C.D. Guadalajara

Club Deportivo Guadalajara S.A de C.V.(Spanish pronunciation:[ˈkluβðepoɾˈtiβoɣwaðalaˈxaɾa];), nicknamed"Chivas"(English:Goats) and simply known asGuadalajaraor internationally asChivas de Guadalajara, is a Mexican professionalfootballclub based in theGuadalajara metropolitan area, Jalisco. It competes inLiga MX, the top division ofMexican football. The club was founded in 1906 asUnión Football Club, then changed its name toGuadalajara Football Clubin 1908, and then changed to its current name in 1923.
Guadalajara was one of thefounding membersof the Liga Mayor in 1943 (currently Liga MX), which was the first professional football league created in Mexico, and is one of seven teams that havenever been relegated.
Guadalajara have played their home matches atEstadio AkroninZapopansince 2010, having previously played atEstadio Jalisco. Guadalajara is the only football club in Mexico that does not sign foreign players unless they are of Mexican descent.The team has historically relied on home-grown (cantera) players and has been the launching pad of many internationally successful players, includingJavier Hernández,Carlos VelaandCarlos Salcido, among others.The team's three colors (red, white, and blue) symbolize "Fraternity, Union, and Sports". The team adopted the colors that linked them back to their founder's hometown,Bruges. Chivas supporters use a flag identical to the French flag to support their team.
Chivas is one of Mexico's most successful teamswith 12 league titles, and holds the league record for thelongest winning streak at the beginning of a season, with 8 consecutive wins in the 2010 Torneo Bicentenario.Internationally, Guadalajara has won twoCONCACAF Champions Cup/Leaguetitles, and is the best Mexican side to compete inCopa Libertadoreshaving reached the semifinals twice (2005and2006) and being runner-ups in the2010edition.
According to a 2016 study of preferred football clubsGuadalajara is the most popular team in Mexico, with 44.1% of supporters in the country. In 2020,Forbesestimated that the club was the most valuable of the league, ranking sixth overall in the Americas, worth approximately$311.5 million.
The team was founded byEdgar Everaert, who arrived in Mexico in 1906. Their kit was modeled on that of the founder's favourite team, the BelgianClub Brugge K.V., borrowing the vertical stripes and colour scheme of the Brugge strip in that era (Brugge has since changed their team colours). Some historians assert that the colours came from the French Tricolour because some of the club's first players were French. The first team comprised Mexican, Belgian, and French players. First named "Union" because of the camaraderie between the players of different nationalities, most of whom were employees of the Fábricas de Francia store, with founder Everaert as coach. A few Spanish and English also became members of the Unión Football Club.
On a tour of Europe, Everaert noticed that European teams named after their respective town or city seemed to generate more support from fans in their communities. So, in 1908, with the approval of Everaert and the players, Club de Futbol Union was renamed as Club Deportivo Guadalajara to engender a sense of loyalty within the city's population. Following the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, amateur football tournaments throughout the country flourished and Guadalajara was always involved. Between 1906 and 1943 (the amateur era of Mexican football and thePrimera Fuerza), Guadalajara won 13 amateur titles, the first in 1908.Also during this period, the oldest rivalry in Mexican football began to form, between Guadalajara andAmerica.
In 1943, it was decided that the team would only field Mexican-born players because of the growing sense of oppression Mexican nationals felt towards non-Mexican nationals.
In 1943 theLiga Mayorwas founded after the merging of several regional leagues and the era of professional football began. Guadalajara struggled during the early years, with the exception of the 1948–49 season when they finished third. This same year Guadalajara was given the name "Chivas Locas" (Crazy Goats) during a game againstAtlas.The name was initially considered an insult, but later adopted as the team's nickname due to the overwhelming popularity of the club. During the 1951–52 and 1954–55 seasons, the team finished as runner-up in the league, leading to the nickname "Ya Merito" ("Almost There!").
