Full name | Club Universidad Nacional, A.C. [1] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Pumas Universitarios (Collegiates) Universidad (University) Auriazules (Gold-and-Blues) [2] Los de Pedregal (The Guys from Pedregal) [3] | |||
Founded | 2 August 1954 as Club Deportivo Universidad [4] [5] | |||
Ground | Estadio OlĂmpico Universitario | |||
Capacity | 58,445 [6] | |||
Owner | National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) | |||
Chairman | Luis RaĂșl GonzĂĄlez PĂ©rez | |||
Manager | Gustavo Lema | |||
League | Liga MX | |||
Clausura 2024 | Regular phase: 8th Final phase: Quarter-finals | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
Club Universidad Nacional, A.C., more commonly referred to as Pumas UNAM, is a professional football club based in Mexico City, Mexico. The club competes in the Liga MX, the top division in the Mexican football league system. Founded in 1954, they play their home games at Estadio OlĂmpico Universitario.
Domestically, Pumas UNAM has won 11 trophies: 7 Liga MX, 1 Copa MX, the Campeón de Campeones twice, as well as 1 Segunda División de México. In international club football, the club has won 3 CONCACAF Champions Cups [7] and 1 Copa Interamericana. [8] The club has a long-standing rivalry with Club América in the derbi capitalino. [9]
The club is one of the most popular clubs in Mexico. It is considered to be one of the Cuatro Grandes of Mexican football, alongside Cruz Azul, Guadalajara, and Club América. [10] [11]
The team is also known for its youth development system, which has produced international players such as Hugo SĂĄnchez, Manuel Negrete, Luis Flores, Miguel España, Claudio SuĂĄrez, Luis GarcĂa, Alberto GarcĂa Aspe, David Patiño, Jorge Campos, Braulio Luna, Gerardo Torrado, Francisco Fonseca, EfraĂn JuĂĄrez, HĂ©ctor Moreno, Pablo Barrera, Israel Castro, Eduardo Herrera and JesĂșs Gallardo.
Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas UNAM) was originally an amateur club of college students from UNAM's several schools and then developed into a professional team competing in the Mexican football league. It is now one of the biggest clubs in all of Mexico. It has evolved into one of the most popular Mexican teams and has 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 to 1964 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 OlĂmpico Universitario, the main venue of the 1968 Summer Olympics. It has a seating capacity of over 72,000. The stadium is situated within the campus which enables easy access by the students. The Pumas have training facilities within the campus but their main complex is the Cantera, located nearby.
The dean of the university, Luis Chico Goerne, made the first attempt to affiliate a representative of UNAM with the top football Mexican championship of the day, filing a petition to join the Liga Mayor de FĂștbol Professional del Distrito Federal. The petition was rejected in favor of Club Marte de Morelos. Therefore, Pumas played 13 years in Mexicos Liga De Ascenso.
By the 1940s, the dean Gustavo Baz Prada assigned the task to prepare the UNAM team 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 team 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 its later transition to professional status.
In August 1954, the Club Universidad was accepted as a member of the Segunda DivisiĂłn, 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 DivisiĂłn play to undergo a programme rebuilding process. Within that year, Hector Ortiz was appointed as the new manager of the club, and a Board of Patrons was formed.
Pumas UNAM realized its objective of promotion from Segunda DivisiĂłn to Primera DivisiĂłn when Club Universidad won the home-played promotion match on January 9, 1962, by defeating Club Cataluña de TorreĂłn, 9â1. The match ended, the students rushed the pitch, and honored its team by carrying them off the field on their shouldersâthis was the first step towards the consolidation of the club.
The following day, dean Ignacio ChĂĄvez SĂĄnchez congratulated the team when he met with them: Octavio Vial (manager), and players: Homero Villar, RaĂșl Chanes, JosĂ© Antonio "La EspĂĄtula" RodrĂguez, Roberto Cuevas, Rafael Ramirez Jimenez, Alfredo EchĂĄvarri, JosĂ© Ruiz, Carlos Gutierrez, Alfredo "Tito" Zenteno, JosĂ© Luis "El Chango" Ledezma, Antonio SĂĄmano, Jorge GaitĂĄn, Guillermo VĂĄzquez Sr., JosĂ© Luis GonzĂĄlez "La Calaca", Lorenzo Garcia, Carlos CalderĂłn de la Barca, Manuel "Manolo" RodrĂguez, Edmundo "El Poli" PĂ©rez, and Gustavo "El Gato" Cuenca.
The team established itself in the Primera DivisiĂłn, the Board of Patrons prepared for the continuation of the team's success by establishing youth system to develop new players.
