C.D. Guadalajara

Guadalajara
Full name Club Deportivo Guadalajara S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s) Chivas (Goats)
Rebaño Sagrado (Holy Flock)
Los Rojiblancos (The Red and White)
Chiverío
Founded May 8, 1906
Ground Estadio Omnilife
Zapopan, Greater Guadalajara,
Jalisco, Mexico
(Capacity: 45,000)
Owner Mexico Jorge Vergara
Manager Mexico José Luis Real
League Primera División
Bicentenario 2010 2nd (league phase)
Eliminated in the quarterfinals
Home colours
Away colours
Current season

Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaðalaˈxaɾa]) , (often simply known as Guadalajara, or by their nickname Chivas) is a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Guadalajara plays in the Primera División de México (Mexican First Division) and is one of the most successful clubs in Mexican football, having won 11 First Division titles, 7 Campeón de Campeones and 2 Copa México. Guadalajara is one of the ten founding members of the Mexican First Division and along with rival Club America it has never been relegated to the second-tier division. Most recently, Guadalajara is the runner-up of Copa Libertadores.

C.D. Guadalajara is the only football club in Mexico to exclusively field Mexican-born players. The three colors of the team are red, white, and blue, symbolic of "Fraternity, Union, and Sports". Las Chivas is one of only two teams in Mexico that has never been relegated to the Liga de Ascenso (2nd Division), and shares a long-standing rivalry with Club América. The team mascot, as well as their nickname, is the goat or chiva. Las Chivas is Mexico's most successful and popular team, according to FIFA.com[1] and holds the Mexican league record for the longest winning streak at the beginning of a season, with 8 consecutive wins.

Contents

History

Foundation and the Amateur Era (1906-1943)

The team was founded by Edgar Everaert, who arrived in Mexico in 1904. Their kit was modeled on that of the founder's favorite team, the Belgian Club Brugge K.V., borrowing the vertical stripes and color scheme of the Brugge strip in that era (Brugge has since changed their team colors). Some historians assert that the colors came from the French Tricolor because some of the club's first players were French. The first team comprised Mexican, Belgian and French players, 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. In 1908, it was also decided that the team would only field Mexican-born players because of the growing sense of oppression Mexican nationals felt towards non-Mexican nationals. 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), Guadalajara won 13 amateur titles, the first in 1908. Also during this period, the oldest rivalry in Mexican football began to form, between Guadalajara and F.C. Atlas.

Professional Era, El Ya Merito (1943-1953)

In 1943 the Liga Mayor was 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 brinconas" (jumping goats) during a game against Tampico-Madero. The name was initially considered an insult, but later adopted as the team's nickname. During the 1951-52 and 1954-55 seasons, the team finished as runner-up in the league, leading to the nickname "los ya merito. "The Almost There!"

El Campeonísimo (1955-1970)

During the 1956 season, players such as Salvador "Chava" Reyes, Jaime "El Tubo" Gomez, Isidoro Lopez, and Jose Villegas were part of what is considered one of the finest teams in Mexican football history, El Campeonisimo. Guadalajara won its first championship during this season due to a last minute goal scored by Salvador Reyes. Led by coaches such as Donald Russ and Javier de la Torre in 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 the 1958-59, 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961-62 seasons. El Campeonisimo became internationally recognized and, in 1964 played several matches in Europe against such teams as FC Barcelona, Werder Bremen, and Lille Olympique, resulting in two victories, four draws and four losses for the team.

The Dark Era (1971-1983)

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Guadalajara struggled. The best they could manage was to reach the play-offs twice, with a fifth place finish in 1971-72 and a sixth place finish in 1975-76.

The Resurrection 1983-1991

During 1980-81 season, the team reached a third-place ranking. Prior to the 1981-82 season, a tragic road accident took the life of team member José Martínez.[2] The team finished the season in seventeenth place.

