Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul Logo |
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| Full name | Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural Cruz Azul A.C. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Cruz Azul La Maquina Celeste Los Cementeros La Máquina La Máquina Azul La Máquina Cementera El Azul |
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| Founded | May 22, 1927 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Azul Benito Juarez, Mexico City (Capacity: 35,161) |
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| Owner |  Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, S.C.L. |
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| President | Guillermo Álvarez Cuevas |
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| Head Coach | Enrique Meza |
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| League | Primera División | |||
| Bicentenario 2010 | 9th place | |||
| Website | Club home page | |||
| All-time top scorer | Carlos Hermosillo: 169 goals | |||
| Honours | Primera División: 8 CONCACAF Champions League: 5(record) Copa Libertadores: Runners-Up Copa Interamericana: Runners-Up Copa Pachuca: 5 (record) Copa México 2 Campeón de Campeones 2 |
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 Current season |
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Club Deportivo, Social, y Cultural Cruz Azul, known simply as Cruz Azul, is a Mexican professional football club. Cruz Azul plays in the Primera División de México and its home venue is the Estadio Azul, located in the southwestern part of Mexico City in the Colonia Nochebuena, next to the Napoles neighborhood. The team moved there in 1996, after playing for many seasons at the Estadio Azteca.
Los Cementeros are traditionally one of the biggest and most successful teams in Mexico; they have been the Primera División champions 8 times and trail only Toluca with 10, Club América with 10, and Guadalajara with 11. Cruz Azul was also the first Mexican or CONCACAF team to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores when they lost on penalties to Argentine football giants Boca Juniors. Currently the clubs jerseys and sportswear, are being provided by the traditional English trademark Umbro. Cruz Azul is ranked 36th in the IFFHS rankings of August 2010 and is the top ranked team among CONCACAF and Mexico.
It is the top winner of the CONCACAF Champions League, along with Club America, with five titles and is according to several polls published, the third most popular team in Mexico.[1]
History
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Cruz Azul was founded as an amateur team on May 22, 1927, by the workers of the cement maker, Cemento Cruz Azul, and Macario Acosta, and played in the town of Jasso, Hidalgo. Cemento Cruz Azul still sponsors the team, although sponsorship is currently shared with Umbro, the official sportswear of the team, Powerade, an energy drink made by Coca-Cola, Telcel and Sony. Guillermo Álvarez Marcia and Carlos Garcés were the main figures behind the creation effort and the quick success of the team, which frequently represented the state of Hidalgo in national amateur tournaments.
From 1927 to 1960, the amateur team played many times in Mexico City against the reserve squads of established professional teams such as Club Aguilitas, Necaxa, Atlante F.C., Asturias F.C. and Club Deportivo Marte. Considering the increasing success of the team, the new administration of the cement company (which changed its name to "Cooperativa Cruz Azul") decided in 1960 to build a stadium in Jasso, the Estadio 10 de Diciembre, and officially registered the team on the professional ascent division, the Segunda División for the 1960-61 season.
By 1964, under the Hungarian coach Jorge Marik, the team won the Segunda División championship, earning the right to play the following season in the highest level of professional football in Mexico, the Primera División.
That first season ended with an eighth place finish and increased hopes for the future. Just four years later, Cruz Azul won its first league tournament, under coach Raúl Cárdenas.
Cruz Azul became the most successful Mexican team of the 1970s, winning the league tournament six times between 1970 and 1980, four of them under Cárdenas, and the last two with Ignacio Trelles at the helm. Such dominance earned them the nickname La Máquina Celeste (The Celestial Machine), which is still used as the unofficial nickname of the team.
1997 brought the team its eighth and most recent championship during the Invierno 1997 tournament under coach Luis Fernando Tena, beating Leon by a score of 2-1. Cruz Azul won in the last minute in a penalty kick scored by Carlos Hermosillo. This was the youngest team to win eight championships in 40 years. In 2008, Cruz Azul played the three final matches. The first was against Club America in the Interliga, where they lost in penalties. Another was against Santos Laguna in the final of the 2008 Clausura. The last match was against Deportivo Toluca F.C., which they lost in penalties.
The Championships
Just 5 years after it ascended to the First Division, Cruz Azul won its first league championship in a series of eight, mostly from the mid-'70s.
