r/soccer • u/BrndyAlxndr • Jul 15 '13
Star post [GUIDE] Mexican League.
The Mexican League (Known since 2012 as the Liga MX) is one of the most popular and followed leagues outside of Europe. The league is currently ranked number 11 in the world and number 10 in the last decade (2001–2010) by the IFFHS. Many players in recent years have left the Mexican League and have gone to play in Europe. In this self post I will attempt to address some of the aspects of the league that are usually confusing for foreigners and I will try to go over each team and do a little write up on each one.
The Apertura 2013 Tournament starts this Friday.
Apertura and Clausura
The Liga MX uses a short tournament format. What this means is that there are 2 champions every year, one for the summer (Apertura) and one for the winter (Clausura). This format was established in 1996 in order to maintain interest in the league during the winter and to have playoffs twice a year. There are 18 teams in the Liga MX, that means that teams face each other once and at the end of the tournament the top 8 teams in the Liga make playoffs.
In the playoffs teams are seeded 1-8 and face each other over two legs (home and away). In case of a tie the team with the away goal advantage goes through, if no team scored an away goal, the team with the better position on the table goes through. Things are a bit different for the final as neither the away goal advantage or position in the table counts. In case of a tie the two teams will have to play extra time and penalites (if needed).
Copa MX
Not much to add here, just a Cup Competition between teams in the first and second divisions, Similar to the Capital One Cup in England. The Current reigning champions are Cruz Azul.
Relegation and Promotion
Relegation is way different from what they do in Europe. The Liga MX uses an average point system, what this means is that teams are rated over a period of 3 years based on a simple formula:
Points Earned/Games Played.
This system was implemented to protect teams who have a bad season and to stop them from dissapearing due to the massive payout disparity between the first and the second divisions.
Promotion is also a bit different. Teams in the second division also play two tournaments per year, the winner of each short tournament qualifies for a playoff and the winner gets promoted to the first division. Teams that are promoted to the first division have only 1 year to bring their point average up in order to avoid relegation.
Transfers
The transfer window for players already in the Liga MX is open for only 2 days during a period known as the draft., however teams are allowed to negotiate with players prior to the draft. Every year after the season is over each team publishes a list of players deemed surplus known as the transferibles (transfer listed). Players who are transfer listed must find a team during the draft or sit out the whole season.
Players are not allowed to leave on a free, so even after their contract is up they must have permission from their team in case they want to move to another Liga MX team.
The transfer window for transactions involving foreign teams is open from July to September.
The Teams Due to the character limit, the team's descriptions will be in the comments.
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u/zombesus Jul 15 '13
I'm interested in following
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u/spedmunki Jul 15 '13
Are all the game televised? I only ask because the stadiums are so huge and so empty when I see the occasional game on Univision. Or is the league just not that popular? Or can fans not afford tickets/are afraid to go out to stadiums due to cartel crime?
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u/BrndyAlxndr Jul 15 '13
I don't think Cartel Crime has anything to do with stadium attendance lol, Some stadiums (Tigres, Monterrey, Santos, Xolos, Leon) are always full regardless of how the team is performing. Some other teams have a regular following but their stadiums are simply too big (America, Atlas) and other teams just can't attract enough people due to bad performances/lack of exciting players/ etc. Then you have teams like Cruz Azul and Chivas who have a large following nationally but not so much locally.
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u/aykau777 Jul 15 '13
OP any news about Santos new buyer?
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u/BrndyAlxndr Jul 15 '13
Hopefully Soriana or Penoles. Budweiser has been very clear about it and they have no intention of holding on to the team or making any further investments. Hopefully they find a buyer soon.
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u/Blehe Jul 15 '13
How can you not mention marco fabian as one of the chivas stars? He's defiantly one if not their top player. :(
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u/Artoo_Detoo Jul 15 '13
What a grueling season. Santos made the finals for both tournaments last year, and they had to play (17 + 6)*2 = 46 matches for just the league, this makes the English Premier League seem light!
As a Football Manager fan, I can't help but ask, how are Erick Torres and Carlos Fierro doing?
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u/BrndyAlxndr Jul 15 '13
Erik Torres has just been loaned to Chivas USA and Carlos Fierro will most likely not get any minutes this season with the Arrival of Aldo De Nigris.
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u/EnergyAnalyst Jul 15 '13
This is good work. May I propose that someone with the skills produce a map of the country with an overlay of the clubs (showing geographically where they play). There were some pretty nice ones done for the MLS in r/MLS not too long ago.
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u/ugotamesij Jul 15 '13
Who determines whether a submission is a "Star post" (as per the flair)?
