[Emerson Thome]

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Primera Division de México Guide

The Primera Division in Mexico is the highest tier in Mexican football. It is regarded as one of the best leagues within the world, and is the only league outside of South America that is allowed to let clubs into the Copa Libertadores.

The league was founded in 1943 by 8 clubs including, Atlante, Atlas, Club America, Guadalajara and Vera Cruz. In 1950 the founder clubs changed the league's name from Liga Mayor to La Primera Division and also added The La Segunda Division.

Today in the Primera Division 18 teams are separated into 3 groups, with the top teams from each group qualifying for a playoff phase called the Liguilla. The playoff phase starts with 8 teams and is played in the format of a two legged aggregate score, in the same style to the quarter and semi finals of the Champions League.

In 1996 the league was split into 2 championships. This was done so that they generated revenues to finance the lower league clubs. The league runs 2 competitions per year called apetura and clausura. The apetura opens from August to December and the clausura closes from January to March. At the end of both tournaments 1 club gets relegated to the lower division and 1 club gets promoted.

Records

Guadalajara have won the most championships in Mexico with 11 titles, Club America with 10 and 2 other clubs on 8. Brazilian Evanivaldo Castro also knows as 'Cabinho' is the top scorer of the Mexican league with a total of 312 goals, He also won 8 top scorer titles 4 with Pumas and 4 with Atlante.

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Club America:

Club America have one of the biggest successes in Mexico, Only Guadalajara have better. They have won 5 Mexican Cups and 5 Super Cups. Internationally they have also won the CONCACAF Champions Cup 5 times the same amount as Cruz Azul. Club America's biggest rivals are Guadalajara with the derby being called "El Classico" With America coming out on top 72 times and losing 61 with a mass of 65 draws.

Year Founded: 1914
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Fierce Rivals: Chivas, Pumas
Other Rivals: Cruz Azul, Toluca
Finances: Secure
Estimated Value: £17.25m
Stadium: Estadio Azteca (104,500)
Training Facilities: Top facilities
Youth Facilities: Good facilities & Youth academy
Media Prediction: 1st
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

America are one of the biggest teams in Mexico, as fore mentioned. Their fans and boardroom are very demanding because of their high profile. They have quality though, but you will need to be an experienced manager to carry them to glory. Club America have some hot prospects in there squad including wonderkid Guillermo Ochoa, with other notable players such as Duilio Davino and Lucas Castroman. I would say pick them if you are up for a semi challenging game.

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Atlante:

Atlante are billed as the underdogs of the league. With the club winning the league 5 times they are no strangers to the rest of the league. Atlante did play there home games at the Azteca but in august 2007 moved to there new stadium Quintana Roo which holds a capacity of 22,000 seats. They have also debuted 46 players since 1997, which shows how effective there youth department is and am sure there will be many more to come.

Year Founded: 1911
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Club America, Cruz Azul
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £11.25m
Stadium: Estadio Cancun (20,000)
Training Facilities: Top training facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 13th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Atlante are the sleeping giants of the Primera Division and it will take a qualified manager to make them succeed, although the signings you make will need to be 100% for them to have a decent shout of winning the league in the 1st season. The Chairman expects you to be around the top of the table come the end of the season, so if you’re not up for the challenge give this one a miss.

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Atlas:

Atlas are one of three clubs that play in the second largest city in Mexico, Guadalajara. Atlas have only won 1 championship in the Primera Division but are highly known for there youth development. The club has developed national players such as, Borgetti, Marquez and Guardado. At the start of 2007 most of the teams within the Primera Division have at least one player who began there careers at atlas, which shows they have an excellent youth academy.

Year Founded: 1912
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the Club
Fierce Rivals: Chivas
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £9m
Stadium: Estadio Jalisco (65,000)
Training Facilities: Top training facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 5th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

The atlas chairman expects you to finish in a safe mid-table position, although a lot of more experienced managers could achieve much higher than mid-table. With players like Chilean striker Reinaldo Navia you will need to buy a forward to partner him and score lots of goals to help you lift the trophy and strike a formidable partnership.