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Second Championship ("México 1970")
Date: October 11, 1970.
After being the runner-up last season, Cruz Azul was able to be awarded with the title again by winning the final round of this tournament, which was divided into two parts. In the first phase was able to classify as a third place in the "Pairs" crowned after the final day to defeat Pachuca on the "Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul" on Hidalgo State, by 2 to 0. For the celestial them only enough to secure the tie crown, but finally won the game to do it with class. The goals were set by Octavio Muciño (64) Pat and Rafael Hernández (71 ').
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Alatorre
Arévalo
Alejandrez
Peña
Sánchez Galindo
Pulido
Munguía
Bustos
Guerrero
Muciño
Hernández Pat
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| . |
Third Championship (1971-72)
Date: July 9, 1972.
In the second tournament, where the champion is defined by round matches, Cruz Azul won its third crown since winning the final who would become his fiercest rival, the Club America. This was the first season of the club playing at home in the Azteca Stadium, where for the first time using foreign elements in the template. Cruz Azul ended up as leader of the competition faced in the semifinals round of Guadalajara, although lost in the return encounter Azteca 1-0, turned in the Jalisco stadium 2-0 to reach the final. By the fact that America had defined its semifinal series against Monterrey extra to a third party, by mutual agreement of the two finalists was decided to perform one final game. Despite having a minority of fans, Cruz Azul won overwhelming azulcrema the table by a devastating 4 to 1. Following this final, was conceived a strong rivalry between the two squads, which led the Mexican "Youth Classic" match. The goals were converted by Blue Hector Pulido ('10), Cesareo Victorino ('28) and Octavio Muciño (36 'and'46). The final would be a watershed in the history of cement, since beginning the golden age of the club.
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 Marín
Ramírez
Guzmán
 Quintano
Sánchez Galindo
Victorino
Pulido
Alejandrez
Muciño
Bustos
 Vera
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| . |
Fourth Championship (1972-73)
Date: June 19, 1973.
Cruz Azul gets two championships in a row, again finishing as the overall leader, with the semifinals to rival Atlas. Completed in the first leg at the Jalisco stadium celestial bandwagon by 3 to 2, in turn repeat the victory by 1 to 0. It should be noted that this match would be suspended just 35 minutes of the game because of the Atlas 5 players were ejected. The final against Leon would be highly disputed, as it would have to define a third party in the Cuauhtemoc stadium in Puebla. The way (in Leon) ended with a tie at 1 and round match without goals but the third game ended in a tie again with a goal in regular time. Finally, in overtime win thanks to a Cruz Azul's own goal "Tarzan" Davino. The scorers were carried blue Javier Guzman ('40) and the own goal by Jorge Davino ('114).
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Marín
Ramírez
Guzmán
Quintano
Velázquez
Victorino
Pulido
Alejandrez
Muciño
Bustos
Vera
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| . |
Fifth Championship (1973-74)
Date: May 19, 1974.
With this title Cruz Azul achieves three championships in a row, strongly throughout the regular season and league. For a change, it ends up as leader of the regular competition and eliminated in the semifinals Puebla, although rescued a draw at home to one in the back appalled at the Cruz Azul of the Strip with severe win 6 to 1. At the end facing the junior team Club Atlético Español, who manages to defeat the blue in-game trip for 2 to 1. But in return, the machine clearly won by 3 to 0 for crowns, both games were held on the Azteca stadium. The final goal of the game were given by Horacio López Salgado ('13), Fernando Bustos ('70) and Ignacio Flores ('89).
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Marín
Flores
Guzmán
Quintano
Sánchez Galindo
Gómez
Pulido
Andrade
López Salgado
Bustos
Vera
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| . |
Sixth Championship (1978-79)
Date: June 30, 1979.
After a waiting period of 4 years, Cruz Azul was back to the league champions. Finishing as overall leader, ranks in the postseason round of group round robin (all against all), his pass to win the grand final. At this stage of the league faced America (0-1 and 2-1), Toluca (1-0 and 1-0) and Atlético Potosino (2-1 and 2-2) to classify the final against the Pumas UNAM. In the way of Pumas Stadium, was a tie without goals, and in turn in the Cruz Azul Azteca wins by 2 to 0 for their sixth league title. The annotations were made by Carlos Jara Saguier ('69) and Javier López Malo ('88).
