Club América

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América
Full nameClub de Fútbol
América S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)Águilas (Eagles),
Canarios, Millonetas,
Azulcremas
Founded1916
GroundEstadio Azteca,
Mexico City, DF, Mexico
Capacity114,465
ChairmanGuillermo Cañedo White
ManagerMario Carrillo
LeaguePrimera División de México
Apertura 200413th - Did Not Qualify
Club America
Club America

Club de Futbol América, also known as Club América or simply América, is a Mexican professional football club. América plays in the Primera División de México. The team is one of the most popular football clubs in Mexico and also one of the most successful. Their main rivals are CD Guadalajara, also a widely supported club, and their meetings signal the national rivalry (similar to Boca Juniors-River Plate, Real Madrid-Barcelona or Celtic-Rangers).


Honours

Amateur Era: 1901/02 - 1942/43

  • League Championships: 4
    • 1924-25, 1925-26, 1926-27, 1927-28
  • League Runner-Up: 4
    • 1918-19, 1923-24, 1929-30, 1935-36
  • Cup Titles: 1
    • 1938

Professional Era: 1943-44 - present

  • League Championships: 9
    • 1965-66, 1970-71, 1975-76, 1983-84, 1984-85, Prode 85, 1987-88, 1988-89, Verano 2002
  • League Runner-Up: 6
    • 1959-60, 1961-62, 1963-64, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1990-91
  • Cup Titles: 5
    • 1938, 1954, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1974
  • Cup Runner-Up: 3
    • 1945, 1976, 1991
  • Super Cup Titles: 4
    • 1955, 1976, 1988, 1989
  • Super Cup Runner-Up: 6
    • 1954, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1974
  • CONCACAF Club titles: 4
    • 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992
  • CONCACAF Giants Cup title: 1
    • 2001
  • Interamericana titles: 2
    • 1978, 1993
  • Independence Cup titles: 2
    • 1966-67, 1974-75

History

Foundation

In 1916, two cousins from Mascarones Jesuit College, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez y Germán Nuñez Cortina thought of forming a team to compete against other Jesuit Prep school. Rafael and German with a handful of other schoolmates met at German’s aunt’s house, located in Santa Maria la Ribera colony in Mexico City and formed a team, which was to be called 'Record.' Close to Mascarones Jesuit College was another prep school called La Perpetua College. A group of football players headed by Eugenio Cenoz had a team called 'Colon.' Colon had problems fielding 11 players and thought it would be best to unite with another team1.

Players from Union and Record met on October 12 1916 to further their proposals and as a result had to come up with a new name. 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 to signify Club America. 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.

Amateur Era

In 1917, Club America 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, Club Germania, and Asturias were already members of the league when Club America wished to join the amateur league. Club America acceptance into the league depended on 3 games, with the condition of not losing any of the 3 matches. Club America’s first test came against Club Germania. Club America won the game and then was scheduled to play against Club España, which resulted in a draw. Club America was accepted as a result and formed part of the league. Their first season did not go so well, but they were able to capture a fanbase. At the time, Club America 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 Club America in 19202. From 1924 to 1928, Club America was crowned league champions and was able to attract impresive crowds. In 1926, Club America became the first Mexican club to play outside of Mexico2. Aside from broadening their horizons, Club America 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 'Record' Garza Gutiérrez (Club America 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 pertained to Club America.

Professional Era

Up until 1942, every league in Mexico was considered a regional league even though the league in Mexico City was 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. Ageing players, lack of resources, and lack of interest took a toll on the club which led the team to become a bottom feeder for much of the beginning stages of the professional era7.

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 Club America from Isaac Bessudo3.

It is said in Mexico that the club was founded in 1916, but born 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 the following, 'I do not know much about soccer, 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, in other words, a common bad guy. Emilio Azcarraga knew that his club could not compete with the good guy in the movie (reference to Chivas). The new owner sought out to be the villian. 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 the national and international level which allowed the club to enjoy financial growth. The foundation he laid eventually rewarded the club with 9 League titles, 3 Cup titles, 3 Super Cup titles, 5 CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, and 2 Interamerican Cup titles.


Current Roster

 


Sources

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