| Clubname: | Cruz Azul |
| Upright: | 0.85 |
| Current: | 2024–25 Cruz Azul season |
| Fullname: | Club de Futbol Cruz Azul |
| Nickname: | |
| Short Name: | CAZ |
| Ground: | Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes |
| Capacity: | 34,253[1] |
| Owner: | Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, S.C.L. |
| Chrtitle: | President |
| Chairman: | Víctor Velázquez |
| Manager: | Martín Anselmi |
| League: | Liga MX |
| Season: | Clausura 2024 |
| Position: | Regular phase: 2nd Final phase: Runners-up |
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Club de Futbol Cruz Azul, commonly referred to as Cruz Azul, is a professional football club based in Mexico City, Mexico. It competes in the Liga MX, the top tier of Mexican football. Founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, the club officially moved to Mexico City in 1971, where it had already registered a great presence and activity since its beginnings. Estadio Azteca, the nation's largest sports venue, served as their home venue until 1996, when they moved to the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, which was renamed Estadio Azul. After 22 years, the team returned to the Azteca following the conclusion of the 2017–18 Liga MX season. Its headquarters are in La Noria, a suburb within Xochimilco in the southern part of Mexico City.[2]
Cruz Azul has been the Primera División champion nine times, trailing Toluca's 10, C.D. Guadalajara's 12, and Club América's 15. Cruz Azul's six titles makes it the second-most successful club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the most prestigious international club competition in North American football, trailing intracity rival Club América. Cruz Azul was also the first CONCACAF team to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious club competition in South American football (which invited top Liga MX clubs from 1998 to 2017), losing on penalties to Argentine football giants Boca Juniors in 2001. In the 1968–69 season, Cruz Azul became the first CONCACAF club (and third worldwide) to complete a rare continental treble, winning the Mexican Primera División, Copa México and the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
In its 2014 Club World Ranking, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics placed Cruz Azul as the 99th-best club in the world and the third-best club in CONCACAF.[3] According to several polls published, Cruz Azul is the third-most popular team in Mexico, behind only C.D. Guadalajara and Club América.[4] It is also the second most supported team in its hometown, Mexico City, behind América and ahead of Pumas UNAM.
Carlos Garces López was a footballer and athlete, included in the Mexico national team for the 1924 and 1928 athletics and football.[5] As a midfielder, he was part of Club América's founding squad and was a key player to their dominance of the Primera Fuerza in the mid-1920s.[6] [7] Garces López was included in the debut Mexico national football team in 1923, playing in Mexico's debut series of official international matches against Guatemala.[8] [9] At the time, football in Mexico was not a lucrative occupation. Garces López was a licensed dentist providing dental care at the cement company Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, S.C.L. located in the small town of Jasso, Hidalgo. He would travel regularly to Mexico City from Jasso to train and play for América.[10]
In 1925, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul had voted to establish a company baseball team as the sport was popular in the town of Jasso.[11] Garces López personally lobbied for many months to change the official company sport to football. American employees initially receiving resistance but the company directors relented to a referendum for determination of the company team's main sport. The March 22, 1927 election favored football.[12] Cooperativa La Cruz Azul replaced the company baseball diamond with a football pitch. The football team was officially established two months later on May 22 where Garces López was appointed head coach.[10]
Initially, Cruz Azul played in local tournaments organized by the company against teams representing towns neighboring Jasso. The team was composed solely of company workers for the next three decades. The club was widely successful in amateur tournaments during the 1930s and 1940s, winning 15 consecutive state level league titles.
By 1931, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul had experienced a series of economic troubles during the Great Depression. Due to the loss of demand and production of cement and other construction materials, the company faced bankruptcy and was bought by cement company La Tolteca on March 1, 1931, for 1 million pesos. The liquidation of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul was anticipated by 192 workers of the company who unionized and sued the executives of the company to prevent the transfer of the property which was set for October 15, 1931. The government of Hidalgo ruled in favor of the workers after it was shown La Tolteca had premeditated intentions of liquidation. The workers assumed control of the industrial facilities on November 2. On May 21, 1932, the governor of Hidalgo, Bartolomé Vargas Lugo, decreed the 192 workers of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul as collective owners of the plant, exercising eminent domain. Part of the agreement, all 192 workers who assumed responsibility of the plant agreed to pay the state of Hidalgo 1.3 million pesos over the course of 10 years. The company changed its name to Cooperativa Manufacturera de Cemento Portland La Cruz Azul, S.C.L, reestablishing itself as a cooperative on January 29, 1934. The debt was settled on November 2, 1941, 10 years after workers took ownership of the plant. In celebration, Cruz Azul organized a match against R.C. España, that ended in a 0–0 draw.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
This scenario of the club's formation encourages its working-class facade.[18] [16] [19]