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Marín
Flores
Rubio
Cornero
López Malo
Jara Saguier
Mendizábal
Lugo Gómez
López Salgado
Montoya
Ceballos
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Seventh Championship (1979-80)
Date: July 13, 1980.
With this new two titles in succession, Cruz Azul close a glorious era in its short history then. This time, classified as second place overall (bottom of America), and within the group stage of cement prefinalista the head table to be on the Coyotes in Neza (1-0 and 1-0), Tampico (1-0 and 0 -1) and Atlante (4-2 and 1-3) to enter the fight for the title against the UANL Tigres. On the first match, a goal scored by a free kick, by Rodolfo Montoya, at the last minutes of the match, give Cruz Azul a win as visitors. Finally, this difference was that both the balance tilted in favor of the machine, because at the turn of the Azteca stadium ended the scoring with a thrilling tie at 3 annotations. In fact, Cruz Azul, would have an advantage of 3 to 0, but was hit by the north, which, however, was a step away from forcing extra time. The entries in this match were given by Adrian Camacho ('5) and Rodolfo Montoya ('10 and'56).
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Marín
Flores
Toribio
Cornero
Viveros
Jara Saguier
Mendizábal
Lugo Gómez
Camacho
Montoya
Ceballos
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| . |
Eighth Championship ("Invierno 1997")
Date: December 7, 1997.
Cruz Azul lived a long wait to win another league title, and he arrived 17 years after the third "short" tournament. Finished as the second site (a point downstream of Leon) and the league office in the quarter-finals Atlas (1-0 and 4-1 in Jalisco in Blue), and in the semifinal at Atlante (1-1 in 1-0 at the Azteca and the Estadio Azul), to face Leon in a highly contested final round. In the return game in the Blue, the machine takes the advantage with a penalty kick scored by Benjamin Galindo. In the return made on the stadium Camp Nou, the emerald team achieves a draw on the combined result 1-1 (home and away match) by Missael Espinoza, forcing extra time period. Already in the extension, the move ultimately will be remembered by: a penalty kick for an aggressive foul ("a kick"), committed by Leon goalkeeper Angel David Comizzo in the face of Carlos Hermosillo, who was playing for having infiltrated two fractured ribs. The penalty was kicked by the very Hermosillo, at the minute '100, and scores, and with the approach of Golden Goal, Cruz Azul wins its eighth crown.
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Pérez
Rodríguez
 Reynoso
Sixtos
Castañeda
Barra
Moreno
Adomaitis
Galindo
Palencia
Yegros
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Copa Libertadores 2001
In 2001, Cruz Azul was invited to a tournament between some Mexican and Venezuelan teams. The two best teams of this tournament earned the right to play in the Copa Libertadores, a tournament of the all the best teams of South America. Cruz Azul qualified for the Copa Libertadores in its first try, and reached the final match. Cruz Azul was placed in Group 7 along with teams such as Sao Caetano, Defensor Sporting, and Olmedo. Cruz Azul finished as leader of the group with 13 points. In the round of 16 Cruz Azul faced Cerro Porteño. The first leg was played in Asunción and Cruz Azul lost 2-1. The second leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won the game 3-1. The aggregate score was 4-3 in favor of Cruz Azul and they moved on to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals Cruz Azul faced CA River Plate of Argentina. The first leg of the match was played in Buenos Aires and ended in a 0-0 draw. The second leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won 3-0. Cruz Azul was having a great run and played Rosario Central in the semifinals. The first leg was played in Mexico and Cruz Azul won the game 2-0. The second leg was played in Rosario in a very exciting match which ended in a 3-3 draw in favor of Cruz Azul due to the 2-0 victory in the first leg. In the final match, Cruz Azul played against the Argentinian club Boca Juniors, Cruz Azul lost at home the first leg 1-0, but came back to win the second leg with the same score, at Boca's stadium La Bombonerawith Paco Palencia scoring the goal. Until then, no team had ever won a Copa Libertadores final match there. After the overtime due to the tie, the championship was decided by penalty kicks, where the more experienced Boca Juniors prevailed. Still, Cruz Azul surprised everybody with the unprecedented feat of reaching the final on their first try by defeating established Brazilian and Argentinian teams such as Sao Caetano, Rosario Central and CA River Plate.