During the1956 season, players such asSalvador "Chava" Reyes,Jaime "El Tubo" Gomez,Arturo "Curita" Chaires, Juan Jasso,Isidoro "Chololo" Díaz,Guillermo "Tigre" Sepúlveda,Ignacio "Cuate" Calderón, andJosé "Jamaicón" Villegaswere part of what is considered one of the finest teams in Mexican football history,El Campeonísimo. Guadalajara won its first championship during this season due to a last minute goal scored by Salvador Reyes. Led by coaches such asDonaldo "Pato" RossandJavier de la Torrein subsequent years, the team won seven league championships, two cups, three CONCACAF titles and seven Champion of Champions titles. It was the only team in Mexico's football history to win four league championships in a row, during the1958–59,1959–60,1960–61, and1961–62seasons.El Campeonísimo became internationally recognized and, in 1964 played several matches in Europe against such teams asFC Barcelona,Werder Bremen, andLille Olympique, resulting in two victories, four draws and four losses for the team.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Guadalajara struggled. In the1970–71season, the team finished very close to the relegation zone. The best they could manage to reach was the play-offs twice, with a fifth-place finish in1971–72and a sixth-place finish in1976–77. They began to be nicknamed  "Las Chivas Flacas" (The Lean Goats), due to their lean athletic performances. During the1980–81season, on 14 February 1981, the bus transporting the team to a match inPueblawas hit by a trailer, taking the life of midfielderJose "Pepe" Martínez.During 1980–81 season, the team reached a third-place ranking.Eleven years after their near-relegation in 1971, Guadalajara managed to escape it yet again in the1981–82season by just one point.
Improvement came soon after the hiring of coachAlberto Guerra, who had been a player for Guadalajara during the mid '60s. During the1982–83season, Guadalajara finished seventh in the league and qualified for the playoffs, going on to eliminateAtlante F.C.in quarter-finals andClub Américain Semifinals. The team reached the finals for the first time since the playoff format was introduced in the '70s, where they would go on to lose toPuebla F.C.in a penalty shootout.Guadalajara would once again reach the Finals in 1983–84, only to lose to America by an aggregate score of 5–4.The club would continue being competitive the rest of the '80s and early '90s., with their very best performance in the1986–87season, where they would finish 1st in the regular season and win the Championship againstCruz Azulin the final.Their best players during this time wereBenjamín Galindo,Eduardo de la Torre,José Manuel de la Torre,Fernando Quirarte, andJavier Aguirreamong others.
By the end of the 1980s, Guadalajara began to experience financial troubles. Team directors decided to create a special financial sector that would be known as La Promotora Deportiva. The team would be "sold" for 10 years starting in 1992 to a petroleum executive named Salvador Martinez Garza, who would be in charge of thePromotoraand of team operations.Before Guadalajara began its new era under thePromotora, the team began the 1990s in average form, reaching the Semifinals in 90–91, reaching the Quarterfinals in 91–92, and finishing in thirteenth place in 92–93.
The new directors decided to bring back Guadalajara's champion coach of the 1986–87 season Alberto Guerra and purchase many players that would become icons for Guadalajara in the early '90s:Missael Espinoza,Alberto "Guamerú" Garcia, andAlberto Coyote. The team also relied on young talent from the youth academy. Such talent includedPaulo Cesar "Tilon" ChavezandJoel "Tiburon" Sanchez. At the beginning of the 93–94 season, the press and fans dubbed the new and improved teamLas Superchivas.However, despite expectations, the team was eliminated early on in the playoffs. The 94–95 season would bring about more change for the team. The club directors sold all television rights of the team to Mexican giantTelevisa, a move that was heavily criticized by fans because of Televisa's ownership ofClub América. Guadalajara would end the 1993–1994 regular season as the leader in the league table, but was narrowly defeated byClub Necaxain the Semifinals. The 96–97 season saw the exit of coach Alberto Guerra, being replaced by the DutchmanLeo Beenhakker. The team failed to make the playoffs that season.
