–1, resulting in Cruz Azul reaching the Final for the second consecutive time in 2008. In the final, Cruz Azul played against Toluca, both teams tied on winning Mexican titles (at that time with 8 each). The first leg played in Mexico City, and ended with a dramatic 0–2 with a victory for visitors, Toluca, and in the second leg, which was played at "Estadio Nemesio Díez". Cruz Azul won 0–2, making the tie on aggregate "2–2", as the match was tied, they played "extra time" and the draw continued until going to the "Penalty – Shoot out", where Toluca won 7–6 over Cruz Azul, Alejandro Vela was the Cruz Azul "villain" because he failed the last "penalty shoot-out", another incident before the match went to "extra time", was a clear foul suffered by Villaluz on the Goal area, the toluca player "Jose Manuel Cruz Alta" crashed with the Cruz Azul player, making him unconscious, but the referee didn't mark the foul even though the Cruz Azul player was knocked out, he didn't even take a red card on the toluca player, (unfortunately Cruz Azul had made his 3 substitutions, so they ended the match playing with only 10 players, an unfair situation, that interfered directly on the final result of the match) this made the Toluca team becoming champions winning their 9th Mexican title, becoming the 3rd most successful of Mexican title winning teams. (1.-America "12 titles", 2 . Guadalajara "11 titles", 3.-Toluca "10 titles", 4.-Cruz Azul "8 titles", .- Pumas UNAM "6 titles", 6.- Club León 7 titles, Club Pachuca "5 titles").

Clausura 2009

Running the team of Cruz Azul before the game against Atlante on 28 February 2009.

In the Clausura 2009, the team had the worst tournament in club history en route to a last place finish. They accumulated just 13 points from a possible 51 (17 games, wins count 3 points). The team won only 2 games, drew 7 times and lost 8 times. The Club scored 26 goals, but conceded 33, for a total goal difference of −7. The Club did not qualify for the playoffs, or Liguilla. The Club sacked their manager Benjamín Galindo with one game left in the Clausura. He was replaced for the remainder of the season by Robert Siboldi who was then coaching Cruz Azul's affiliate in Hidalgo.

Cruz Azul beat UNAM 5–0.

CONCACAF Champions League 08/09

Cruz Azul vs Atlante 2009-04-22.svg

On the CONCACAF Champions League 08/09, The team made a good tournament, on the first stage ended second on the Group A, qualifying to the final stage of playoffs, defeating on the quarter finals, the Mexican team of Pumas UNAM, by 2–0, and the on the semi final round, the played against the Puerto Rico team of Islanders, by "penalty shoot-out" at Mexico City, On the Final, against another Mexican Team, Atlante, they had the chance to won their 6th CONCACAF championship, but they lost the first game 0–2, then on Atlante's home they tied 0–0, losing the CONCACAF Champions League 08/09 Title, and also losing the opportunity to participate on the FIFA World Club Cup 2009, on Abu-Dhabi, UAE.

Apertura 2009

Monterrey vs CruzAzul 2009Apertura.svg

In the Apertura 2009, the team had signed Javier Cambranis, to manage the team, and signed several players, such as the best goalkeeper on the previous Mexican tournament, Jose de Jesus Corona, the Derby County Striker, Emanuel "Tito" Villa, Ramon Nuñez, Emilio Hernandez, and the team successfully ended on the second place of the regular season, they made 33 points out of 51 possibles, winning 11 games of 17 played, without any game tied, and 6 games lost, they scored a total of 35 goals, and received only 19, for a goal difference of +16, and Emanuel "Tito" Villa, was the top scorer of the tournament with 17 goals, the team qualified for the playoffs, and played against Puebla F.C. on the quarter-finals, they beat Puebla (first game 4–4, second game 3–2), and on the semi-final leg, they played against Monarcas Morelia, and they won (first game 0–0, second 2–1), and went to the final, once again, for the third consecutive time in 4 tournaments, they faced Monterrey FC, but they lost the final (on the first game 3–4, and 1–2 on the second), and once again the team lost another final, remaining with just 8 league titles and 8 finals lost, making the Cruz Azul Team, the only one who has played 16 finals on Mexican Tournament, but lost half (8).[4]

2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League

Cruz Azul vs. Herediano in the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League

In the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, the team had a good tournament, finishing first in Group C and qualifying for the final stage of playoffs. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the Panamanian team of Árabe Unido, by 4–0, and then in the semifinal round, the played against the Mexican team of Universidad Nacional, by 5–1 at Mexico City. In the Final, against another Mexican club, C. F. Pachuca, they had the chance to win their 6th CONCACAF championship, winning the first game 2–1, but losing in Pachuca's home at the last minute 1–0 by the away goals rule, thus losing the opportunity to participate on the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE.

