C.D. Veracruz facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the men's football club. For the women's football club, see C.D. Veracruz (women).

Quick facts for kids
Veracruz

Full name

Club Deportivo Veracruz

Nickname(s)

Los Tiburones Rojos (the red sharks)
Los Escualos (The Sharks)
El Tiburón (The Shark)

Founded

9 April 1943; 82 years ago

Dissolved

18 December 2019; 5 years ago

Ground

Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente
Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico

Capacity

28,703

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

Club Deportivo Veracruz, often called Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, was a professional football team from Veracruz, Mexico. Their nickname, "Tiburones Rojos," means "red sharks." The club was started in 1943 and played in Mexico's top league, Liga MX.

Sadly, in December 2019, the Mexican Football Federation decided to remove Veracruz from Liga MX. This happened because the club had many money problems and owed money to its players and the league.

History of the Red Sharks

The club began in April 1943. Two local teams, Iberia de Córdoba and Veracruz Sporting Club, joined together to form Club Deportivo Veracruz. They wanted to play in the Mexican First Division. These two older clubs had won many titles in their local amateur league.

Veracruz kept the red and black colors from Veracruz Sporting Club at first. Later, they changed black to white, keeping red as their main color. Their first stadium was Parque Deportivo Veracruzano. The team's nickname, "Red Sharks," was given by Manuel Seyde.

Veracruz was one of the first teams outside Mexico City to play in the professional league. They were also the first non-Mexico City team to win the league championship! However, they also hold a record for being moved down to a lower league four times. This included a tough moment in 2008 when their rival, Puebla, sent them down.

Early Games and First Wins

Veracruz played its first game in the 1943–44 Copa México tournament. They lost 5–1 to Atlante. Manuel Rodríguez Angues, known as Manolín, scored their first goal.

In the 1945–46 league, Veracruz had an amazing season. They played 18 games, winning 14 and drawing 4. This helped them win their first championship that year!

Two years later, in 1947–48, they won their first Mexican Cup. They beat Chivas 3–1. Then, in the 1949–50 season, Veracruz won their second league title. They had a huge win against Monterrey, scoring 14–0, which was a record!

Famous Players and Challenges

Over the years, many famous players joined Veracruz. These included René Higuita, Braulio Luna, Adolfo Ríos, and Luis Hernández.

In 2002, Veracruz returned to the top league after winning the Primera División A championship. The 2004 season was one of their best. They finished in first place thanks to new players like Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Christian Giménez.

However, on April 25, 2008, UNAM beat Veracruz 4–2. This meant Veracruz was moved down to the Primera A league again. Their relegation was confirmed on May 2, 2008, after a 0–0 draw against Tecos UAG. This was their fourth time being moved down.

Winning the First League Title

The 1945–46 championship team.

In their third year, during the 1945–46 season, the club won its first league title. They won 14 games and drew 4, including 8 wins in a row. The team scored 105 goals that year! Jorge Enrico from Argentina and Raimundo Gonzalez were top scorers. Luis de la Fuente was seen as the team's best player.

On June 2, 1946, Veracruz won 3–2 against Real Club España in Mexico City. This win made them champions for the first time. Goals were scored by José Valdivia, Luis de la Fuente, and Raimundo Gonzalez. This was a big deal because it ended a 26-year streak of Mexico City teams winning the title.

Winning the First Cup Title

In the 1947–48 Copa México tournament, Veracruz won its first Mexican Cup. Even though some top players had left, they beat Guadalajara 3–1 in the final. This was under the coach Joaquin Urquiaga. This is the only Mexican Cup the club has won. They finished second three other times.

Winning the Second League Title

In the 1949–50 season, the club won its second and last Mexican Primera División title. The team was refreshed with new players and led by coach Juan Luque de Serrallonga. This season is also remembered because Peruvian player Julio Ayllon, known as El Negro, became the league's top scorer with 30 goals.

Tough Times and Comebacks

The 1950s brought financial problems for the club. In the 1951–52 season, Veracruz was moved down to the newly created Segunda División de México for the first time. They finished with only 12 points, just 3 points behind Club América. After this, the club was even disbanded for a while.

In 1961, a group of fans helped bring the club back to life. They rejoined the Segunda División de México in 1961–62. In 1964, the league expanded, giving Veracruz a chance to return to the top division. They played their first game back on June 7, 1964, drawing 3–3 with Atletico Morelia.

In 1978–79, the club was moved down for the second time. They lost 22 games and had five different coaches that year.

The 1980s and "Tiburomania"

Veracruz started the 1980s in the Segunda División de México. For a few years, the club was even sold and moved to another city, becoming Venados de Yucatán.