By 1996, thePrimera División de Méxicoseason format would be changed to two short seasons per year. The first of the seasons,Invierno 1996, saw Guadalajara bring in another coach, BrazilianRicardo Ferretti. During Ferretti's first season, the team managed to reach third place in the league table, but would be eliminated byClub Necaxain the Quarterfinals. Guadalajara won its 10th championship under Ferretti in theVerano 1997season againstToros Nezawith the aggregate score of 7–2.Guadalajara would once again reach the Finals in theInvierno 1998season, only to once again lose to Necaxa.
After its tenth year in charge of Guadalajara,La Promotorawas still in debt and finally put up for sale. On 31 October 2002, the team was acquired by a Guadalajara native and self-made entrepreneur,Jorge Vergara.Vergara was the founder of a multi level marketing namedGrupo Omnilife. Vergara hired directors that would be in charge of handling business affairs. He also removed all sponsorship from Guadalajara's jersey; the jersey has since had limited sponsorship.
In order to establish funding for the team, Vergara sought to market theLas Chivasname and capitalize on it, placing the name on anything from its own magazine to toothbrushes and its own brand ofcola.
For theClausura 2003season, Guadalajara hiredEduardo de la Torre, who had played for the team in the 1980s. TheApertura 2003season would see poor results in the first half of the tournament, putting an end to de la Torre's tenure as coach. Coaching responsibilities would be temporarily assumed by DutchmanHans Westerhofand the team would qualify for a wild card showdown againstClub Deportivo Toluca, only to be subsequently eliminated.
In February 2004, it was announced that the club would construct anew stadium.
In theApertura 2004, Guadalajara would display an offensive style of football and managed to place third in the league standings, qualifying for the playoffs. Players such as goalkeeperOswaldo Sánchez,Ramon Morales,Omar Bravo, and newly acquiredAdolfo Bautista, became instant fan favorites. They defeatedAtlante F.C.in the quarterfinals and Toluca in the semifinals, but would lose in the Finals againstUNAMin a penalty shootout.Nevertheless, the team had shown, since Vergara's arrival, that it was highly competitive, including in the2005 Copa Libertadores, where it defeated favoritesBoca Juniors4–0 aggregate to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, they lost toAthletico Paranaense5-2.Under coachJosé Manuel de la Torre, who was a player for Guadalajara in the 1980s, the team won its 11th championship.In theApertura 2006season, Las Chivas placed eighth in the league table and qualified for the playoffs by defeatingVeracruz2–1 inVeracruzand 4–0 in theEstadio Jaliscoin a wild card series. Guadalajara advanced to the quarterfinals where they defeatedCruz Azul2–0 in the first leg and tied 2–2 in the second leg (4–2 aggregate), moving on to thesemi-finalsagainst rivalsClub América.
The club advanced to the final of the Primera División againstToluca. The first match was played at Estadio Jalisco, in which Toluca and Las Chivas tied 1–1 with goals fromOmar Bravofor Las Chivas andBruno Marionifor Toluca. On 10 December 2006, Las Chivas played at Toluca's home stadiumEstadio Nemesio Díezand won 2–1 (3–2 aggregate), thus becoming the Mexican League champions by holding 11 titles, the most titles of any team in the league at the time.The first goal was scored byFrancisco Javier Rodriguez, and the second was byAdolfo Bautista.
Bautista dedicated his goal and his team's victory to his mother, who had died shortly before. This championship was goalkeeper Oswaldo Sánchez's first in his career. After the Apertura 2006 championship the team had gone through a series of changes with the departures of Oswaldo Sánchez, Adolfo Bautista, and Omar Bravo who left to play in Spain. José Manuel de la Torre was fired in the Apertura 2007 tournament and replaced byEfrain Flores. After Flores's stint at the clubOmar Arellano Nuñowas appointed, but he only coached one league game and two Copa Libertadores matches. Arellano was replaced by Francisco Ramirez who had an unsuccessful period as coach by having the lowest percentage of effectiveness of all the coaches hired in the last seven years. Ramirez was fired and replaced by Raul Arias, who also had a terrible run at the club. On 4 November 2009, Raul Arias was fired and replaced byJosé Luis Real. Real lead the team to an explosive start of the2010 Bicentenario tournament, winning the first 8 games in a row. Nevertheless, their winning streak was broken against the low table team,Chiapas F.C., losing by a score of 4–0.Under José Luis Real,Chivassaw many young and promising players blossoming even more rapidly than expected,includingJavier Hernández, who was signed by English clubManchester Unitedon 8 April;Hernandez additionally finished the tournament as joint-top scorer with 10 goals and named best forward.Chivasqualified to thechampionship stageafter a second place general table finish but lost toMonarcas Moreliain the first round with an aggregate score of 5–2.