Liga MX Clausura/Copa 2013

During the 2013 season Cruz Azul showed a slow start with questioning over Memo Vazquez possible sacking. Cruz Azul regained confidence after beating Club America in Copa MX semi finals and winning Copa MX final vs. Atlante. After Cruz Azul won the Copa MX their Liga MX performance improved and they were considered one of the contenders for the title due to a good streak. They would face bitter rivals Club America in what would be a historical final series of the "Clásico Joven." Cruz Azul dominated the series in terms of score from minute 19 of the first leg up until minute 89 of the second leg. Cruz Azul was up 2–0 in aggregate when Club America made a miraculous comeback in the minute 89 and 93 of the second leg. Club America would go on to win in PK's.

Players

First-team squad

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

No. Position Player
1 Mexico GK Jesús Corona (4th captain)
2 Mexico DF Fausto Pinto
3 Mexico DF Francisco Rodríguez
4 Mexico DF Julio Domínguez (vice-captain)
5 Brazil DF Fábio Santos
6 Mexico MF Gerardo Torrado (captain)
7 Spain MF Víctor Vázquez
8 Spain MF Marc Crosas
9 Ecuador FW Joffre Guerrón
10 Mexico MF Christian Giménez
11 Ecuador MF Joao Rojas
12 Mexico GK Guillermo Allison
No. Position Player
14 Colombia MF Aldo Leão Ramírez (on loan from Atlas)
16 Mexico DF Rogelio Chávez (3rd captain)
17 Paraguay DF Silvio Borjas
18 Argentina MF Ariel Rojas
20 Mexico GK Alejandro Peláez
22 Mexico MF Rafael Baca
23 Mexico MF Richard Ruíz
25 Mexico DF Juan García Sancho
26 Mexico FW Juan González
27 Paraguay FW Jorge Benítez (on loan from Olympiacos)
28 Mexico DF Omar Mendoza
30 Mexico FW Matías Vuoso

For recent transfers, see List of Mexican football transfers winter 2015–16.

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
 — Mexico GK Christian Barrientos (loan to Celaya)
 — Mexico GK Yosgart Gutiérrez (loan to Necaxa)
 — Mexico GK Javier Caso (at Zacatepec)
 — Argentina DF Emanuel Loeschbor (at Morelia)
 — Mexico DF Francisco Flores (at Pachuca)
 — Mexico DF Gerardo Flores (at Toluca)
 — Mexico DF Horacio Cervantes (at Veracruz)
 — Mexico DF Juan Fernández (at Veracruz)
 — Mexico DF Jaime Ayala (at Celaya)
 — Mexico DF Giovanni Marín (at Venados)
 — Brazil MF Lucas Silva (at Pachuca)
 — Mexico MF Alejandro Castro (at UNAM)
No. Position Player
 — Argentina MF Mauro Formica (at Newell's Old Boys)
 — Mexico MF Allam Bello (at Atlante)
 — Mexico MF Alejandro Vela (loan to Necaxa)
 — Mexico MF Xavier Báez (loan to Necaxa)
 — Mexico MF Omar Mendoza (at Zacatepec)
 — Mexico MF Héctor Gutiérrez (at Zacatepec)
 — Mexico FW Jerónimo Amione (at Puebla)
 — Paraguay FW Roque Santa Cruz (at Málaga)
 — Argentina FW Pablo Torres (at Sonora)
 — Mexico FW Ismael Valadéz (at Tapachula)
 — Mexico FW Julio Pardini (at Tapachula)
 — Mexico FW Jesús Lara (at Zacatepec)

Reserve teams

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Main article: Cruz Azul Reserves and Academy
Cruz Azul Hidalgo
Reserve team that plays in the Segunda División in the third level of the Mexican league system.
Cruz Azul Premier
Reserve team that plays in the Segunda División in the third level of the Mexican league system.