From 1932 to 1943, Cruz Azul won 15 consecutive league titles in an amateur league in the state of Hidalgo. On 8 different occasions, the club represented the state of Hidalgo in national amateur tournaments. From the mid-1930s to the late 1940s, the club regularly traveled to Mexico City to face the reserve teams of Atlante, Necaxa, Marte, and R.C. España, playing at Parque Necaxa to great success.[20] [21] By 1937, Cruz Azul had garnered a considerable following both in Hidalgo and Mexico City.[22] [23] [14] [21] Around this period in time Guillermo Álvarez Macías began playing on the team as a midfielder.[24]
On December 10, 1953, Guillermo Álvarez Macías was appointed general manager of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul. He had been employed at the cooperative since 1931 at the age of 12 when his father died. Initially employed as an automotive mechanic, Álvarez Macías spent over two decades at the company, rising through the ranks.[25] A self-proclaimed socialist, Álvarez Macías laid plans to transform the cooperative into a functioning town, building schools, restaurants, paving roads, in hopes to modernize and "share social and economic progress, to raise the standard of living of the worker and his family."[26] [25] In his goal to promote social well-being among members of the co-op, Álvarez Macías invested into cultural and recreational activities.[25] This included investing much more into the football club whose proceeds were used to provide the worker-players with better living conditions.[24]
In 1958, team captain and machinist, Luis Velázquez Hernández, served as the club's ambassador to the Mexican Football Federation to lobby for official membership on the club's behalf. Velázquez Hernández met Paulino Sánchez in Mexico City, who had ties to prominent football executives. They met with Joaquín Soria Terrazas and Ignacio Trelles to discuss membership in the federation for the club. Sánchez vouched in favor of Cruz Azul, citing their continual success in the amateur and reserve tournaments. Much to the displeasure of Álvarez Macías who asserted the club was not ready for professional football.[27] [28] [13] [29] [30]
In preparation for federation membership, Paulino Sánchez assumed the position as head manager of the club. Due to regulations, teams were required to have a reserve team. Lafayette, a club experiencing financial troubles located in Colonia Moctezuma, had many talented players that could potentially be Cruz Azul's reserves. Under the recommendation of Sánchez, Cruz Azul purchased the Lafayette team. The acquisition was completed sometime in 1960.[31] [32] [33] Plans to construct a club stadium that complied to the standards set by the Mexican Football Federation were conceived in 1960.[34] In 1961, ground broke to construct Estadio 10 de Diciembre and finished in 1963.[35] [36]
Despite not possessing federation membership and due to Sánchez's personal contacts, Cruz Azul was invited to compete in the 1960-61 edition of Copa de la Segunda División de México, a competition sanctioned by the Mexican Football Federation. The club's debut game was played on April 2, 1961, in Jasso against Zamora, ending in 2–1 in favor of Cruz Azul. The second leg was played on April 9, 1961, ending in a 3–3 draw. They faced Querétaro in the next round winning 1–0 on aggregate. Cruz Azul was eliminated by UNAM. Following their impressive performance in the cup, the Mexican Football Federation granted Cruz Azul an opportunity to register as a professional team.[37] [33] [38]
The club was officially registered to compete in the nation's second tier professional league for the 1961–62 season.[39]
Due to the regulations by the Mexican Football Federation that prohibited the official usage of company names by clubs, the club changed its name to Cooperativa Cruz Azul from Cemento Cruz Azul [40]
Jorge Marik, a Hungarian coach who previously managed Atlas and Atlante, signed on to manage the club in 1961.[41] Cruz Azul won a direct promotion to Primera División after Marik led the club to the 1st position on the general table with 45 points (19 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses) in the 1963–64 Mexican Segunda División season.[42]
Following the club's promotion, Estadio 10 de Diciembre underwent renovations on March 6, 1964, rebuilding the wooden stands and dressing rooms which were compliant to regulations.[35]
Cruz Azul finished their first season in the top flight, the 1964–65 Mexican Primera División season, in 8th place with 10 wins, 9 draws, 11 losses.[43]
After poor results, Marik left the club after the 1965–66 Mexican Primera División season where Cruz Azul finished in 13th place out of 16 teams on the league table.[44] Walter Ormeño became the team's interim coach, managing 3 games, before the club signed Raúl Cárdenas October 20, 1966.[45] [46] [47]
During the 1968–69 season under the direction of Cárdenas, Cruz Azul won their first Copa México, their first Primera División title, and their first CONCACAF Champions' Cup.[48] After only 4 years in the nation's top flight, Cruz Azul managed to complete a treble, being the first club to do so in not only Mexico but in the CONCACAF region as well.[49]
Cruz Azul finished in second place on the general table for the 1969–70 Mexican Primera División season.[50] The club was awarded the 1970 CONCACAF Champions' Cup on December 15, 1970, after Saprissa and Transvaal withdrew from the second phase of the competition in September citing economic issues.[51] [52]
Between 1970 and 1980, Cruz Azul led the Primera División with six league tournament championships; four under Cárdenas and the last two under Ignacio Trelles. This powerful version of the team earned the nickname La Máquina Celeste (The Blue Machine), which continues as one of the official nicknames of the team.
On December 18, 1976, Guillermo Álvarez Macías died of a heart attack at the age of 56 while awaiting President Portillo for a meeting.[40] [53]
Throughout the 1980s, Cruz Azul remained one of the most competitive teams in the league. Despite their consistent form and financial wealth, the club was unable to obtain a title. This drought would last for another 17 years.