After two years under the management of Alfonso "El Pescado" Portugal, the Spaniard Ăngel 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 JosĂ© Muñante, the Serbian Velibor "Bora" MilutinoviÄ, and the Brazilian Cabinho. They arrived to join a solid base of native-players such as Miguel MejĂa BarĂłn, HĂ©ctor Sanabria, Arturo VĂĄzquez Ayala, JosĂ© Luis "Pareja" LĂłpez, 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 1974â75 season, Universidad won the Copa MĂ©xico and the CampeĂłn de Campeones. In the 1976â77 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 SĂĄnchez. In 1978, Club Universidad would signed Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti , a player that will prove to be vital for the team in the coming decade.
In the 1980â81 season, Universidad won its second league championship. That season was also the last season Hugo SĂĄnchez 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" MilutinoviÄ as the manager of the Mexico national football team. MilutinoviÄ called numerous Pumas and former Pumas to the nation team, including Hugo SĂĄnchez, FĂ©lix Cruz Barbosa, Rafael Amador, RaĂșl ServĂn, 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.
The decade began with one of the most celebrated championships in club history, the 1990â91 League Championship against arch-rivals Club AmĂ©rica - the memorable winning goal via free kick from Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti. This will be the last game of Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti due to retirement as a professional player. A new generation of players arrived, including Luis GarcĂa, Jorge Campos, Claudio SuĂĄrez, Antonio Sancho, Israel LĂłpez, Braulio Luna, Rafael GarcĂa, Jaime Lozano, and Gerardo Torrado. This decade is, however, considered one of the least successful in terms of championships and development of players. Towards the end of the decade, Hugo SĂĄnchez became manager of the club for the first time.
In 2004, SĂĄnchez 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 2â1 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.
After hard times at the club after the sacking of Guillermo Vasquez as head coach in 2012, he was re-hired as head coach in 2014. In Apertura 2015, Pumas made it to the tournament final against Tigres U.A.N.L. Tigres won the first leg of the Final with a home win of 3â0. Then in the second leg of the final Pumas managed to tie the game on the global scoreboard at home 4â1. A penalty-shootout had to be done and Tigres won the championship 4â2 at a penalty-shootout. Thus, making Pumas unable to gain its 8th title. After the club's inability to make it to the play-offs in Clausura 2016 and failing to reach the semifinal for Copa Libertadores 2016 Guillermo Vasquez was once again sacked as head coach in May 2016.
At the end of May 2016, Pumas hired Francisco Palencia as head coach making Palencia debut as his first team to manage. Once again, in Apertura 2016 Pumas made it to the play-offs against Tigres for quarter finals. In the first leg with Pumas hosting the home game both teams tied 2-2. In the second leg Tigres hosting the home game, Tigres won 5â0. Thus, in the global scoreboard Pumas lost 7â2, and was not able to go further throughout the play-off stage.
In the Clausura 2017, Pumas had signed the Chilean forward Nicolas Castillo to give more firepower to the team's attack. He scored 8 goals the first 2 months of the season before he was injured and was out for the rest of the season. Pumas then had a great streak of games the first half of the season. Starting gaming Game 14 they lost 4 straight games and were not able to score a goal. With these results they finished in 17th place and were the worst defensive team having 30 goals against and Nicolas Castillo missing out on the top scorer award by 1 goal to Raul Ruidiaz, of Monarcas Morelia who scored 9 goals.
In the Apertura 2017, many key players were sold or loaned out the loan, such as Alejandro Palacios, and long time captain Dario Veron, all with the purpose to make room for new, young players.
In the 2020 Apertura, Pumas reached the final, losing to Club Leon on a 3-1 Aggregate with coach Andres Lillini after sacking Michel the season prior. In 2022, Pumas reached the Champions League Final, losing to Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders FC on aggregate. After a poor 2023 Apertura, Lillini was sacked and was replaced with Rafael Puente Jr. After a poor start to the 2023 Clasura, Puente Jr. was sacked on March 20, 2023, with Pumas hiring Antonio "Turco" Mohamed to replace Puente shortly after. Mohamed's time on the bench did not last long as he resigned shortly after Pumas' elimination in the semifinals of the 2023 Apertura to Tigres. [12]
Universidad has strong rivalries with Club América and Cruz Azul. These games are passionate and followed by the whole city. There is also a small but historical rivalry UNAM has with Leones Negros
The rivalry with Club AmĂ©rica, 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 Club AmĂ©rica bought Pumas UNAM idol Enrique Borja, even though the player had made a public statement that he did not want to be sold to Club AmĂ©rica. In the 1980s the rivalry grew when Club AmĂ©rica defeated Universidad twice in the league finals, both times with controversial refereeing decisions.[ citation needed] 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 3â2, and only the second leg was a 1â0 win. The aggregate score was 3â3, but Pumas 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.
