El Súper Clásico (English: The Super Classic), also known as El Clásico (The Classic), El Clásico de Clásicos (The Classic of Classics), and El Clásico Nacional (The National Classic), is an association football match between Mexican clubs Club América and Guadalajara. It is considered the biggest rivalry in Mexican football,[2] and one of the biggest in world football.[3][4]
Both teams are the two most successful in Mexican football in terms of championships, with Club América winning 15 league titles and Guadalajara trailing them with 12.They are also known for their extensive fan bases throughout Mexico and the United States and are both the most popular teams. The clubs are also uniquely identified by their histories; Club América is considered the club of the wealthy and establishment, as they are known for signing Mexican and foreign players, as well as the fact that they are located in Mexico City and are owned by media conglomerate Televisa, while Guadalajara are known for exclusively fielding Mexican players, the only club in the country to do so.
It is the only derby in the world that has been showcased in two distinct continental tournaments, both the Copa Libertadores and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
As of 14 September 2024, Club América leads the all-time head-to-head results between the two with 97 wins to Guadalajara's 79, with 81 matches ending in a draw.
History
The first confrontation between what are considered the two most popular teams in Mexico[5] ended with a victory for Guadalajara with a score of 1–0.[6] The rivalry began to flourish after the second match, when Chivas defeated Club América with a score of 7–2 In the year of 1943. Although the huge defeat sparked embarrassment within the ranks of Club América, it was almost two decades before the rivalry became the Clásico that is known today. Initially, Club América was struggling in the Mexican League. Halfway through the 1957–58 tournament, Club América had only managed to win six points, placing them in last place in the overall standings. In danger of finishing lower in the standings, the club hired Fernando Marcos, a retired player and referee. By the 1958–59 tournament, Marcos had transformed the team into a contender for the title. Although Club América 's level rose, Chivas was playing tactical football that was giving them good results. After the 1957–1958 tournament, in which Club Zacatepec was crowned champions, Chivas managed to win a record six consecutive titles.
The late 1950s through the mid-1960s could be considered the best era in Chivas' history. During this time period, Chivas won the majority (7) of their eleven league titles, only interrupted twice in 1958 and 1963, by Zacatepec and Club Deportivo Oro respectively. Although Club América , or any other Mexican club for that matter, never achieved the same success in such a short period of time, an equally impressive feat is achieved much later by Club América.
Mexican football had drastically evolved by the 1980s. The period of football domination between two teams was certainly over. Although absolute parity is never achievable, competition was more evenly distributed throughout the football clubs competing in the México Primera División. The 1980s is perhaps the best decade in Club América's history. Up until then, no other club had managed the incredible success of Chivas. During this time period, Club América won five titles in the course of five years. First, starting in 1984, a series of three consecutive titles, followed by two consecutive titles starting in 1988. Club América achieved what no other team has achieved in present-era Mexican football. Despite consistency from both Chivas and Club América , after Club América's glorious years and long after Chivas' golden age, the two teams have only managed to win four titles between them, two apiece.
Riot of 1983
In the second leg of the semi-finals of the 1982–83 season, players of both two teams sparked a brawl better known as "La Bronca del '83" ("The Riot of '83"), which resulted in Chivas going onto play Puebla in the final by eliminating Club América during that playoff.[7]
The following season Club América would get to play Chivas once again in the 1983–1984 final in which Club América came from behind on aggregate to defeat Chivas, in to date the only league final disputed between the two teams.
In between the seasons of 1983 through the year 2000, Club América showed dominance over Chivas recording an impressive record of only 6 losses out of 43 matches against Chivas.
2000s
One of the most memorable games played between Chivas and Club América during the Clausura 2005 tournament took place on 13 March in the Estadio Azteca. The game started with a goal by Pável Pardo at the 15th minute of the game. Club América would then attempt to solidify its hold on the game when, in the 38th minute, Óscar Rojas scored the second goal, capitalizing on a pass from Cuauhtémoc Blanco. During the 42nd minute of the game, with the first half about to conclude, Héctor Reynoso scored one of the most beautiful goals of his career, making the score 2–1. Francisco Palencia would score the 100th goal of his career in the 58th minute, tying the score 2–2. But Club América would again take the lead when, at the 78th minute, Pável Pardo made an excellent pass to Claudio López who didn't waste the opportunity to penetrate the gaping goal tended by Oswaldo Sánchez. However, things wouldn't end there. Three minutes before the game ended, Palencia would make his 101st goal as a result of a magnificent play involving Ramón Morales and Alberto Medina. The score was tied 3–3 although Chivas attempted yet another goal that came from Palencia.
In 2007, Club América set the record for most wins in a year by defeating Chivas four times.
In 2016, Club América and Guadalajara met a record seven times between league matches (including play-offs) and their semifinal Copa MX meeting. Club América came out ahead with a note-worthy record of three victories, two draws and two defeats. In the two playoff-round meetings, Club América went undefeated against Guadalajara, with a record of two victories and two draws.
A listing of the many footballers who have played for both Guadalajara and Club America :
Note:On May 26, 2013, Francisco Javier Rodriguez became the first player ever in the history of Mexican football to champion with both teams. First having championed with Chivas on December 10, 2006. On December 17, 2023, Alejandro Zendejas became the second player in history to champion with both teams. First having championed with Chivas on May 28, 2017.
Salvador Mota – withClub América: 1942–1944 / withGuadalajara: 1944–48 ?
Carlos Iturralde – withGuadalajara: 1950–1951 / withAmerica: 1952–1956
Bruce El-mesmari – Club América (2023-2024), Guadalajara (2024–present)
Rodolfo Cota – Guadalajara (2015–2018), Club América (2024–present)
Alan Cervantes – Guadalajara (2017–2020), Club América (2024–present)
Other special notes**
In the cases of Oribe Peralta and Luis Ernesto Perez, Peralta then a player of CF Monterrey was out on loan to Guadalajara for the 2005 edition of the Copa Libertadores playing in four matches. He did not score a single goal. In May 2014, Peralta was transferred from Santos Laguna to Club América. The same happened with Luis Ernesto Perez in 2007, Perez was then a player for CF Monterrey but was loaned to Club América for that year's edition of the Copa Libertadores.
In the case of Ángel Reyna, Reyna was suspended from Chivas' A squad in September 2015 due to disputes. With the firing of Jose Manuel de la Torre of whom Reyna had feuded with for some time and with the coming of Matias Almeyda, Reyna was left out of training sessions and coming matches. Reyna's contract with Chivas was officially terminated on March 9, 2016.[10]
Managers
Several managers have led on both squads. Walter Ormeño and Oscar Ruggeri played for Club América and later managed rival Guadalajara. Luis Fernando Tena served Guadalajara as player in 1983 and later managed Club América in 2006-07. He then replaces Tomás Boy at Guadalajara in September 2019. Ricardo La Volpe (**) is the only manager to have served both squads in more than one occasion. Ignacio Ambríz became the first Mexican manager to lead in both.
György Orth – Guadalajara (1946–1949); América (1950–1951)
Walter Ormeño – Club América (1969–1970); Guadalajara (1972–1973)
Miguel Ángel López – Club América (1984–1987 & 1992–1993); Guadalajara (1989–1991)
Carlos Miloc – Guadalajara (1979–1980); Club América (1991)
Ricardo La Volpe ** – Guadalajara (1989 & 2014); Club América (1996 & 2016–2017)
Leo Beenhakker – Club América (1994–1995 & 2003–2004); Guadalajara (1996)
Oscar Ruggeri – Guadalajara (2001–2002); Club América (2004)
Ignacio Ambríz – Guadalajara (2012); Club América (2015–2016)
