Mexican Primera División

Primera División
Countries  Mexico
Confederation CONCACAF
Founded 1943
Divisions 4
Number of teams 18
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to Liga de Ascenso
Domestic cup(s) Copa México (Defunct)
International cup(s) CONCACAF Champions League,
Copa Libertadores
Current champions Tigres UANL
(2011 Apertura)
Most championships Guadalajara (11 titles)
TV partners Televisa
TV Azteca
Sky Sports Mexico
ESPN Mexico
Univision
Telemundo
Fox Deportes
ESPN Deportes
Azteca America
TeleFutura
Telelatino
Website www.femexfut.org.mx
2011-12 season

The Primera División Profesional (Professional First Division), known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing for league titles. However, in July 2011, groups were removed. Each season the league holds two tournaments, the Apertura in the winter and the Clausura in the summer. The league is currently ranked number 12 in the world and number 10 in the last decade (2001–2010) by the IFFHS.[1][2]

Contents

History

Amateur era

Prior to the Liga Mayor, there was no national football league in Mexico, and football competitions were held within relatively small geographical regions. The winners of the Primera Fuerza, a local league consisting of teams near and around Mexican Federal District, was considered the national competition. There were other regional leagues such as the Liga Veracruzana, Liga Occidental of Jalisco and Liga del Bajío that also had notable clubs. Many club owners were not keen on the idea of establishing a professional league, despite paying players under the table. With the increasing demand of football, there was a sense of urgency to unite all the local amateur leagues in Mexico to progress as a football nation. The professional national league was finally established in 1943.[3]

Professional era

When the F.M.F. announced the formation of the nation's first professional league, many clubs petitioned to join the newly formed league. The F.M.F. announced that ten clubs would form the Liga Mayor (Major League). The first members of the league were founded by six clubs of the Primera Fuerza of Mexico City, two clubs from the Liga Occidental and two members from the Liga Veracruzana.

Founding members

Primera Fuerza: América, Asturias, Atlante, Real España, and CD Marte.
Liga Occidental De Jalisco: Atlas and Guadalajara.
Liga Amateur de Veracruz : Orizaba, Veracruz Sporting Club and Moctezuma.

Reformation

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, many small clubs faced economic difficulties which were attributed to the lack of international competition by Mexican clubs and an unrewarding league format. As a result of the difficulties suffered by smaller teams, financially affluent Deportivo Guadalajara was able to capture 8 championships within a relatively short time span. Mexican clubs that placed high in the league standings could not afford to participate in prestigious international tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores as did many South American and European clubs.

The Mexican League boom

The 1970 World Cup held in Mexico was the first World Cup televised on a grand scale. The season following the FIFA World Cup, the F.M.F. changed the league format and established a playoff phase to determine the national champion. This was done to regenerate interest and reward teams that placed fairly high in the standings.

Season

Regular season tournaments

In 1996, the league decided to split the season into two championships. This measure was done to generate additional revenues to finance the F.M.F.'s lower divisions. The league holds two tournaments per year, originally called invierno (winter) and verano (summer), now changed to apertura (opening - running from August to December) and clausura (closing - running from January to May). The change was done to correspond with FIFA's world footballing calendar, which "opens" in July/August and "closes" in April/May of the next year. So throughout the footballing world, the action lasts about ten months. In Europe, where tournaments are played as one single championship throughout the year, there is only one champion per year. In the case of Mexico, Argentina and other countries in South America, a new champion is crowned about every five months, or two per year.

Every season, The 18 teams are split into three groups of six, either group one, group two, or group three. They remain in their respective groups throughout the two tournaments played that season. The qualification phase of the tournament lasts 17 weeks, as all teams play each other once per tournament in a home and home series over both tournaments. The qualifying teams reach the liguilla phase of the respective tournament. As of June 7, 2011 the League has decided to do away with the 3 groups and allow the top 8 to directly qualify to the "Liguilla" phase of the tournament, thus eliminating the 'Repechage' match when a 4th place team from one group had more points than the third place team from a different group, along with that, they also changed who the qualifiers from the Apertura would be for the 2012 Edition of the Copa Libertadores, which would be the top 3 team who are not qualified for the Concacaf champions league or Conca-champions as the tournament is called.