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, recently the name of this game is the "ClĂĄsico Metropolitanoâ or âDerby central" because both teams were born in states that are in the central part of Mexico
Pumas UNAM and Leones Negros are old rivals. Both clubs are historical rivals due to both clubs being founded by rival universities. One major encounter these two clubs have had with each other was in the 1976-77 Primera DivisiĂłn final, when Pumas UNAM beat Leones Negros to achieve their first title. But over the years the rivalry has died down due to the Leones Negros going through a state of decline and relegated to the Segunda DivisiĂłn .
1941
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1943
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1950
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1953
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1953
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1960
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1960
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1975
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1975-1976
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1975-1976
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Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Domestic | Primera DivisiĂłn | 7 | 1976â77, 1980â81, 1990â91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011 |
Segunda DivisiĂłn | 1 | 1961â62 | |
Copa MĂ©xico | 1 | 1974â75 | |
CampeĂłn de Campeones | 2 | 1975, 2004 | |
Continental | CONCACAF Champions' Cup | 3 | 1980, 1982, 1989 |
Copa Interamericana | 1 | 1981 |
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Head coach | Gustavo Lema |
Assistant coach | Josema BazĂĄn |
Fitness coaches |
MatĂas Lema Javier Flores |
Goalkeeping coach | IvĂĄn GaytĂĄn |
Physiotherapist | José Pang |
Club doctors |
Antonio Acevedo Eduardo Acosta |
Position | Staff |
---|---|
President | Luis RaĂșl GonzĂĄlez PĂ©rez |
Vice President of Sporting | Miguel MejĂa BarĂłn |
Executive Vice President | Enrique SĂĄnchez GonzĂĄlez |
Director of Academy | RaĂșl Alpizar |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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The following players have represented their country at the World Cup whilst playing for Pumas UNAM:
Guadalajara Chivas - U.N.A.M.- Pumas 1:3 Guadalajara Chivas - U.N.A.M.- Pumas 1:2
Full name | Club Universidad Nacional, A.C. [1] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Pumas Universitarios (Collegiates) Universidad (University) Auriazules (Gold-and-Blues) [2] Los de Pedregal (The Guys from Pedregal) [3] | |||
Founded | 2 August 1954 as Club Deportivo Universidad [4] [5] | |||
Ground | Estadio OlĂmpico Universitario | |||
Capacity | 58,445 [6] | |||
Owner | National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) | |||
Chairman | Luis RaĂșl GonzĂĄlez PĂ©rez | |||
Manager | Gustavo Lema | |||
League | Liga MX | |||
Clausura 2024 | Regular phase: 8th Final phase: Quarter-finals | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
Club Universidad Nacional, A.C., more commonly referred to as Pumas UNAM, is a professional football club based in Mexico City, Mexico. The club competes in the Liga MX, the top division in the Mexican football league system. Founded in 1954, they play their home games at Estadio OlĂmpico Universitario.
Domestically, Pumas UNAM has won 11 trophies: 7 Liga MX, 1 Copa MX, the Campeón de Campeones twice, as well as 1 Segunda División de México. In international club football, the club has won 3 CONCACAF Champions Cups [7] and 1 Copa Interamericana. [8] The club has a long-standing rivalry with Club América in the derbi capitalino. [9]
The club is one of the most popular clubs in Mexico. It is considered to be one of the Cuatro Grandes of Mexican football, alongside Cruz Azul, Guadalajara, and Club América. [10] [11]
The team is also known for its youth development system, which has produced international players such as Hugo SĂĄnchez, Manuel Negrete, Luis Flores, Miguel España, Claudio SuĂĄrez, Luis GarcĂa, Alberto GarcĂa Aspe, David Patiño, Jorge Campos, Braulio Luna, Gerardo Torrado, Francisco Fonseca, EfraĂn JuĂĄrez, HĂ©ctor Moreno, Pablo Barrera, Israel Castro, Eduardo Herrera and JesĂșs Gallardo.
Club Universidad Nacional (Pumas UNAM) was originally an amateur club of college students from UNAM's several schools and then developed into a professional team competing in the Mexican football league. It is now one of the biggest clubs in all of Mexico. It has evolved into one of the most popular Mexican teams and has 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 to 1964 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 OlĂmpico Universitario, the main venue of the 1968 Summer Olympics. It has a seating capacity of over 72,000. The stadium is situated within the campus which enables easy access by the students. The Pumas have training facilities within the campus but their main complex is the Cantera, located nearby.