Former players

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For further information, see Category:Cruz Azul footballers.

Managerial history

Dates Name Notes
1962–66 Hungary Jorge Marik First coach of Cruz Azul in Primera División.
1966 MexicoPeru Walter Ormeño
1966–75 Mexico Raúl Cárdenas Coach with more time and winner in Cruz Azul.
1975–76 Mexico José Moncebáez
1976 Hungary Jorge Marik
1976 Mexico Alfonso Portugal
1977–82 Mexico Ignacio Trelles Good coach of Cruz Azul.
1982 Argentina Miguel Marín
1982–83 Mexico Enrique Meza Cruz Azul more occasions coach.
1983–86 Chile Alberto Quintano
1986–88 Mexico Hector Pulido
1988 Mexico Manuel Lapuente
1988–90 Mexico Mario Velarde
1990–92 Chile Ignacio Prieto
July 1, 1992 – Dec 31, 1992 Uruguay Chile Nelson Acosta
July 1, 1992 – Jan 29, 1994 Mexico Enrique Meza
1994–96 Mexico Luis Fernando Tena
July 1, 1996 – March 9, 1997 Mexico Víctor Manuel Vucetich Won the second Mexican Cup tournament for Cruz Azul.
1997 Mexico Jesús del Muro
1997–00 Mexico Luis Fernando Tena Won the 8th Title for the team against Club León. And lost a final with Pachuca in 1999.
March 31, 2000 – Dec 31, 2002 Mexico José Luis Trejo The coach who led the final Cruz Azul in the Copa Libertadores 2001.
Jan 1, 2003 – March 7, 2003 Mexico Mario Carrillo
March 15, 2003 – March 7, 2004 Mexico Enrique Meza
March 12, 2004 – Oct 17, 2004 Mexico Luis Fernando Tena
Sept 27, 2005 – Dec 31, 2005 Argentina Rubén Omar Romano
Jan 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 Mexico Isaac Mizrahi
July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 Uruguay Sergio Markarián Led Cruz Azul to a final after nearly 10 years, lost against Santos Laguna.
July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009 Mexico Benjamín Galindo Lost 2 finals with Cruz Azul, (Vs. Toluca in the Mexican Tournament, and Vs. Atlante in the Final Concacaf Champions League).
July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012 Mexico Enrique Meza Led the team to another Mexican Tournament Final, but lost against Monterrey, and a Final Concacaf against Pachuca.
July 1, 2012 – December 3, 2013 Mexico Guillermo Vázquez Won the third Mexican Cup tournament for Cruz Azul.
December 4, 2013 – May 19, 2015 Mexico Luis Fernando Tena Won 2014 CONCACAF Champions League
June 1, 2015 – September 28, 2015 Mexico Sergio Bueno
September 2015 Mexico Tomas Boy

Crest

Cruz Azul shirts from 90's and 2000's

The club's crest has stayed relatively consistent since its foundation in the 1920s,[5] with a blue cross in a white circle surrounded by a red square, with the club's name above and below. As years went by and titles were won, the crest was modified to proclaim Cruz Azul's achievements, adding a larger blue circle/frame after the 1971–72 season showing three stars for each Liga MX championship win (showing eight stars since the end of the 1997 season).

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Season Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
1994–97 Azul Sport Cemento Cruz Azul
1997–98 Fila Cemento Cruz Azul/Lada
1998-01 Fila Cemento Cruz Azul/Pepsi/Telmex
2001–04 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Pepsi/Telmex
2004–08 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel
2008–09 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel/Sony
2009–10 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Powerade/Telcel/Sony
2010–11 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel
2011–12 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel/Tecate/Volaris
2012–13 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel/Tecate/Volaris
2013–14 Umbro Cemento Cruz Azul/Coca Cola/Telcel/Tecate/Scotiabank
2014–15 Under Armour Cemento Cruz Azul/Boing!/Scotiabank/Telcel/Tecate

Honors

Domestic

1968-69, México 1970, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, Invierno 1997
Runners-up (10): 1969–70, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1994–95, Invierno 1999, Clausura 2008, Apertura 2008, Apertura 2009, Clausura 2013.
1963-64
1968-69, 1996–97, Clausura 2013
Runners-up (2): 1973–74, 1987–88
1968-69, 1973–74
Runners-up (1): 1972
1969