2006-2007
In the 2006 Apertura, the team started off great but in the middle of the season, they had a hard time adding points on the board. Cruz Azul recovered and finished the regular season as the points leader. They have not won a title since the championship they won against Leon in 1997. For the Apertura 2006, Cruz Azul made it to the quarterfinals and faced Chivas in the Estadio Jalisco. In the first leg, Cruz Azul played a very poor game and lost 2-0. On November 25, 2006 Cruz Azul played the second leg at Estadio Azul and played a brilliant game. Cruz Azul started off strong and put Chivas keeper Oswaldo Sanchez to the test on many occasions. In the middle of the first half, defender Salvador Carmona pushed a Chivas player in the penalty area and cost Cruz Azul a penalty.Ramon Morales had no problem and put the score 1-0 in favor of Chivas in the 39th minute. Cruz Azul kept creating opportunities and at the end of the first half, Cesar Delgado made a great play that Richard Nunez finished with a goal to tie the game right before halftime in the 45th minute. In the second half, Chivas scored thanks to Ramon Morales again to put the score 2-1 in favor of Chivas. Cruz Azul did not give up and Miguel Sabah tied the game 2-2 in the 62nd minute. Cruz Azul played a great game and ended up tying the game 2-2 but losing 4-2 on aggregate.
In the 2007 Clausura the team had a great start, finishing among the first 8 teams in the league that went to playoffs. The team had a great quarterfinal series against the Tecos of the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, thanks to two magnificent goals from striker Richard Nuñez and moved to semifinals against Pachuca FC, the top team in the league. Pachuca beat Cruz Azul in the Estadio Azul in the first leg of the series with a strong 3-1. Cruz Azul still had a chance to overcome the adverse score, but on that same evening, the Court of Arbitration for Sport communicated that team captain Salvador Carmona was declared ineligible with immediate and lifetime effect, because of a repeated doping indiscipline that occurred back in January 2006. The sanction was dated May 18, 2007, the very day of the first match against Pachuca. Arguing that player Salvador Carmona did play on that day for Cruz Azul, the Mexican Soccer Federation, aka Federacion Mexicana de Futbol sanctioned Cruz Azul by suspending the team one game from competition, under the argument of aligning an ineligible player. Many legal arguments have been raised by both the player's lawyer and Cruz Azul, but the sanction stood and Cruz Azul lost its opportunity to overcome the 3-1 and go to the final series against America. Cruz Azul had one of the best season of their victory against Mexiel.
Clausura 2008
In the Clausura the team made a great tournament, finishing in second place. The team won 9 games, draw 4 times and lost only 4 times. In quarterfinals they played against Jaguares losing 1-0 in the first leg and winning 2-1 in the second leg with goals of Pablo Zeballos and Miguel Sabah. They moved to semifinals against San Luis, the first leg was played in San Luis and Cruz Azul won 0-1 with a goal of Miguel Sabah. In the second leg, Cruz Azul and San Luis played a formidable match that ended 1-1 with goals of Eduardo Coudet and Pablo Zeballos. In the final, Cruz Azul played against Santos Laguna, second place in the tournament. The first leg ended 1-2 with a victory for Santos, and in the second leg a 1-1 make Laguna team champions.
Apertura 2008
In the Apertura the team made a good tournament, finishing in 5th place on the Mexican league. The team won 7 games, draw 5 times and lost only 5 times. In quarterfinals they played against Pumas UNAM with a 0-0 in the first leg on the "Estadio Azul", and winning 3-1 in the second leg, on the "Estadio Olimpico Unversitario 1968" leaving Pumas on the way. They moved to semifinals against Atlante, the first leg was played in Mexico City, and Cruz Azul won 3-1. In the second leg, Cruz Azul and Atlante played a regular match at Cancun, Quintana Roo, that ended 1-1, giving Cruz Azul the access to the Final for a second time in a row on 2008. In the final, Cruz Azul played against Toluca, both teams tied on wining Mexican titles (at that time with 8 each one). The first leg played on Mexico City, ended with a drastic 0-2 with a victory for visitors, Toluca, and in the second leg played at "Estadio Nemesio Diez", Cruz Azul revert the result, to make a 0-2 result, making a tie on the global score "2-2", as the match was tied, they played "extra times" and the draw continued until going to the "Penalty- Shoot out", where Toluca won 7-6 over Cruz Azul, Alejandro Vela was the Cruz Azul "villain" because he failed the last "penalty shoot-out", another incident before the match went on "extra time", was a clear foul suffered by Villaluz on the Goal area, the toluca player "Jose Manuel Cruz Alta" crashed with the Cruz Azul player, making him unconscious, but the referee didn't mark the foul even the Cruz Azul player was knocked out, he didn't even take a red card on the toluca player, (unfortunately Cruz Azul had made his 3 substitutions, so they ended the match playing with only 10 players, an unfair situation, that interfered directly on the final result of the match) this make Toluca team champions winning their 9 Mexican title, becoming the 3 most winner of Mexican Title. (1.-Guadalajara "11 titles", 2.-America "10 titles", 3.-Toluca "9 titles", 4.-Cruz Azul "8 titles", 5.- Pumas UNAM "6 titles", 6.- Club Leon and Club Pachuca tied with "5 titles").