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Guadalajara:

Guadalajara are the only club within Mexico’s history to only use players born in Mexico. Chivas are one of the most well known sides in Mexico, the other being Club America. They have had the most success in Mexican football history, In 2006 Chivas won there 11th league title, the most in Mexican football, 1 more than rivals Club America. Chivas popularity in the United States has led to the creation of an mls expansion club by the name of Chivas USA.

Year Founded: 1906
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: Club America, Atlas
Other Rivals: Pumas, Oro
Finances: Secure
Estimated Value: £16m
Stadium: Jalisco (65,000)
Training Facilities: Good Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 2nd
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

The second favorites of the league have some real gems of players, Players like Omar Esparza, Gonzalo Pineda, Omar Bravo, Bofo Bautista together with youngsters in Araujo and Avila you have a strong team. I suggest you playing a 4-5-1 formation so your wingers can use there abilities, also buying a decent centre midfielder to partner Sol in midfield.

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Cruz Azul:

Club Deportivo Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, also better known as Cruz Azul, Are a very popular Mexican professional football club. Azul are one of the biggest clubs in Mexico and one of the most successful, they have won 8 titles and the CONCACAF 5 times. With players like Cesar Delgado and Cesar Villaluz in the team they are always considered a massive threat upfront.

Year Founded: 1960
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Club America, Pumas, Chivas
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £13.75m
Stadium: Estadio Azul (38,000)
Training Facilities: Top Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent Facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 4th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Cruz Azul are a top side in this league and could be mastered by perfection. In football manager they normally sell the best two players (Delgado and Villaluz) to top European sides but if you want to succeed with azul you will need to keep them. Delgado is a goal scoring machine and with Villaluz chipping in with an incredible amount of assists, these two players will tear up the Mexican league.

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Chiapas:

Club Jaguares de Chiapas were formed in 2002, which makes them the youngest team in the primera division. The team had a disappointing in the Clausura 2005 which led to the resignation of Jose Luis Trejo Halfway through the season. In July 2006 new manager Fernando Quirarte led them to there second ever trophy of its history after winning the Copa Chiapas by beating necaxa.

Year Founded: 2001
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £6.5m
Stadium: Estadio Raynor (15,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Basic facilities + Youth facilities
Media Prediction: 16th
Squad Average Age: 27
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

With only Bofo Bautista as you only real danger threat in the squad Chiapas would be a very intense challenge. With only a small budget to improve the side you will need to be an intelligent type manager and bring in some cheap bargains.

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Monterrey

Monterrey are an average side in the Primera Division of Mexico, They have players capable of winning games by themselves like, Humberto Suazo and Luis Ernesto Perez. Monterrey’s biggest rivals are the Unal Tigres; the rivalry is called Classico Regiomontano with tigres coming out on top with one more win than Monterrey. Estadio Technologico is the second oldest football ground in Mexico when it was built in 1950.

Year Founded: 1945
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: Tigres
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Secure
Estimated Value: £9.25m
Stadium: Estadio Technologico (40,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 14th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Professional

Fm Verdict:

With players like Suazo and Perez you need to involve the midfield and forward lines around these two players. I suggest finding a gem of a defender to hold the team together and you could give a good fight to the rest of the league.

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Morelia:

Morelia was founded on November 10 with "the Gold" name and later the one of Gold Morelia this is why there 1st and 2nd strip are both gold. Morelia had never won a division tournament until winter 2000, when the club lifted the cup after beating the Toluca in a penalty kick shootout.

Year Founded: 1938
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Club America
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £9.75m
Stadium: Estadio Morelos (35,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth academy
Media Prediction: 11th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Morelia had some very strong players in there team until 2007 when they decided to sell some of the biggest asset’s, with letting Luis Rey and Rafael Lugo leave for Pachuca the only main threat they have at the club now is Ever Guzman. Because of this, Morelia cannot be seen as a team which could top the table, and they are more likely to be flirting with relagation come the end of the season.

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Necaxa:

Necaxa are a Mexican premiera club and have won the league title a total of 3 times, They also finished 3rd place finish in the 2000 FIFA world championship and is the highest finish by any Mexican club team. Necaxa went 50 years without a single championship and like Chelsea they then went on to win two consecutively.