La Liguilla (The Playoffs)

La liguilla is the playoff phase of the tournament. This phase starts with eight qualifying teams and is played in the "tie" format in two-leg aggregate-score, similar to the quarterfinals and semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. The first six qualifying teams are the two best clubs from each of the three groups. The best two clubs on the General Classification Table who are not among the top two in their respective group round up the eight qualifiers. The Elimination bracket goes from an 8 team quarterfinal, to a 4 team semifinal, and a final. The Champion team is awarded the First division trophy, and the runner up is awarded a smaller version of the trophy as well. Each player receives a medal respective to their team's placement. The birth of la liguilla in 1970, modernized the league despite the disagreements between the traditionalists and the modernists. Clubs that were near bankruptcy were now better able to compete and generate profits.

Relegation

At the end of a season, after the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, one team is relegated to the next lower division, Liga de Ascenso, and one team from that division is promoted and takes the place left open by the relegated team. Currently, the relegated team is determined by computing the points-per-game-played ratio for each team, considering all the games played by the team during the last two seasons (four tournaments). The team with the lowest ratio is relegated. For teams recently promoted, only the games played since their promotion are considered (two or four tournaments). The team promoted from Liga de Ascenso is the winner of a two-leg match between the champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments of that division. If a team becomes the champion in both tournaments, it is automatically promoted.

Current teams

Currently Promoted To
(The Primera Division)
Club Tijuana
Currently Relegated From
(The Primera Division)
Necaxa
Currently Promoted To
(Liga de Ascenso)
Club Celaya
Primera División
Name Manager City Stadium Capacity First Season In

First Division

First Season of

Current Spell In 1st Division

Nickname
America Miguel Herrera Mexico D.F Azteca 114,000 1943–44 1943–44 Las Águilas (The Eagles)
Atlante Mario García Cancún, Quintana Roo Andrés Quintana Roo 20,000 1943–44 1991–92 Los Potros de Hierro (The Iron Colts)
Atlas Juan Carlos Chávez Guadalajara, Jalisco Jalisco 60,713 1943–44 1979-80 Los Zorros (The Foxes)
Guadalajara Fernando Quirarte Guadalajara, Jalisco Omnilife 49,850 1943–44 1943–44 Las Chivas (The Goats), El Rebaño Sagrado (The Sacred Herd)
Cruz Azul Enrique Meza Mexico, D.F. Azul 35,161 1964–65 1964–65 La Máquina Azul (The Blue Machine)
Jaguares de Chiapas José Guadalupe Cruz Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas Víctor Manuel Reyna 25,222 2002–03 2002–03 Los Jaguares (The Jaguars)
Morelia Tomás Boy Morelia, Michoacán Morelos 41,056 1957–58 1981–82 Monarcas (Monarchs)
Monterrey Víctor Manuel Vucetich Monterrey, Nuevo León Tecnológico 32,662 1945–46 1960–61 Los Rayados (The Striped Ones)
Pachuca Efraín Flores Pachuca, Hidalgo Hidalgo 25,000 1967–68 1998–99 Los Tuzos (The Gophers)
Puebla Juan Carlos Osorio Puebla, Puebla Cuauhtémoc 48,648 1944-45 2007–08 Los Camoteros (The Sweet Potato Growers), La Franja (The Sash)
Querétaro José Saturnino Cardozo Querétaro, Querétaro Corregidora 34,130 1990–91 2009–10 Los Gallos Blancos (The White Roosters)
San Luis René Isidoro García San Luis, San Luis Potosí Alfonso Lastras 28,000 1971–72 2005-06 Los Gladiadores (The Gladiators)
Santos Laguna Benjamin Galindo Torreón, Coahuila Corona 30,000 1988–89 1988–89 Los Guerreros (The Warriors), Los Santos (The Saints)
Tijuana Antonio Mohamed Tijuana, Baja California Estadio Caliente 33,340 2011-12 2011-12 Xoloitzcuintles, Los Perros Aztecas (The Aztec Dogs)
Toluca Wilson Graniolatti Toluca, Mexico Nemesio Díez 27,000 1953–54 1953–54 Los Diablos Rojos (Red Devils)
Estudiantes Tecos José Luis Salgado Zapopan, Jalisco 3 de Marzo 23,000 1975–76 1975–76 Los Estudiantes (The Students), Los Tecolotes (The Owls)
Tigres de la UANL Ricardo Ferretti San Nicolás, Nuevo León Universitario 45,000 1974–75 1997–98 Los Tigres (The Tigers)
Pumas U.N.A.M Guillermo Vázquez Mexico, D.F. Olímpico Universitario 68,954 1962–63 1962–63 Los Pumas (The Cougars)

