Club Universidad Nacional

UNAM
Full name Club de Fútbol Universidad Nacional A. C.
Nickname(s) Los Pumas (The Cougars)
La Universidad (The University)
La Banda del Pedregal (The Pedregal Gang)
Founded August 28, 1954 (1954-08-28)
Ground Estadio Olímpico Universitario
Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico
Ground Capacity 58,155
Owner UNAM
Chairman Rodrigo Ares de Parga
Manager Francisco Palencia
League Liga MX
Clausura 2016 10th
Website Club home page

Club de Fútbol Universidad Nacional A. C., commonly known as Pumas de la UNAM, Pumas UNAM ,U.N.A.M., or just as Pumas, is a Mexican league football club based in Ciudad Universitaria. Club Universidad Nacional represents the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and plays their home matches at Olímpico Universitario Stadium, located on UNAM's main campus.

Universidad Nacional is one of the most popular clubs in Mexico. They have won seven Primera División championships and four international titles. The team is also known for their youth development system which has produced international players such as Hugo Sánchez, Manuel Negrete, Luis Flores, Claudio Suárez, Luis García, Alberto García Aspe, David Patiño, Jorge Campos, Gerardo Torrado, Efraín Juárez, Héctor Moreno, and Pablo Barrera.

Los Pumas

Club Universidad Nacional was originally an amateur club of college students from the University's several schools and then developed into a professional team competing in the Mexican football league. UNAM have evolved into one of the most popular Mexican teams and have gained an international following.

The team's blue and gold colors were selected as a tribute to the University of Notre Dame, whose football coaches helped to develop an American-style football team at the university. The nickname was inspired by Roberto 'Tapatio' Mendez, who coached the team from 1946–64 and whose motivational speeches often compared his players to pumas. The nickname stayed with the public, and all the athletic teams representing the University have been called Pumas.

Their home ground is the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, the setting for the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. It has a seating capacity of over 58,000. Olympic Academic Stadium is situated within the University campus which enables easy access by the University students. The Pumas have training facilities within the University campus but their main complex is the Cantera, located near the University.

History

The dean of the University, Luis Chico Goerne, made the first attempt to affiliate a representative of UNAM to the top football Mexican championship of the day, by filing a petition to join the Liga Mayor de Fútbol Professional del Distrito Federal. The petition was rejected in favor of Club Marte de Morelos.

By the 1940s, the dean Gustavo Baz Prada assigned the task to prepare the UNAM representative to Rodolfo "Butch" Muñoz, then player of Club España. The new manager formed its new team with members of the student body of the many schools and faculties of the university. The UNAM representative joined many university tournaments, with successful results, and "Butch" Muñoz went on to manage the team for 13 years. This prepared the team to complete their later transition to professional status.

Establishment: 1950s

In August 1954, the Club Universidad was accepted as a member of the Segunda División, in those days the second tier division of professional football in Mexico. This achievement was accomplished with the support of the dean Nabor Carrillo and Guillermo Aguilar Alvarez Sr., a benefactor of the club. Aguilar Alvarez was appointed by the dean as the chairman of the club.

On September 12, 1954 UNAM played its first professional game, an away match against Monterrey. After competing for three years, Club Universidad requested a one-year moratorium in its competing in Segunda División play to undergo a programme rebuilding process. Within that year this was accomplished. Hector Ortiz was appointed as the new manager of the club, and a Board of Patrons was formed.

The promotion: 1960s

UNAM realized its objective of promotion from Segunda División to Primera División when Club Universidad won the home-played promotion match on January 9, 1962 by defeating Club Cataluña de Torreón, 9–1. The match ended, the students rushed the pitch, and honored its team by carrying them off the field on their shoulders—this was the first step towards the consolidation of the club.

