Atlante F.C. facts for kids

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Atlante

Full name	Atlante Fútbol Club S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)	Los Potros de Hierro (The Iron Colts) Los Azulgranas (The Blue-and-Garnets) El Equipo del Pueblo (The People's Team) los Prietitos
Founded	18 April 1916; 109 years ago (1916-04-18) as Sinaloa 8 December 1916; 108 years ago (1916-12-08) as Atlante
Ground	Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
Ground Capacity	33,000
Owner	Emilio Escalante
Chairman	Jorge Santillana
Manager	Vacant
League	Liga de Expansión MX
Apertura 2022	1st of 18 (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Atlante Fútbol Club is a professional football team from Mexico City, Mexico. It was started in 1916. Atlante was one of the first teams in the Mexican Primera División when it began in 1943.

The club has won three national league championships. Two of these wins were when they played in Mexico City. Their most recent win was after they moved to Cancún in 2007. Atlante has also won the Copa México three times and the CONCACAF Champions' Cup / CONCACAF Champions League twice.

Currently, Atlante plays in Mexico's second-highest league, the Liga de Expansión MX. They were moved down from Liga MX after the 2013–14 season. They won the Apertura 2021 and 2022–23 Liga de Expansión MX season#Apertura 2022 tournaments in this league.

History of Atlante FC

How Did Atlante FC Start?

Atlante was founded on April 18, 1916. It was first called Sinaloa. A group of young Mexican football fans, led by Refugio "El Vaquero" Martínez, started the team. They played in the La Condesa area of Mexico City. After changing names a few times, Refugio Martínez suggested "Atlante." This name came from the strong battles fought in the Atlantic Ocean during World War I.

In the 1920s, players like the Rosas brothers (Manuel "Chaquetas" and Felipe "Diente") and Juan "El Trompo" Carreño made Atlante very popular. It was especially loved by working-class people, earning them the famous nickname El Equipo del Pueblo (The People's Team). Juan Carreño made history by scoring Mexico's first goal in the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games. He also scored Mexico's first goal ever in a FIFA World Cup during the first match against France in Uruguay 1930.

Even though they were popular, the Mexican Federation didn't let Atlante join the main Mexican championship, the Liga Mayor, right away. Atlante had to win special matches against strong teams like Toluca and América. Atlante won these games, 7–2 and 2–1. Once they joined the Liga Mayor, Atlante started a big rivalry with Necaxa. This became the first major rivalry in Mexican football history. Their games were always exciting and intense.

In the early days of Mexican football, foreign teams often beat Mexican clubs easily. But Atlante was different. They became famous for beating these "giant" foreign teams. In 1929, Atlante defeated Sabaria from Hungary 3–1. In 1930, they beat Sportivo from Buenos Aires twice, 2–1 and 3–2. One of their most remembered wins was a 3–2 victory in 1931 against Bella Vista from Uruguay. That team had three players who had won the first World Cup just a year before!

In the 1940s, during World War II, Atlante's player Horacio Casarín became very famous for his amazing skills. He also became a key player for the Mexican national team. Atlante's popularity grew even more when the team was shown in many Mexican movies during the "golden era" of cinema. Some films included "Los Hijos de Don Venancio" and "El Vividor." Players Horacio Casarín and Martí Ventolrà even acted in some of these movies.

Atlante Becomes Professional and Wins First Title

In 1943, the Mexican Federation created the Professional League, now known as the Mexican Primera División. Atlante was one of the six teams from Mexico City to join.

After four seasons, with the help of owner General Jose Manuel Nuñez and star player Horacio Casarín, Atlante won its first championship in the 1946–47 season. The final match against León had 48,622 fans, including the President of Mexico, Miguel Alemán Valdés. In 1945, the team set a Latin American record by scoring 121 goals in 30 matches, which is more than four goals per game! Atlante also became the first Mexican team to win the Campeón de Campeones cup (a super cup competition) in the 1941–42 season.