On 30 July,Chivasplayed their inaugural match in their newly constructedstadiumagainst Manchester United, as part of a deal where Javier Hernández was headed to the English club.Hernández played for Guadalajara in the first half, scoring within the first 8 minutes and switched sides in the second, unable to prevent a 3–2 defeat for Manchester United.
In August,Chivasplayedthat year'sCopa Libertadoresfinalsagainst Brazilian clubSport Club Internacionalbut lost following an aggregate score of 5–3, becoming the second Mexican club to reach the tournament's final.
Starting with the release of Jose Luis Real as coach in October 2011, Chivas struggled to maintain form finding themselves with 9 coaches being hired and released in the past 3 years. The club was in danger of being relegated to the second division for the first time in their history. In February 2012,Johan Cruyffwas hired as the team's advisor.Nine months later the club sacked him, mainly due to the fact that the team was not improving.On 22 November 2013 Guadalajara placed multiple important players on the transfer list:Marco Fabián,Miguel Ponce, and veteransLuis MichelandHéctor Reynoso.On 25 November 2013, it was confirmed thatJose Luis Realwould return to C.D. Guadalajara as head coach.Real showed improvement in the squad but was soon released after the team lost 4–0 at home to rivalsClub América.On 2 April 2014, veteran managerRicardo La Volpewas appointed as head coach.He was immediately released on 30 April 2014 supposedly due to having inappropriate conduct with a female staff member who later took legal action against him.On 12 May 2014,Carlos Bustoswas appointed as head coach.On 2 October 2014, Bustos resigned after a 3–1 loss toClub Toluca.He left the team with two wins, four draws, and four losses.On 7 October 2014, former Mexico national team managerJosé Manuel de la Torrewas appointed as head coach.The club started the 2015 season with a 2–1 loss againstChiapas, and this result caused them to become tied in the last position of the Liga MX relegation table withPuebla.The very next week the club showed better character after a 2–1 win at home againstPumas UNAMin front of a very supportive, and completely sold-out crowd of fans.By game 12 of the2015 Clausuraseason, Guadalajara managed to earn 21 points after winning crucial matches against teams such asMonterreyand relegation rivalsPuebla. José Manuel de la Torre's strategic 4–2–3–1 formation proved effect during matches despite the fans' constant requests to use two strikers in the starting line-up. In game 13 of the season, Guadalajara defeatedClub Leónin theEstadio Akron's 100th official match and went up to 1st place with 24 points.José Manuel de la Torre's effectiveness rose to 62.1%, the highest rate in the Clausura 2015 season.The club finished the 2015 Clausura in fifth place with the third best defense of the season, thus, qualifying to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.The team started the 2015 Apertura season with 4 points in 6 games and a squad plagued with injuries. On 14 September 2015, the club announced they had released De la Torre.
On 18 September 2015, the club officially presentedMatías Almeydaas new manager,proclaiming he wanted to "awaken the giant."Almeyda immediately made his style of attacking football known by consecutively winning his first four matches, including the match against rivalsClub Américaon 26 September 2015 by a score of 2–1 at theEstadio Azteca.On 4 November, Guadalajara won its thirdCopa MXafter defeatingClub Leónby a score of 1–0 via a 75th-minute header scored by defenderOswaldo Alanís.On 8 May, the club qualified for the Clausura 2016 Liguilla, earning 28 points and finishing 5th. After seasons of struggles and disappointing results, the club earned ninth place in the official relegation table for the 2016–2017 season due to their good performances throughout the 2015–2016 season, thus, starting their end of relegation troubles and surpassing clubs such asCruz AzulandClub Tijuana.