International

1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013–2014
Runners-up (2): 2008–2009, 2009–2010
Runners-up (1): 2001
Runners-up (1): 1972

Minor trophies

1997, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007
Runners-up (2): 2000, 2005
1996

Friendly championships

Fourth place (1): 2000
Runners-up (1): 2002
Third place (1):2008
  • Copa 5 De Mayo: 1
2004
  • Copa Cuauhtemoc: 1
2008
  • Copa Aztex: 1
2009
  • Foursquare Champion Azteca: 81
1981
  • Burgos Tournament Champion: 1
1980
  • Almeria Tournament Champion: 1
1979
  • Uefa-Concacaf cup: 1
1969
  • Copa Ignacio Trelles: 1
2014
  • Copa Socio MX: 1
2015

Coaching staff

Listed on the official website of Cruz Azul.[6]

Position Staff
Chairman Mexico Guillermo Álvarez Cuevas
Sports Manager Mexico Agustín Manzo

Source:[citation needed]

Position Staff
Goalkeeping Coach Mexico Carlos Perez
Team doctor Mexico Alfonso Jiménez
Physical & Fitness coach Germany Axel Bierbaum
Physiotherapist Mexico Ernesto Rubio
Masseur Mexico Antonio Ortiz
Masseur Mexico Alejandro Ramírez
Masseur Mexico Jesús Dávila
Stagehand Mexico Pablo Coria
Stagehand Mexico José Luis Coria
Stagehand Mexico Silverio Rivera

Source:[citation needed]

Nicknames

The hare is the animal that is used to represent the team.

Cruz Azul has a rich variety of nicknames over its history, listed chronologically:

  • Cementeros (cement workers): As a result of affiliation with Cruz Azul Cement, the first name refers directly to the employees of the company, as the team originally was formed with them. Over the years, the concept is extended not only to those who worked in the cooperative, but the construction workers in general.
  • Liebres (hares): When the team was promoted to the Primera División in the mid-1960s, the club played a fast and physical game. These characteristics, coupled with their mostly white uniforms, led fans to compare the players of those years with the hares which abound in the town. The nickname took hold, and an anthropomorphic hare is often used as a mascot and icon to represent Cruz Azul. While some modern fans believe that the mascot is a rabbit, the club's board has officially declared that it is a hare.
  • La Máquina (the machine, the locomotive): This nickname is fed by several sources of inspiration. One is based on a railway that brought the cement from the Cruz Azul plant, in the former village of Jasso (south of Tula de Allende), to Mexico City. After moving to Mexico City, Cruz Azul was the most dominant club in Mexico during the 1970s, reinforcing the nickname as a comparison to the image of a locomotive sweeping through their opponents. The name may have been borrowed from the similarly nicknamed River Plate club that motored through its opponents in the Argentine Primera División in the 1940s. It has been suggested that reporter Rugama Angel Fernandez was the first to publish an article with the name La Máquina for Cruz Azul. The nickname has some variations, including The Celestial Machine, The Blue Machine and The Cement Machine.

The Cheerleaders (Las Celestes)

The club has its official cheerleading club, which were included as part of the institution since 2004, since then, act as cheerleaders in the proceedings of the club in their home games before and at halftime. From its appearance of "Las Celestes" have formed part of the tradition of the club. And the only Mexican team that has as part of their group at their official cheerleaders.[7]

Popularity and rivalries

Popularity

Since its inception, the team had supporters, mainly workers of the cement. After promotion to the Primera División in the 1960s, more people began to follow the team. In the 1970s when the team managed six of their eight titles even more people joined the group of supporters of the team, until now that in this 21st century according to various surveys[which?] is the third team with the most supporters in Mexico,[citation needed] behind the Club Guadalajara and América respectively, above the club UNAM.

  • Popularity

  • "La Sangre" in Concachampions.

  • A store for fans of Cruz Azul.

  • "La Sangre" Logo.