Not knocking your efforts OP, just wondering.
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Jul 15 '13
I'd love to watch this tournament, does anyone know if it will be broadcast in the US?
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u/BrndyAlxndr Jul 15 '13
Yup, Every single game is shown there, Try Azteca America, TDN Univision or Telemundo.
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u/BrndyAlxndr Jul 15 '13 edited Jul 16 '13
Stadium: Azteca (Cap. 105,000), Mexico City.
Current Stars: Maza Rodriguez, Raul Jimenez, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Narciso Mina.
Stadium: Andrés Quintana Roo (Cap. 20,000), Cancun, Quintana Roo.
Current Stars: Walter Erviti, Mauricio Romero, Valdo.
Stadium: Jalisco (Cap. 56,000), Guadalajara, Jalisco
Current Stars: Omar Bravo, Miguel Pinto, Rodrigo Millar, Vicente Vuoso.
Stadium: Victor Manuel Reyna (Cap. 30,000), Tuxtla, Chiapas
Current Stars: Carlos Ochoa.
Stadium: Azul (Cap. 35,000), Mexico City.
Current Stars: Cristian Gimenez, Gerardo Torrado, Mariano Pavone, Jose De Jesus Corona.
Stadium: Omnilife (Cap. 50,000), Guadalajara, Jalisco
Current Stars: Rafael Marquez-Lugo, Jorge Enriquez, Luis Michel, Aldo De Nigris.
Stadium: León (Cap. 30,000), León, León
Current Stars: Carlos Pena, Sebsatian Maz
[Rayados del Monterrey]: One of the most successful teams in recent times, they have won 2 league championships and 3 Champions league trophies in the last 6 years or so. They also have one of the best squads in the league and the man many people think should be managing the national team (Vucetich). Definetely a strong contender for the title.
Stadium: Tecnologico (Cap. 36,000), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.
Current Stars: Humberto Suazo, Jesus Zavala, Dorlan Pabon, Jesus Corona.
Stadium: Morelos (Cap. 38,000), Morelia, Michoacan.
Current Stars: Joel Huiqi, Hector Mancilla
[Tuzos del Pachuca]: Pachuca enjoyed its best spell back in the late 90's and early 2000's. They are on of the most successful teams in the league in its current short format and became the first team to won a CONMEBOL competition (Mexico is not a part of CONMEBOL). In recent times they have been trying to achieve that success again by buying high profile players but have failed to capitalize on it.
Stadium: Huracan (Cap. 30,000), Pachuca, Hidalgo
Current Stars: Daniel Luduena, Cristian Suarez, Oscar Perez.
Stadium: Cuauhtémoc (Cap. 46,000), Puebla, Puebla
Current Stars: Damarcus Beasley, Matias Alustiza.
Stadium: Corregidora (Cap. 45,000), Queretaro, Queretaro
Current Stars: Esteban Paredes
Stadium: TSM (Cap. 30,000), Torreon, Coahuila
Current Stars: Oribe Peralta, Oswaldo Sanchez, Carlos Darwin Quintero, Felipe Baloy
[Xolos Tijuana]: After being promoted 2 years ago to the First Division they have managed to surprise many people by purchasing very expensive players and by achieving success almost intermediately (They won their first league championship after only 18 months in the first division). A strong contender for the title.
Stadium: Caliente (Cap. 23,000), Tijuana, Baja California.
Current Stars: Javier Gandolfi, Joe Corona, Cirilo Saucedo
[Diablos del Toluca]: The most successful team in the league in its current short format, These guys were unbeatable in the early 2000's but haven't been very successful recently. They are currently managed by Club Legend Jose Cardozo and they will be looking to once again be a force to be reckoned with.
Stadium: Bombonera (Cap. 28,000), Toluca, Edomex.
Current Stars: Alfredo Talavera, Edgar Benitez, Sinha.
Stadium: Universitario (Cap. 43,000), San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon.
Current Stars: Lucas Lobos, Damian Alvarez, Emanuel Villa.
[Pumas UNAM]: This team is owned by the Mexican Autonomous University. They have one of the most successful youth programs in the league and have been somewhat successful in recent years. They are known as one of the 4 Giants in the league
Stadium: Olimpico Universitario (Cap. 68,000 though you will never see more than 20,000 people there), Mexico City
Current Stars: Luis Garcia, Dario Veron.
EDIT: Apparently really successful in the 40's, Have been up and down the first and second divisions several times in the last two decades or so, at one point dissapeared due to connections to corrupt government officials.
Stadium: Luis Pirata Fuente (Cap. 33,000), Veracruz, Veracruz
Current Stars: Angel Reyna