In 1988, Guillermo Héctor Álvarez Cuevas, the son of the late Guillermo Álvarez Macías, assumed the position of general manager at the cooperative Cooperativa La Cruz Azul and presidency of Cruz Azul.[54]
For the 1991–92 season, Cruz Azul signed Carlos Hermosillo. An América icon who was fundamental to America's 1988–89 league championship victory against Cruz Azul, Hermosillo's signing was met with ambivalence by the club's supporters.[55] Hermosillo, however, quickly established himself as an integral part of the team where he was the league's top goal scorer for 3 consecutive years (1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 – 27, 35, 26 goals respectively).[56]
In the 1994–95 season, the club finished 3rd in the league's overall table and reached a league final for the first time in 6 years where they were defeated 3–1 on aggregate by Necaxa.[57]
July 20 of 1996 marked the end of a 16 year long championship drought for Cruz Azul. The team managed by Víctor Manuel Vucetich won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup single round-robin tournament held in Guatemala City.[58] Cruz Azul finished 1st on the table after defeating Seattle Sounders 11–0 at Estadio Flores.[59] Vucetich also lead Cruz Azul to a Copa México title, winning the 1996–97 Copa México at the Estadio 10 de Diciembre after defeating Toros Neza 2–0.[60]
Under the management of Luis Fernando Tena, Cruz Azul won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup on August 24, 1997, for the second consecutive year after defeating LA Galaxy 5–3 in the final.[61] On December 7, 1997, Cruz Azul, who finished 2nd in the general standings of the league table, won the Invierno 1997 league tournament the against table leaders León via golden goal. This marked an end to the club's 17 year long league drought as well as achieving Cruz Azul's second continental treble.
The second leg of the series is largely remembered in part of a self-admittedly inexplicable act of aggression committed by León's goalkeeper Ángel Comizzo towards Carlos Hermosillo that handed the championship title to Cruz Azul.[62] During the 15th minute of the first half of extra time, Comizzo shoved and kicked Cruz Azul striker Hermosillo in the face while inside the penalty box. Referee Arturo Brizio only witnessed the shove but did not see the kick as he turned his head away when Comizzo kicked Hermosillo. The penalty was called in favor of Cruz Azul while Comizzo did not get sent off.[63] Hermosillo, whose face was bleeding profusely, took the penalty kick and scored. As the golden goal rule applied, Cruz Azul won the match and their eighth league title.[64] [49]
See main article: 2001 Copa Libertadores and 2001 Copa Libertadores Finals. In 2001, Cruz Azul was invited to a tournament between select Mexican and Venezuelan teams that would then compete in the Copa Libertadores, a tournament of the best South American teams. The two best teams of this qualifying tournament earned immediate placement on the roster.
Cruz Azul was one of the seeded teams and reached the 2001 Copa Libertadores final match. Cruz Azul started the tournament in Group 7 along with 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, where Cruz Azul lost 2–1. The second leg was played in Mexico City, where 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 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 City and Cruz Azul won 3–0. Cruz Azul was having a great run and faced Rosario Central at the semifinals. The first leg was played in Mexico City and Cruz Azul won the game 2–0. The second leg was played in Rosario, a very exciting match that 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 Argentine giants 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 La Bombonera stadium with Paco Palencia scoring the goal. Until then, no team had ever won a Copa Libertadores final match there. After overtime, the championship was decided by penalty kicks where Boca Juniors prevailed. Still, Cruz Azul surprised everybody with the unprecedented feat of reaching the final and defeating established Argentinian teams such as Rosario Central and River Plate.
After leaving a pre-season practice session on July 16, 2005, manager Rubén Omar Romano was cornered by two stolen vehicles and abducted by 5 men. A ransom note was later found demanding of Romano's family $500,000.[65] Assistant coach Isaac Mizrahi managed the team during Romano's absence.[66] After 65 days, Romano was found and rescued unharmed. Federal agents raided a house in a poor neighborhood where Romano and his kidnappers were situated.[67] The agents arrested 7 conspirators who were under the orders of convicted abductor Jose Luis Canchola.[67]
During the hostage incident, the club had decided to not renew Romano's contract upon the end of Apertura 2005 and instead offered the position to Mizrahi following stellar results.[68] Mizrahi accepted the offer while Romano was in captivity. Romano stated he felt betrayed and his friendship with Mizrahi was severed.[69]
The club was regularly regarded to be contenders for championship titles due to their formidable and financial stature in the league. Throughout this period in time however, Cruz Azul competed in many league and tournament finals only to finish runners-up.[70] In these championship matches, as well as regular season games, Cruz Azul initially would be favorites to win, often having the advantage over the opponent, but would ultimately draw or lose near the end of full stoppage time. As a result, the club garnered a negative reputation of being cursed and the club would often be subject to ridicule. The term cruzazulear, defined as "the act of losing a game after victory is practically assured", is used to describe Cruz Azul losing a match in the aforementioned manner beginning sometime in 2013. The usage of the term was so prevalent that it is officially recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy in 2020.[71] [72] [73]
During the Clausura 2008 season, the team played a great tournament, finishing in second place. The team won 9 games, had 4 draws and lost only 4 times. In the quarterfinals they played against the 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 the semifinals against the 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 the 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. In the first leg, Cruz Azul lost 1–2 at home, and a 1–1 draw in the second leg meant that Santos were champions with a 3–2 aggregate score.[74]
For the Apertura 2008 season, Cruz Azul finished in 5th place on the overall table. The team had 7 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses.