Uniform Kit and sponsorship

Each team must have a kit of 3 distinct uniforms; local, visitor, and an optional alternate, as well as assigning the goalkeeper a distinct kit in any number of variations from that of the field players.[4]

Uniform

The basic mandatory uniform for a player will be: 1. Game jersey, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. If using pants and / or thermal shirt, they must be the same color as the shorts or sleeve. As an exception to the above, if the supplier of uniforms for a club not provide thermal shirts the same color, then any color may be used if it is not confused with the color of opposing club, and the same color is used uniformly by all the players of the same club. 2. Goalkeeper: Each goalkeeper wears colors that distinguish him from other players, the referee and assistant referee. 3. Players are prohibited from using belts, hats, wristbands, shorts and / or thermal shirt commercial advertising not authorized by the Club. 4. Security: Players will not use or carry objects that are dangerous to themselves or other players (including any kind of jewelry).[5]

Number

Players are to use a number of two (sometimes 3) consecutive digits on the back of the game shirt, and front of the shorts.[6]

Sponsors

Clubs may carry commercial advertising on their uniforms, provided that the colors of the Club, player number, the official emblem of the Club and the FMF can be clearly identified.[7]

Team Kit manufacturer Since/From Primary sponsor Second sponsor/s
América Nike Since 2001-02 Bimbo Coca Cola/Powerade
Atlante Garcis Since 2010-11 Cancún Riviera Maya/Autobuses de Oriente/OfficeMax
Atlas Atletica Since 2006-07 Lubricantes Akron Coca-Cola/Corona/Aeroméxico
Guadalajara Adidas From 2011-12 Bimbo Toyota/Pepsi
Cruz Azul Umbro Since 2002-03 Cemento Cruz Azul Telcel/Powerade
Jaguares Atletica Since 2002-03 Banco Azteca Farmacias del Ahorro/Coca Cola/Sol
Morelia Nike From 2012 Roshfrans Elektra/Sol/Cinépolis
Monterrey Nike Since 2007-08 Bimbo Carta Blanca/Bancomer/Kir
Pachuca Nike Since 2010-11 Gamesa Office Depot/Pepsi/Michelin
Puebla Kappa Since 2010-11 Volkswagen Corona/Elektra/Clemente Jacques
Querétaro Marval From 2011-12 Kellogg's Coca Cola/Cablecom/Libertad Servicios y Prestámos
San Luis Atlética Since 2010-11 Caja Popular Mexicana Telcel/Cemento Moctezuma/Banorte
Santos Laguna Puma Since 2010-11 Soriana Corona/Grupo Peñoles/Lala
Tijuana Nike From 2011-12 Caliente Tecate/Nissan/Carl's Jr.
Toluca Under Armour Since 2010-11 Banamex Corona/Coca Cola
Estudiantes Tecos Under Armour Since 2009-10 Isla Navidad Guadalajara 2011
Tigres UANL Adidas Since 2006-07 Cemex Carta Blanca/Coca Cola/The Home Depot
Pumas UNAM Puma Since 2009-10 Banamex Herbalife/Telcel/Blockbuster Inc.

