Los Rojinegros, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, are one of the oldest clubs in Mexican football history and celebrated a major milestone this weekend.
Fifteen years after Pachuca—often known as “la cuna del fútbol mexicano” (the cradle of Mexican football)—became the first Mexican club to achieve this feat, Atlas have now joined them.
In October, Club América, Mexico’s most decorated football team, will join the list, with Necaxa set to etch their name in the country’s sporting history in 2033.
The country did have other teams, like Orizaba Athletic Club and Reforma Athletic Club, who were both founded before Atlas and even Pachuca; however, neither team exists now.
Atlas’ biggest achievements
Atlas are often considered one of the biggest teams in Mexico, whether it’s for their achievements on the pitch or for their diehard, loyal fanbase, which has stuck by the club throughout its long periods without silverware.
Rising to the top of Mexican football for the first time in 1950, many at that time probably wouldn’t have predicted that they would have to wait 80 years to return to the summit.
Well, that’s unfortunately what happened. Until 2021, when a Liguilla penalty shootout led them to glory over Club León. 81 years of hurt and pain came to an end as Atlas finished runners-up twice since their last moment in the sun.
At that point, many didn’t know how to react or even to trust the final result. Fans have had to watch on the sidelines whilst their biggest rivals, Chivas Guadalajara, became one of the most successful teams in the league, winning 12 Liga MX titles.
What Atlas would have never believed is that six months later, they would do it again! After lifting the Apertura, they became only the third team ever to become Bicampeones after a narrow two-legged final saw them edge past Pachuca for back-to-back glory.
How did Atlas celebrate their special birthday?
Los Rojinegros marked the occasion with a meeting against Tigres at the Estadio Jalisco in a game that had it all.
In front of a full-capacity crowd, the fans generated an electric atmosphere before the players even took to the pitch. Just two minutes in, the stadium erupted as Manuel Capasso met an Artúro González free kick with a glancing header to put Atlas ahead.
The lead would only last for twenty minutes when the home side were caught in midfield before Juan Brunetta fired to bring Tigres back into the game.
Things seemed to go from bad to worse for the birthday boys as Juan Purata was handed a straight red card against his former side after a reckless challenge on Brunetta.
Despite the setback, Atlas regained the lead with just ten minutes remaining. After working the ball into the Tigres half, Luis Esteves took aim from 25 yards, but the tame effort proved too much for Nahuel Guzmán to handle, slipping through his fingers and rolling over the goal line.
As they did in the first half, Atlas looked destined to lose their lead once again in the second, only moments after scoring their second goal of the game, when Gustavo Ferrareis brought down Diego Sánchez in the box.
Up stepped Brunetta, Tigres’ go-to talisman, but the Argentine’s nonchalant penalty was easily parried away by Camilo Vargas in the Atlas net, ensuring that Los Rojinegros would mark the special day with maximum points.
How are Atlas doing this season?
The side from Guadalajara have made a great start to the Liga MX season, winning three of their opening four games, with a matchday three loss to Monterrey being their only letdown.
As for the Leagues Cup, Atlas failed to reach the quarterfinal with defeats to Columbus Crew and Charlotte FC stunting their progression.
There’s reason to be optimistic for Atlas this season, having welcomed new owners to the club with ambitions to spend big to make an immediate impact.
Previously owned by Grupo Orlegi, which also owns fellow Liga MX side Santos Laguna, the sale of the club to Grupo Prodi will allow Atlas to operate with a greater focus on their own development and long-term growth.