In the quarterfinals, Cruz Azul defeated Pumas UNAM with an aggregate score of 3–1, moving on to the semifinals against Atlante; the first leg was played in Mexico City, and Cruz Azul won 3–1. In the second leg, Cruz Azul tied Atlante 1–1 in Cancún, which meant that Cruz Azul reached the Final for the second consecutive time. In the final, Cruz Azul played against Toluca, both teams tied on winning Mexican titles (at that time with 8 each). The first leg played in Mexico City ended with a dramatic 0–2 with a victory for Toluca, and in the second leg, which was played at Estadio Nemesio Díez, Cruz Azul won 0–2, which put the aggregate score at 2–2, which meant extra time had to be played. No goals were scored in extra time and the match went into a penalty shootout, where Toluca won 7–6 over Cruz Azul and won the title, after Alejandro Vela missed his penalty, even though he was the one that scored the opening goal of the game for Cruz Azul. In the 72nd minute, César Villaluz was fouled in the penalty box and suffered a serious injury, but Cruz Azul were unable to substitute him as they had no remaining substitutes, so the team was forced to defend the scoreline with 10 men for almost fifty minutes, which possibly could´ve had a big outcome on the result, as well as the decision to not award a penalty.[75]
The team qualified for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League by finishing league runner-ups. In the first stage, they finished second in Group A, qualifying for the knockout stage. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Pumas UNAM 2–0 on aggregate; in the semi-finals, they defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders on penalties with 10 men, after coming back from a 2–0 loss in the first leg. In the final against Atlante, they lost the first game 0–2 and tied the second 0–0, losing on aggregate.[76]
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 in 17 games, winning only two games, with seven draws and eight losses. The Club sacked their manager Benjamín 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.
In the Apertura 2009, the team had signed Enrique Meza to manage the team and signed several players, including the best goalkeeper of the previous Mexican tournament Jose de Jesus Corona, Argentine striker Emanuel "Tito" Villa, Ramon Nuñez, and Emilio Hernandez. The team finished the regular season in second place with 33 points, winning 11 games of 17 played, and qualifying for the playoffs; Villa was the top scorer of the tournament with 17 goals. In the quarter-finals, they beat Puebla 7–6 on aggregate, and in the semi-finals, they beat Monarcas Morelia 2–1 on aggregate. In the final, they lost to Monterrey 6–4 on aggregate, meaning this was now their third consecutive time failing to win a league finals.[77] [78]
In April 2012, Cruz Azul changed their official name from Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, A.C. to simply Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C.
In the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, the team had a good tournament, finishing first in Group C and qualifying for the final stage of playoffs. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Panamanian team Árabe Unido 4–0 on aggregate, and then in the semifinal round, they played against the Mexico City rivals Pumas UNAM, losing the first leg 1–0 but winning the return leg 5–1 at Estadio Azul. In the final, against another Mexican club, Pachuca, they had the chance to win their 6th CONCACAF championship, winning the first game at home 2–1, but lost at Pachuca's home 1–0 with a last minute goal, meaning Pachuca won the championship by the away goals rule, and Cruz Azul missed the opportunity to participate in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.
During the 2013 season, Cruz Azul started slow but regained confidence after beating Club América in the Copa MX semi-finals and winning the Copa MX final over the Atlante. After Cruz Azul won the Copa MX, their Liga MX performance improved and they were considered one of the contenders for the title due to a good streak. They would face bitter rivals the Club America in a historical final series of the "Clásico Joven." Cruz Azul was up 2–0 in aggregate when the Club America made a miraculous comeback with goals in the 89th from Aquilvado Mosquera and 93rd minute from Moises Munoz who was a goalkeeper of the second leg; Club America would go on to win 4–2 on penalties.
On April 23, 2014, after defeating Toluca, Cruz Azul won their 6th CONCACAF championship, a record at the time, and winning their first trophy in seventeen years.[79] This gave Cruz Azul a berth at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, where they would earn a fourth-place finish.[80]
From the Clausura 2014 to the Clausura 2017, Cruz Azul had been unable to qualify to the liguilla playoffs for six consecutive tournaments.[81] Cruz Azul qualified for the liguilla for the first time in three years in the Apertura 2017 season. However, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the América, who advanced as the higher-ranked seed, with an aggregate score of 0–0. On 27 November 2017, Cruz Azul announced that Paco Jémez would not renew his contract for the following season.[82] [83]
In the Liga MX Clausura 2018 tournament, Cruz Azul ended up ranked 12th and failed to qualify for the liguilla. The club also finished last place in the group stage of the Clausura 2018 Copa MX.On 7 May 2018, the club announced director of football Eduardo de la Torre's contract had ended and would be replaced by Ricardo Peláez, former director of football for Club América.[84] [85] [86] [87]
On 31 October, they would face Monterrey in the Apertura 2018 Copa MX Final, winning 2–0 with goals from Elías Hernández and Martín Cauteruccio. It was their first trophy in the tournament since 2013.[88]
Cruz Azul faced América in a rematch of the Clausura 2013 final for the Apertura 2018 final. The first leg was played on 13 December 2018 which ended in a scoreless draw. The second leg was played three days later and ended in a 2–0 victory for América. With this defeat, Cruz Azul extended its 21-year-old championship drought in the league for at least another season.