The following day, dean Ignacio Chávez Sánchez congratulated the team when he met with them: Octavio Vial (manager), and players: Homero Villar, Raúl Chanes, José Antonio "La Espátula" Rodríguez, Rafael Ramirez Jimenez, Alfredo Echávarri, José Ruiz, Carlos Gutierrez, Alfredo "Tito" Zenteno, José Luis "El Chango" Ledezma, Antonio Sámano, Jorge Gaitán, Guillermo Vázquez Sr., José Luis González "La Calaca", Lorenzo Garcia, Carlos Calderón de la Barca, Manuel "Manolo" Rodríguez, Edmundo "El Poli" Pérez, and Gustavo "El Gato" Cuenca.

The team established itself in the Primera División, the Board of Patrons prepared for the continuation of the team's success by establishing youth system to develop new players.

The legend begins: 1970s

After two years under the management of Alfonso "El Pescado" Portugal, the Spaniard Ángel Zubieta took the reins of the team. This enabled the program to identify "foreign" reinforcements, but rely on promoting from the youth system.

The first half of the decade was marked by the arrival of three of the most important foreign players in the existence of the club; the Peruvian Juan José Muñante, the Serbian Velibor "Bora" Milutinović, and the Brazilian Cabinho. They arrived to join a solid base of native-players such as Miguel Mejía Barón, Héctor Sanabria, Arturo Vázquez Ayala, José Luis "Pareja" López, and Leonardo Cuellar. In the second half of the decade those same players would give the club its first titles in the top division.

In 1975 the club adopted a new administration consisting of an independent civil association that helped the University to support the club. In the 1974–75 season, Universidad won the Copa México and the Campeón de Campeones. In the 1976–77 season, Club Universidad became league champion for the first time in its history. That championship was followed by two sub championships. The culmination of a successful decade for Club Universidad came with the debut of Hugo Sánchez.

Consolidation: 1980s

In the 1980–81 season, Universidad won its second league championship. That season was also the last season Hugo Sánchez played for the club. In the following season, the Pumas won the CONCACAF Championship and the Interamerican Cup.

This decade also marked the national recognition of the work performed by the club, and the revolutionary and dynamic style of play that helped Mexican football overall. For the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the Mexican Football Federation appointed the manager of Universidad, Velibor "Bora" Milutinović as the manager of the Mexico national football team. Milutinović called numerous Pumas and former Pumas to the nation team, including Hugo Sánchez, Félix Cruz Barbosa, Rafael Amador, Raúl Servín, Miguel España, Manuel Negrete and Luis Flores. This generation of players gave great satisfactions not only to the followers of Pumas, but also to the Mexican football fans.

Ups and downs: 1990s

This decade began with one of the most celebrated championships in club history, the 1990–91 League Championship against arch-rivals Club América. A new generation of players arrived, including Luis García, Jorge Campos, Claudio Suárez, Antonio Sancho, Israel López, Braulio Luna, Rafael García, Jaime Lozano, and Gerardo Torrado. This decade is, however, considered as one of the least successful in terms of championships and development of players. Towards the end of the decade, Hugo Sánchez became manager of the club for the first time.

Success: 2000s

In 2004, Sánchez led the Pumas to their first championship in thirteen years. The Pumas were able to retain the championship later that year, becoming the first team since the Mexican league was split into two seasons to win back-to-back championships. As of summer 2012, they remain the only team to achieve this feat. Along with two domestic titles, the Pumas were also able to win both the Campeon de Campeones.

In 2005, the Pumas reached the Copa Sudamericana final, where they lost to Boca Juniors in a penalty shoot out when Roberto Abbondanzieri controversially stopped a penalty after having been forgiven a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty box denying a Pumas player a clear chance on goal. Domestically, the Pumas struggled after their 2004 success and, by 2006, were facing the threat of relegation. Ricardo Ferretti was appointed as manager that year in an effort to lead Pumas away from the relegation zone. The stability and discipline that Ferretti brought to the team paid off as the Pumas climbed out of the relegation zone and reached a final in 2007 against Atlante, which they lost 2–1 on aggregate. In 2009, Ferretti once again led the Pumas to a final, this time being victorious against Pachuca in extra time to claim the team's sixth championship. In 2011, Pumas became champions of Clausura 2011 tournament, winning their seventh championship against Monarcas Morelia.

Rivalries

Universidad Nacional fans in a match against América

Universidad has strong rivalries with América and Cruz Azul. These games are passionate and followed by the whole city. There is also a more recent rivalry with Guadalajara.