The Club then hired coach Alberto Guerra, who had been a player for Guadalajara during the mid '60s. During the 1982-83 season, Guadalajara finished seventh in the league and qualified for the playoffs, going on to eliminate Atlante FC in quarter-finals and Club América in Semifinals. The team reached the Finals for the first time since the playoff format was introduced in the '70s, where it would go on to lose to Puebla F.C. in a penalty shootout[3]. Guadalajara would once again reach the Finals in 1983-84, only to lose to America by an aggregate score of 5-4. However they would continue being very competitive the rest of the '80s and early '90s., with their very best performance on the 1986-87 season, where they would finish 1st in the regular season and win the Championship against Cruz Azul in the final. Their best players during this time were Benjamin Galindo, Eduardo "Yayo" De La Torre, "Chepo" De La Torre, Fernando Quirarte, Javier Aguirre among other.

"La Promotora" Era (1992-02)

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 the Promotora and of team operations[4]. Before Guadalajara began its new era under the Promotora, 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 in 1986-87 Alberto Guerra and purchase many players that would become icons for Guadalajara in the early '90s: Missael Espinoza, Alberto "Guameru" Garcia, and Alberto Coyote. The team also decided that it would rely on young talent from its basic training schools. Such talent included Paulo Cesar "Tilon" Chavez and Joel "Tiburon" Sanchez. At the beginning of the 93-94 season, the press and fans dubbed the new and improved team Las Superchivas[4]. However, despite expectations, the team was eliminated early on in the playoffs. The 94-95 season would bring about more change for the team. Guadalajara hired player Ramon Ramirez. Also at the start of the season, directors sold all television rights of the team to Mexican giant Televisa, a move that was heavily criticized by fans because of Televisa's ownership of Club América[4]. Guadalajara would end the 1993-1994 regular season as the leader in the league table, but was narrowly defeated by Club Necaxa in Semis. The 96-97 season saw the exit of coach Alberto Guerra, being replaced by the Dutchman Leo Beenhakker. The team failed to make the playoffs that season.

By 1996, the Primera División de México season format would be changed to two short seasons per year. The first of the seasons, Invierno 1996, saw Guadalajara bring in another coach, Brazilian Ricardo Ferretti. During Ferretti's first season, the team managed to reach third place in the league table, but would be eliminated by Club Necaxa in the Quarterfinals. Guadalajara won its 10th championship under Ferretti in the Verano 1997 season against Toros Neza with the aggregate score of 7-2. Guadalajara would once again reach the Finals in the Invierno 1998 season, only to once again lose to Necaxa. The fans criticized the sale of player Ramon Ramirez to Club América[4].

Jorge Vergara Era (2002-present)

After its tenth year in charge of Guadalajara, La Promotora was still in debt and finally put up for sale. On October 31, 2002, the team was acquired by a Guadalajara native and self-made entrepreneur, Jorge Vergara.[5]. Vergara was the founder of a dietary supplement company named 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[6].

In order to establish funding for the team, Vergara sought to market the Las Chivas name and capitalize on it, placing the name on anything from its own magazine to toothbrushes and its own brand of cola[7].

For the Clausura 2003 season, Guadalajara hired Eduardo "Yayo" de la Torre, who had played for the team in the 1980s. The Apertura 2003 season would see poor results in the first half of the tournament, putting an end to "Yayo" de la Torre's tenure as coach. Coaching responsibilities would be temporarily assumed by Dutchman Hans Westerhof (who was in charge of the team's basic training school) and the team would barely qualify for a wild card showdown against Club Deportivo Toluca, but was subsequently eliminated. For the Apertura 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 goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, Ramon Morales, Omar Bravo, and newly acquired Adolfo Bautista, became instant fan favorites. They defeated Atlante FC in the Quarterfinals and Toluca in the Semifinals, but would lose in the Finals against Pumas UNAM in a penalty shootout. Nevertheless, the team had shown, since Vergara's arrival, that it was highly competitive, including in the Copa Libertadores 2005, where it defeated favorites Boca Juniors 4-0 agg. to reach Semis. Under coach José Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, who was also a player for Guadalajara in the 1980s, the team won its 11th championship. For the Apertura 2006 season, Las Chivas placed eighth in the league table and qualified for the knock-out round (the "Liguilla") by defeating Veracruz 2-1 in Veracruz and 4-0 in the Estadio Jalisco in a wild card series. Guadalajara advanced to the Quarterfinals where it defeated first place qualified Cruz Azul 2-0 in the first leg and tied 2-2 in the second leg (4-2 aggregate), moving on to the semi-finals against rivals Club América.

