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, the club relocated to Mexico City in 1971. Initially playing at Estadio Azteca, they moved to Estadio Azul (formerly Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes) in 1996, before returning to the Azteca after the 2017-18 season. The team's headquarters are located in La Noria, Xochimilco, in southern Mexico City.

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: Carlos Garces López in Mexico National Team

In 1924, Carlos Garces López, a footballer and athlete, was included in the Mexico national team for athletics and football.

1925: Lobbying for football team

In 1925, Carlos Garces López lobbied to change the official Cooperativa La Cruz Azul company sport to football; the company initially resisted.

March 22, 1927: Election favors football

On March 22, 1927, an election favored football as the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul team's main sport.

1927: Club Foundation

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

1927: Club Founding and Symbolism

In 1927, Cruz Azul was founded, with its emblem featuring a blue cross within a white circle and red square, symbolizing unity, resilience, and teamwork, and reflecting British influences.

1928: Carlos Garces López in Mexico National Team

In 1928, Carlos Garces López, a footballer and athlete, 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: Transfer Prevention

On October 15, 1931, 192 workers of the company unionized and sued the executives of the company to prevent the transfer of the property.

1931: Álvarez Macías Employed at Cooperative

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

May 21, 1932: Workers as 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.

1932: League Titles Begin

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

January 29, 1934: Reestablishment as Cooperative

On January 29, 1934, Cooperativa Manufacturera de Cemento Portland La Cruz Azul, S.C.L reestablished itself as a cooperative.

1937: Growing Popularity

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

November 2, 1941: Debt Settled

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

1943: League Titles End

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

December 10, 1953: Álvarez Macías Appointed General Manager

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.

1958: Lobbying for Federation Membership

In 1958, team captain Luis Velázquez Hernández lobbied for official membership in the Mexican Football Federation, despite reluctance from Álvarez Macías.

1960: Invited to compete in Copa de la Segunda División de México

Despite not possessing federation membership and due to Sánchez's personal contacts, in 1960 Cruz Azul was invited to compete in the 1960-61 edition of Copa de la Segunda División de México.

1960: Lafayette Team Acquisition and Stadium Plans

In 1960, Cruz Azul purchased the Lafayette team to use as their reserves, and plans to construct a club stadium were conceived.

April 2, 1961: Debut Game

On April 2, 1961, Cruz Azul's debut game was played in Jasso against Zamora, ending in 2–1 in favor of Cruz Azul.

April 9, 1961: Second Leg against Zamora

On April 9, 1961, the second leg against Zamora was played, ending in a 3–3 draw.

1961: Jorge Marik Signed as Manager

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

1961: Estadio 10 de Diciembre Construction

In 1961, ground broke to construct Estadio 10 de Diciembre, a key step for Cruz Azul to be compliant with the standards set by the Mexican Football Federation.

1961: Registered for Second Tier League

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

1963: Estadio 10 de Diciembre Finished

In 1963, the construction of Estadio 10 de Diciembre was completed, marking a significant milestone for Cruz Azul.

1963: Promotion to Primera División

In the 1963–64 Mexican Segunda División season, Cruz Azul won a direct promotion to Primera División after Marik led the club to the 1st position on the general table.

March 6, 1964: Estadio 10 de Diciembre Renovations

On March 6, 1964, Estadio 10 de Diciembre underwent renovations to comply with regulations.

1964: Emblem Refinement

In 1964, Cruz Azul refined its emblem, adopting a rounder design that included the club's full name, 'Club Deportivo Cruz Azul', marking a shift to a more formal, professional image while maintaining the cross as its focal point.

1964: Estadio 10 de Diciembre as Home Venue

In 1964, Cruz Azul started playing at Estadio 10 de Diciembre in Jasso, Hidalgo, which had a seating capacity of 17,000.

1964: First Season in Top Flight

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

1965: Poor Results in Primera División

After poor results, Marik left the club after the 1965–66 Mexican Primera División season where Cruz Azul finished in 13th place.

October 20, 1966: Raúl Cárdenas Signed as Coach

On October 20, 1966, Raúl Cárdenas signed as coach for Cruz Azul.

1968: First Treble

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

1968: League Title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1968, Cruz Azul won a league title playing at Estadio 10 de Diciembre.

1969: Second Place in Primera División

For 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 led the Primera División with six league tournament championships.

1970: League Title at Estadio 10 de Diciembre

In 1970, Cruz Azul won a league title playing at Estadio 10 de Diciembre.

1971: Departure from Estadio 10 de Diciembre

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

1971: Move to Estadio Azteca

In 1971, Cruz Azul moved to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, achieving significant success, including five league titles and multiple cup victories.

1973: Addition of Stars to the Crest

In 1973, following Cruz Azul's first league title, stars were added above the cross on the crest to represent these achievements, marking the beginning of a tradition where stars were added for each league title.

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.

1980: End of La Máquina Celeste Era

Between 1970 and 1980, Cruz Azul led the Primera División with six league tournament championships.