After their first title, other teams started winning championships. However, Atlante remained a strong team and stayed popular with working-class fans. They also won runner-up, Mexican Cup, and Champion of Champions titles in the early 1950s. In 1966, General Jose Manuel Nuñez sold the team. After this, Atlante had some tough years and was moved down from the Primera División to the Segunda División in 1976.

The IMSS Era and International Success

The team returned to the Primera División for the 1977–78 season. In 1978, the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), a government institution, bought the team. They aimed to make it the biggest football club in the world. With government money, Atlante had successful seasons. They brought back old idol Horacio Casarín as coach and signed Cabinho, who became a top goalscorer for Atlante.

In the 1981–82 season, Atlante reached the championship final against Tigres UANL. They lost in a penalty shootout, finishing as runner-up. But a year later, Atlante won its first international title! They won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup against Robinhood from Suriname.

Later, another government group took over the team's management. Atlante played at the Estadio Azteca for many years. Then they moved to the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. In 1989, the team was sold to businessman Jose Antonio García. After a difficult season, Atlante was moved down to the Segunda División again.

Atlante's Second Championship Title

Atlante made an amazing comeback to the Primera División. They returned to their home ground, the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (renamed Estadio Azulgrana). They won three thrilling games against Pachuca in the Segunda División Championship final. The series went to extra time, penalty kicks, and then sudden death. Atlante's goalkeeper, Félix Fernández, scored the winning penalty kick, making the final score 9–8!

In the 1992–93 season, led by coach Ricardo La Volpe, Atlante won its second championship title against Monterrey. The final match was played at Monterrey's stadium. New Atlante stars from this championship included Raúl Gutiérrez, Félix Fernández, Miguel Herrera, José Guadalupe Cruz, and top strikers Luis Miguel Salvador and Daniel Guzmán. This was Atlante's second championship in 45 years. Winning the title also allowed Atlante to play in the Concacaf Champions Cup again, but they lost the final match to Cartaginés from Costa Rica.

After this championship, Atlante struggled in the playoffs for several years. Even with famous players like Hugo Sánchez, Jorge Campos, and Gabriel Miranda, they didn't achieve major results. The team faced the risk of being moved down again. So, Grupo Televisa bought Atlante and moved them back to the Estadio Azteca. With new players like Zague, Martín Felix Ubaldi, and Luis García, and a new coach, Miguel Mejía Barón, Atlante had some good seasons. They even led the league in one short tournament (Invierno 1996). However, they didn't win any major titles.

A New Era and the Move to Cancún

Towards the end of the 20th century, Atlante faced many challenges. They had new coaches who didn't have much experience, and some players lacked commitment. The team even changed its main uniform colors from red and blue to orange, which made fans feel like the team had lost its identity. Many fans started supporting other successful teams, and Atlante's home games became empty. Poor play led Atlante to face being moved down to the second division again.

Manuel Lapuente, a successful coach, tried to save the team from relegation in 2001, but they didn't succeed. However, the Mexican Federation decided to add two new teams to the top division. Atlante paid a fee and was allowed to play a special series of matches against Veracruz, the second-division runner-up. Atlante won the series 4–1, which meant they could stay in the top league as one of the new expansion teams.

After this, the team's leaders made a strong commitment to improve. They focused on developing young players, and Atlante became known for giving many young players their first chance in the top division. Coaches like Carlos Reinoso and Miguel Herrera helped build a new, strong team with talented players like Sebastián "Chamagol" González, Luis Gabriel Rey, and goalkeeper Federico Vilar. The team returned to the playoffs, reaching quarter-finals and semi-finals. However, they still struggled with low attendance at their home matches in Mexico City.

Atlante's Third Championship in Quintana Roo

On May 14, 2007, Atlante officially left the Estadio Azteca because their games there were not making enough money. They hoped that moving to the Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo in Cancún, Quintana Roo, would help them become popular again and attract more fans.