These wins allowed Las Chivas to advance to the final of the Primera Division against Toluca. The first match was played at Estadio Jalisco, in which Toluca and Las Chivas tied 1-1 with goals from Omar Bravo for Las Chivas and Bruno Marioni for Toluca. On December 10, 2006, Las Chivas played at Toluca's home stadium Estadio Nemesio Diez and won 2-1 (3-2 aggregate), thus becoming the Mexican League champions, holding 11 titles, the most titles of any team in the league. The first goal was scored by Francisco Javier Rodriguez, and the second was by Adolfo 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. Photo Gallery After the Apertura 2006 championship the rteam has gone through a series of changes beginning with the departure of players like Oswaldo Sanchez, Adolfo Bautista, and Omar Bravo who went to play to Spain but returned later, however new faces like Jared Borgetti, Carlos Ochoa who these two left the team later and Sergio Amaury Ponce came to the team. Jose Manuel de la Torre was fired in the Apertura 2007 tournament and replaced by Efrain Flores who coached until being replaced first by Omar Arellano Nuño who only coached one league game and two Copa Libertadores games, and then being replaced by Francisco Ramirez who had an unsuccessful period as a team coach having the lowest percentage of effectiveness of all the coaches hired in the last seven years. After Ramirez poor results he was fired and replaced by Raul Arias, a former coach of Necaxa and San Luis. Then on November 4, 2009, Raul Arias was fired and replaced by Jose Luis Real. Coach Jose Luis Real lead the team to an explosive start of the Bicentario 2010 tournament, winning its first 8 games in a row. Nevertheless, their winning streak was broken against a low table team, the Jaguars of Chiapas, losing by a score of 4-0. Las Chivas continues to be a major source for the Mexican national team in recent years. Under Jose Luis Real Chivas saw many young and promising players blossoming even more rapidily than expected.[8]

Colors and badge

Club Union crest. (circa 1910)

Once the team was renamed in 1908 as Club Guadalajara, they used initials, C.G., in the center 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 banner

Guadalajara's current crest was designed in 1923 and uses as its base, the crest of the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. The crest was then complemented with a blue circle and the words Club Deportivo Guadalajara, five red stripes and six white stripes, eventual colors that were adopted by the team, and eleven stars representing each championship the team has won. The actual crest design is credited to brothers Everardo and Jose Espinosa, Angel Bolumar, and Antonio Villalvazo, all of whom were players or directors of the team during that time.[9]

Past kits

First kit
100th anniversary commemorative
2007-08 kit
2008-09 kit
Season Manufacturer Sponsor Season Manufacturer Sponsor
1986–1987 Le Coq Sportif None 1987–1988 Le Coq Sportif Nissan
1988–1989 Eder do Brasil Nissan 1989–1990 Adidas
1990–1991 Adidas 1991–1992 Lotería Nacional
1992–1993 Umbro Texaco 1993–1994 nike Sport MEXLUB
1994–1995 ABA Sport MEXLUB 1995–1996
1996–1997 1997 Nike
1997–1998 Atletica Mexicana 1998–1999 Atletica Coca-Cola
1999–2000 Cemento Tolteca 2000–2001 Cemento Tolteca
2001–2002 2002–2003
2003–2004 JV & Co. None 2004–2005 Reebok None
2005 Reebok 2006 Bimbo
2006–2007 Bimbo 2007–2008
2008–2009 2009–2010

Stadium

Inside view of the Estadio Jalisco.

From the 1930s to 1960 Guadalajara played in a small stadium known as "Parque Oblatos". Guadalajara shared the Estadio Jalisco, with their town rivals Atlas. Estadio Jalisco was opened on January 31, 1960. It was host for eight games in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, six for group stage matches, and two for quarter and semi-finals. The stadium was host for nine games in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, six of which were group stage matches, and one was a round of sixteen and the last two were quarter and semifinals.