1980: Standardization of Stars and Design Streamlining

By 1980, the stars on Cruz Azul's crest were standardized, and the design was streamlined to enhance brand consistency, allowing it to adapt more easily across various media and merchandise.

1988: Guillermo Héctor Álvarez Cuevas Assumes Position

In 1988, Guillermo Héctor Álvarez Cuevas assumed the position of general manager at the cooperative Cooperativa La Cruz Azul and presidency of Cruz Azul.

1988: Carlos Hermosillo against Cruz Azul

In 1988–89 Carlos Hermosillo was fundamental to America's league championship victory against Cruz Azul.

1991: Signing of Carlos Hermosillo

In 1991, Cruz Azul signed Carlos Hermosillo, an América icon. His signing was met with ambivalence by the club's supporters.

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

In 1992, the reserve team started playing in the Primera División "A".

1993: Hermosillo top goal scorer

In 1993–94 Carlos Hermosillo was the league's top goal scorer.

1994: Hermosillo top goal scorer

In 1994–95 Carlos Hermosillo was the league's top goal scorer.

1994: Reached League Final

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 by Necaxa.

1995: Hermosillo top goal scorer

In 1995–96 Carlos Hermosillo was the league's top goal scorer.

1996: Brief 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 moved from Estadio Azteca to Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (later renamed Estadio Azul) after having played at the Azteca since 1971.

1996: CONCACAF Champions' Cup Win

In July 20 of 1996, Cruz Azul managed by Víctor Manuel Vucetich, won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, ending a 16-year championship drought, after defeating Seattle Sounders 11–0.

August 24, 1997: CONCACAF Champions' Cup Win

On August 24, 1997, Cruz Azul won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup for the second consecutive year after defeating LA Galaxy.

December 7, 1997: Invierno 1997 League Tournament Win

On December 7, 1997, Cruz Azul won the Invierno 1997 league tournament against León via golden goal, ending a 17-year league drought.

1997: 23-year Title Drought

In 1997, Cruz Azul entered a significant title drought, marking the beginning of a challenging period before their next league title in 2021.

1997: Significant Crest Redesign

In 1997, Cruz Azul introduced a significant redesign of its crest to a circular shape, with the addition of the word "Mexico" around the outer ring, reinforcing the club's identity as a symbol of Mexican football.

1997: Beginning of Title Drought and 'Cruz Azul Curse'

In 1997, Cruz Azul's lengthy title drought began, leading to the coining of the term 'cruzazulear' to describe choking or losing a game when victory was almost assured.

1997: Won Last League Title

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

January 2001: Establishment of La Sangre Azul

In January 2001, La Sangre Azul, Cruz Azul's official supporters' group, was established and known for creating a vibrant atmosphere at games.

2001: Cruz Azul Reaches Copa Libertadores Final

In 2001, Cruz Azul reached the Copa Libertadores final match after finishing as leader of Group 7 and defeating Cerro Porteño in the round of 16.

2001: Copa Libertadores Final

In 2001, Cruz Azul reached the final of the Copa Libertadores, the first CONCACAF team to do so, but lost to Boca Juniors on penalties.

2001: Invitation to Copa Libertadores Qualifying Tournament

In 2001, Cruz Azul was invited to a tournament between select Mexican and Venezuelan teams to compete for a spot in the Copa Libertadores.

2003: Reserve team in the Primera División "A"

In 2003, the reserve team continues to play in the Primera División "A".

2004: Establishment of Las Celestes Cheerleading Club

In 2004, Cruz Azul officially included its own cheerleading club, known as Las Celestes, who performed pre-match and during halftime, becoming a valued tradition.

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 session. A ransom of $500,000 was demanded. Assistant coach Isaac Mizrahi managed the team during Romano's absence.

2005: Mizrahi Offered Manager Position

In 2005, during Romano's captivity, Cruz Azul decided not to renew Romano's contract and offered the manager position to Isaac Mizrahi, who accepted the offer.

2006: Reserve team in the Primera División "A"

In 2006, the reserve team returns to play in the Primera División "A".

2006: Reserve team played in the Segunda División

In 2006, the reserve team started playing in the Segunda División.

2008: Apertura 2008 Season Finish

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

2008: 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Qualification

In 2008, Cruz Azul qualified for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League and reached the final, losing to Atlante on aggregate.

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: Apertura 2009 Season and Finals Loss

In 2009, Cruz Azul finished second in the Apertura season with 33 points, with Emanuel Villa as the top scorer. They lost the final to Monterrey 6-4 on aggregate, failing to win a league final for the third consecutive time.

2009: Worst Tournament in Club History

In 2009, during the Clausura, Cruz Azul had their worst tournament in club history, finishing in last place with only 2 wins and 13 points. Benjamín Galindo was sacked and replaced by Robert Siboldi.

2010: Loss in CONCACAF Champions League Final

In 2010, Cruz Azul lost to Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions League final by away goals rule, missing the opportunity to participate in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

April 2012: Name Change

In April 2012, Cruz Azul changed their official name to Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C.