Clausura 2009
In the Clausura 2009, the team had the worst tournament in club history en route to a last place finish. They accumulated just 13 points from a possible 51 (17 games, wins count 3 points). The team won only 2 games, drew 7 times and lost 8 times. The Club scored 26 goals, but conceded 33, for a total goal difference of -7. The Club did not qualify for the playoffs, or Liguilla. The Club sacked their manager Benjamin Galindo with one game left in the Clausura. He was replaced for the remainder of the season by Robert Siboldi who was then coaching Cruz Azul's affiliate in Hidalgo.
CONCACAF Champions League 08/09
On the CONCACAF Champions League 08/09, The team made a good tournament, on the first stage ended second on the Group A, qualifying to the final stage of playoffs, defeating on the quarter finals, the Mexican team of Pumas UNAM, by 2-0, and the on the semi final round, the played against the Puerto Rico team of Islanders, by "penalty shoot-out" at Mexico City, On the Final, against another Mexican Team, Club Atlante, they had the chance to won their 6th CONCACAF championship, but they lost the first game 0-2, then on Atlante's home they tied 0-0, losing the CONCACAF Champions League 08/09 Title, and also losing the opportunity to participate on the FIFA World Club Cup 2009, on Abu-Dhabi, UAE.
Apertura 2009
In the Apertura 2009, the team had signed Enrique Meza, to manage the team, and signed several players, such as the best goalkeeper on the previous Mexican tournament, Jose de Jesus Corona, the Derby County Striker, Emanuel "Tito" Villa, Ramon Nuñez, Emilio Hernandez, and the team successfully ended on the second place of the regular season, they made 33 points out of 51 possibles, winning 11 games of 17 played, without any game tied, and 6 games lost, they scored a total of 35 goals, and received only 19, for a goal difference of +16, and Emanuel "Tito" Villa, was the top scorer of the tournament with 17 goals, the team qualified for the playoffs, and played against Puebla FC on the quarter-finals, they beat Puebla (fisrt game 4-4, second game 3-2), and on the semi-final leg, they played against Monarcas Morelia, and they won (first game 0-0, second 2-1), and went to the final, once again, for the third time in 4 tournaments in a row, they faced Monterrey FC, but they lost the final (on the first game 3-4, and 1-2 on the second), and once again the team loose another final, remaining with just 8 league titles and 8 finals lost, making the Cruz Azul Team, the only one who has played 16 finals on Mexican Tournament, but lost half (8).[2]
CONCACAF Champions League 09/10
In the CONCACAF Champions League 09/10, the team had a good tournament, finishing first in Group C and qualifying for the final stage of playoffs. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the Panamanian team of Árabe Unido, by 4-0, and then in the semifinal round, the played against the Mexican team of Pumas UNAM, by 5-1 at Mexico City. In the Final, against another Mexican Team, Club Pachuca, they had the chance to win their 6th CONCACAF championship, winning the first game 2-1, but losing in Pachuca's home at the last minute 1-0 by the away goals rule, thus losing the opportunity to participate on the FIFA World Club Cup 2010 in the UAE.
Current squad
For recent transfers, see List of Mexican Football Transfers Summer 2010.