In 2010, Jorge Vergara opened a new stadium to be used as Las Chivas' new home field. The stadium, named Estadio Omnilife after the nutrition company owned by Vergara, has the form of a volcano with a cloud on top. The idea of the design is to integrate the stadium with nature because of its proximity to a forest area. It is also used for conventions and as a Business JVC Center. The stadium seats are colored red except for the loge seats which are white. It has a large main entrance and 18 exits. The minimum seating capacity will be 45,500 with a maximum of 54,500. An underground parking lot is available, capable of holding up to 8,000 cars. The new stadium also has a restaurant with a capacity of 200 people and a view of the field during games. The stadium's opening date was July 30, 2010.[10]. The opening match on that day was a friendly between Las Chivas and Manchester United.

Rivalries

Las Chivas has developed two important rivalries over the years. Perhaps its most intense rivalry is with Mexico City-based based Club América. Their meetings, which have become known as El 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 what are considered the two most popular teams in Mexico ended with a victory for Guadalajara with a score of 1-0.The rivalry began to flourish after the second match when Club América defeated Las Chivas de Guadalajara with a score of 7-2. Although the huge defeat sparked embarrassment within Las Chivas, it was almost two decades before the rivalry became The Clásico. One of the very reasons why these two teams are arch rivals is because in 1983 and 1986 these two clubs brawled with each other, raising excitement among the fans, thus every time they play it is considered a match that everyone will remember.[11][12] To this day, El Súper Clásico continues 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 contest a game, regardless of what position they are on the charts or what level they show throughout the league, it is always considered the most important game of the season.

Las Chivas developed a local rivalry with Atlas. The Clásico Tapatío, as it is known, is considered the oldest local derby in Mexican soccer since its inception in 1916, being a game that is lived with great passion on the part of supporters of both clubs. They both shared the same stadium Estadio Jalisco which causes controversies with the fans and the police.

C.D. Chivas USA

C.D. Chivas USA is owned by Jorge Vergara Madrigal, owner of CD Guadalajara, and Antonio Cué Sánchez-Navarro and is a subsidiary of Chivas USA Enterprises LLC, which is led by Cué and club President and CEO Shawn Hunter. Founded on August 2, 2004, as Major League Soccer's then-eleventh team, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved some success in just five seasons in MLS. In 2007, the Mexican-owned club finished first in the Western Conference, qualifying for the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Chivas Femenil

Chivas Femenil in action against C.D. Oro in a 2008 Super Liga Femenil match.

Another of Jorge Vergaras plans was to create a team exclusively for women. Las Chivas Femenil is open to girls from 14 to 18 years of age, trying to recruit players to fill out the appropriate profile for the team and the "Institución Rojiblanca" (The Red and White Institution). The team currently plays in the Super Liga Femenil, the top level of women's football in Mexico.

Current squad

As of April 24, 2010.

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

No. Position Player
1 Mexico GK Luis Ernesto Michel (captain)
2 Mexico DF Mario de Luna
3 Mexico MF Dionicio Escalante
4 Mexico DF Héctor Reynoso (vice-captain)
5 Mexico DF Patricio Araujo
6 Mexico DF Omar Esparza
7 Mexico FW Adolfo Bautista
8 Mexico MF Marco Fabián
9 Mexico FW Omar Arellano
10 Mexico FW Alberto Medina
11 Mexico FW Ulises Dávila
12 Mexico GK Sergio Arias
13 Mexico MF Sergio Ávila
No. Position Player
14 Mexico MF Jorge Enríquez
15 Mexico FW Michel Vázquez
16 Mexico DF Miguel Ángel Ponce
17 Mexico FW Omar Bravo
18 Mexico MF Xavier Báez
19 Mexico DF Jonny Magallón
20 Mexico DF Edgar Mejía
21 Mexico DF Christian Pérez
23 Mexico GK Víctor Hugo Hernández
25 Mexico DF Juan Antonio Ocampo

Retired numbers

Reserve teams

Reserve teams have been an important part of the formation of new talents for the team and today they remain a high priority to the institution.