Television

In Theory, all of the First Division club have the right to sell their own broadcast rights. What this means in practice is that the league is effectively divided between teams broadcast on Televisa, TV Azteca and ESPN Dos (ESPN Dos only broadcast Cruz Azul and Santos local games) in México and Azteca America, TeleFutura Telemundo & Univision in United States and Telelatino and Fox Sports World hold broadcasting rights in Canada; Fox Sports is the only network that holds rights to broadcast selected matches in United States and South America.

Additionally, Televisa-owned networks Sky Sports and TDN hold exclusive broadcasting rights over selected matches throughout the regular season, although the majority of the most important ones are broadcasted live on the national networks.

Most of the Saturday afternoon and evening matches broadcasted by Televisa are shown primarily on Galavision (though there's rare ocasions where a Saturday game is played on Televisa's flagship network, Canal de las Estrellas), However, a blackout policy is usually applied, so Galavision affiliates are forced to air alternative programming during the matches. Sunday noon and afternoon games broadcasted by Televisa are shown on Canal de las Estrellas. All of the games broacasted by TV Azteca on Saturday and Sunday are shown on Azteca 13, Friday's matches however are shown on Azteca 7. The Wednesday and Thursday matches picked by the national newtorks are shown on Canal 5 and Azteca 7 and the rest of the matches air on Sky Sports and TDN.

Primera División – League System Champions (1943–1970)

Season Champion Coach Runner-up
1943–1944 Asturias Ernest Pauler Real Club España
1944–1945 Real Club España Rodolfo Muñoz Puebla
1945–1946 Veracruz Enrique Palomini Atlante
1946–1947 Atlante Luis Grocz León
1947–1948 León José Maria Casullo Oro
1948–1949 León José Maria Casullo Atlas
1949–1950 Veracruz Juan Luque de Serrallonga Atlante
1950–1951 Atlas Eduardo Valdatti Atlante
1951–1952 León Antonio López Herranz Guadalajara
1952–1953 Tampico Madero Joaquín Urquiaga Zacatepec
1953–1954 Marte Ignacio Trelles Oro
1954–1955 Zacatepec Ignacio Trelles Guadalajara
1955–1956 León Antonio López Herranz Oro
1956–1957 Guadalajara Donald Ross Toluca
1957–1958 Zacatepec Ignacio Trelles Toluca
1958–1959 Guadalajara Arpad Fekete León
1959–1960 Guadalajara Arpad Fekete América
1960–1961 Guadalajara Javier de la Torre Oro
1961–1962 Guadalajara Javier de la Torre América
1962–1963 Oro Arpad Fekete Guadalajara
1963–1964 Guadalajara Javier de la Torre América
1964–1965 Guadalajara Javier de la Torre Oro
1965–1966 América Alejandro Scopelli Atlas
1966–1967 Toluca Ignacio Trelles América
1967–1968 Toluca Ignacio Trelles UNAM
1968–1969 Cruz Azul Raúl Cárdenas Guadalajara
1969–1970 Guadalajara Javier de la Torre Cruz Azul
México '70 Cruz Azul Raúl Cárdenas Guadalajara

Primera División – Liguilla System Champions (1970–1996)

