As Mexico gears up for the start of Liga MX's Clausura 2016 season, VAVEL USA introduces the 18 teams of Liga MX.

Club America Nickname: Las Aguilas (The Eagles) Location: Mexico City, Mexico Stadium: Estadio Azteca Rivals: Chivas De Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, Pumas. Veracruz - Playing on the east coast of Mexico, Veracruz finds themselves in a familiar position - trying to stave off relegation. Only founded in 2007, Tijuana has raised through the ranks from the goals of the ambitious owners. Don't get any ideas. Morelia is club with a long history. ^[p=jsh&!"D84fm:dm{:,0v]{laz.oBCDH9QH"`#!

Luis Roberto Alves: Zague got the job done, he wasn't the most technical player, but managed to score 167 times in 436 appearances with Amrica. After a superb performance at the 1934 World Cup qualifier, de la Fuente signed with Racing de Santander; he played one season before returning to Mexico.

What you need to know: The kings of the short tournament, Toluca is third all-time with league titles with ten. Santos has no real rivals. While winning Liga MX only four times, theyve gone on to win the CONCACAF Champions League three times in succession from 2010-11 to 2012-13. Snchez won the Pichichi award five times, four of them with Real Madrid, and helped the Merengues secure five La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three Supercopas de Espaa. He signed for the Sounders in June 2018.

1)So what do Buffalo supporters need to know about Monarcas Morelia as a club? La Tota was the first player to appear in five World Cups (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 and 1966). Ricardo Pelez: He was tough, fast and had a superb header. Tigres biggest rivalry is with Monterrey. Turn up early, tailgate, and join the party, rather than watching from the side! 3CfB`2a*M>Y* f"?u60eS~Oo%t]z9UOuL~JW] Mexican National Team goalkeeper Alfredo Tala Talavera and midfielder Rubens Sambueza are the players to pay attention to. Borgetti was a clever striker and especially accurate when it came to headers. Two of those goals came at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, both times in penalty kicks. Juan Francisco Palencia: El Gatillero retired from football in 2011 after 22 years of success with Cruz Azul, Espanyol, Chivas, Chivas USA and UNAM. Under the guidance of Ricardo Tuca Ferretti since 2010 (an eternity in Liga MX), Tigres has won three of their five titles and are the current Liga MX champions.

With the face. Surez is one of the toughest center-backs the country has seen. What you need to know: One of Mexicos two most popular clubs and biggest clubs. Its quite rare to see a Liga MX game in which one of the teams sits back and plays entirely on the counter-attack. Hey, you. Within the year they won the 2012 Apertura and made it to the semifinals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores. Is it similar? His performance in both tournaments was enough for PSV Eindhoven to sign him. Theyre one half of El Clsico Regiomontano with fellow Monterrey club Tigres in one of the most heated rivalries in Mexico. What you need to know: The second team in Mexicos second city, Club Atlas is best known for only winning one title which happened in 1951, but having possibly the more loyal fan base in Mexico. He played four seasons with the Red and Whites before moving to Real Madrid, where he spent seven years playing with some of the finest footballers. Its a unique experience, especially when theres a big game on. Pachuca - Playing in Pachuca in east-central Mexico, Los Tuzos (The Gophers) have won Liga MX six times and were last promoted in 1998. They are winners of seven domestic titles including winning back to back championships in the Apertura 13 and Clausura 14. During his club career he scored 252 goals and was the first Mexican to play in the English Premier League. He was strong and played two World Cups with El Tri. Reyes also wore Mexico national team jersey and played in three World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1966. Chivas De Guadalajara Nicknames: Las Chivas (Goats), Las Chivas Rayadas (The Stripped Goats), El Rebano Sangrado (The Sacred Herd) Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco Stadium: Estadio Omnilife Rivals: Club America, Club Atlas. So one of the first things you should do is pick a team to follow. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily.