On 21 May 2016, club owner Jorge Vergara announced in an official press conference that the club was not renewing contract with Mexican television giantsTelevisa, thus, ending a 22-year run with the broadcasting company. Vergara then announced the establishment ofChivas TV, the club's own channel for live games, interviews, and more. Chivas TV would have a rough start with many complaints from customers about a difficulty watching the live games, but the service would get better as the season progressed and allies such asCinepolis Klic,Claro Video, andTDNjoined the project and also broadcast the live games.
On 10 July 2016,Chivasplayed their first everSupercopa MXand won the title by defeatingVeracruz2–0, with goals fromOrbelin PinedaandOmar Bravo, and qualifying to theCopa Libertadoresfor the first time since 2012,however, they would ultimately not participate due to the Copa Libertadores had a new format which Mexican teams could not adapt to, thus withdrawing from the competition.
On 19 April 2017,Chivaswon theirfourth Copa MX title, defeatingMonarcas Moreliain a penalty shoot-out by a score of 3–1 after a goalless draw, with Guadalajara goalkeeperMiguel Jiménezstopping three consecutive penalties during the series.The following month, they played Atlas, Toluca and in theClausura championship finalwas played againstTigres UANL, with Guadalajara winning their twelfth league title following an aggregate victory of 4–3 after two legs. With the capture of the Liga MX title,Chivasbecame the first team in Mexican history to win aDoublein a single season on two different occasions and their first since the1969–70 season.
On 25 April 2018, Guadalajara won theCONCACAF Champions League finalagainstMajor League SoccersideToronto FC, defeating them 4–2 via penalty shoot-out, with all four players scoring, after a 3–3 aggregate draw. As a result of winning the title, Guadalajara qualified for the2018 FIFA Club World Cup.On 11 June 2018, however, he left, citing differences with an executive.The following day,José Cardozowas appointed manager.
In December, at theFIFA Club World Cup, they concluded their first participation in the tournament with a sixth-place finish after losing in a penalty shoot-out against Tunisian clubEsperance Sportive de Tunis.In March 2019, Cardozo was let go following a losing streak of 4 matchesand on 10 April,Tomás Boywas named as his successor.
On 15 November 2019,Grupo Omnilifeand club owner Jorge Vergara died at the age of 64 of cardiac arrest. His son, Amaury Vergara, inherited the presidency of the club.
On 26 November, Amaury Vergara officially presentedRicardo Peláezas the club's new sporting director andLuis Fernando Tenaas the new manager.
Tena was let go on 9 August after going the first three matches of theGuardianes 2020 tournamentscoreless, losing twice.Four days later,Victor Manuel Vucetichwas appointed as the new manager.Following a seventh place general table finish, they made it to theGuardianes 2020 semi-finals, losing 2–1 to eventual league winnersClub León.In the Guardianes 2021 Chivas would end up getting knocked out in the reclassification round 4–2 to Pachuca
In the Torneo Apertura 2021 Chivas had their lowest finish in the league since the reclassification phase was re-added, Placing 10th in the general standings. This led to the sacking of Victor Manuel Vucetich and the appointment of caretaker managerMarcelo Michel Leaño. The club would end up getting knocked out toPuebla6–5 on penalties in the reclassification phase.
