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Atlético Morelia

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Atlético Morelia
Full nameClub Atlético Morelia
Nickname(s)Los Canarios (The Canaries)[1]
FoundedJune 4, 1950; 74 years ago (1950-06-04)
GroundEstadio Morelos
Morelia, Michoacán
Capacity35,000
Owner
List
  • José Luis Higuera, Alberto Gabriel Guzmán, Arturo Rojas Díaz, Camelia Lizbeth Callejas, Carlos Antonio Díaz, Carlos Eduardo Garza, Domingo Ruiz, Gabriel Villaseñor, Gerardo Salvador Bustos, Gibrán González, Gonzalo Espinosa, José Félix, Roberto Santillán, Juan Martín Rivera, Martín Padilla, Zaid Gutiérrez, Raymundo López, Saúl Cerda, Víctor Manuel Mora, Jesús Antonio Contreras, Antonio Abraham
ChairmanJosé Luis Higuera
ManagerNacho Castro
LeagueLiga de Expansión MX
Apertura 202411th
Websitewww.camorelia.com

Club Atlético Morelia is a Mexican football club based in Morelia, Michoacán. Founded on 4 June 1950, the club competes in Liga de Expansión MX, the second tier of Mexican football.[2] The club plays their home matches at the Estadio Morelos.

From 1981 to 2020, the club played in Mexico top-flight football league, winning the Invierno 2000 championship. On 2 June 2020, Monarcas Morelia relocated to Mazatlan and rebranded as Mazatlán F.C..[3] A few weeks later, on 26 June, Atlético Zacatepec relocated to Morelia and rebranded as Atlético Morelia at the Liga de Expansión MX.[4] On 11 June 2024, Atlético Morelia announced the acquisition of Monarcas Morelia brand, badge and history, thus becoming the lineal club founded in 1950.[5]

Morelia has won the Liga de Expansión championship, in the Clasura 2022 season. It was the clubs second title, in a second division league.

History

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Beginnings

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In 1950 "Oro Morelia" changed the name to Club Deportivo Morelia. Morelia was among the teams that founded the Segunda División. After the 1956–1957 season, in which they ended up in second place, they were officially promoted into the Primera División to replace Puebla. After an unsuccessful season, in 1968 Atlético Morelia was relegated back to the Segunda División. During mixed 1968–1971 seasons, C.A. Morelia appointed Nicandro Ortiz as chairman. Ortiz acquired the team and strengthened its position in the league.

The July 1974 changes name in Club Atlético Morelia

The 1978–1979 season thrust Morelia into contention for promotion; Ortiz acquired the team and strengthened its position in the league, Nicandro Ortiz as chairman in 1980, Atlético Morelia played under manager Diego Malta who helped his team towards the Mexico Championship and finally promotion to the Primera División in 1981.

In 1986 before the World Cup in Mexico Atletico Morelia played friendlies against Germany Losing 2-1 and against the URSS again losing 4-1.

In 1996 the major broadcast company TV Azteca bought the team. In 1999 the club started playing under the name Club Monarcas Morelia.

Although the team had played Mexican professional football for 70 years, it had never won a first division tournament until winter 2000, when the club raised the cup after beating Toluca on penalties. The team was crowned champions away in the Bombonera Stadium. On the day after the victory, a crowd that some[who?] estimate at 100 thousand people welcomed the team as it paraded along Morelia's main avenue, Avenida Madero on their way to the stadium where the crowd congregated as the team raised the cup and the fans congratulated the team for its first ever first division trophy.

After missing the playoffs for three consecutive tournaments, Morelia finished in third place in the general table in the Apertura 2009. Morelia defeated Santos Laguna in the first round, 4–2 on aggregate. Morelia was then defeated by Cruz Azul in a semi-final that was filled with controversy due to Cruz Azul player Joel Huiqui intentionally using his hand to hit the ball away and prevent Morelia midfielder Wilson Tíago from scoring. (Huiqui later played for Morelia.) With a 2–1 aggregate score, Morelia was eliminated. Morelia qualified for the 2010 Copa Libertadores by ending in third place in the classification phase. It was the second time that Morelia participated in the Copa Libertadores, the first being in 2002. Morelia was the Runner-up of the Clausura 2011, after a hard-fought final against Pumas. Pumas won the tie 3–2 on aggregate, taking the trophy home.