Rivalries

Cruz Azul game against America in the Azteca Stadium

National Rivalries:

Records

  • Cruz Azul has the distinction of being the only Mexican football club to win the North American treble – winning the League, Mexican, and North American championships in 1997.
  • Along with Club America, It is the Mexican club with the most titles at international level (6 titles in the Copa de Campeones de CONCACAF, plus a runner-Inter's Cup in 1972 and another in the Copa Libertadores de America in 2001).
  • Along with Club America, Mexican Club with most titles in the Copa de Campeones de CONCACAF, with 6.
  • Is the only team that lost 9 leagues finals (7).
  • Holds the record for most consecutive wins in the history of the Primera División: 10 wins in the 1971–72 season.
  • The Mexican team with the highest number of plays playoffs (43), counting rounds of reclassification.
  • It is the first Mexican team in a final crown with a "golden goal" (1997).
  • Champion of the first edition of the 2007 Pan American Cup, defeating Boca Juniors by 3 goals to 1.
  • It is the team that has played league final (14) and lost (8), besides being the second most paradoxically end wins (6) (along with Deportivo Toluca and Pumas de la UNAM).
  • It is the only team that thrashed in the final's América to win the league title (4 goals to 1) in the 1971–1972 season.
  • It is one of the three teams in the history of the Primera División have been three-time league (succeeding in 1971–1972,1972–1973 and 1973–1974), the other two teams are América who did a decade later and the Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
  • It is the youngest team to be champions and cup, reached only five years after his rise in the 1968–1969 season.
  • It is the youngest team in making seven league titles. (Only in 15 years in Mexico's Primera División.)

Club statistics and records

Professional Era (1964 -)

Stadium

Azul Stadium

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See also: Azul Stadium and Nuevo Estadio Azul

The team currently plays in Azul Stadium. The stadium is located in Mexico, D.F.. The Federal District owns Estadio Azul. Currently, Cruz Azul training facilities are located at Xochimilco.

The team is planning construction of a new stadium, Nuevo Estadio Azul.

  • Stadium

  • Seen from a side street

  • Estadio Azul from the air

  • View inside the Estadio Azul

Top goalscorers

Position Player Country Period Goals
1st Carlos Hermosillo México 1991–98 169
2nd Horacio López Salgado México 1971–79 133
3rd Francisco Palencia México 1994-01 91
4th Fernando Bustos México 1964–76 87
5th Eladio Vera Paraguay 1971–77 77
6th Emanuel Villa Argentina 2009–11 66
7th Adrián Camacho México 1978–86 63
8th César Delgado * Argentina 2003–07 61
9th Rodolfo Montoya México 1976–81 55
10th Emanuel Villa * Argentina 2009–12 54
11th Octavio Muciño México 1969–73 51
12th Agustín Manzo México 1984–89 50
13th Carlos Eloir Perucci Brazil 1981–84 46
14th Carlos Jara Saguier Paraguay 1978–85 45
15th Héctor Pulido México 1964–77 44
16th Miguel Sabah * México 2006–08 42
17th Christian Giménez ** Argentina 2010– 42
18th Sebastián Abreu * Uruguay 2002–03 37
19th Armando Romero México 1981–90 37
20th Patricio Hernández Argentina 1988–90 34
21st Ángel Morales Argentina 1999-02 33
22nd Julio Alberto Zamora Argentina 1993–96 32
23rd Mariano Pavone * Argentina 2012– 30
24th Javier Orozco * México 2008–13 29
25th Julio César Pinheiro Brazil 1999-03 27

(*) Active Player (**) Cruz Azul Active Player

Tournament top scorers

References

  1. ↑ http://www.cruzazulfc.com/index.php/estadio/ficha-informativa
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ http://www.cruzazulfc.com
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External links

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Preceded by Mexican Primera División
Champions
1968–69 (First title)		 Succeeded by
Guadalajara
1969–70
Preceded by Mexican Primera División
Champions
1970 (Second title)		 Succeeded by
América
1970–71
Preceded by Mexican Primera División
Champions
1971–72 (Third title)
1972–73 (Fourth title)
1973–74 (Fifth title)		 Succeeded by
Toluca
1974–75
Preceded by Mexican Primera División
Champions
1978–79 (Sixth title)
1979–80 (Seventh title)		 Succeeded by
UNAM
1980–81
Preceded by Mexican Primera División
Champions
Invierno 1997 (Eighth title)		 Succeeded by
Toluca
Verano 1998
Preceded by CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Champions
1969 (First title)
1970 (Second title)
1971 (Third title)		 Succeeded by
Olimpia Honduras
1972
Preceded by CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Champions
1996 (Fourth title)
1997 (Fifth title)		 Succeeded by
D.C. UnitedUnited States
1998

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