The next Liga MX tournament will revolve around the Atlante, as key characters have histories in the Iron Colts.
MEXICO – In it Liga MX situations and characters are arranged in such a way that the Guardians 2021 will get a Barça flavor.
Today more than ever Atlas appears in various fringes of the first tournament of the new year, despite participating in the Expansion competition. Coaches, players and managers who once defended their colors somehow represent the so-called people’s team from the first date of the competition.
ESPN Digital presents the figures that will reinforce the tournament of the first semester of Mexican football, with an Atlantic past:
JAVIER AGUIRRE
Javier Aguirre will lead Monterrey on his return to Mexico, after working abroad for about 20 years.
‘Vasco’ Aguirre’s trajectory as a club-level coach began with Atlante, although he also defended the colors from 1984 to 86 in his player phase. Coach Miguel Mejía Barón ordered him to retire as a footballer to add him to his coaching staff. in the Mexican national team in the World Cup cycle to the United States 1994.
Alejandro Burillo, then director of the national teams, paid him training as a coach and gave him the opportunity to make his debut at the helm of Atlante in 1996 to direct 11 games; after that he became Mejía Barón’s assistant in the team again, but with the experience of knowing what it was like to lead in the First Division.
SANTIAGO SOLARI
After playing in Argentina, Spain and Italy, The Argentinian Santiago Solari practically played his last season as a professional at Atlante; This happened in the 2009-2010 campaign to the great surprise of everyone. Santiago Solari has been a player for River Plate, Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, as well as Inter Milan, and his arrival in Mexico caused a stir. Although he was not a player to make a difference, his name always stood out from others, also because of his relationship with Jorge ‘Indio’ Solari, his uncle, and Eduardo Solari, his father. It is worth noting that Santiago in its Atlantean phase was led by Jose Guadalupe Cruz.
VÍCTOR MANUEL VUCETICH
Victor Manuel Vucetichtechnician Chivas, made his debut as a professional football player in 1978 wearing the Atlante shirt in a game against Curtidores. He fought with the equines for two years until he was sold to Oaxtepec. His baptism as a coachman was also given the Barça colors. In the 1988-89 season, the so-called ‘King Midas’ had the opportunity to lead Potros Neza, then a subsidiary of Atlante’s Second Division. In 1989, he was promoted to the First Division with a team that usually became champions with the Colts in 1993.
IGNACIO AMBRIZ
The current technical champion of Liga MX with León, Nacho Ambriz, got the chance to wear the Iron Colts jacket when he was signed by the Barça team in 1996. Ambriz became an Atlantic element after living his best years as a professional footballer with the Rays of Necaxa, with which he participated in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. After defending for the Equines for two seasons, he was transferred to Puebla.
THE ‘PROPH’ CROSS
Jose Guadalupe Cruz, current helmsman of the NecaxaHe made his professional debut for Atlante in 1988. He was part of the group that celebrated the title of the First Division in 1993, led by Ricardo La Volpe. He had a second phase as a player from 1991 to 97 and fate gave him the opportunity to rejoin the club as a quarterback.
Atlante also opened the doors of technical direction for him, leaving the team in 2004. It did not go well that year, but on his return since made the Colts champion in 2007, when the team was already playing in Cancun.
SANTIAGO BATHS
The Barça representation of America is its president, Santiago Banos, 44 years old. The former defender and the medium of containment started playing for Necaxa in 1995 and was hired by Atlante seven years later. In the Colts, he began his relationship with Miguel Herrera, who made his debut as a coach in 2002. He lent his services to the institution for two years, since then he emigrated to Monterrey.
GUILLERMO CANTÚ
The president of Bravos de Juárez, Guillermo Cantú, has a blood connection with the Barça colors. His presentation as a professional player took place in 1998 at Potros Neza, in the Second Division, and the following year he was already part of Atlante in the highest category. He defended the shirt for eight years, during which time he won a league title in the 1992-93 season.
FERNANDO NAVARRO
De León also has a Barça contribution with the lateral defense Fernando Navarro, who, despite having started in the Pumas base forces with the Colts, made the leap to the First Division. He didn’t have to become a champion in 2007, when Atlante was crowned against Pumas in his first tournament in Cancun, but he did play a Club World Cup and compete against Barcelona and claim the title in the Concacaf Champions League.
Fernando Navarro starred in the Green Belly Finals crowned Guardians 2020 and he’s going for another similar year, but now flashing with Barça.