In a fantastic season, Atlante quickly got used to their new home and started winning many important matches. After tough playoff games against Cruz Azul and Guadalajara, Atlante played against Pumas UNAM in the final. On December 9, 2007, just five months after moving to Cancún, Atlante won its third championship! Goalie Federico Vilar played incredibly well, and players like Giancarlo Maldonado, Gabriel Pereyra, and Clemente Ovalle (who scored the winning goal) were key. This win brought back Atlante's popularity across the country and especially in Cancún.

Winning the Apertura 2007 Championship meant Atlante qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2008. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Saprissa from Costa Rica. They also qualified for the SuperLiga 2008, where they lost in the semi-finals. Atlante then joined the CONCACAF Champions League in its first season (2008–09). They reached the final against Cruz Azul and won the series 2–0. This made them CONCACAF Club Champions and earned them a spot in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Atlante on the World Stage

After winning the CONCACAF Champions League, Atlante was invited to play in the Peace Cup in Spain. They played against Málaga and Aston Villa but were eliminated.

Atlante signed Santiago Solari, a big international player, to make their team even stronger. He joined a special group of famous international players who had played for the club, including Grzegorz Lato, Ruben "Ratón" Ayala, Ricardo La Volpe, Cabinho, and Faustino Asprilla.

At the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, Atlante defeated Auckland City 3–0 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they faced Barcelona. It was an interesting match because both teams had players named Rafael Márquez (Rafael Márquez Álvarez for Barcelona and Rafael Márquez Lugo for Atlante), and both teams had similar jersey colors. FIFA decided that Barcelona would play in their blue-and-red stripes. Atlante scored first, just four minutes into the game, but Barcelona eventually won 3–1. In the match for third place, Atlante lost to Pohang Steelers in a penalty shootout, finishing in fourth place.

Team Jerseys and Sponsors

Atlante's jerseys have been made by different companies over the years. They have also had many sponsors whose logos appeared on their shirts. These sponsors helped the club financially.

Atlante's Trophies and Achievements

National Titles

• Primera División (Top League)
  • Winners (3): 1946–47, 1992–93, Apertura 2007
  • Runner-up (4): 1945–46, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1981–82

• Liga de Expansión MX (Second League)
  • Winners (3): Apertura 2021, Apertura 2022, Clausura 2024
  • Runner-up (1): Guardianes 2020

• Segunda División (Old Second League)
  • Winners (2): 1976–77, 1990–91

• Copa México (Mexico Cup)
  • Winners (2): 1950–51, 1951–52
  • Runner-up (6): 1942–43, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1948–49, 1962–63, Clausura 2013

• Campeón de Campeones (Super Cup)
  • Winners (1): 1952
  • Runner-up (2): 1946–47, 1950–51

• National Amateur League
  • Winners (2): 1931–32, 1940–41

• Copa México (Amateur era)
  • Winners (1): 1941-42

• Campeón de Campeones (Amateur era)
  • Winners (1): 1942

International Titles

• CONCACAF Champions' Cup / CONCACAF Champions League (North American Club Championship)
  • Winners (2): 1983, 2008–09
  • Runner-up (1): 1994

Atlante's International Matches

Atlante has played in several international club tournaments, showing their strength against teams from other countries.