Season Champion Coach Runner-up Reg Season most points*
1970–1971 América José Antonio Roca Toluca América (44 pts)
1971–1972 Cruz Azul Raúl Cárdenas América Cruz Azul (51 pts)
1972–1973 Cruz Azul Raúl Cárdenas León Cruz Azul (46 pts)
1973–1974 Cruz Azul Raúl Cárdenas Atlético Español Cruz Azul (49 pts)
1974–1975 Toluca Ricardo de León León León (51 pts)
1975–1976 América Raúl Cárdenas Universidad de Guadalajara América (53 pts)
1976-1977 UNAM Jorge Marik Universidad de Guadalajara UNAM (50 pts)**
1977–1978 Tigres UANL Carlos Miloc UNAM América (51 pts)
1978–1979 Cruz Azul Ignacio Trellez UNAM Cruz Azul (51 pts)
1979–1980 Cruz Azul Ignacio Trellez Tigres UANL América (57 pts)
1980–1981 Pumas UNAM Bora Milutinovic Cruz Azul Estudiantes Tecos (51 pts)
1981–1982 Tigres UANL Carlos Miloc Atlante Atlante (53 pts)
1982–1983 Puebla Manuel Lapuente Guadalajara América (61 pts)
1983–1984 América Carlos Reinoso Guadalajara América (51 pts)
1984–1985 América Miguel Ángel López UNAM UNAM (55 pts)
PRODE 85 América Miguel Ángel López Tampico Madero
Mexico 86 Monterrey Francisco Avilán Tampico Madero
1986–1987 Guadalajara Alberto Guerra Cruz Azul Guadalajara (55 pts)
1987–1988 América Jorge Vieira UNAM América (55 pts)
1988–1989 América Jorge Vieira Cruz Azul Puebla (53 pts)
1989–1990 Puebla Manuel Lapuente Universidad de Guadalajara América (48 pts)
1990–1991 UNAM Miguel Mejía Barón América UNAM (55 pts)
1991–1992 León Víctor Manuel Vucetich Puebla Atlante (50 pts)
1992–1993 Atlante Ricardo La Volpe Monterrey Necaxa (54 pts)
1993–1994 Tecos UAG Víctor Manuel Vucetich Santos Laguna Estudiantes Tecos (51 pts)
1994–1995 Necaxa Manuel Lapuente Cruz Azul Guadalajara (52 pts)
1995–1996 Necaxa Manuel Lapuente Atlético Celaya Cruz Azul (56 pts)

Primera División – Short Tournament Champions (1996–present)

Season Champion Coach Runner-up Reg Season full year*
Invierno 1996 Santos Laguna Alfredo Tena Necaxa
Verano 1997 Guadalajara Ricardo Ferretti Toros Neza Atlante (66 pts)
Invierno 1997 Cruz Azul Luis Fernando Tena León
Verano 1998 Toluca Enrique Meza Necaxa Cruz Azul (61 pts)
Invierno 1998 Necaxa Raúl Arias Guadalajara
Verano 1999 Toluca Enrique Meza Atlas Toluca (75 pts)
Invierno 1999 Pachuca Javier Aguirre Cruz Azul
Verano 2000 Toluca Enrique Meza Santos Laguna Toluca (72 pts)
Invierno 2000 Morelia Luis Fernando Tena Toluca
Verano 2001 Santos Laguna Fernando Quirarte Pachuca Cruz Azul (55 pts)
Invierno 2001 Pachuca Alfredo Tena Tigres UANL
Verano 2002 América Manuel Lapuente Necaxa Toluca (67 pts)
Apertura 2002 Toluca Alberto Jorge Morelia
Clausura 2003 Monterrey Daniel Passarella Morelia Toluca (74 pts)
Apertura 2003 Pachuca Víctor Manuel Vucetich Tigres UANL
Clausura 2004 UNAM Hugo Sánchez Guadalajara UNAM (79 pts)
Apertura 2004 UNAM Hugo Sánchez Monterrey
Clausura 2005 América Mario Carrillo Tecos UAG Morelia (57 pts)
Apertura 2005 Toluca Américo Gallego Monterrey
Clausura 2006 Pachuca José Luis Trejo San Luis Cruz Azul (60 pts)
Apertura 2006 Guadalajara José Manuel de la Torre Deportivo Toluca
Clausura 2007 Pachuca Enrique Meza América Pachuca (65 pts)
Apertura 2007 Atlante José Guadalupe Cruz UNAM
Clausura 2008 Santos Laguna Daniel Guzmán Cruz Azul Santos Laguna (69 pts)
Apertura 2008 Toluca Jose Manuel de la Torre Cruz Azul
Clausura 2009 UNAM Ricardo Ferretti Pachuca Toluca (63 pts)
Apertura 2009 Monterrey Víctor Manuel Vucetich Cruz Azul
Bicentenario 2010 Toluca Jose Manuel de la Torre Santos Laguna Monterrey (66 pts)
Apertura 2010 Monterrey Víctor Manuel Vucetich Santos Laguna
Clausura 2011 UNAM Guillermo Vázquez Morelia
Apertura 2011 Tigres UANL Ricardo Ferretti Santos Laguna Tigres de la UANL (63 pts) [8]

