The 1970s Dominance
The Cement Machine: A legacy of working-class grit and continental glory.
Club de Futbol Cruz Azul S.A. de C.V., commonly known as Cruz Azul, is a Mexican professional football club based in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football, and plays its home matches at Estadio Azteca. Founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, as Club Deportivo, Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, A.C., the club relocated to Mexico City in 1970. It was renamed Cruz Azul Fútbol Club, A.C. in 2012, before adopting its current name in 2022. Cruz Azul are one of only seven Mexican clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight.
- Key Achievement
- First Mexican club to win the Copa Interamericana (vs. Club Nacional de Football, Uruguay, 1971)
Lore & Background
Cruz Azul was founded in the late 1920s in Jasso, Hidalgo, where cement company Cooperativa La Cruz Azul fostered a connection with football. Carlos Garcés López, a footballer, athlete and dentist employed by the cooperative, advocated for football to become the company's official sport. After a referendum on 22 March 1927, football was selected, and the team was formally established on 22 May 1927, with Garcés López as its first manager. Between 1932 and 1943, Cruz Azul won 15 consecutive league titles in a local amateur league in the state of Hidalgo. The club achieved a continental treble in the 1968–69 season by winning the Primera División, Copa México and CONCACAF Champions' Cup, becoming the first CONCACAF club and third worldwide to accomplish this feat. While Cruz Azul later won a second continental treble, claims of being the first club worldwide or one of only five to do so are not supported by established football history.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights at Estadio Azul hummed against the night sky as the final whistle approached, sealing another historic victory. The crowd roared in unison, their blue scarves waving like a tidal wave of hope and pride. On the pitch, the players embraced, knowing they had just added another chapter to the legend of the 1970s—a time when Cruz Azul was not just playing football, but rewriting destiny.
Reader's Guide
Cruz Azul plays its home matches at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football. Domestically, the club has won ten league titles, four Copa MX, four Campeón de Campeones, and holds the joint-record with one Supercopa de la Liga MX and one Supercopa MX. In international competitions, with seven titles, the club holds the joint-record for the most successful club in the history of the CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League. Cruz Azul also holds the distinction of being the club with the most league runner-up finishes (12).
Did You Know?
- Cruz Azul is one of only seven Mexican clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight.
- The club was the first team from CONCACAF to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
- The club maintains a long-standing rivalry with América, a fixture commonly known as the Clásico Joven.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the 1970s Dominance era?
This period transformed the club from an industrial outfit into Mexico's first true international powerhouse through consistent domestic success. It established the Celestes as a team capable of competing with any giant in Latin America during that decade.
Who was the key manager behind this success?
Uruguayan coach Ubaldo Fillol served as the visionary leader who built the squad's tactical foundation and winning mentality. His guidance was instrumental in securing multiple Liga MX championships throughout the 1970s.
What major international trophy did Cruz Azul win then?
The club made history by becoming the first Mexican team to win a major continental trophy against South American opposition in the Copa Interamericana. They defeated Argentina's Independiente, proving their status as champions of the Americas.
Which domestic titles characterize this dominance?
Cruz Azul dominated Mexican football with multiple Liga MX Championships, including notable victories in 1969-70 and 1973-74. This level of consistency was unprecedented for the club at that time.
Why is this era significant to the club's identity?
It defined the club's identity as the 'Blue' team that could compete with any giant in Latin America. This period created a lasting culture of excellence that remains central to the fanbase today.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Cruz Azul universe
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