Year Founded: 1911
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Club America
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.5m
Stadium: Estadio Victoria (25,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth academy
Media Prediction: 17th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Necaxa are a team capable of winning the league convincingly with players in recent new signing Hugo Rodallega and defender Luis Hernandez. With the boardroom not giving you a decent amount of money they don’t really expect a worthwhile finish although with some little tweaking with the side you could surprise them big time.

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Pachuca:

Pachuca are the oldest club in Mexican football and over the past decade have been one of the most successful clubs in the country, winning 5 league championships, 2 CONCACAF champions cups, the 2007 superliga and became the 1st Mexican team to win the Copa Sudamericana.

Year Founded: 1899
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £9.5m
Stadium: Estadio Hidalgo (24,000)
Training Facilities: Top Facilities
Youth Facilities: Excellent facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 3rd
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Very Determined

Fm Verdict:

Pachuca are a successful team in Mexico and the board expect you to carry on this tradition. With players in Luis Gabriel Rey and defender Julio Manzur it’s not the most difficult of challenges. Pachuca also have some brilliant prospects in there side including young goalkeeper Alfonso Blanco. With these sort of players helping you I suggest trying to sign a few players including Miguel Torren, Ronald Raldes and Marcus Aguirre.

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Puebla:

Puebla are the newest collection to the Primera Division of Mexico after getting promoted for the 2nd division in May 2007. The club has won 2 league titles in there history, but are no danger to any other clubs in the league nowadays; although they have helped a lot of players further there career including Ecuador striker Ivan Kaviedas and his national team-mate Juan Arango.

Year Founded: 1944
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.25m
Stadium: Estadio Cuauhtémoc (46,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Adequate facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 15th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Professional

Fm Verdict:

Puebla have a brilliant assembled side that are capable of climbing the league further than the expected 15th position. With players like defenders Jaime Duran and Walter Vilchez these two players will lead the defence for the team, in the midfield you have playmakers like left winger Mateo Figoli and his midfield companion Damian Zamogilny. You also have two forwards in Jair Garcia and Mario Ortiz and with these players mentioned I feel that you could surprise the board and achieve a much higher position come the end of the season.

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Pumas:

Pumas are a Mexican professional football club and one of the most popular in the country. Throughout the years Pumas have always produced young quality players that have been an important part of Mexico's National side such as Borja, Sanchez, Saurez, Aspe, and Campos plus a lot more national idols have played for there national side.

Year Founded: 1952
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: Club America
Other Rivals: Chivas, Cruz Azul, Atlante
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £23m
Stadium: Estadio Mexico 68 (72,000)
Training Facilities: Top facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 7th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Although pumas are one of the best sides in the league you will need to buy a few players to make them climb as they do not have a danger man within the side. With the club winning the Clausura and Apertura in 2004 the boardroom expect you to bring some more silverware to the club but the challenge is hard and you need to be a superb manager to achieve glory with pumas.

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San Luis:

San Luis have been up and down the leagues in the past decade after getting promotion in 2000 to the primera division they then got relegated two years later, but they wasn’t in the 2nd division for much long as one year later they returned to the top flight under successful manager Carlos Reinoso, which is where they ply there trade in 2007.

Year Founded: 1970
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Enjoying Life
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £6m
Stadium: Estadio Lastras (22,000)
Training Facilities: Average facilities
Youth Facilities: Adequate facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 9th
Squad Average Age: 27
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

The San Luis boardroom expects you to become an established team in the Primera Division but you will need to buy some decent players to achieve this success. With only 500k to spend on some decent players, I suggest selling some players and bring in some decent replacements like Francisco Rueda and young argentine goalkeeper Jonathan Robles to keep the chairman happy.

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Santos Laguna:

Santos Laguna also known as Santos are one of the youngest clubs in Mexico after they were formed in 1983. The club made its debut in the top flight in the 1998/99 tournament. They have also won the league championship twice, Firstly in 1996 and secondly in 2001. The club has also just won the 2007 Apertura after finishing 6 points in front of 2nd place team Toluca.

Year Founded: 1983
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Tigres
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £7.75m
Stadium: Estadio Corona (17,000)
Training Facilities: Average facilities
Youth Facilities: Adequate facilities + Youth academy
Media Prediction: 10th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Professional

Fm Verdict:

After bringing in players like Mexican shot stopper Oswaldo Sanchez, Johnny Garcia and argentine forward Matias Vuoso the club have some strong players in the squad. With the chairman expecting you to establish the club in the Primera Division within 2 season its not much of a hard challenge with the players you have, I would expect a top 5 finish.