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1983	CONCACAF Champions' Cup	First Round	Comunicaciones	2–0	2–2	4–2
		Second Round	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms	3–2	1–1	4–3
		Third Round	Suchitepéquez	6–0	2–2	8–2
		Final	Robinhood	5–0	1–1	6–1
1994	CONCACAF Champions' Cup	First Round	Firpo	2–1	4–1	6–2
		Second Round	Herediano	3–1	3–3	6–4
		Semi-finals	Alianza	2–1
		Final	Cartaginés	2–3
2008	CONCACAF Champions' Cup	Quarter-finals	Saprissa	2–1	0–3	2–4
	SuperLiga	Group A	Houston Dynamo	0–4		2nd
			D.C. United	3–2
			Guadalajara	2–0
		Semi-finals	New England Revolution	0–1
2009	CONCACAF Champions League	Group C	Olimpia	1–0	1–1	1st
			Montreal Impact	2–1	0–0
			Joe Public	2–0	0–1
		Quarter-finals	Houston Dynamo	3–0	1–1	4–1
		Semi-finals	Santos Laguna	3–1	1–2	4–3
		Final	Cruz Azul	0–0	2–0	2–0
	2009 FIFA Club World Cup	Quarter-finals	Auckland City	3–0
		Semi-finals	Barcelona	1–3
		Third Place	Pohang Steelers	1–1 (3–4 p)

Who Manages Atlante FC?

Management Team

Position	Staff
Chairman	Emilio Escalante
Sporting president	Jorge Santillana
Director of academy	Pascual Sandoval
Technical Secretary	Alfonso Rippa

Coaching Staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Vacant
Assistant managers	Vacant
Goalkeeper coach	Alexandro Álvarez
Fitness coach	Marco Hideroa
Physiotherapist	Sergio Rojas
Team doctors	Ramón Gómez Jesús González

Atlante FC Players

First Team Squad

No. Position Player 2 DF Francisco Reyes 3 DF Diego Cruz 4 DF Carlos Villanueva 5 MF Hardy Meza 6 MF Paul Galván 7 MF Edson Partida 8 MF Ronaldo González 9 FW Vladimir Moragrega 10 MF Fernando Navarro 11 FW Ángel Sayago 13 MF Maximiliano García 14 FW Carlos Andrade 15 MF Éric Cantú 16 MF Deivoon Magaña 17 MF Leonardo Mejía 18 MF Christian Bermúdez 19 DF Pedro Martínez (on loan from Pachuca) 20 GK Humberto Hernández

No. Position Player 21 MF Javier Ibarra 22 FW Arturo Sánchez 23 MF Carlo Andrade 24 DF Jorge Santillana 25 DF Josafatt Fonseca 26 GK Beltrán Hernández 27 DF Armando Escobar 28 DF Elbis 29 MF Rodrigo de Dios 30 DF Emiliano Espinoza 31 GK Nicolás Forastiero 32 GK Alfredo Cabañas 33 MF Pavel García 34 MF Édgar Jiménez 35 MF Adrián Sánchez 36 DF Axel Sánchez 37 DF Benedit Bello 38 MF Jefferson Tenorio

Retired Jersey Numbers

Sometimes, a team will stop using a jersey number to honor a special player.

• 12 – Félix Fernández, Goalkeeper (1989–98, 1999–01, 2002–03)

Reserve Teams

Atlante has reserve teams where younger players can develop their skills:

• Atlante Xalapa: This team plays in the Liga TDP, which is the fourth level of Mexican football.
• Atlante Chalco: This team also plays in the Liga TDP.

Top Goalscorers for Atlante

These players were the best scorers for Atlante in different seasons:

Dionisio "Nicho" Mejía	1927–28
Juan Carreño	1931–32
Alberto "Caballo" Mendoza	1939–40
Martí Ventolrà	1941–42
Bernardo "Manolete" Hernández	1967–68
Cabinho	1979–80
Cabinho	1980–81
Cabinho	1981–82
Luis García	1997 Invierno
Luis Gabriel Rey	2003 Apertura
Johan Fano	2010 Bicentenario
Esteban Paredes	2012 Apertura
Giancarlo Maldonado	2014 Apertura
Carlos Garcés	2015 Apertura

Atlante's Coaches Through the Years

Many different coaches have led Atlante FC over its long history. Here are some of them:

Coaches Who Won Championships

These coaches led Atlante to their league titles:

See also

In Spanish: Atlante Fútbol Club para niños