The dean of the university, Luis Chico Goerne, made the first attempt to affiliate a representative of UNAM with the top football Mexican championship of the day, filing a petition to join the Liga Mayor de FĂștbol Professional del Distrito Federal. The petition was rejected in favor of Club Marte de Morelos. Therefore, Pumas played 13 years in Mexicos Liga De Ascenso.
By the 1940s, the dean Gustavo Baz Prada assigned the task to prepare the UNAM team 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 team 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 its later transition to professional status.
In August 1954, the Club Universidad was accepted as a member of the Segunda DivisiĂłn, 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 DivisiĂłn play to undergo a programme rebuilding process. Within that year, Hector Ortiz was appointed as the new manager of the club, and a Board of Patrons was formed.
Pumas UNAM realized its objective of promotion from Segunda DivisiĂłn to Primera DivisiĂłn when Club Universidad won the home-played promotion match on January 9, 1962, by defeating Club Cataluña de TorreĂłn, 9â1. The match ended, the students rushed the pitch, and honored its team by carrying them off the field on their shouldersâthis was the first step towards the consolidation of the club.
The following day, dean Ignacio ChĂĄvez SĂĄnchez congratulated the team when he met with them: Octavio Vial (manager), and players: Homero Villar, RaĂșl Chanes, JosĂ© Antonio "La EspĂĄtula" RodrĂguez, Roberto Cuevas, Rafael Ramirez Jimenez, Alfredo EchĂĄvarri, JosĂ© Ruiz, Carlos Gutierrez, Alfredo "Tito" Zenteno, JosĂ© Luis "El Chango" Ledezma, Antonio SĂĄmano, Jorge GaitĂĄn, Guillermo VĂĄzquez Sr., JosĂ© Luis GonzĂĄlez "La Calaca", Lorenzo Garcia, Carlos CalderĂłn de la Barca, Manuel "Manolo" RodrĂguez, Edmundo "El Poli" PĂ©rez, and Gustavo "El Gato" Cuenca.
The team established itself in the Primera DivisiĂłn, the Board of Patrons prepared for the continuation of the team's success by establishing youth system to develop new players.
After two years under the management of Alfonso "El Pescado" Portugal, the Spaniard Ăngel 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 JosĂ© Muñante, the Serbian Velibor "Bora" MilutinoviÄ, and the Brazilian Cabinho. They arrived to join a solid base of native-players such as Miguel MejĂa BarĂłn, HĂ©ctor Sanabria, Arturo VĂĄzquez Ayala, JosĂ© Luis "Pareja" LĂłpez, 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 1974â75 season, Universidad won the Copa MĂ©xico and the CampeĂłn de Campeones. In the 1976â77 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 SĂĄnchez. In 1978, Club Universidad would signed Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti , a player that will prove to be vital for the team in the coming decade.
In the 1980â81 season, Universidad won its second league championship. That season was also the last season Hugo SĂĄnchez 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" MilutinoviÄ as the manager of the Mexico national football team. MilutinoviÄ called numerous Pumas and former Pumas to the nation team, including Hugo SĂĄnchez, FĂ©lix Cruz Barbosa, Rafael Amador, RaĂșl ServĂn, 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.
The decade began with one of the most celebrated championships in club history, the 1990â91 League Championship against arch-rivals Club AmĂ©rica - the memorable winning goal via free kick from Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti. This will be the last game of Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti due to retirement as a professional player. A new generation of players arrived, including Luis GarcĂa, Jorge Campos, Claudio SuĂĄrez, Antonio Sancho, Israel LĂłpez, Braulio Luna, Rafael GarcĂa, Jaime Lozano, and Gerardo Torrado. This decade is, however, considered one of the least successful in terms of championships and development of players. Towards the end of the decade, Hugo SĂĄnchez became manager of the club for the first time.
In 2004, SĂĄnchez 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 2â1 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.
After hard times at the club after the sacking of Guillermo Vasquez as head coach in 2012, he was re-hired as head coach in 2014. In Apertura 2015, Pumas made it to the tournament final against Tigres U.A.N.L. Tigres won the first leg of the Final with a home win of 3â0. Then in the second leg of the final Pumas managed to tie the game on the global scoreboard at home 4â1. A penalty-shootout had to be done and Tigres won the championship 4â2 at a penalty-shootout. Thus, making Pumas unable to gain its 8th title. After the club's inability to make it to the play-offs in Clausura 2016 and failing to reach the semifinal for Copa Libertadores 2016 Guillermo Vasquez was once again sacked as head coach in May 2016.