As of July 2010: Listed on the official website of Cruz Azul.[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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)Notable players
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Mexico
Argentina
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Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Honduras
Italy Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
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 Aarón Galindo a Cruz Azul notable player. |
 Ricardo Osorio a Cruz Azul notable player. |
 Miguel Sabah a Cruz Azul notable player. |
 Federico Lussenhoff Argentine notable player for Cruz Azul. |
 Mauro Camoranesi Italian notable player for Cruz Azul. |
 Jose Cardozo Paraguayan notable player for Cruz Azul. |
 Juan Reynoso Peruan notable player for Cruz Azul. |
 Sebatian Abreu Urugayan notable player for Cruz Azul. |
Managerial history
Cruz Azul managers in First Division.
| Dates | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| unknow-1966 |  Jorge Marik |
First coach of Cruz Azul in First Division. |
| 1966-1967 | Walter Ormeño |
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| 1967-1975 | Raul Cardenas |
Coach with more time and winner in Cruz Azul. |
| 1975-1976 | Jose Moncebaez |
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| 1976 | Jorge Marik |
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| 1976 | Alfonso Portugual |
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| 1977-1982 | Ignacio Trelles |
Good coach of Cruz Azul. |
| 1982 | Miguel Marin |
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| 1982-1983 | Enrique Meza |
Cruz Azul more occasions coach. |
| 1983-1986 | Alberto Quintano |
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| 1986-1988 | Hector Pulido |
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| 1988 | Manuel Lapuente |
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| 1988-1990 | Mario Velarde |
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| 1990-1992 | Ignacio Prieto |
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| 1992 |  Nelson Acosta |
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| 1992-1995 | Enrique Meza |
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| 1995-1996 | Luis Fernando Tena |
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| 1996-1997 | Victor Manuel Vucetich |
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| 1997 | Juesus del Muro |
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| 1997-2000 | Luis Fernando Tena |
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| 2000-2003 | José Luis Trejo |
The coach who led the final Cruz Azul in the Copa Libertadores 2001. |
| 2003 | Mario Carrillo |
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| 2003-2004 | Enrique Meza |
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| 2004 | Luis Fernando Tena |
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| 2005 | Rubén Omar Romano |
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| 2005-2007 | Isaac Mizrahi |
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| 2007-2008 | Sergio Markarián |
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| 2008-2009 | Benjamin Galindo |
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| 2009-Present | Enrique Meza |
Crest
The club's crest has stayed relatively consistent since its foundation in the 1920s[4], with the blue cross in the middle surrounded by a red circle with the club's name. As years went by and titles were won, the crest was modified to proclaim Cruz Azul's achievements. Stars were added to the crest from 1972 to the actual crest used presently, which has eight .
Honors
Domestic
- Winners (8): 1968-69, México 1970, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1978-79, 1979-80, Invierno 1997.
- Runners-Up (9): 1969-70, 1980-81, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1994-95, Invierno 1999, Clausura 2008, Apertura 2008, Apertura 2009.
- Segunda División de México
- Winners (1): 1963-64.
- Copa México
- Winners (2): 1968-69, 1996-97.
- Runners-Up (2): 1973-74, 1987-88.
- Campeón de Campeones
- Winners (2): 1968-69, 1972-73.
- Runners-Up (1): 1972.
International
- Winners (5): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997.
- Runners-Up (2): 2008-09, 2009-10.
- Runners-Up (1): 2001.
- Copa Interamericana
- Runners-Up (1): 1972.
Minor trophies
- Copa Pachuca
- Winners (5): 1997, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007.
- Runners-Up (2): 2000, 2005.
- 400 Monterrey Tournament Champion
- Winners (1): 1996.