But in 1989, local business people and the governor bought a team called Potros Neza to bring football back to Veracruz. The club's return created huge excitement, known as "La Tiburomania." Fans filled the stadium for 19 straight games! A record 50,000 Veracruz fans even traveled to Mexico City to support their team against Club América at the Estadio Azteca.

That year, Veracruz also played in a special tournament. They beat the famous Spanish club Real Madrid 4–2, with a goal from Argentine player Omar Palma.

The 1990s and More Ups and Downs

The 1990s started with strong players like Jorge Comas and Adolfo Ríos. In 1991–92, the club reached the playoffs for the first time since returning. They won their knockout series against Correcaminos UAT but lost to Necaxa in the quarterfinals.

In 1993–94, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. They played a friendly match against Atlético Madrid. In 1994–95, they almost won the Copa México but lost 2–0 to Necaxa in the final.

In 1995, a TV network called Televisa bought the club. They brought in new players like José Mari Bakero from Barcelona and Colombian national team players. However, injuries and team problems led to a tough season in 1996–97. In 1997–98, despite signing famous goalkeeper René Higuita, the club was moved down for the third time.

The 2000s and Final Disaffiliation

In the early 2000s, Veracruz became a strong team again in the Primera A. In 2002, they were promoted back to the Mexican Primera División after beating Léon in a playoff.

However, in 2008, they were moved down for the fourth time, setting a new league record. The club stayed in the Liga de Ascenso for several years.

On June 3, 2011, the FMF officially removed the Tiburones Rojos from the league. This was because the club failed to pay its debts.

In 2013, the club was re-established when another team, Club La Piedad, moved to Veracruz and took on the name Veracruz.

But the club faced more problems. They had a very long losing streak from 2018 to 2019. There were also many reports of players not getting paid. In December 2019, the FMF officially removed Veracruz from Liga MX again. This meant all their players became free agents, and even their women's team was removed from its league.

Recent Efforts to Return

In 2020, a former reserve team, Atlético Veracruz, was restarted to play in a new league. In 2021, they announced they wanted to join the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol again. On May 23, 2022, the Club Deportivo Veracruz Facebook page said they had paid all their old debts. They also said they were suing the Mexican Football Federation to try and return to Liga MX.

Rivalries

Veracruz had a long-standing rivalry with Puebla. This rivalry started way back in the 1930s, even before both clubs became professional.

Overall, Puebla and Veracruz played 68 official games. Puebla had a better record with 30 wins and 15 draws.

Past Sponsors

Year	Manufacturer	Main Sponsor	Other Sponsors
1989–94	Pony
1994–95	Adidas	Coca-Cola
1995–97	Umbro	Coca-Cola	Cerveza Superior
1998–08	Atletica	Banco Azteca	Cerveza Sol, Grupo Gigante, Pegaso, Bimbo
2009–10	Joma	The Phone House	Cerveza Sol, Tele-Ver
2010–11	Nike	The Phone House	Cerveza Sol, Tele-Ver
2011–12	Nike	Chedraui	Cerveza Sol, Tele-Ver
2013–2014	Kappa	Winpot Casino	Boing, Tele-Ver, Tecate
2014–19	Charly	Winpot Casino	Boing, ADO, Tecate, Dodge

First Kit Evolution

1943

1950

1960

1978

1990

1995

2001

2008

2013

Honours

Primera División (Top League): 2
- 1945–46, 1949–50
Primera División A (Second League): 1
- 2001
Copa México (Mexican Cup): 2
- 1947–48, Clausura 2016

Club Records

Longest time without losing: 18 games (1945–46)
Most games without a tie: 19 games (Invierno '99)
Most games without a win: 40 games (Clausura 2019)
Longest winning streak: 8 games (1945–46 and Apertura 2004)
Longest tie streak: 5 games (1990–91)
Longest losing streak: 9 games (Verano 2002)
Longest scoring streak: 28 games (1946–47)
Longest time without scoring a goal: 4 games (1970–71)
Longest streak allowing a goal: 4 games (1967–68 and Invierno 2000)
Biggest win: 14–0 vs. Monterrey (May 26, 1946)
Biggest loss: 9–2 vs. C.F. Pachuca (April 13, 2019) and 0–7 vs. Necaxa

All-Time Top Goalscorers

These are the top 10 players who scored the most goals for the club.

Position	Player	Goals	Years
1	Mariano Ubiracy	98	1965–72
2	Luis "Pirata" de la Fuente	83	1943–52
3	Raymundo "Pelón" González	77	1986–96
4	Jorge Comas	77	1989–94
5	José Luis "Loco" Aussín	65	1964-1971
6	Jorge Enrico	54	1943–49
7	Ricardo Brandón	45	1976–78
8	Gustavo "El Grillo" Biscayzacú	43	2004–06
9	Jesús "Chucho" Hernández	39	????
10	Pedro Damián	36	????