In May 2020, Guillermo Alvarez Cuevas, then president of the club, was indicted by Mexican authorities on multiple accounts of insurance fraud, racketeering, extortion, tax evasion, and money laundering.[89] On July 26, an arrest warrant was issued for Alvarez along with board directors Victor Manuel Garcés, Miguel Eduardo Borrell, and Mario Sánchez Álvarez for alleged ties to organized crime.[90] [91] Alvarez subsequently resigned from his position at the club in August 2020 after 32 years as acting president.[92] Interpol is currently searching for Alvarez in 195 countries and as of June 2, 2021, remains at large.[93]
On December 6, 2020, Cruz Azul faced UNAM on the second semi-final leg of the Guardianes 2020 Liga MX final phase. Although Cruz Azul had a 4–0 lead at the beginning of the second leg, they lost the match 0–4, thus tying in aggregate. Because UNAM won the clubs' week 17 match 1–0, they held the tiebreaker and advanced to the final.[94]
Following a disappointing end to 2020, Cruz Azul underwent significant changes ahead of the Guardianes 2021 tournament. The club appointed Juan Reynoso as the new head coach. Reynoso, a former player, had been part of the Cruz Azul squad that won their previous league title in the Invierno 1997 tournament. Álvaro Dávila also joined as the club's executive president, with Reynoso as his managerial choice.
The season started poorly for Cruz Azul, with consecutive defeats against Santos Laguna and Puebla, losing both games 1–0. However, the team turned things around in the third matchday, securing a 1–0 away victory against Pachuca. This marked the beginning of an unprecedented 12-match winning streak, tying the Liga MX record set by León in the Clausura 2019. The streak ended with a 1–1 draw against América in Matchday 15.
Despite this, Cruz Azul remained unbeaten for the rest of the regular season, finishing as league leaders with 41 points from 17 matches, an 80% effectiveness rate that also tied León's record from 2019. This dominance set the stage for their playoff campaign.
In the quarterfinals, Cruz Azul faced Toluca. After losing the first leg 2–1 at the Estadio Nemesio Díez, the team rallied with a 3–1 victory in the second leg at the Estadio Azteca, advancing with a 4–3 aggregate. In the semifinals, they encountered Pachuca. After a goalless first leg, a decisive goal by Santiago Giménez in the second leg secured Cruz Azul's place in the final.
The final of the Guardianes 2021 pitted Cruz Azul against Santos Laguna. The first leg, held at the Estadio Corona in Torreón, saw a tightly contested match. Despite Santos Laguna's control over portions of the game, Cruz Azul showcased a solid defensive performance, keeping a clean sheet. Luis Romo's exceptional solo effort resulted in the only goal of the match, giving Cruz Azul a 1–0 lead going into the second leg.
On 30 May 2021, Cruz Azul ended its 23-year Primera División championship drought by beating Santos Laguna 2–1 on aggregate at Estadio Azteca, earning its ninth league title, after having lost seven finals in the last thirteen years.[95]
On 20 December 2023, Martín Anselmi was appointed as the head coach of Cruz Azul[96] following the departure of former manager Joaquín Moreno, whose disappointing Apertura 2023 campaign saw the club finish in 16th place.[97] Before the start of the Clausura 2024, Anselmi oversaw the signings of key players, including Kevin Mier, Gabriel Fernández, Lorenzo Faravelli and Gonzalo Piovi, raising expectations for the team's performance. Anselmi's first match with the club ended in a 1–0 defeat against Pachuca. Despite this initial setback, he guided the team to a remarkable turnaround, securing a 2nd-place finish in the regular season with 33 points and earning a spot in the Liguilla. During this period, Anselmi posted a video to his personal Instagram that contained Julieta Venegas’s song “Andar Conmigo”, which many supporters viewed as a sign of good luck.[98] In the playoffs, Cruz Azul ended up defeating Pumas UNAM and Monterrey, making it all the way to the Clausura final where they lost to América with a score of 2–1 on aggregate after a controversial penalty was awarded to América after Carlos Rotondi tackled Israel Reyes in the penalty area.[99]
Leading up to the Apertura 2024, Cruz Azul had very high expectations due to them finishing second in the final and table during the previous tournament. Cruz Azul started the season off with a 1–0 win against Mazatlán and maintained an impressive unbeaten streak of six wins and one draw leading up to matchday 8. However, their momentum was halted when they faced Atlético San Luis, suffering a 3–1 defeat that ended their unbeaten streak. Heading into the final matchday of the regular season, Cruz Azul was on the verge of breaking the league record for the most points achieved in a short tournament of 17 matchday games, with 41 points. To set the new record, they simply needed to avoid a loss. On the decisive day, they were facing Tigres UANL, when during the 83rd minute, former Cruz Azul player Uriel Antuna was pulled down in the penalty area by Gonzalo Piovi. The referee awarded a penalty where Nicolás Ibáñez scored putting the game 1–0. During the 98th minute, Cruz Azul captain Ignacio Rivero sent a cross into the penalty area where Ángel Sepúlveda scored from a header, securing Cruz Azul the draw in the dying minutes, and breaking the league record with 42 points.