Friendly championships
- Copa Teresa Herrera: Fourth place (1):2000, Runners-up (1):2002, Third place (1):2008
- Copa 5 De Mayo (1):2004
- Copa Panamericana 2007 (friendly tournament)
- Copa Cuauhtemoc (1):2008
- Copa Aztex (1):2009
- Foursquare Champion Azteca 81:1981
- Burgos Tournament Champion:1980
- Almeria Tournament Champion:1979
Coaching staff
Listed on the official website of Cruz Azul.[3]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Enrique Meza |
| Assistant coach | Eugenio Villazón |
| Assistant coach | Enrique Meza Salinas |
| Assistant coach | Jorge García |
| Team doctor | Alfonso Jiménez |
| Physical & Fitness coach | Daniel Ipata |
| Physiotherapist | Ernesto Rubio |
| Goalkeepers coach | Carlos Pérez |
| Masseur | Antonio Ortiz |
| Masseur | Alejandro Ramírez |
| Stagehand | Pablo Coria |
| Stagehand | José Luis Coria |
| Stagehand | Silverio Rivera |
Source:
Nicknames
Cruz Azul has a rich variety of nicknames over its history, listed chronologically:
- Cementeros: As a result of affiliation with Cruz Azul Cement, the first name refers directly to the employees of the company, as the team originally was formed with them. Over the years, the concept is extended not only to those who worked in the cooperative, but the construction workers in general.
- Liebres: When the team was promoted to the First Division in the mid-'60s, the stock showed a style of great speed and physical deployment, which was used together with mostly white uniforms. For these characteristics, the fans compared to players of those years with the hares which abound in the town, the nickname took hold, and to date still uses an anthropomorphic hare (for practical reasons of identification and icon) to represent Cruz Azul.8 Many fans believe that the mascot is a rabbit, but the board has officially declared that it is a hare.
- La Máquina: This nickname is fed by several sources of inspiration, first, was based on a rail out of the old Jasso toward Mexico City. As the team moved to the early '70s Azteca Stadium and showed a spectacular football, dominant and effective, was combined with the image of a locomotive swept their opponents on the court. Cruz Azul who baptized the nickname of the Machine was the chronicler Rugama Angel Fernandez, another possible source of inspiration could be the comparison of this team with the River Plate machine that existed in the late '40s. The nickname of The Machine, Machine derivatives from Celeste, Blue or Machine Cement Machine.
The Celestes
The club has its official cheerleading club, which were included as part of the institution since 2004, since then, act as cheerleaders in the proceedings of the club in their home games before and at halftime. From its appearance of "Las Celestes" have formed part of the tradition of the club. And the only Mexican team that has as part of their group at their official cheerleaders. [2]
![[2]](http://www.resultados-futbol.com/porristas-celestes-rf_36441.jpg){kind=link}
Popularity and Rivalries
Popularity
Since its inception, the team had supporters, mainly workers of the cement. After the promoted at the first division in the 60s, more people began to follow the team. On the 70s when the team managed six of their eight titles even more people joined the group of supporters of the team, until now that in this 21st century according to various surveys is the third team with the most supporters in Mexico, behind the Club Guadalajara and Club America respectively, above the club UNAM.
Cruz Azul has several support groups that are distinguished by singing and support from start to finish in the team's games. The group best known and biggest supporters is "La Sangre Azul", a barra brava that began in 2000.
 "La Sangre" in Concachampions. |
 A store for fans of Cruz Azul. |
 "La Sangre" Logo. |
 Barra in home. |
Rivalries
- vs. Club America "Clásico Joven".
- vs. Club Pumas UNAM "Clasico Capitalino".
- vs. Club Guadalajara.
- vs. Club Pachuca usually named "Clasico Hidalguense"
The games of Cruz Azul against these teams are surrounded by lots of fans and the history of meetings between the teams.
Relevant Facts of Cruz Azul
- It is the second Mexican club with more titles at international level (5 titles in the Copa de Campeones de CONCACAF, plus a runner-Inter's Cup in 1972 and another in the Copa Libertadores de America in 2001).
- Mexican Club (followed by Club America) with most titles in the Copa de Campeones de CONCACAF, with 5.
- Is the only team that lost 9 leagues finals (7).
- It is the first and only Mexican team to have played the final of the Copa Santander Libertadores of America (2001).
- Only Mexican club has defeated Boca Juniors as a visitor at the Bombonera (final of the Copa Santander Libertadores of America, 2001).
- Single Mexican club taking part in the Trofeo Teresa Herrera (2001) and be invited to the tournament three times (2001, 2002 and 2008).
- Holds the record for most consecutive wins in the history of the First Division of Mexico: 10 wins in the 1971-72 season.
- The Mexican team with the highest number of plays playoffs (43), counting rounds of reclassification.
- It is the first Mexican team in a final crown with a "golden goal" (1997).
- Champion of the first edition of the 2007 Pan American Cup, defeating Boca Juniors by 3 goals to 1.
