Copa MX 2003
The Cement Machine of Mexican Football
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 1971. 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.
Quick Facts
- Result
- Champions (2nd Title)
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. 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, and later the first club worldwide—and one of only five—to have won the continental treble twice.
Reader's Guide
Cruz Azul competes in Liga MX and plays home matches at Estadio Azteca. 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), and the first team from CONCACAF to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who managed the team to this title?
Raúl Arias steered the Celestes through a tough tournament to win their maiden trophy. His leadership emphasized tactical discipline needed to master knockout competition formats.
Which opponent did Cruz Azul defeat in the final?
The Celestes beat Monterrey to claim historic glory and secure the championship. This result highlighted the squad's depth against a strong rival side.
Who was a key player during this tournament?
Javier Lozano played a crucial role in helping the team navigate the competition successfully. His performance underscored the quality of talent available within the squad.
What context surrounds this specific win?
This triumph arrived just before major league reforms reshaped the landscape of Mexican football. It proved that Cruz Azul had the ability to succeed even without weekly dominance in league standings.
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