Titles by club

Team Nº of titles Years/Tournaments Won
Guadalajara 11 1956-57, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1963-64, 1964-65, 1969-70, 1986-87, Verano 1997, Apertura 2006
América 10 1965-66, 1970-71, 1975-76, 1983-84, 1984-85, PRODE 85, 1987-88, 1988-89, Verano 2002, Clausura 2005
Toluca 10 1966-67, 1967-68, 1974-75, Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Apertura 2002, Apertura 2005, Apertura 2008, Bicentenario 2010
Cruz Azul 8 1968-69, Mexico 70, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1978-79, 1979-80, Invierno 1997
UNAM 7 1976-77, 1980-81, 1990-91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011
Pachuca 5 Invierno 1999, Invierno 2001, Apertura 2003, Clausura 2006, Clausura 2007
León 5 1947-48, 1948-49, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1991-92
Monterrey 4 Mexico 86, Clausura 2003, Apertura 2009, Apertura 2010
Tigres UANL 3 1977-78, 1981-82, Apertura 2011
Santos Laguna 3 Invierno 1996, Verano 2001, Clausura 2008
Atlante 3 1946-47, 1992-93, Apertura 2007
Necaxa 3 1994-95, 1995-96, Invierno 1998
Puebla 2 1982-83, 1989-90
Zacatepec 2 1954-55, 1957-58
Veracruz 2 1945-46, 1949-50
Morelia 1 Invierno 2000
Estudiantes UAG 1 1993-94
Oro 1 1962-63
Marte 1 1953-54
Tampico Madero 1 1952-53
Atlas 1 1950-51
Real Club España 1 1944-45
Asturias 1 1943-44

Promotion and Relegation

Relegation and Promotion by Club

Club Promotions Relegations
Zacatepec 5 (1950-51, 1962-63, 1969-70, 1977-78, 1983-84) 5 (1961-62, 1965-66, 1976-77, 1982-83, 1984-85)
Pachuca 4 (1966-67, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98) 3 (1972-73, 1992-93, 1996-97)
Querétaro 4 (México 86,1989-90,2005-06,2009-10) 2 (1993-94,2006-07)
Irapuato 4 (1953-54, 1984-85, 1999-2000*, 2002-03) 2 (1971-72, 1990-91)
Atlas 3 (1954-55, 1971-72, 1978-79) 3 (1953-54, 1970-71, 1977-78)
San Luis 3 (1970-71, 1975-76, 2001-02) 3 (1973-/74,1988-89,2002-03)
Veracruz 2 (1963-64, 2001-02) 4 (1951-52, 1978-79, 1997-98, 2007-08)
Zamora 2 (1954-55, 1956-57) 2 (1955-56, 1959-60)
Tampico 2 (1964-65, 1972-73) 2 (1966-67, 1974-75)
Atlante 2 (1976-77, 1990-91) 2 (1975-76, 1989-90)
U.D Curtidores 3 (1982-83, 1998-99*) 2 (1980-81, 1983-84)
Monterrey 3 (1955-56,1959-60) 1 (1956-57)
Morelia 2 (1956-57, 1980-81) 1 (1967-68)
Tigres UANL 2 (1973-74, 1996-97) 1 (1995-96)
León 1 (1989-90) 2 (1986-87,2001-02)
Correcaminos UAT 1 (1986-87) 1 (1994-95)
Ciudad Juárez 1 (2007-08) 1 (2009-10)
Puebla 3 (1969-70,1998-99,2006-07) 2 (1998-99, 2004-05)
Toros Neza 1 (1988-89) 1 (1999-2000)
Oro 1(1979/80)
La Piedad 1 (Ver 2001*) 1 (---)
Estudiantes Tecos 1 (1974-75)

Notes

Champions

List of Mexican football champions

See also

References

External links