- It is the team that has played league final (14) and lost (8), besides being the second most paradoxically end wins (6) (along with Deportivo Toluca and Pumas de la UNAM).
- It is one of the few teams after climbing has never stopped playing in the First Division of Mexico.
- It is the only team that thrashed in the final's Club America to win the league title (4 goals to 1) in the 1971-1972 season.
- It is one of the three teams in the history of the First Division of Mexico have been three-time league (succeeding in 1971-1972,1972–1973 and 1973–1974), the other two teams are Club America who did a decade later and the Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
- It is the youngest team to be champions and cup, reached only five years after his rise in the 1968-1969 season.
- It is the youngest team in making seven league titles (only in 15 years in Mexico's Primera Division
Stadium
The team currently plays in Estadio Azul. The stadium is located in Mexico DF. The Federal District owns Estadio Azul. Currently, Cruz Azul training facilities are located at Xochimilco.
The team is planning construction of a new stadium, Nuevo Estadio Azul.
 seen from a side street |
 Estadio Azul from the air |
 View Inside the Estadio Azul |
Top goalscorers
| Player | Country | Period | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Hermosillo | México | 1991–1998 | 169 |
| Horacio López Salgado | México | 1971–1979 | 133 |
| Francisco Palencia * | México | 1994–2001 | 89 |
| Fernando Bustos | México | 1964–1976 | 87 |
| Eladio Vera | México | 1971–1977 | 77 |
| Pedro Duana | México | 1986–1995 | 66 |
| Adrián Camacho | México | 1978–1986 | 63 |
| César Delgado * | Argentina | 2003–2007 | 61 |
| Rodolfo Montoya | México | 1976–1981 | 54 |
| Octavio Muciño | México | 1970–1972 | 51 |
| Agustín Manzo | México | 1984–1988 | 50 |
| Carlos Eloir Perucci | Argentina | 1981–1985 | 45 |
| Héctor Pulido | México | 1976–1981 | 44 |
| Miguel Sabah * | México | 2006–2008 | 42 |
| Carlos Jara Saguier | Paraguay | 1981–1985 | 40 |
| Sebastián Abreu * | Uruguay | 2002–2003 | 37 |
| Emanuel Villa ** | Argentina | 2009 | 28 |
| Francisco Fonseca * | México | 2005–2006 | 25 |
| Luciano Figueroa * | Argentina | 2004 | 21 |
(*) Active Player (**) Cruz Azul Active Player
Tournament Top Scorers
- Horacio López Salgado 25 Goles in "1974-75"
- Carlos Hermosillo 28 Goals in "1993-94"
- Carlos Hermosillo 35 Goals in "1994-95"
- Carlos Hermosillo 26 Goals in "1995-96"
- Sebastián Abreu 19 Goals in "Verano 2002"
- Emanuel Villa 17 Goals in "Apertura 2009"
Affiliates
Cruz Azul Hidalgo
Affiliate team that started playing on Primera Division A. They play on Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul, although they moved for a time to Lagunas (State of Oaxaca). As of 2009, 14 teenagers were drafted into the first division including Jesus A.Cruz, who ranked 64 in FIFA 08 and #1 in North America and Central America (18), Carlos Sanchez, Rafael "El Chilaquil" Huerta who was voted best striker (19), Mario Gomez,and Kevin Martinez (18), which are natives from the United States and are Cruz Azul's future, in terms of young stars.
Cruz Azul Jasso
This filial team began participating in the tournament Aperura 2006 in the Segunda Division de Mexico in Bajio Area. Changed its name from the change of venue of the now defunct Cruz Azul Hidalgo Oaxaca to the entity. Cruz Azul Jasso was champion of the second division.
Cruz Azul Dublan
Subsidiary of Cruz Azul Team for season 2008 - 2009 in Group 5 of the Tercera Division de Mexico, based at the Estadio 10 de Diciembre.
Cruz Azul Xochimilco
Current runner-up teams with the right to rise from the third division in group 6 based on the premises of La Noria.
Cruz Azul Lagunas
This subsidiary filed for several seasons in the second division and most recently in a restructuring of the team decided to occupy a place in the third division where he currently plays in the group 2. Its headquarters is the Cruz Azul stadium in the town of Lagunas, Oaxaca.
References
External links
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