2013: Rematch of the Clausura 2013

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

2013: Won Copa MX since 2013

Cruz Azul winning a trophy in the tournament since 2013.

2013: Copa MX Win and Liga MX Final Loss

In 2013, Cruz Azul won the Copa MX against Atlante but lost the Liga MX final against Club América after a miraculous comeback by América.

2013: The rise of "cruzazulear"

Sometime in 2013, the term "cruzazulear," meaning to lose a game after victory is practically assured, began to describe Cruz Azul losing matches in a specific manner.

April 23, 2014: Won CONCACAF Championship

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

2014: Fails to Qualify for Liguilla Playoffs

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

2014: Reserve team in the Primera División "A"

In 2014, the reserve team continues to play in the Primera División "A".

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 Club Support

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

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

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

2015: Reserve team stopped playing in the Segunda División

In 2015, the reserve team stopped playing in the Segunda División.

November 2017: Paco Jémez's Contract Not Renewed

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

2017: Return to Estadio Azteca

In 2017, Cruz Azul returned to Estadio Azteca following the conclusion of the 2017–18 Liga MX season, marking the end of their time at Estadio Azul.

May 2018: Ricardo Peláez Replaces Eduardo de la Torre

On 7 May 2018, Cruz Azul announced that Eduardo de la Torre's contract as director of football had ended and he would be replaced by Ricardo Peláez.

December 2018: Lost Apertura 2018 Final

In December 2018, Cruz Azul lost the Apertura final to América 2-0, extending their 21-year championship drought.

2018: Won Copa MX Final

Cruz Azul faced Monterrey in the Apertura 2018 Copa MX Final on October 31, winning 2-0 and earning 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 stopped playing in the Segunda División/Liga Premier

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

2019: Tying León's record of effectiveness

Cruz Azul remained unbeaten, finishing with an 80% effectiveness rate that also tied León's record from 2019.

2019: Tying León's Liga MX Record

The team had secured a 12-match winning streak, tying the Liga MX record set by León in the Clausura 2019.

May 2020: Guillermo Alvarez Indicted on Fraud Charges

In May 2020, Guillermo Alvarez Cuevas, then president of Cruz Azul, was indicted by Mexican authorities on multiple accounts of insurance fraud, racketeering, extortion, tax evasion, and money laundering.

August 2020: Álvarez Resigns as President

In August 2020, Guillermo Alvarez resigned from his position as president of Cruz Azul after 32 years.

December 6, 2020: Lost Semi-Final Leg Against UNAM

On December 6, 2020, Cruz Azul lost the second semi-final leg against UNAM 0-4 despite having a 4-0 lead, tying on aggregate and being eliminated due to UNAM's higher standing.

2020: Disappointing End to 2020

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

2020: "Cruzazulear" Recognized by Royal Spanish Academy

In 2020, the term "cruzazulear" was officially recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy.

May 2021: Cruz Azul Wins 9th League Title

In May 2021, Cruz Azul ended its 23-year Primera División championship drought by beating Santos Laguna 2-1 on aggregate, earning its ninth league title.

May 30, 2021: End of Title Drought and Breaking the 'Cruz Azul Curse'

On May 30, 2021, Cruz Azul broke their title drought by winning the Guardianes 2021 final match against Santos Laguna, scoring 2–1 and ending the infamous 'Cruz Azul curse'.

June 2, 2021: Alvarez Remains at Large

As of June 2, 2021, Guillermo Alvarez remained at large, with Interpol searching for him in 195 countries.

2021: Crest Modification to Celebrate Ninth Liga MX Title

In 2021, Cruz Azul modified its crest to celebrate winning its ninth Liga MX title, adding a ninth star around the emblem after a 23-year drought. The iconic blue cross remained unchanged at the center.

2021: Ninth League Title at Estadio Azteca

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

2021: Juan Reynoso Appointed Head Coach

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

2021: Fan Base Ranking

In 2021, a survey placed Cruz Azul as the 3rd largest fan base in Mexico, with approximately 14 million supporters.

2021: First Leg of the Guardianes 2021 Final

In 2021, the first leg of the Guardianes 2021 final saw Cruz Azul secure a 1-0 lead against Santos Laguna with a goal from Luis Romo.

2021: Reserve team played in the Liga Premier

In 2021, the reserve team stopped playing in the Liga Premier.

December 2023: Martín Anselmi Appointed as Head Coach

In December 2023, Martín Anselmi was appointed as the head coach of Cruz Azul following the departure of Joaquín Moreno.

2024: Anselmi Secured a 2nd-place Finish

Before the start of the Clausura 2024, Anselmi oversaw the signings of key players, raising expectations for the team's performance, securing a 2nd-place finish in the regular season with 33 points.

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 secured a draw against Tigres UANL with a late goal, breaking the league record for most points in a short tournament with 42 points.

2025: Cruz Azul to play at Estadio Olímpico Universitario and Coach leaves abruptly

In 2025, Cruz Azul announced they would play home games at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Head coach Martín Anselmi also left to coach FC Porto without informing the club, leading to potential legal action.