Cruz Azul's crest has evolved over the decades, consistently reflecting the club's core identity since its founding in 1927. The blue cross, positioned within a white circle and framed by a red square, has long symbolized the club's heritage and connection to Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, S.C.L., representing the values of unity, resilience, and teamwork. The cross itself is inspired by British influences, as Cruz Azul was originally connected to British culture.[100]
In its early years, the club's emblem was a simple, shield-shaped design centered around the blue cross, a powerful symbol linked to the cooperative roots of the organization. As Cruz Azul grew in prominence, the club refined its emblem in 1964, adopting a rounder design that included the full name, Club Deportivo Cruz Azul. This design marked a shift in the club's identity as it became more established in Mexican football, presenting a more formal, professional image while keeping the cross as its focal point.[101]
The crest underwent another change in the early 1970s following Cruz Azul's first league title. Stars were added above the cross to represent these achievements, and by 1973, the crest displayed three stars, celebrating the team's growing success in the Primera División. This marked the beginning of a tradition where stars were added to commemorate each league title, creating a visual record of Cruz Azul's accomplishments within the emblem. In the years that followed, the club's crest was further refined, with cleaner lines and a modernized look that highlighted the name “Deportivo Cruz Azul” alongside the cross. By 1980, the stars were standardized, and the design streamlined to enhance brand consistency, allowing it to adapt more easily across various media and merchandise. This period solidified the crest's status as one of Mexican football's most recognizable symbols.[102]
As Cruz Azul's prominence grew within Mexican football, the club introduced a significant redesign of its crest in 1997. The emblem was updated to a circular shape, giving it a modern and unified appearance that stood out among traditional club designs. This circular design was complemented by the addition of the word “Mexico” around the outer ring, a declaration of the club's pride in representing the nation at both domestic and international levels. The new shape and wording reinforced Cruz Azul's identity as a symbol of Mexican football, making the crest instantly recognizable and resonant with fans across the country. This design remained largely unchanged for over two decades, becoming a lasting emblem of the club's heritage.[103]
In 2021, Cruz Azul modified its crest to celebrate a significant milestone as the club achieved its ninth Liga MX title, ending a 23-year drought since their previous league title in 1997. This redesign added a ninth star around the emblem, symbolizing the triumph and resilience of the club after years of pursuit. The iconic blue cross remained unchanged at the center, preserving the emblem’s traditional identity while marking this significant moment in Cruz Azul's history.[104] The following year, “Club de Futbol” replaced “Deportivo” around the outer ring, signaling a subtle shift in branding as the club continued to evolve while honoring its heritage. Additionally, the stars encircling the emblem were removed, streamlining the design to focus on the iconic blue cross and the club’s name. This current iteration embodies a forward-looking spirit while remaining grounded in the cooperative principles that have defined Cruz Azul from the beginning.[105]
The colors of Cruz Azul—red, white, and blue—pay homage to the British origins of the company and reflect the club's identity. The blue cross signifies strength and solidarity, while the red and white enhance the visual representation of the club's heritage. This color palette, deeply rooted in the cooperative's history, represents the values of the organization and its commitment to unity within the community. Additionally, the blue, white, and red colors resonate with the symbolism of the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), further solidifying the connection to the cooperative's mission and identity.[100]
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (main) | Other sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1997 | Azul Sport | Cemento Cruz Azul | None |
| 1997–1998 | Fila | Lada | |
| 1998–2001 | Pepsi and Telmex | ||
| 2002–2004 | Umbro | ||
| 2004–2008 | Coca-Cola and Telcel | ||
| 2008–2009 | Coca-Cola, Telcel and Sony | ||
| 2009–2010 | Powerade, Telcel and Sony | ||
| 2010–2011 | Coca-Cola and Telcel | ||
| 2011–2013 | Coca-Cola, Telcel, Tecate and Volaris | ||
| 2013–2014 | Coca-Cola, Telcel, Tecate and Scotiabank | ||
| 2014–2017 | Under Armour | Boing!, Scotiabank, Telcel and Tecate | |
| 2017–2018 | Scotiabank, Telcel and Tecate | ||
| 2018 | Caliente | ||
| 2019–2023 | Joma | ||
| 2023–2024 | Pirma | ||
| 2024– | Caliente and Cemix |
Cruz Azul has a rich variety of nicknames over its history, listed chronologically:
See main article: Estadio 10 de Diciembre, Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes and Estadio Azteca.
Cruz Azul originally played at Estadio 10 de Diciembre in Jasso, Hidalgo, from 1964 to 1971. This 17,000-seat stadium saw the club’s first league titles in the 1968–69 and 1970 seasons. Although they left the stadium in 1971, it remained an alternate venue for Copa México, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and some league matches.[106]
In 1971, Cruz Azul moved to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where they experienced some of their most significant achievements, including five league titles and multiple domestic and international cup victories. They briefly left in 1996 for the Estadio Azul, where they played until 2018. The team returned to the Azteca in 2018, where they won their ninth league title in 2021.[107]
The Estadio Azul, located in Mexico City’s Colonia Nápoles, served as Cruz Azul’s home from 1996 to 2018. Despite never winning a league title there, it was an iconic venue for the club. After a contract renewal issue, the team returned to the Azteca but announced a temporary return to the Estadio Azul, now known as the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, in 2024 due to renovations at the Azteca for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.[108]
The team's training facilities, Instalaciones La Noria, are located in Xochimilco. The team has indicated that it intends to build a new stadium, but solid plans such as location have not materialized.[109]
The most recent survey from 2021 placed the club as the 3rd largest fan base in Mexico, behind C.D. Guadalajara and Club América respectively and above UNAM, with 10,9% or 14 million supporters.[110] Historically, since its inception the team was supported mainly by cement workers. After promotion to the Primera División in the 1960s, more people began to follow the team. In the 1970s when the team managed six of their nine titles even more people joined the group of supporters of the team.
