UNAM Pumas

Club Universidad Nacional, A.C., simply known as Pumas UNAM, is a professional football club based in Mexico City. The club competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football. Founded in 1954 as Club Deportivo Universidad, and they play their home games at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, which seats over 72,000 spectators.

The club was founded as an amateur club of UNAM college students and later developed into a professional team. The Pumas are one of the most popular clubs in Mexico and considered to be one of the '' Cuatro Grandes'' of Mexican football, alongside Cruz Azul, Guadalajara, and Club América.

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 and 1 Copa Interamericana. The club has a long-standing rivalry with Club América in the '' derbi capitalino''.

Their chant is, “Goya! Goya! Cachun, Cachun, Rah! Rah” The team is also known for its youth development system, which has produced international players such as Hugo Sánchez, Manuel Negrete, Luis Flores, Miguel España, Claudio Suárez, Luis García, Alberto García Aspe, David Patiño, Jorge Campos, Braulio Luna, Gerardo Torrado,
Francisco Fonseca,
Efraín Juárez, Héctor Moreno, Pablo Barrera, Israel Castro, Eduardo Herrera and Jesús Gallardo.

History

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 Fútbol Professional del Distrito Federal. The petition was rejected in favor of 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.

Establishment: 1950s

In August 1954, the Club Universidad was accepted as a member of the Segunda División, 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 División play to undergo a programme rebuilding process. Within that year, Héctor Ortiz (footballer), Hector Ortiz was appointed as the new manager of the club, and a Board of Patrons was formed.

The promotion: 1960s

Pumas UNAM realized its objective of promotion from Segunda División to Primera División when Club Universidad won the home-played promotion match on January 9, 1962, by defeating Club Cataluña de Torreón, 9–1. The match ended, the students rushed the pitch, and honored its team by carrying them off the field on their shoulders—this was the first step towards the consolidation of the club.

The following day, dean Ignacio Chávez Sánchez congratulated the team when he met with them: Octavio Vial (manager), and players: Homero Villar, Raúl Chanes, José Antonio Rodríguez (football), José Antonio "La Espátula" Rodríguez, Roberto Cuevas, Rafael Ramirez Jimenez, Alfredo Echávarri, José Ruiz, Carlos Gutierrez, Alfredo Zenteno, Alfredo "Tito" Zenteno, José Luis Ledezma, José Luis "El Chango" Ledezma, Antonio Sámano, Jorge Gaitán, Guillermo Vázquez Sr., José Luis González Dávila, José Luis González "La Calaca", Lorenzo Garcia, Carlos Calderón de la Barca, Manuel Rodríguez (football), Manuel "Manolo" Rodríguez, Edmundo Pérez, Edmundo "El Poli" Pérez, and Gustavo Cuenca, Gustavo "El Gato" Cuenca.

The team established itself in the Primera División, the Board of Patrons prepared for the continuation of the team's success by establishing youth system to develop new players.

The legend begins: 1970s

After two years under the management of Alfonso Portugal, Alfonso "El Pescado" Portugal, the Spaniard Ángel 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 José Muñante, the Serbian Bora Milutinović, Velibor "Bora" Milutinović, and the Brazilian Evanivaldo Castro, Cabinho. They arrived to join a solid base of native-players such as Miguel Mejía Barón, Héctor Sanabria (footballer born 1945), Héctor Sanabria, Arturo Vázquez Ayala, José Luis López (Mexican footballer), José Luis "Pareja" López, 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 1974–75 season, Universidad won the Copa México and the Campeón de Campeones. In the 1976–77 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 Sánchez. In 1978, Club Universidad would signed Ricardo Ferretti, Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti, a player that will prove to be vital for the team in the coming decade.

Consolidation: 1980s

In the 1980–81 season, Universidad won its second league championship. That season was also the last season Hugo Sánchez 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, Bora Milutinović, Velibor "Bora" Milutinović as the manager of the Mexico national football team. Milutinović called numerous Pumas and former Pumas to the nation team, including Hugo Sánchez, Félix Cruz Barbosa, Rafael Amador, Raúl Servín, 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.

Ups and downs: 1990s

The decade began with one of the most celebrated championships in club history, the 1990–91 League Championship against arch-rivals Club América - the memorable winning goal via free kick from Ricardo Ferretti, 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 García, Jorge Campos, Claudio Suárez, Antonio Sancho, Israel López (footballer), Israel López, Braulio Luna, Rafael García Torres, Rafael García, 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 Sánchez became manager of the club for the first time.