Leaño was appointed as the permanent manager for theClausura 2022tournament. After only getting 11 points from a possible 39, Leaño was sacked. With 4 games left to go in the tournament, Ricardo Pelaez announced the arrival ofRicardo Cadenato be caretaker manager for the rest of the tournament. Cadena would go on to end the regular season with a 4-game winning streak putting Chivas in 6th place. Chivas would end up beating rivalsPumas UNAM4–1 in thereclassification phasebut then fall in the quarter finals to local rivals and eventual champions Atlas 2–1 (3–2 on aggregate)
For theApertura 2022,  Cadena was appointed as permanent manager. Guadalajara would struggle, as they only got their first win in the 10th matchday. It would be later revealed that Sporting Director Ricardo Peláez had consistently been trying to leave the club but president Amaury Vergara declined his resignation. Chivas would end up getting knocked by Puebla on penalties 5–4, yet again in thereclassification phase.
On 21 October 2022,Fernando Hierrowas announced as the sporting director for the team. 10 days later, he announced the appointment of former Chicago Fire coachVeljko Paunović. This announcement was heavily criticized as he had little to no knowledge of Mexican football and had left his previous team (Reading) fighting in arelegation battle.
Despite this, he led Chivas to a top 3 finish in the Clausura 2023, qualifying them for the Liguilla directly for the first time since the Clausura 2017. In the quarter-finals, they would  face and tie with city rivalsAtlas1–1 on aggregate, with Chivas advancing due to having the better position on the regular season table. Chivas would be matched against historical rivalsClub Américain the semi-finals, where despite losing 1–0 at home, Chivas would win 3–1 at theEstadio Aztecato advance to their first league final since theClausura 2017. On 28 May 2023, despite leading 2–0 after the first half, Chivas lost the final of theClausura 20232–3 afterExtra TimetoTigres UANL, the same team they had beat in the Clausura 2017 final.
After a disappointing quarter-final exit in the Apertura 2023,Veljko Paunovićofficially left the club on 15 December 2023.Fernando Gagowould soon be announced as his replacement 5 days later. Gago would lead Chivas to the qualification zone in the Clausura 2024 as the 6th seed with 31 points and bring them back to the semifinals where they would soon be eliminated by rivalsClub America.
On 29 May 2024, Fernando Hierro announced his departure as the sporting director of the team.
Once the team was renamed in 1908 asClub Guadalajara, they used initials,C.G., in the centre of the jersey. After a few years of the team's existence, the first proper crest was designed, still using the team's initials. They were eventually placed around a circle. This design would be used in the team's limited edition Centennial jerseys in 2006.
Guadalajara's current crest was designed in 1923 and uses as its base, thecoat of armsof the city ofGuadalajara, Jalisco. The crest was then complemented with a blue circle and the wordsClub Deportivo Guadalajara, five red stripes and six white stripes, eventual colours that were adopted by the team, and twelve stars representing each championship the team has won. The actual crest design is credited to brothersEverardo and Jose Espinosa,Angel Bolumar, andAntonio Villalvazo, all of whom were players or directors of the team during that time.
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From the 1930s to 1960, Guadalajara played in a small stadium known as "Parque Oblatos".Guadalajara next shared theEstadio Jaliscowith their town rivalsAtlas.Estadio Jalisco was inaugurated on 31 January 1960. It was host for eight games in the1970 FIFA World Cup, six group-stage matches, and one each in the quarterfinals andsemifinals. The stadium was host for nine games in the1986 FIFA World Cup, six group-stage matches, one round-of-16 match, one quarterfinal, and one semifinal.Chivas played in the Jalisco Stadium from 1960 to 2010. Due to the aging structure of the stadium and the desire of Chivas to have their own stadium to call home, owner Jorge Vergara decided to construct a stadium (Jalisco Stadium was always shared with various teams from the city such as Atlas,Club Universidad de Guadalajara, andClub Oro, among others). Chivas administration used an investment of 130 million dollars to build a new home.