At the end of May 2016, Pumas hired Francisco Palencia as head coach making Palencia debut as his first team to manage. Once again, in Apertura 2016 Pumas made it to the play-offs against Tigres for quarter finals. In the first leg with Pumas hosting the home game both teams tied 2-2. In the second leg Tigres hosting the home game, Tigres won 5â0. Thus, in the global scoreboard Pumas lost 7â2, and was not able to go further throughout the play-off stage.
In the Clausura 2017, Pumas had signed the Chilean forward Nicolas Castillo to give more firepower to the team's attack. He scored 8 goals the first 2 months of the season before he was injured and was out for the rest of the season. Pumas then had a great streak of games the first half of the season. Starting gaming Game 14 they lost 4 straight games and were not able to score a goal. With these results they finished in 17th place and were the worst defensive team having 30 goals against and Nicolas Castillo missing out on the top scorer award by 1 goal to Raul Ruidiaz, of Monarcas Morelia who scored 9 goals.
In the Apertura 2017, many key players were sold or loaned out the loan, such as Alejandro Palacios, and long time captain Dario Veron, all with the purpose to make room for new, young players.
In the 2020 Apertura, Pumas reached the final, losing to Club Leon on a 3-1 Aggregate with coach Andres Lillini after sacking Michel the season prior. In 2022, Pumas reached the Champions League Final, losing to Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders FC on aggregate. After a poor 2023 Apertura, Lillini was sacked and was replaced with Rafael Puente Jr. After a poor start to the 2023 Clasura, Puente Jr. was sacked on March 20, 2023, with Pumas hiring Antonio "Turco" Mohamed to replace Puente shortly after. Mohamed's time on the bench did not last long as he resigned shortly after Pumas' elimination in the semifinals of the 2023 Apertura to Tigres. [12]
Universidad has strong rivalries with Club América and Cruz Azul. These games are passionate and followed by the whole city. There is also a small but historical rivalry UNAM has with Leones Negros
The rivalry with Club AmĂ©rica, 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 Club AmĂ©rica bought Pumas UNAM idol Enrique Borja, even though the player had made a public statement that he did not want to be sold to Club AmĂ©rica. In the 1980s the rivalry grew when Club AmĂ©rica defeated Universidad twice in the league finals, both times with controversial refereeing decisions.[ citation needed] 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 3â2, and only the second leg was a 1â0 win. The aggregate score was 3â3, but Pumas 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.
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, recently the name of this game is the "ClĂĄsico Metropolitanoâ or âDerby central" because both teams were born in states that are in the central part of Mexico
Pumas UNAM and Leones Negros are old rivals. Both clubs are historical rivals due to both clubs being founded by rival universities. One major encounter these two clubs have had with each other was in the 1976-77 Primera DivisiĂłn final, when Pumas UNAM beat Leones Negros to achieve their first title. But over the years the rivalry has died down due to the Leones Negros going through a state of decline and relegated to the Segunda DivisiĂłn .
1941
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1943
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1950
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1953
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1953
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1960
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1960
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1975
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1975-1976
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1975-1976
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Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
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Domestic | Primera DivisiĂłn | 7 | 1976â77, 1980â81, 1990â91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011 |
Segunda DivisiĂłn | 1 | 1961â62 | |
Copa MĂ©xico | 1 | 1974â75 | |
CampeĂłn de Campeones | 2 | 1975, 2004 | |
Continental | CONCACAF Champions' Cup | 3 | 1980, 1982, 1989 |
Copa Interamericana | 1 | 1981 |
Position | Staff |
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Head coach | Gustavo Lema |
Assistant coach | Josema BazĂĄn |
Fitness coaches |
MatĂas Lema Javier Flores |
Goalkeeping coach | IvĂĄn GaytĂĄn |
Physiotherapist | José Pang |
Club doctors |
Antonio Acevedo Eduardo Acosta |
Position | Staff |
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President | Luis RaĂșl GonzĂĄlez PĂ©rez |
Vice President of Sporting | Miguel MejĂa BarĂłn |
Executive Vice President | Enrique SĂĄnchez GonzĂĄlez |
Director of Academy | RaĂșl Alpizar |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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The following players have represented their country at the World Cup whilst playing for Pumas UNAM:
Guadalajara Chivas - U.N.A.M.- Pumas 1:3 Guadalajara Chivas - U.N.A.M.- Pumas 1:2