# 1996–97 Atletico Celaya season

The 1996–97 Atletico Celaya season was the 2nd season since the team's last promotion to Primera División. Celaya competed in Primera División and Copa México

## Summary

During summer the club clinched the arrival of former Spain international Midfielder Míchel from Real Madrid and Defender Ivan Hurtado from Emelec. In January former Mexico international Forward Hugo Sanchez signed in from Dallas Burn after being released. Meanwhile, club star and starter Forward Emilio Butragueno was injured several weeks.

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | MEX | Adrián Chávez |
| 2 | DF | MEX | Armando Cabrera |
| 3 | DF | MEX | Jorge Joel Cruz (Captain) |
| 4 | DF | MEX | Carlos López |
| 5 | DF | MEX | Víctor Díaz Leal |
| 7 | FW | ESP | Emilio Butragueño |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Míchel |
| 9 | FW | MEX | Hugo Sánchez |
| 9 | FW | CHI | Richard Zambrano |
| 11 | MF | USA | Salvador Reyes |
| 12 | MF | MEX | Luis Fernando Soto |
| 13 | MF | MEX | Juvenal Patiño |
| 14 | DF | MEX | Guillermo Aranda |
| 15 | DF | MEX | Apolinar González |
| 16 | FW | MEX | Carlos Hernández |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | MEX | Héctor Medrano |
| 18 | FW | MEX | Hugo Santana |
| 19 | MF | MEX | Javier Cruz |
| 20 | FW | BRA | Adriano Fernandes |
| 21 | MF | MEX | Felipe Aguirre |
| 22 | MF | BRA | Júlio César Pinheiro |
| 23 | DF | ECU | Iván Hurtado |
| 24 | DF | MEX | Salvador Vaca |
| 27 | GK | MEX | Homero Pasallo |
| 29 | MF | MEX | José Franco |
| 31 | GK | MEX | Emmanuel González |
| 36 | DF | MEX | Sergio Prado |
| 38 | MF | MEX | Edgar González |
| 25 | FW | MEX | Arturo Rico |

### Transfers

In :
| Pos. | Name | from |
| MF | Míchel | Real Madrid |
| GK | Adrián Chávez | América |
| DF | Carlos López | Guadalajara |
| DF | Salvador Reyes | Guadalajara |
| MF | Héctor Medrano | Toluca |
| MF | Luis Fernando Soto | Cruz Azul |
| FW | Hugo Santana | Atlante |
| MF | Julio Cesar Pinheiro | Guarani |
| FW | Adriano Fernandes | Guarani |
Out :
| Pos. | Name | To |
| MF | Tiba | Atlante |
| GK | Hugo Pineda | America |
| MF | Salvador Mercado | Guadalajara |
| MF | Sergio Bueno | Puebla FC |
| MF | Israel Castillo | Puebla FC |
| FW | Amarildo Soares | UAG |
| MF | Alfonso Malibran | UAG |

#### Winter

In :
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| FW | Hugo Sanchez | Dallas Burn | |
| MF | Salvador Vaca | | |
Out :
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| FW | Richard Zambrano | Colo-Colo | |

## Competitions
### Invierno 1996
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 14 | UAG | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 30 | −10 | 18 | |
| 15 | América | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 17 | |
| 16 | Celaya | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 33 | −14 | 17 | |
| 17 | Pachuca | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 36 | −11 | 15 | Team is last in Relegation table |
| 18 | Morelia | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 12 | |

#### Matches
### Verano 1997
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 14 | Monterrey | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 38 | −13 | 18 | |
| 15 | Pachuca | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 32 | −8 | 17 | Team is last in Relegation table |
| 16 | Atlas | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 36 | −13 | 16 | |
| 17 | Celaya | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 28 | −8 | 12 | |
| 18 | Veracruz | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 31 | −14 | 10 | |