In 2010, Las Chivas's new home field was completed.Estadio Omnilife(then named after the nutrition company owned by Vergara) was designed to look like a volcano with a cloud on top. The idea of the design is to integrate the stadium with nature because of its proximity toLa Primavera Biosphere Reserve. It is also used for conventions and as a Business JVC Center. Construction of the stadium began in May 2007 and concluded in July 2010. The stadium seats are red, except for the loge seats that are white. It has a large main entrance and 18 exits. Totalseating capacityis 49,850, which includes 330 suites with capacities of nine to 13 guests. An underground parking lot is available for suite renters, which holds up to 850 cars, and parking outside the stadium has capacity for 8,000 cars. The new stadium also has a store, a museum, and various food and beverage concessions. The stadium's opening date was 30 July 2010.The inaugural match was a friendly between Chivas andManchester Unitedthat Chivas won 3–2, with the first goal scored byJavier "Chicharito" Hernandez,who had just been transferred from the former to the latter. In March 2016, the stadium was renamed Estadio Chivas. On 10 November 2017, it was announced that Mexican automotive oil firm Grupo Akron would buy the naming rights of Estadio Chivas.On 15 December 2017, the stadium was officially renamed Estadio Akron.
Chivas has developed two importantrivalriesover the years. Perhaps its most intense rivalry is with Mexico City-basedClub América. Their meetings, which have become known asEl Súper Clásico, are played at least twice a year and signal a national derby. Both are the most successful and most popular teams in Mexico. The first confrontation between them ended with a victory for Guadalajara with a score of 3–0.The rivalry began to flourish after the second match when Club América defeated Guadalajara with a score of 7–2. Although the huge defeat sparked embarrassment within Chivas, it was almost two decades before the rivalry becameThe Clásico. One of the very reasons why these two teams are archrivals is because in 1983 and 1986 they brawled with each other, raising excitement among the fans. Thus, every time they play it is considered a match that everyone will remember. To this day,El Clásico de Clásicoscontinues to raise huge excitement in the whole country as well as in other parts of the world where there are fans of either team. The intensity of the game is lived so passionately that every time these two teams play a game, regardless of what position they are in on the charts or what level they show throughout the league, it is always considered the most important game of the season. El Súper Clásico was ranked 12th onFourFourTwo's 50 biggest derbies list.
TheClásico Tapatío, as it is known, is the oldest derby in Mexican football since its inception in 1916, being a game that is lived with great passion on the part of supporters of both Chivas andClub Atlas. In the early stages of the rivalry Guadalajara supporters started to dub players of Atlas by calling them "Margaritas". In reaction to the name, a group of Atlas supporters reacted by claiming that their rivals ran like "Chivas Locas" (Crazy Goats) and to the Chivas players it was considered an insult. Over time the meaning of "Chivas" changed due to the popularity of the club and it became a term of endearment upon the Chivas fans. They used to shareEstadio Jalisco, which caused controversies with the fans until, in 2010 Chivas moved to theEstadio Akron.
The fans of what some surveys say is the most popular football team in the country remain loyal to a club that has only won four championship titles (in a period of more than 50 years) since its heyday in 1970.
In addition to the general enthusiasm that still lingers over the era of theCampeonísimo– the most successful club team in the history of Mexican professional football – the affection also stems from the fact that Chivas is the only first division club in Mexico to only sign local players. Chivas also rarely bought Mexican players from other major clubs and did not import its players equally from all parts of Mexico. The focus of its personnel policy is mainly in its own region in western Mexico, and mainly in the state of Jalisco, and traditionally even most in the utilization of its own young talent.
Chivas Guadalajara has 3 supporters' group (barra bravas),La Irreverente,Barra InsurgenciaandLegión 1908.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
All players are Mexican unless otherwise noted.
Players inboldare still active with the team.
Guadalajara were forced to withdraw as they were on a tour in Europe during the finals' schedule.Jacksonville withdrew, Guadalajara advances.Both clubs were disqualified after failing to agree on match dates.Third place was shared.After refusing to play their match against the MetroStars in New York, Guadalajara was expelled from the competition by CONMEBOL. They lost their 4 remaining matches with a score of 0-2.As São Paulo refused to travel following concerns over the H1N1 flu outbreak in Mexico, Guadalajara withdrew from the tournament. CONMEBOL later secured Guadalajara a place in the round of 16 of the 2010 edition instead.