Success: 2000s

In 2004, Sánchez 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 F.C., Atlante, which they lost 2–1 on aggregate. In 2009, Ferretti once again led the Pumas to a final, this time being victorious against C.F. Pachuca, Pachuca in extra time to claim the team's sixth championship.

Rejuvenating the Club: 2010s

In 2011, Pumas became champions of Clausura 2011 tournament, winning their seventh championship against Atlético Morelia, Monarcas Morelia.

After hard times at the club after the sacking of Guillermo Vázquez (footballer), 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 UANL, Tigres U.A.N.L. Tigres won the first leg of the Final with a home win of 3–0. Then in the second leg of the final Pumas managed to tie the game on the global scoreboard at home 4–1. A penalty-shootout had to be done and Tigres won the championship 4–2 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 5–0. Thus, in the global scoreboard Pumas lost 7–2, and was not able to go further throughout the play-off stage.

In the Clausura 2017, Pumas had signed the Chilean forward Nicolás Castillo, 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 Raúl Ruidíaz, 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 Darío Verón, Dario Veron, all with the purpose to make room for new, young players.

2020s

In the 2020 Apertura, Pumas reached the final, losing to Club León, Club Leon on a 3-1 Aggregate with coach Andrés Lillini, Andres Lillini after sacking Míchel (footballer, born 1963), Michel the season prior. In 2022, Pumas reached the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, 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 Mohamed, 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 Apertura 2023 Liga MX final phase, 2023 Apertura to Tigres UANL, Tigres. Gustavo Lema, Gustavo Alberto Lema, Mohamed's former assistant has since succeeded him.

Stadium

Their home ground is the Estadio Olímpico 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.

Rivalries

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

Clásico Capitalino

The rivalry with Club América began during the 1960s, when Universidad won its promotion to the top flight. Both clubs are located in Mexico City, creating a natural geographic rivalry. A few years later Club América 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 América. In the 1980s the rivalry grew when Club América defeated Universidad twice in the league finals, both times with controversial refereeing decisions. 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 3–2, and only the second leg was a 1–0 win. The aggregate score was 3–3, 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.

Pumas UNAM vs. Cruz Azul

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 "Clásico Metropolitano” or “Derby central" because both teams were born in states that are in the central part of Mexico

Clásico Universitario

Pumas UNAM and Leones Negros UdeG, 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 Mexican Primera División season, 1976-77 Primera División 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 Ascenso MX, Segunda División.

Support

The most recent survey from 2021 placed the club as the 4th largest fan base in Mexico, with 9,7% or 12 million supporters.
Historically, it was the third most popular club in Mexico, only behind Club América and CD Guadalajara, according to surveys conducted by Grupo Reforma and Consulta Mitofsky, from 2013 to 2015. However, considering the same polling sources, it fell to fourth in 2015, behind Cruz Azul.

Barra Brava

Pumas has 2 supporters' group (Barra brava, barra bravas), La Rebel and La Plus.

Colors

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 Cougar, pumas. The nickname stayed with the public, and all the athletic teams representing the university have been called Pumas.

Past kits

;First kit evolution

Honours

National

International

Friendly

* Torneo Pentagonal Juan Fernández Albarrán: 1969
* Torneo Cuadrangular de Agosto: 1971
* Coors California Cup: 1985
* Copa Pachuca: 1994
* Copa Universidades de América: 2000
* Dallas Cup: 2001
* Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu: 2004
* Copa Chiapas: 2008
* Club International Tournament: 2012
* Trofeo Reto del Sol: 2012
* Cotton Bowl Tournament: 2012
* Copa Feria de León: 2017

Personnel

Current technical staff

*Last updated: May 4, 2024
*Source:

Management

*Last updated:
*Source:

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Reserves and Academy

World Cup players

The following players have represented their country at the FIFA World Cup, World Cup whilst playing for Pumas UNAM:

* Aarón Padilla Gutiérrez, Aarón Padilla (1966 FIFA World Cup squads, 1966, 1970 FIFA World Cup squads, 1970)
* Luis Regueiro (Mexican footballer), Luis Regueiro (1966 FIFA World Cup squads, 1966)
* Elías Muñoz (1966 FIFA World Cup squads, 1966)
* Enrique Borja (1966 FIFA World Cup squads, 1966, 1970 FIFA World Cup squads, 1970)
* José Luis González Dávila, José Luis González (1970 FIFA World Cup squads, 1970)
* Mario Velarde (footballer, born 1940), Mario Velarde (1970 FIFA World Cup squads, 1970)
* Francisco Castrejón (1970 FIFA World Cup squads, 1970)
* Arturo Vázquez Ayala (1978 FIFA World Cup squads, 1978)
* Enrique López Zarza (1978 FIFA World Cup squads, 1978)
* Hugo Sánchez (1978 FIFA World Cup squads, 1978)
* Leonardo Cuéllar (1978 FIFA World Cup squads, 1978)
* Juan José Muñante (1978 FIFA World Cup squads, 1978)
* Miguel España (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Félix Cruz (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Luis Flores (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Raúl Servín (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Rafael Amador (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Manuel Negrete (1986 FIFA World Cup squads, 1986)
* Jorge Campos (1994 FIFA World Cup squads, 1994, 1998 FIFA World Cup squads, 1998, 2002 FIFA World Cup squads, 2002)
* Claudio Suárez (1994 FIFA World Cup squads, 1994, 1998 FIFA World Cup squads, 1998, 2006 FIFA World Cup squads, 2006)
* Juan de Dios Ramírez Perales (1994 FIFA World Cup squads, 1994)
* Braulio Luna (1998 FIFA World Cup squads, 1998, 2002 FIFA World Cup squads, 2002)
* Pablo Barrera (2010 FIFA World Cup squads, 2010)
* Israel Castro (2010 FIFA World Cup squads, 2010)
* Efraín Juárez (2010 FIFA World Cup squads, 2010)
* Darío Verón (2010 FIFA World Cup squads, 2010)
* Jesús Gallardo (2018 FIFA World Cup squads, 2018)
* Dani Alves (2022 FIFA World Cup squads, 2022)

Managers

* Rodolfo "Butch" Muñoz (Sep. 1954–Mar. 1955)
* Donato Alonso (Apr. 1955–1956)
* Héctor Ortiz Benítez (1958-1960)
* Octavio Vial (Sep. 1960–Aug. 62)
* Carlito Peters, Luis Carlos "Carlito" Peters (Aug. 1962) (interim)
* Renato Cesarini (Aug. 1962–Dec. 1965)
* Ángel Papadópulos Ruiz (Jan. 1965–1966)
* Diego Mercado Marín (1966–67)
* Walter Ormeño (1967–68)
* Árpád Fekete (1968–69)
* Ángel Zubieta (1970–74)
* Luiz Carlos "Carlito" Peters (Jul.–Dec.1974)
* Carlos Iturralde Rivero (Jan.–Apr. 1975)
* Árpád Fekete (Apr. 1975–76)
* György Marik, Jorge Marik (1976–77)
* Bora Milutinović, Velibor "Bora" Milutinović (1977–Dec. 1982)
* Mario Velarde (footballer, born 1940), Mario Velarde (Jan. 1983–Jun. 1987)
* Héctor Sanabria (footballer, born 1945), Héctor Sanabria (Jun. 1987–Jun. 1988)
* Miguel Mejía Barón (Jul. 1988–91)
* Ricardo Ferretti (1991–96)
* Pablo Luna (footballer), Pablo Luna (Jun.–Sep. 1996)
* Luis Flores (Sep. 1996–97)
* Enrique López Zarza (1997–98)
* Roberto Saporiti (1998–99)
* Rafael Amador (1999–00)
* Hugo Sánchez (2000)
* Miguel Mejía Barón (2001)
* Hugo Sánchez (2001–05)
* Miguel España (2005–06)
* Guillermo Vázquez (footballer), Guillermo Vázquez (2006)
* Ricardo Ferretti (2006–10)
* Guillermo Vázquez (footballer), Guillermo Vázquez (2010–12)
* Joaquín del Olmo (2012)
* Juan Antonio Torres (2012)
* Mario Carrillo (2012)
* Juan Antonio Torres (2012–13)
* José Luis Trejo (2013–14)
* Guillermo Vázquez (footballer), Guillermo Vázquez (2014–16)
* Francisco Palencia (2016–17)
* Sergio Egea (2017)
* David Patiño (2017–19)
* Bruno Marioni (2019)
* Míchel (footballer, born 1963), Míchel (2019–20)
* Andrés Lillini (2020–2022)
* Rafael Puente Jr. (2022–2023)
* Antonio Mohamed (2023)
* Gustavo Lema (2024–2025)
* Efraín Juárez (2025–Present)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nacional
Club Universidad Nacional,
Association football clubs established in 1954
Football clubs in Mexico City
National Autonomous University of Mexico athletics
University and college association football clubs
Liga MX teams
1954 establishments in Mexico
CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning clubs, U
Copa Interamericana winning clubs, U