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Tecos:

Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara usually know as Tecos are one of three top flight clubs that play there football in Guadalajara, The club have only won the championship once back in 1993 they also won the CONCACAF cup two years later. Tecos came close to a second league trophy but lost out to Club America in 2005.

Year Founded: 1961
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £4.6m
Stadium: Estadio Galeria (31,000)
Training Facilities: Top facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 8th
Squad Average Age: 27
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Tecos are tipped to be in the top half of the table at the end of the season and with the players they have and with spending some money on some back up players you may be surprised. The defence are quite old although there all very good players. In the attack department you have a brilliant young Uruguayan attacking winger in Walter Lopez that will assist your two forwards Villa and Lillinston all day long

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UANL Tigres:

Tigres are one of the biggest successes in Mexican Football history; they have won two league titles, two Interliga Championships, two Mexican Cup Trophies and one World Series of Football Championship. There biggest and main rivals are Club Monterrey with the matches always intense. Tigres fans are said to be the most passionate fans in the country due to always helping there club through bad patches and showing major loyalty by selling out every home game.

Year Founded: 1970
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: Monterrey
Other Rivals: Club America, Santos Laguna
Finances: Secure
Estimated Value: £12m
Stadium: Estadio Leon (40,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 27
Squad Personality: Ambitious

Fm Verdict:

Tigres have a title winning squad with players like the Mexican goal scoring machine Kikin Fonseca and left back Jaime Lozano. Fonseca will easily get you from between 20 – 30 goals each season. With 4.6m to spend on some brilliant midfielders to feed Fonseca, and the boardrooms expectation of finishing 6th I believe it will be easy to make them happy.

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Toluca:

Toluca have been league champions a total of eight times in the clubs history, which they won the Verano three seasons on the bounce. In 2007 the club had a disastrous season when they finished 13th in the league but in the Copa Libertadores they made it too the final 16 but were defeated by Columbian side Cucuta, This led manager Gallego to leave his post at the club and Jose Pekermen decide to take the reigns at Toluca.

Year Founded: 1933
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Club America, Atlas
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £8.25m
Stadium: Estadio Diez (30,000)
Training Facilities: Good facilities
Youth Facilities: Average facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 12th
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Determined

Fm Verdict:

Toluca could be a surprise package in the league; with a decent defence and forward line I would suggest re-developing your midfield with better players. With only 2.3m to spend on your midfield you will need to spend wisely on players such as Balazs Dzsudzsak and Javi Flores to maybe help your forwards get into there goal scoring habits.

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Vera Cruz:

Vera Cruz are the underdogs of the Mexican League and are tipped to be relagated come the end of the season. Vera Cruz have only won two league championships and one Mexican Cup but this was during the late 40’s. The clubs nickname is tiburones rojos which means red sharks.

Year Founded: 1943
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Publa, Club America
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £8.25m
Stadium: Estadio Fuente (38,000)
Training Facilities: Average facilities
Youth Facilities: Adequate facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 18th
Squad Average Age: 27
[b]Squad Personality: Ambitious

[b]Fm Verdict:

Vera Cruz are relagation candidates with the squad they have and with not getting a lot of money from the board it will take a serious and determined manager to take them forward. The main players in the side are Brazilian midfielder Irenio and Veteran defender Manuel Vidrio although you could snap up some decent freebies and some cheap players you might just sneak up a few positions and make the board proud.



League Guide by Osgood_9

YTS At Fm-View

Thanks to Derek for His Logo's

[SΣΛИ]

Class guide there mate :thup:

Put a hell of a lot of work into it :)

:fb:

[That Guy?]

Have read most of it, that's a lot to read, very informative and a great article.

I should probably try a Mexican team sometime but i just never get into those sort of games.

[Zabier]

Osgood's guide is proof that FM View has some of the most talented up and coming writers on the Scene. Great work with this guide buddy. You make us so proud to have you with us! :D

[Rob]

Quality guide, only the odd gramatical error and you don't try and over-do it either.