In 2010, Morelia became the SuperLiga champion, with a 2–1 victory in the finals over the New England Revolution in which Miguel Sabah scored both Morelia goals.

On November 5, 2013 Monarcas Morelia won their first Copa MX title in a 3–3 match that went to penalties, where they would take the victory. This title also allowed them to participate in the inaugural edition Supercopa MX, which they won against Tigres UANL with a global score of 5–4.

Relegation struggles

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After 15 years, a dismal 2014–15 campaign left Monarcas as one of the last teams in the relegation table, an aggregate of a club's most recent points totals that decides which teams will be relegated. As a result, Enrique Meza was chosen to be the coach for the Apertura 2015 season. Meza had already saved Morelia before, in the 1995–96 season. After no notable improvement in team performance, Meza was let go from the position of head coach in 2016, with Roberto Hernandez taking over as interim manager. Hernandez's tenure would coincide with the signing of Peruvian forward Raul Ruidiaz on loan from Universitario. The signing of Ruidiaz would prove to be crucial to the club's fortunes, as he would go on to score 20 goals throughout the 2016-2017 Liga MX season, finishing as top scorer with 11 goals in the Apertura and 9 goals in the Clausura. In the following season, Morelia was in danger of being relegated on the final match day of the Apertura, residing in last place in the relegation table and needing a victory over Monterrey to avoid the drop. Tied 1-1 in injury time, Raul Rudiaz scored a crucial winner that moved them out of the relegation zone, with Jaguares de Chiapas being relegated in their stead. Ruidiaz's goal additionally qualified them for that season's liguilla, its first since the 2016 Clausura.

Relocation

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On May 23, 2020, various news outlets in Mexico reported the club would be relocating from Morelia to Mazatlán, Sinaloa and would be called Mazatlán F.C.[6][7][8] The club's owner, Grupo Salinas, reportedly were asking for $400 million MXN per year from the Government of Michoacán to keep the team in the city.[9] The move was very unpopular among supporters, former players, and the sports media across Mexico.[10] Despite stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 7,000 fans took to the streets of Morelia to protest the team's move.[11]

On June 2, 2020, the club and Liga MX announced the club's relocation to Mazatlán, just two days before the club's 70th anniversary.[12]

Rebirth of Atlético Morelia

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On June 26, 2020, Liga MX President Enrique Bonilla announced Atlético Zacatepec would be relocating to Morelia due to financial problems.[13] The next day in a press conference at Estadio Morelos, it was announced the club would be called Club Atlético Morelia, the club's name for over 25 years before Grupo Salinas changed it in 1999.[14] It was announced the ownership group would consist of former Guadalajara President José Luis Higuera as well as various businessmen from the state of Michoacán.[15] The ownership group acquired the rights to the club's name and logo, both which were owned by Grupo Salinas.[16]

Badges

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Names Changes
  • Oro Morelia (1924–1950): Name of the club at its foundation, used in the period before entering professional football.
  • Club Deportivo Morelia (1950–1972): Official name of the club after reaching the Segunda División.
  • Club Atlético Morelia (1972–1999): Name assumed after returning from suspension in 1971.
  • Club Monarcas Morelia (1999–2020): Name assumed two years after acquisition by broadcaster TV Azteca.
  • Club Atlético Morelia (2020–present): Name assumed after acquisition of the Zacatepec franchise.

Kit

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The flag of Morelia.

The club's colors are generated from the city's flag which are yellow and red, which are the same colors in the Spanish flag, because the city is a novohispana city.

In the club's beginnings the club went under the name of Oro and were known as the canarios (canary) until 1999 when the club changed its name to Monarcas, due to the 3 monarchs found in the city's flag, which has been used from its foundation.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

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Period Kit supplier Main shirt sponsor(s)
1985–1989 Germany Adidas Mexico Martí
1989–1992 United KingdomMexico Helados Holanda
1992–1993 Mexico Vicmar Mexico Peñafiel
1993–1994 United States Coca-Cola
1994–1995 Mexico Aba Sport
1995–1996 Mexico Vicmar Mexico Cerveza Superior
1996–1997 United Kingdom Umbro United States Coca-Cola
1997–1998 Mexico Atletica
1998–2000 Mexico 3 Hermanos
2000–2001 Mexico OrderExpress
2001–2009 South Korea LG
2009–2012 Mexico Roshfrans
2012–2013 United States Nike Japan Bridgestone
2013–2015 Spain Joma
2015 Mexico Pirma Mexico Totalplay
2016–2020 Mexico Caliente.mx
2020–2022 Mexico Keuka Mexico Akron
MexicoUnited States Avocados from Mexico
2022–2024 Mexico Akron
Mexico Axen Capital
2024– Mexico Akron
Luxembourg ArcelorMittal

Stadium

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Monarcas Morelia Stadium, Estadio Morelos

Towards the end of the 1980s it was decided that their stadium (Estadio Venustiano Carranza) was lacking capacity and that a new stadium with a greater number of seats needed to be constructed. On April 9, 1989, after several construction delays, Stadium Jose Maria Morelos and Pavón (located on the outskirts of the Quinceo mountain) was opened, and the inaugural game was between Atlético Morelia and Club América. The stadium has an official capacity of 45,000, although on inauguration in 1989 it is estimated that more than 50,000 were in attendance. Morelia won the match with the score 2–1. In 2011, the stadium was given a new look, seeing as the FIFA U-17 World Cup was taking place in Mexico.

Personnel

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Management

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Position Staff
Chairman Mexico José Luis Higuera
Vice-chairman Mexico Raymundo López Olvera
Director of football Mexico Christian Barrientos

Source: Liga MX

Coaching staff

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Position Staff
Manager Spain Nacho Castro
Assistan manager Vacant
Goalkeeper coach Mexico Oscar Resano
Fitness coach Mexico Darío Gutiérrez
Physiotherapist Mexico Francisco Arias
Team doctors Mexico Vicente Villalva
Mexico Julio Cambrón

Players

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2012 squad.

Morelia has had some notable players in their history. Marco Antonio Figueroa is the club's all-time leading scorer with 130 goals. Adolfo Bautista, Rafael Márquez Lugo, Moisés Muñoz, Miguel Sabah, Joel Huiqui, Adrián Aldrete, Enrique Pérez, Édgar Lugo and Elias Hernandez, are some of the players that were called up to the Mexico national team while playing with the team. Raul Ruidiaz was the first Morelia player to achieve a Liga MX top scoring title.

First-team squad

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As of 4 December 2024[17]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Mexico MEX Antonio Torres
7 MF Mexico MEX Omar Islas
8 FW Mexico MEX Joao Maleck
9 FW Mexico MEX Christopher Trejo (on loan from Atlas)
10 MF Mexico MEX Fernando Illescas
13 DF Mexico MEX René López (on loan from Pachuca)
17 MF Mexico MEX Josué Gómez
18 MF Mexico MEX Jaziel Martínez (on loan from Monterrey)
19 MF Mexico MEX Diego Gallegos
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 FW Brazil BRA Laerte Polydoro
22 MF Mexico MEX Raúl Torres
30 FW Mexico MEX Paolo Yrizar
32 DF Mexico MEX Walter Ortega
34 GK Mexico MEX Leonardo González
GK Mexico MEX Santiago Ramírez
DF Mexico MEX Juan García Sancho
MF Mexico MEX Josué Martínez

Reserve teams

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Aguacateros CDU
Reserve team that plays in the Liga Premier, the third level of the Mexican league system.[18]
Atlético Morelia-Universidad Michoacana
Reserve team that plays in the Liga TDP, the fourth level of the Mexican league system.[19]

World Cup players

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The following players were called to represent their country at the World Cup whilst playing for Morelia:

Olympic players

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The following players were called to represent their country at the Summer Olympic Games whilst playing for Morelia:

Top Goalscorers

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Atletico Morelia
Rank Player Goals
1 Chile Marco Antonio Figueroa 130 Goals
2 Brazil Alex Fernandes 71 Goals
3 Mexico Miguel Sabah 64 Goals
4 Uruguay Carlos Miloc 59 Goals
5 Mexico Rafael Márquez Lugo[20] 58 Goals
  • Includes top scorers from both Atletico Morelia & Monarcas Morelia
  • Does not include international competition goals

Honours

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Domestic

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Regional

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Continental

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International record

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Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1988 CONCACAF Champions' Cup Preliminary round Belize Coke Milpross 9–0 2–0 11–0
First Round United States Washington Diplomats 2–1 2–1 4–2
Fourth Round Costa Rica Alajuelense Walkover1
2002 Copa Libertadores Pre-Libertadores Mexico América 1–3 0–2 2nd
Venezuela Trujillanos 1–0 2–0
Venezuela Caracas 3–0 1–3
Group 5 Argentina Vélez Sarsfield 0–0 3–2 1st
Uruguay Nacional 4–2 3–3
Peru Sporting Cristal 4–0 1–0
Round of 16 Ecuador Olmedo 3–2 5–0 8–2
Quarter-finals Mexico América 1–2 1–2 2–4
CONCACAF Champions' Cup First Round Costa Rica Saprissa 2–0 1–1 3–1
Quarter-finals United States Chicago Fire 2–0 1–2 3–2
Semi-finals United States Kansas City Wizards 6–1 1–1 7–2
Final Mexico Pachuca 0–1
2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup Round of 16 Guatemala Comunicaciones 4–0 0–1 4–1
Quarter-finals United States Columbus Crew 6–0 0–2 6–2
Semi-finals Mexico Necaxa 6–0 0–0 6–0
Final Mexico Toluca 3–3 1–2 4–5
2007 SuperLiga Group B United States D.C. United 1–1 4th
United States Houston Dynamo 1–1
Mexico América 2–3
2010 Copa Libertadores Group 6 Argentina Banfield 1–1 1–2 3rd
Uruguay Nacional 0–0 0–2
Ecuador Deportivo Cuenca 2–1 0–2
SuperLiga Group B United States Chicago Fire 5–1 2nd
Mexico Pumas UNAM 2–2
United States New England Revolution 0–1
Semi-finals United States Houston Dynamo 1–0
Final United States New England Revolution 2–1
2011 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary round Haiti Tempête 5–0 2–0 7–0
Group A Costa Rica Alajuelense 2–1 0–1 2nd
Honduras Motagua 4–0 2–0
United States LA Galaxy 2–1 1–2
Quarter-finals Mexico Monterrey 1–3 1–4 2–7
2014 Copa Libertadores First Stage Colombia Santa Fe 2–1 0–1 2–2 (a)
2015 Copa Libertadores First Stage Bolivia The Strongest 1–1 0–2 1–3

1 Morelia refused to play the series which resulted in their disqualification.

Managers

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References

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  1. ^ "CANARIOS DE REGRESO AL LIDERATO". Club Atlético Morelia. 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ "José Luis Higuera da a conocer las redes sociales del Atlético Morelia". www.mediotiempo.com. 27 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Comunicado de la LIGA MX". ligamx.net. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  4. ^ "Zacatepec se va a Morelia y ocupará el lugar de Monarcas". ESPN México (in Spanish). 25 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Atlético Morelia compra derechos de la marca y logo de Monarcas". ESPN México (in Spanish). 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Morelia sería el equipo que emigre a la nueva sede en Mazatlán". www.mediotiempo.com. 23 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Monarcas dejaría Morelia para irse a Mazatlán para el Apertura 2020". MARCA Claro México. May 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "Entre los rumores de la mudanza de Morelia, Jorge Valdivia lanza en redes sociales: "Volveremos"". ESPNdeportes.com. May 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Gobierno de Michoacán descarta rescate financiero de Monarcas Morelia". www.mediotiempo.com. 6 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Reacciones de periodistas tras la mudanza de Morelia". AS México. June 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Marcha para impedir mudanza de Morelia convoca alrededor de 7,000 personas". ESPNdeportes.com. May 31, 2020.
  12. ^ "Liga MX club Morelia moves to Mazatlan". ESPN.com. June 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "Gobierno de Morelos buscará recuperar al Atlético Zacatepec". www.mediotiempo.com. 27 June 2020.
  14. ^ "México: este club de fútbol llenará el hueco que Monarcas dejó en Morelia | Video". 27 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Atlético Morelia: quiénes son los dueños, plantilla, uniforme y calendario | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  16. ^ "El nuevo Atlético Morelia tuvo que pagar por el logo y nombre del equipo". ESPNdeportes.com. June 27, 2020.
  17. ^ "Atlético Morelia". Liga BBVA Expansión MX. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Aguacateros CDU, filial de Atlético Morelia, participará en una nueva liga de formación". Ecos del Quinceo (in Spanish). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Zorros de la UMSNH, a la Tercera División Profesional de la mano de Atlético Morelia". Primera Plana (in Spanish). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Monarcas Morelia's Unforgettable History". 12 June 2020.
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