Guadalajara U-20
Reserve team that plays in the U-20 tournament coinciding with the regular season tournament. The games are held in Estadio Jalisco.
Guadalajara U-17
Reserve team that plays in the U-17 tournament coinciding with the regular season tournament. The games are held in Estadio Jalisco.
Chivas Rayadas
Reserve team that plays in the Segunda División Premier or the Mexican Second Division in the third level of the Mexican league system. The games are held in the city of Puerto Vallarta in the La Preciosa training fields.
Guadalajara
Reserve team that plays in the Tercera División de México or Mexican Third Division in the fourth level of the Mexican league system. The games are held in the Verde Valle training facilities.

Notable players

  • Salvador Reyes
  • Daniel Ramos
  • Hans Friessen
  • Martín Zúñiga
  • Juan de Dios Ramírez Perales
  • José Manuel de la Torre
  • Eduardo de la Torre
  • Fernando Quirarte
  • Javier Valdivia
  • Javier Aguirre
  • Luis García
  • Benjamín Galindo
  • Claudio Suárez
  • Ramón Ramírez
  • Juan Francisco Palencia
  • Jamaicon Villegas
  • Hugo Díaz
  • Manuel Sol
  • Gustavo Napoles
  • Manuel Vidrio
  • Alberto Coyote
  • Ignacio Vázquez
  • Daniel Guzmán
  • Luis Flores
  • Camilo Romero
  • Héctor Castro
  • Joel Sánchez
  • Paulo César Chávez
  • Guillermo Mendizabal
  • Jose Martínez
  • Israel López
  • Jesús Arellano
  • Jair García
  • Jared Borgetti
  • Ramón Morales
  • Omar Bravo
  • Oswaldo Sánchez
  • Carlos Salcido
  • Adolfo Bautista
  • Guillermo Torres
  • Ignacio Calderón
  • Gonzalo Pineda
  • Francisco Javier Rodríguez
  • Javier Hernández
  • Carlos Vela

Top goalscorers in domestic league

Players in bold are still active with the team.

Guadalajara players in Europe

The first player transfer from Club Guadalajara to an European side came in 1988 when Eduardo de la Torre was transferred to then Spanish La Liga club Xerez CD, playing in his opening match against Real Madrid. Also in 1988, Eduardo's cousin José Manuel de la Torre was transferred to Real Oviedo. From that moment onwards a total of nine players have also moved to a European team. Most recently, in April 2010, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez became part of one the most successful clubs in the history of English football and one of the wealthiest and most widely supported football teams in the world, Manchester United.[13]

Name Club League
Eduardo de la Torre Xerez Spain La Liga
José Manuel de la Torre Real Oviedo Spain La Liga
Manuel Vidrio Osasuna Spain La Liga
Carlos Salcido PSV Eindhoven Netherlands Eredivisie
Carlos Vela Salamanca/Osasuna
Arsenal
Spain La Liga
England Premier League
Francisco Javier Rodríguez PSV Eindhoven Netherlands Eredivisie
Omar Bravo Deportivo La Coruña Spain La Liga
Javier Hernández Manchester United England Premier League

Managerial history

Dates Name
1989 Argentina Ricardo Lavolpe
1990 Mexico Jésus Bracamontes
1990 Hungary Arpad Fekete
1990–1991 Argentina Miguel Ángel López
1991–1992 Mexico Jésus Bracamontes
1992–1993 Mexico Demetrio Madero
1993–1995 Mexico Alberto Guerra
1995 Argentina Osvaldo Ardiles
1996 Netherlands Leo Beenhakker
1996–2000 Brazil Mexico Ricardo Ferretti
2000 Mexico Hugo Hernández
2000–2001 Mexico Jésus Bracamontes
2001 Mexico Jorge Dávalos
2001–2002 Argentina Óscar Ruggeri
2002 Mexico Daniel Guzmán
2003 Mexico Eduardo de la Torre
2003–2004 Netherlands Hans Westerhof
2004–2005 Mexico Benjamin Galindo
2005 Spain Xabier Azkargorta
2006 Netherlands Hans Westerhof
2006–2007 Mexico José Manuel de la Torre
2007–2009 Mexico Efraín Flores
2009 Mexico Omar Arellano Nuño
2009 Mexico Francisco Ramírez
2009 Mexico Raúl Arias
2009 Mexico José Luis Real

Honors

National

Amateur era:

Professional era:

International

Friendly Tournaments

Youth

Women's Team

References

External links