The club became infamous in Mexico for not having won a Mexican league title from 1997 to 2021. For an English-speaking audience, the so-called "Cruz Azul curse" is likened to Neverkusen for German team Bayer Leverkusen, the Curse of the Bambino for MLB baseball's Boston Red Sox, or the Curse of the Billy Goat for MLB's Chicago Cubs. The commonality derives from these teams' inability, no matter the quality of the team relative to their opponents in a tournament or a championship match, to win a championship. The "curse" was broken after their winning of the Guardianes 2021 final match versus Santos Laguna, after scoring 2–1 on May 30, 2021. Their title drought also included six losses in finals, among other painful playoff defeats,[111] and spurred the creation of the verb "cruzazulear" which is now used in Mexico to describe choking, or to lose a game when victory was almost assured.[112]
The club had its own official cheerleading club, known as Las Celestes, who were included as part of the institution in 2004. For years, they performed pre-match and during the halftime, becoming a valued tradition of the club and among fans. Cruz Azul was the only Mexican team to officially include cheerleaders as part of its club activities. However, as of today, Las Celestes are no longer active.[113]
Cruz Azul has a passionate fan base, with La Sangre Azul as its only official supporters' group (barra brava in Spanish), recognized by the club. Established in January 2001, it is known for its unwavering support, creating a vibrant atmosphere at both home and away games. Through their chants, banners, and coordinated displays, they play a vital role in uniting fans and enhancing the matchday experience.[114] However, in March 2015, the group lost the support of the club's board due to violent incidents.[115] In recent seasons, though, the relationship with the club's new board has shown signs of improvement, aiming to restore a positive and collaborative connection. La Sangre Azul stands as a key element of Cruz Azul’s fan culture, embodying the loyalty and pride of the club’s supporters.[116]
See main article: Clásico Joven. Cruz Azul's biggest rival is Club América, with their encounters are famously known as the "Young Classic" (Clásico Joven).[117] This rivalry is also deeply rooted in social class distinctions: Club América is often viewed as representing the wealthy and powerful, while Cruz Azul is said to represent the working class, hence fans of Cruz Azul and the team itself being dubiously referred to by the nickname of "Los Albañiles" (bricklayers in Spanish), a reference to Cruz Azul's eponymous parent company, which is one of Mexico's major companies specializing in concrete and construction.
| Position | Staff | |
|---|---|---|
| President |  Víctor Velázquez | |
| Administrative Director | Antonio Reynoso | |
| Director of football | Iván Alonso | |
| Coordinator of football | Mathías Cardaccio | |
| Director of sports science | Andrés Payssé | |
| Director of academy | Joaquín Moreno |
Source: Cruz Azul
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Martín Anselmi |
| Assistant managers | Facundo Oreja |
| Luis Pastur | |
| Goalkeeper coach | Esteban Herrera |
| Fitness coaches | Diego Bottaioli |
| Fernando Ramos | |
| Alberto Sciegata | |
| Physiotherapists | Paolo Arriaga |
| José Morales | |
| Team doctors | Antonio Acevedo |
| Juan Pérez |
Source: Liga MX
(injured)
See main article: Cruz Azul Lagunas.
| +Most league goals (single season)[120] | ||||
| Rank | Name | Season | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horacio López Salgado | 1974–75 | 25 | |
| 2 | Carlos Hermosillo | 1993–94 | 27 | |
| 1994–95 | 35 | |||
| 1995–96 | 26 | |||
| 5 | Sebastián Abreu | Verano 2002 | 19 | |
| 6 | Emanuel Villa | Apertura 2009 | 17 | |
| 7 | Jonathan Rodríguez | Guardianes 2020 | 12 | |
| 8 | Uriel Antuna | Clausura 2024 | 8 |
| +Most goals scored[121] | scope=col | Rank | scope=col width | Player | scope=col width | Years | scope=col width | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Hermosillo | 198 | ||||||
| 2 | Horacio López Salgado | 133 | ||||||
| 3 | Francisco Palencia | 110 | ||||||
| 4 | Fernando Bustos | 92 | ||||||
| 5 | Eladio Vera | 80 | ||||||
| 6 | Christian Giménez | 72 | ||||||
| 7 | Pedro Duana | 71 | ||||||
| 8 | Adrián Camacho | 67 | ||||||
| 9 | Emanuel Villa | 66 | ||||||
| 10 | Javier Orozco | 63 | ||||||
| Octavio Muciño |
| Period | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Paulino Sanchez | First coach to manage Cruz Azul in their professional era. | |
| 1962–66 |  Jorge Marik | Promoted the team to the Primera División after winning the Segunda División in the 1963–64 season. | |
| 1966 |  Walter Ormeño | ||
