Who is Cruz Azul? | Leagues Cup

Up next in Charlotte FC’s Leagues Cup journey is a clash with Mexican giant Cruz Azul. The Mexico City club is considered the third largest in the country based on their following behind only Club América and C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas). One of Mexico's most illustrious football clubs, they’ve left an indelible mark on the country's soccer landscape since the club’s inception in 1927.

Read on for a quick rundown on the remarkable history of Cruz Azul so that you can be the smart friend at your watch party come match day.

Early Days and Foundation

Cruz Azul was founded on March 22, 1927, under the name of Club Deportivo Cruz Azul AC. The team originated as a social and sports club, with a main focus on athletics, but soon delved into football. Between 1932 and 1943, Cemento Cruz Azul achieved an astounding feat by securing 15 consecutive league titles in the amateur league of Hidalgo state.

Additionally, the club proudly represented Hidalgo on 8 different occasions in national amateur tournaments. During the period spanning from the mid-1930s to the late 1940s, Cruz Azul frequently journeyed to Mexico City to face off against the reserve teams of notable clubs like Atlante, Necaxa, Marte, and R.C. España, achieving remarkable success at Parque Necaxa. As a result of their impressive performances, Cruz Azul garnered a devoted and sizable fan base in both Hidalgo and Mexico City heading into the 1950s.

Over the following decade, Cruz Azul dedicated their efforts to establish the groundwork for achieving professional status. Their hard work paid off during the 1961-62 season when the club secured official registration to participate in the nation's second-tier professional league, officially marking the beginning of their professional journey.

Golden Era and Rise to Prominence

The club's defining moment came in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they achieved remarkable success under the leadership of legendary coach Raúl Cárdenas. Cruz Azul won their first Primera División title in 1969-70, marking the beginning of a golden era. They secured back-to-back league championships in 1971-72 and 1972-73, firmly establishing themselves as a powerhouse in Mexican football.

Cruz Azul's success was not confined to domestic competitions as the club found consistent success in the Concacaf Champions Cup, which was renamed Concacaf Champions League before reverting back to the original name this year. They lifted the trophy on six occasions in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, and 2014.

Modern Day

In recent times, Cruz Azul has gradually returned to the spotlight. Most significantly, they earned the title of Campeón del Clausura de México in their impressive 2020/21 campaign and reached a Concacaf Champions League semifinal appearance just last year. They also notably won the first version of Leagues Cup in 2019, then an eight-team single elimination tournament with four teams from both MLS and Liga MX.

As of the time of writing, Cruz Azul finds themselves in last place early in the Liga MX season, but it’s not down to lack of quality. Individually they are a talented team that is still learning to play with each other after some roster turnover and new arrivals and have only had three matches to do so before the Liga MX paused to participate in Leagues Cup.

Cruz Azul's journey in Mexican football has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with triumphs in their golden era but disappointments domestically in the modern era. The club’s legacy and status as top tier in Liga MX, though, remain undisputed. Eliminating this historic club on Thursday night in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 would be a landmark victory in Charlotte FC’s young history.