Clásico Capitalino

The rivalry with América, compared to the others, is quite old and began during the 1960s, when Universidad won its promotion. The mere fact that both clubs are located in Mexico City generated the right atmosphere to see a rivalry born and grow. A few years later América bought UNAM idol Enrique Borja, even though the player had made a public statement that he did not want to be sold to América. In the 1980s the rivalry grew when América defeated Universidad twice in the league finals, both times with controversial refereeing decisions. The 1990s began with a "victory" of the Pumas over their rivals in the league finals, although it was actually a tie; the first leg was lost 3–2, and only the second leg was a 1–0 win. The aggregate score was 3–3, but UNAM scored two goals as the visiting team, giving them the edge. A new generation of players from the youth system grew up hating their adversaries; this decade is also marked by the birth of Las Barras Bravas, who supported both sides but had a much longer background story of rivalry. This rivalry is often referred to as the most violent of Mexico, with security measures exceeding those of any other game.

UNAM vs. Cruz Azul

The rivalry with Cruz Azul comes out of the fact that both clubs are located in Mexico City, and they have played many important matches, including two league finals.

Clásico Universitario

The only major encounter these two clubs have had with each other was in the 1977 final. UNAM beat Leones Negros to achieve their first title.

Historic badges

Past kits

First kit evolution
1941
1943
1950
1953
1953
1960
1960
1975
1980

Honours

Domestic tournaments

1976–77, 1980–81, 1990–91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011
1961–62
1974–75
1975, 2004

International tournaments

1980, 1982, 1989
1981
Runner-up: 2005

Friendly tournaments

2000
2004
National 9–0 vs UAG May 16, 1976
Apertura 2007: 8–0 vs Veracruz
Apertura 2002: 7–1 vs Guadalajara
Best International score: 8–0 vs El Salvador Isidro Metapán March 2008
CONCACAF Champions League: 6–1 vs Honduras Marathón March 2010.
CONCACAF Champions League: 8-1 vs Trinidad and Tobago W Connection October 20 2016

Players

First-team squad

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

No. Position Player
1 Mexico GK Alejandro Palacios
2 Mexico DF Josecarlos Van Rankin
3 Uruguay DF Gerardo Alcoba
4 Paraguay DF Darío Verón
6 Mexico MF Kevin Escamilla
7 Mexico MF Javier Cortés
8 Mexico MF Pablo Barrera
9 Ecuador MF Fidel Martínez
10 Spain MF Abraham González
11 Spain MF Saúl Berjón
12 Mexico DF Orlando Pineda
13 Mexico GK Alfredo Saldívar
No. Position Player
14 Mexico MF Jorge Escamilla
15 Mexico FW Eduardo Herrera
16 Mexico DF Marcelo Alatorre
17 Mexico MF Jesús Gallardo
18 Mexico DF José Antonio García
19 Mexico DF Luis Quintana
20 Uruguay FW Matías Britos
21 Mexico MF Alejandro Castro
22 United States GK Bernie Magaña
23 Mexico FW Alfonso Nieto
24 Mexico FW Santiago Palacios-Macedo
— Chile MF Bryan Rabello (on loan from Santos Laguna)

For recent transfers, see List of Mexican football transfers winter 2016–2017.

Out on loan

No. Position Player
Mexico DF Luis Fuentes (at Monterrey)
Mexico DF Alan Mendoza (at Sinaloa)
Mexico DF Neftalí Teja (at Oaxaca)
Mexico DF Franz Torres (at Celaya)
Mexico DF Érik Vera (at Necaxa)
No. Position Player
Mexico MF David Cabrera (at Morelia)
Mexico MF Fernando Espinosa (at Atlante)
Argentina MF Daniel Ludueña (on loan to Talleres)
Mexico MF José Antonio Medina (at Atlante)
Paraguay MF Silvio Torales (at Cerro Porteño)

Reserve teams

UNAM Premier
Reserve team that plays in the Segunda División in the third level of the Mexican league system.

Managers

References

    External links

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