| 1966–75 | Raúl Cárdenas | Won five league titles (1968–69, México 70, 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74), three CONCACAF Champions' Cup titles (1969, 1970 and 1971), one national cup title (1968–69), and two Campeón de Campeones titles (1969 and 1974). | |
| 1975–76 | José Moncebáez | ||
| 1976 | Jorge Marik | ||
| 1976 | Alfonso Portugal | ||
| 1977–82 | Ignacio Trelles | Won two league titles (1978–79 and 1979–80). | |
| 1982 | Miguel Marín | ||
| 1982–83 | Enrique Meza | ||
| 1983–86 |  Alberto Quintano | ||
| 1986–88 | Hector Pulido | ||
| 1988 | Manuel Lapuente | ||
| 1988–90 | Mario Velarde | ||
| 1990 | Axel Bierbaum | ||
| 1990–92 | Ignacio Prieto | ||
| July 1, 1992 – December 31, 1992 |  Nelson Acosta | ||
| July 1, 1992 – January 29, 1995 | Enrique Meza | Second tenure at the club. | |
| 1995–96 | Luis Fernando Tena | Won the 1996 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. | |
| July 1, 1996 – March 9, 1997 | Won the second national cup title (1996–97 Copa México). | ||
| 1997 | Jesús del Muro | ||
| 1997–2000 | Luis Fernando Tena | Won Cruz Azul's eighth league title (Invierno 1997), against León, and the 1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Lost a league final against Pachuca in 1999. | |
| March 31, 2000 – December 31, 2002 | José Luis Trejo | Led Cruz Azul to the Copa Libertadores final in 2001. | |
| January 1, 2003 – March 7, 2003 | Mario Carrillo | ||
| March 15, 2003 – March 7, 2004 | Enrique Meza | ||
| March 12, 2004 – October 17, 2004 | Luis Fernando Tena | ||
| October 19, 2004[122] - December, 2004 | |||
| January, 2005 – December 15, 2005[123] | Rubén Omar Romano | Kidnapped and held hostage for 65 days during his tenure. | |
| December 15, 2005 – May 20, 2007 | Isaac Mizrahi Smeke | ||
| July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 | Sergio Markarián | Led Cruz Azul to a final after nearly 10 years, lost against Santos Laguna. | |
| July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009 | Benjamín Galindo | Lost two finals with Cruz Azul: one against Toluca in the league final, and another against Atlante in the 2009 CONCACAF Champions League final. | |
| July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012 | Enrique Meza | Led the team to another league final, but lost against Monterrey, and also reached the 2010 CONCACAF Champions League final, where they were defeated by Pachuca. | |
| July 1, 2012 – December 3, 2013 | Guillermo Vázquez | Won the third national cup title (Clausura 2013 Copa MX). | |
| December 4, 2013 – May 19, 2015 | Luis Fernando Tena | Won the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League. | |
| June 1, 2015 – September 28, 2015 | Sergio Bueno | ||
| October 2, 2015 – October 22, 2016 | Tomás Boy | ||
 Paco Jémez | Led Cruz Azul to first liguilla appearance since Clausura 2014 in the Apertura 2017 season. | ||
| December 5, 2017 – September 2, 2019 | Pedro Caixinha | Won the fourth national cup title (Apertura 2018 Copa MX), the 2019 Supercopa MX, and led Cruz Azul to the first league final since Clausura 2013. | |
| September 6, 2019 – December 11, 2020 | Robert Siboldi | Won the inaugural edition of the Leagues Cup. | |
| January 7, 2021 – May 19, 2022 | Juan Reynoso | Tied league record for consecutive wins (12). Won the club's ninth league title (Guardianes 2021). | |
| May 30, 2022 – August 20, 2022 | Diego Aguirre | Won the inaugural edition of the Supercopa de la Liga MX. | |
| August 22, 2022 – February 13, 2023 | Raúl Gutiérrez | ||
| February 23, 2023 – August 7, 2023 |  Ricardo Ferretti | ||
| August 8, 2023 – December 19, 2023 | Joaquín Moreno | ||
| December 20, 2023 – Present | Martín Anselmi |
| Competition | Titles | Seasons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | scope=col | Primera División / Liga MX | 9 | 1968–69, México 1970, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, Invierno 1997, Guardianes 2021 | |
| scope=col | Segunda División | 1 | 1963–64 | ||
| scope=col | Copa México / Copa MX | 4 | 1968–69, 1996–97, Clausura 2013, Apertura 2018 | ||
| scope=col | Campeón de Campeones | 3 | 1969, 1974, 2021 | ||
| scope=col | Supercopa de la Liga MX | 1 | 2022 | ||
| scope=col | Supercopa MX | 1 | 2019 | ||
| Continental | scope=col | CONCACAF Champions Cup / Champions League | 6 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013–14 | |
| Regional | scope=col | Leagues Cup | 1 | 2019 |
During the amateur era, Cruz Azul was composed entirely of employees from the Cruz Azul cement factory, emphasizing the strong bond between the club and its founding organization. The team also frequently achieved high-margin victories over local teams, reflecting their dominance in the league.[124]
Leslie Verdes in 1988 CONCACAF Champions' Cup and 11–0 against 
Seattle Sounders in the 1996 CONCACAF Champions' Cup Fénix in the 2003 Copa Libertadores Carlos Hermosillo, 35 (in the 1994–95 season) Raúl Cárdenas, won 11 titles with the club: Fernando Bustos, won 13 titles with the club: