History of Cruz Azul in Timeline

Cruz Azul is a professional football club based in Mexico City, Mexico, competing in Liga MX. Founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, it moved to Mexico City in 1971. The team initially played at Estadio Azteca until 1996, then moved to Estadio Azul, and returned to the Azteca after the 2017-18 season. Its headquarters are located in La Noria, Xochimilco.

1923: Debut in Mexico national football team

In 1923, Carlos Garces López was included in the debut Mexico national football team, playing in Mexico's debut series of official international matches against Guatemala.

1924: Mexico national team inclusion

In 1924, Carlos Garces López was included in the Mexico national team for athletics.

1925: Lobbying for football

In 1925, Carlos Garces López lobbied for months to change the official company sport at Cooperativa La Cruz Azul to football.

March 22, 1927: Election favors football

On March 22, 1927, an election favored football as the company sport at Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, leading to the replacement of the baseball diamond with a football pitch.

1927: Club Foundation

In 1927, Club de Futbol Cruz Azul was founded in Jasso, Hidalgo, marking the beginning of the professional football club's history.

1928: Mexico national team inclusion

In 1928, Carlos Garces López was included in the Mexico national team for athletics and football.

March 1, 1931: Acquisition by La Tolteca

On March 1, 1931, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul was bought by cement company La Tolteca for 1 million pesos due to economic troubles during the Great Depression.

October 15, 1931: Workers Sue to Prevent Transfer

On October 15, 1931, the transfer of the property was set to occur however 192 workers of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul unionized and sued the executives of the company to prevent the transfer.

1931: Employment at the Cooperative

In 1931, Guillermo Álvarez Macías began working at Cooperativa La Cruz Azul at the age of 12, starting as an automotive mechanic.

May 21, 1932: Workers Become Collective Owners

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.

1932: League Titles Won

From 1932 to 1943, Cruz Azul started winning 15 consecutive league titles in an amateur league in the state of Hidalgo.

January 29, 1934: Reestablishment as a Cooperative

On January 29, 1934, the company changed its name to Cooperativa Manufacturera de Cemento Portland La Cruz Azul, S.C.L, reestablishing itself as a cooperative.

1937: Growing Following

By 1937, Cruz Azul had garnered a considerable following both in Hidalgo and Mexico City.

November 2, 1941: Debt Settlement and Celebration Match

On November 2, 1941, the debt was settled 10 years after workers took ownership of the plant and in celebration, Cruz Azul organized a match against R.C. España that ended in a 0–0 draw.

1943: League Titles Won

From 1932 to 1943, Cruz Azul finished winning 15 consecutive league titles in an amateur league in the state of Hidalgo.

December 10, 1953: Guillermo Álvarez Macías Appointed General Manager

On December 10, 1953, Guillermo Álvarez Macías was appointed general manager of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul, initiating plans to transform the cooperative into a functioning town with improved living conditions.

1958: Lobbying for Federation Membership

In 1958, team captain Luis Velázquez Hernández lobbied the Mexican Football Federation for official membership on behalf of Cruz Azul.

1960: Acquisition of Lafayette Team and Stadium Plans

In 1960, Cruz Azul purchased the Lafayette team to serve as their reserves and conceived plans to construct a club stadium that complied to the standards set by the Mexican Football Federation.

1960: Invitation to Copa de la Segunda División de México

In 1960, 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.

April 2, 1961: Debut Game in Copa de la Segunda División

On April 2, 1961, Cruz Azul played its debut game in the Copa de la Segunda División de México against Zamora in Jasso, winning 2–1.

April 9, 1961: Second Leg Game

On April 9, 1961, Cruz Azul played the second leg of the game against Zamora, ending in a 3–3 draw.

1961: Registration to Second Tier League

In 1961, Cruz Azul was officially registered to compete in the nation's second tier professional league for the 1961–62 season.

1961: Jorge Marik Signs as Manager

In 1961, Jorge Marik, a Hungarian coach, signed on to manage Cruz Azul.

1961: Stadium Construction Begins

In 1961, ground broke to construct Estadio 10 de Diciembre, initiating the development of a stadium compliant with Mexican Football Federation standards.

1963: Stadium Construction Completed

In 1963, the construction of Estadio 10 de Diciembre was completed, providing Cruz Azul with a stadium compliant with Mexican Football Federation standards.

1963: Promotion to Primera División

In the 1963–64 Mexican Segunda División season, Jorge Marik led Cruz Azul to win a direct promotion to Primera División.

March 6, 1964: Stadium Renovations

On March 6, 1964, Estadio 10 de Diciembre underwent renovations, rebuilding the wooden stands and dressing rooms to comply with regulations.

1964: First Season in Top Flight

During the 1964–65 Mexican Primera División season, Cruz Azul finished their first season in the top flight in 8th place.

1964: Cruz Azul began playing at Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1964, Cruz Azul originally played at Estadio 10 de Diciembre in Jasso, Hidalgo.

1964: Emblem Refinement

In 1964, Cruz Azul refined its emblem, adopting a rounder design that included the name, Club Deportivo Cruz Azul, marking the club's establishment in Mexican football.

1965: Poor Results

After poor results, Jorge 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.

October 20, 1966: Raúl Cárdenas Signed as Coach

On October 20, 1966, Raúl Cárdenas signed on to be the coach after Walter Ormeño managed 3 games as interim coach.

1968: Treble Win

During the 1968–69 season under the direction of Raúl Cárdenas, Cruz Azul won their first Copa México, their first Primera División title, and their first CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

1968: Continental Treble

During the 1968–69 season, Cruz Azul achieved a rare continental treble by winning the Primera División, Copa México, and CONCACAF Champions' Cup, becoming the first CONCACAF club to accomplish this feat.

1968: First league title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1968, Cruz Azul won its first league title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre.

1969: Second Place in the League

During the 1969–70 Mexican Primera División season, Cruz Azul finished in second place on the general table.

December 15, 1970: Awarded CONCACAF Champions' Cup

On December 15, 1970, Cruz Azul was awarded the 1970 CONCACAF Champions' Cup after Saprissa and Transvaal withdrew from the competition.

1970: Start of 'La Máquina Celeste' Era

Between 1970 and 1980, Cruz Azul began to lead the Primera División with six league tournament championships, earning the nickname La Máquina Celeste.

1970: Second league title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1970, Cruz Azul won its second league title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre.

1971: Cruz Azul left Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1971, Cruz Azul left Estadio 10 de Diciembre, although it remained an alternate venue.

1971: Move to Estadio Azteca

In 1971, Cruz Azul moved to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

1973: Stars added to crest

In 1973, following Cruz Azul's first league title, stars were added above the cross on the crest to represent these achievements.

December 18, 1976: Death of Guillermo Álvarez Macías

On December 18, 1976, Guillermo Álvarez Macías died of a heart attack at the age of 56 while awaiting President Portillo for a meeting.

1980: End of 'La Máquina Celeste' Era

Between 1970 and 1980, Cruz Azul led the Primera División with six league tournament championships, during this era the nickname La Máquina Celeste was earned.

1980: Crest design streamlined

By 1980, the stars on Cruz Azul's crest were standardized, and the design was streamlined to enhance brand consistency.

1988: Guillermo Héctor Álvarez Cuevas Assumes Position

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.

1988: Reference to America's Victory

In 1991, 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.

1991: Signing of Carlos Hermosillo

In 1991, Cruz Azul signed Carlos Hermosillo, an América icon, sparking mixed reactions from supporters.

1992: Reserve team played in the Primera División "A"

In 1992, the Cruz Azul reserve team played in the Primera División "A".

1993: League's Top Goal Scorer

In 1993-94 Carlos Hermosillo became the league's top goal scorer for Cruz Azul with 27 goals.

1994: League's Top Goal Scorer

In 1994-95 Carlos Hermosillo became the league's top goal scorer for Cruz Azul with 35 goals.

1994: Reached League Final

In the 1994–95 season, Cruz Azul finished 3rd in the league and reached a league final for the first time in 6 years where they were defeated 3–1 on aggregate by Necaxa.

1995: League's Top Goal Scorer

In 1995-96 Carlos Hermosillo became the league's top goal scorer for Cruz Azul with 26 goals.

1996: Move to Estadio Azul

In 1996, Cruz Azul briefly left the Estadio Azteca for the Estadio Azul.

1996: Move to Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes

In 1996, Cruz Azul relocated from Estadio Azteca, the nation's largest sports venue, to Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, which was later renamed Estadio Azul.

1996: End of Championship Drought

July 20 of 1996 marked the end of a 16 year long championship drought for Cruz Azul with the victory of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and the Copa México title

August 24, 1997: CONCACAF Champions' Cup Victory

On August 24, 1997, under the management of Luis Fernando Tena, Cruz Azul won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup for the second consecutive year after defeating LA Galaxy 5–3 in the final.

December 7, 1997: Invierno 1997 League Tournament Victory

On December 7, 1997, Cruz Azul, finishing 2nd in the league table, won the Invierno 1997 league tournament against León via golden goal, ending the club's 17-year league title drought and achieving their second continental treble.

1997: Significant redesign of crest

In 1997, Cruz Azul introduced a significant redesign of its crest, updating the emblem to a circular shape and adding the word “Mexico” around the outer ring.

1997: Cruz Azul Invierno 1997 tournament.

In 1997, Juan Reynoso was part of the Cruz Azul squad that won their previous league title in the Invierno 1997 tournament.

1997: Start of Mexican league title drought

In 1997, the club became infamous in Mexico for not having won a Mexican league title, marking the start of the "Cruz Azul curse".

January 2001: Establishment of La Sangre Azul

In January 2001, La Sangre Azul was established as the only official supporters' group.

2001: Copa Libertadores Participation

In 2001, Cruz Azul participated in the Copa Libertadores, finishing as the leader of Group 7 with 13 points and advancing through the round of 16 against Cerro Porteño with an aggregate score of 4–3.

2001: Invitation to Copa Libertadores Qualifying Tournament

In 2001, Cruz Azul was invited to participate in a qualifying tournament between select Mexican and Venezuelan teams to earn a spot in the Copa Libertadores, a prestigious South American competition.

2003: Reserve team played in the Primera División "A"

In 2003, the Cruz Azul reserve team played in the Primera División "A".

2004: Las Celestes inclusion

In 2004, Cruz Azul included Las Celestes as part of the institution.

July 16, 2005: Rubén Omar Romano Abduction

On July 16, 2005, Cruz Azul's manager Rubén Omar Romano was abducted after a pre-season practice, with kidnappers demanding a $500,000 ransom. Assistant coach Isaac Mizrahi took over during Romano's 65-day captivity, which ended with Romano's rescue and the arrest of the conspirators.

2005: Mizrahi Offered Managerial Position

In 2005, while Rubén Omar Romano was in captivity, Cruz Azul decided not to renew his contract and offered the managerial position to Isaac Mizrahi, who accepted, leading to a severed friendship between the two.

2006: Reserve team played in the Primera División "A"

In 2006, the Cruz Azul reserve team played in the Primera División "A".

2008: 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Qualification and Performance

In 2008, Cruz Azul qualified for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League as league runner-ups. They advanced to the final, where they lost to Atlante with an aggregate score of 2-0.

2008: Apertura 2008 Season Finish

In 2008, during the Apertura season, Cruz Azul finished in 5th place on the overall table with 7 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses.

2008: Clausura 2008 Season and Final Appearance

In 2008, during the Clausura season, Cruz Azul finished in second place, advancing to the finals after defeating Jaguares and San Luis. However, they lost to Santos Laguna with a 3–2 aggregate score in the final.

2009: 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League

In 2009, Cruz Azul finished first in Group C of the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, qualifying for the playoff stage.

2009: Clausura 2009: Worst Tournament in Club History

In 2009, Cruz Azul had the worst tournament in club history during the Clausura, finishing in last place with only 13 points. Benjamín Galindo was sacked and replaced by Robert Siboldi.

2009: Apertura 2009 Season and Finals Appearance

In 2009, Cruz Azul, managed by Enrique Meza, signed players like José de Jesús Corona and Emanuel Villa, finishing the Apertura season in second place with 33 points. They reached the final but lost to Monterrey 6–4 on aggregate.

2010: 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League Final Loss

In 2010, Cruz Azul lost the CONCACAF Champions League final against Pachuca due to the away goals rule, after winning the first game 2–1 at home and losing the second game 1–0 at Pachuca's home.

April 2012: Official Name Change

In April 2012, Cruz Azul officially changed its name from Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, A.C. to simply Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C.

2013: Copa MX Victory and Liga MX Final Loss

In 2013, Cruz Azul beat Club América in the Copa MX semi-finals and won the Copa MX final over Atlante. They also reached the Liga MX final but lost to Club America after a miraculous comeback, losing 4-2 on penalties.

2013: First Trophy Since 2013

In 2013, Cruz Azul won their first trophy in the tournament since 2013.

2013: Rematch of the Clausura 2013 Final

In December 2018, Cruz Azul faced América in a rematch of the Clausura 2013 final for the Apertura 2018 final.

2013: Emergence of "Cruzazulear" Term

Sometime in 2013, the term "cruzazulear" emerged to describe Cruz Azul's tendency to lose games after victory seemed assured, contributing to a negative reputation for the club.

April 23, 2014: CONCACAF Championship Victory

On April 23, 2014, Cruz Azul won their 6th CONCACAF championship after defeating Toluca, earning a spot at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup.

2014: Start of Liguilla Playoff Drought

From the Clausura 2014, Cruz Azul had been unable to qualify for the liguilla playoffs for six consecutive tournaments.

2014: Reserve team played in the Liga Premier

In 2014, the Cruz Azul reserve team played in the Liga Premier.

2014: Club World Ranking

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.

March 2015: La Sangre Azul loses support

In March 2015, La Sangre Azul lost the support of the club's board due to violent incidents.

2015: Reserve team played in the Segunda División

In 2015, the reserve team played in the Segunda División.

2015: Reserve team played in the Segunda División/Liga Premier

In 2015, the reserve team played in the Segunda División/Liga Premier.

November 2017: Paco Jémez Departure

On November 27, 2017, Cruz Azul announced that Paco Jémez would not renew his contract for the following season.

2017: Return to Estadio Azteca

Following the conclusion of the 2017–18 Liga MX season, Cruz Azul returned to Estadio Azteca after 22 years of playing at Estadio Azul.

May 2018: Eduardo de la Torre Replaced by Ricardo Peláez

On May 7, 2018, Cruz Azul announced that 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.

December 2018: Apertura 2018 Final Loss to América

In December 2018, Cruz Azul faced América in a rematch of the Clausura 2013 final for the Apertura 2018 final. After a scoreless draw in the first leg on December 13, they lost the second leg 2–0, extending their 21-year championship drought.

2018: Apertura 2018 Copa MX Final Victory

In 2018, Cruz Azul faced Monterrey in the Apertura 2018 Copa MX Final on October 31, winning 2–0 with goals from Elías Hernández and Martín Cauteruccio, securing their first trophy in the tournament since 2013.

2018: Return to Estadio Azteca

In 2018, Cruz Azul returned to the Estadio Azteca after playing at Estadio Azul.

2018: Reserve team played in the Segunda División/Liga Premier

In 2018, the reserve team played in the Segunda División/Liga Premier.

2019: Liga MX Record Tied by Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul tied León's record from 2019 with 41 points from 17 matches, an 80% effectiveness rate.

May 2020: Indictment of Guillermo Alvarez Cuevas

In May 2020, Guillermo Alvarez Cuevas, then president of Cruz Azul, was indicted by Mexican authorities on multiple charges including insurance fraud and money laundering.

August 2020: Guillermo Alvarez Resignation

In August 2020, Guillermo Alvarez resigned from his position as president of Cruz Azul after 32 years, following an arrest warrant for alleged ties to organized crime.

December 6, 2020: Guardianes 2020 Semi-Final Loss to UNAM

On December 6, 2020, Cruz Azul lost the Guardianes 2020 Liga MX semi-final second leg against UNAM 0–4, tying in aggregate and being eliminated due to UNAM's higher position in the league table.

2020: Disappointing End to 2020

Following a disappointing end to 2020, Cruz Azul prepared for changes ahead of the Guardianes 2021 tournament.

2020: "Cruzazulear" Recognized by Royal Spanish Academy

In 2020, the term "cruzazulear", which describes the act of losing a game after victory is practically assured, gained official recognition by the Royal Spanish Academy, highlighting its prevalence in describing Cruz Azul's misfortunes.

May 2021: Primera División Championship Victory

In May 2021, specifically on May 30, 2021, Cruz Azul ended its 23-year Primera División championship drought by beating Santos Laguna 2–1 on aggregate at Estadio Azteca, winning its ninth league title.

May 30, 2021: Cruz Azul wins Guardianes 2021 final

On May 30, 2021, Cruz Azul broke the "Cruz Azul curse" by winning the Guardianes 2021 final match versus Santos Laguna, after scoring 2–1.

June 2, 2021: Interpol Search for Guillermo Alvarez

As of June 2, 2021, Interpol continues to search for Guillermo Alvarez in 195 countries, following his indictment and resignation in 2020.

2021: Appointment of Juan Reynoso and Álvaro Dávila

In 2021, Cruz Azul appointed Juan Reynoso as the new head coach and Álvaro Dávila as the club's executive president.

2021: Ninth Liga MX title crest modification

In 2021, Cruz Azul modified its crest to celebrate its ninth Liga MX title, adding a ninth star and replacing "Deportivo" with "Club de Futbol". Also in 1997, the drought since their previous league title began.

2021: Guardianes 2021 Final First Leg

In 2021, Cruz Azul secured a 1–0 lead in the first leg of the Guardianes 2021 final against Santos Laguna at Estadio Corona, with Luis Romo scoring the only goal.

2021: Ninth league title won at Estadio Azteca

In 2021, Cruz Azul won their ninth league title while playing at the Estadio Azteca.

2021: Reserve team played in the Liga Premier

In 2021, the Cruz Azul reserve team played in the Liga Premier.

2021: Survey places Cruz Azul as 3rd largest fan base

The most recent survey from 2021 placed Cruz Azul as the 3rd largest fan base in Mexico, with 10,9% or 14 million supporters.

December 2023: Martín Anselmi appointed as head coach

In December 2023, Martín Anselmi was appointed as the head coach of Cruz Azul, succeeding Joaquín Moreno after a disappointing Apertura 2023 campaign.

2024: Temporary return to Estadio Azul

In 2024, Cruz Azul announced a temporary return to the Estadio Azul, now known as the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, due to renovations at the Azteca.

2024: Cruz Azul breaks league record

In 2024, Cruz Azul broke the league record with 42 points, avoiding a loss against Tigres UANL after a draw in the final minutes of the match.

2025: Anselmi's departure and Sánchez appointment

In 2025, Cruz Azul announced home games at Estadio Olímpico Universitario and on January 25, head coach Martín Anselmi departed to become the head coach of FC Porto, leading to Vicente Sánchez being named interim and then permanent manager on February 23.