He has played with El Tri since 2004, which equals to 103 caps. One of Mexicos most winningest clubs with eight titles, but their last domestic title came in 1997.

window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { What you need to know: One of Mexicos best ran clubs with one of Mexicos most loyal fan bases. Their biggest rivals are Ascenso MX club Atlante. forms: { No charge (function() { From the birria (stew) outside the stadiums to the color, the way fans mingle unlikely to happen in many European or South American countries and the passion that accompanies Mexicos number one sport, it something that sucks you in. French club Monaco bought him, when he was just 20 years old. Between 1991 and 1999, Luis Garca appeared in 79 games wearing El Tri's jersey and scored 29 times. While theyve won eleven only two have come in the last 25 years. The team has the most titles (12), plays in the biggest stadium (Estadio Azteca, where the Mexican National Team plays), and has some of the biggest stars in Miky Arroyo and Oribe Peralta. The club motto is Odiame Mas or Hate Me More. Chiapas FC Nicknames: Jaguares (Jaguars), Los Felinos (The Felines) Location: Gutierrez, Chiapas Stadium: Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna. {^o= 7H WD;rL"{Kb!Mj4LhN`{_GP;8kyK"saP\Loi!{T8l% Y{{[67?I$/XJ ?l8MX'~ p)hKsdk98 7 "CJY7|Ucxl]o{ |#WN}!.c"w7l5Zd$o&)/ '%F z`8 `mHs `UWSe8 Zi4IPSc],drMD)4JMT K e:$7XznSA" !q ~Z?G8r3=oq[9H3^1WS0l yU+h%B0)lM`+ZSA7 2 VPg*>YaYx],1'4Bh3_ujFoX*/K-7byjNr`1vi*infm:L{0;h6-T}1ZQy8 jT|BB*pY -HD.U'(# W+2!FF0t [jF. It was precisely from the left band that he created most of the plays; sometimes he finished them himself and in others he distributed the ball to the strikers. Monarcas doesnt have a real rivalry with anyone. Founded in 1924, Monarcas have become one of the more regular teams in Mexico in recent years, although winning trophies hasnt been something the club has become known for. In general, Mexican football is more technical, theres a commitment to playing out from the back, along the ground and going out to attack. With Tijuana, theyre one of two clubs currently doing English-language social media. They have a lot of fans on both sides of the border, and describe themselves as un equipo sin fronteras - a club without borders. Tiburones Rojos De Veracruz Nicknames: Los Tiburones Rojos (The Red Sharks), Los Tiburones (The Sharks) Location: Veracruz, Veracruz Stadium: Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes Rivals: Puebla FC. Their biggest rivalry is with Chivas in El Sper Clsico, although they have local rivalries against Cruz Azul and UNAM Pumas. Other players to watch are Cape Verdean forward Djaniny and Uruguayan forward Jonathan Rodrguez. )JV7#[6Ti+3?B=Ha-y?y VHOfbQ%QG^d?pHdP:j1 SkoL[!74h)>Qhhe@cs,]8$\|Jl;3?t9wXF~mh6:mf5:)VY+ F/&>c,[\s|fK&IXZtYU&-t jU,|:=!jM Veracruz and Puebla have a rivalry known as El Clsico Del Sur. Puebla - Playing in the eponymous central Mexican city, Puebla has fallen on hard times lately. Cuauhtmoc became a key player for El Tri in 1999 at the Confederations Cup, where he scored six times and received the Silver Ball and Silver Boot. He played the 1950 FIFA World Cup and he retired as the all-time Mexican scorer, with 256 goals to his count. Leon made the playoffs last season again, and will look to battle for another spot in the top eight of the table. The club has invested heavily in their new training grounds and youth products and hasa very Euro style ran club. Now that Liga MX will stream matches in English, you need to pick a team. C.F. Now they only have 17 games to try and stay in the first division. For you? had one of the best views of any stadium in the world. Not very flashy, theyve only won the league once - back in 1950-51, although in recent years theyve usually been in the middle of the table. Puebla F.C. Keep following VAVEL USA all week for more on the lead up to the start of la Liga MX season. Their last title came in 2007, and includes one of five league championships. In 1939 he left to Uruguay and played for Corrales, then he traveled to Argentina and joined Vlez Srsfield. Manuel Negrete has been internationallyacclaimedthanks to his spectacular scissor kick goal against Bulgaria in the 1986 World Cup. What you need to know: A team with one of the most loyal fan bases in Mexico, but that has had their struggle with relegation and money management that has seen the team dissolve and return more than a time or two. Carbajal is the only Mexican player that has received theFIFA Order of Merit. Oswaldo Snchez was named best goalkeeper of the 2005 Confederations Cup and the third bestgoalkeeperof the 2006 World Cup. /Rttm%fH~ }iw:w They also are fourth from the bottom of the relegation table. Theyre the defending champions and Copa Libertadores runner ups. After a changing ofthe guard, Tijuana are now under the guidance of Miguel Herrera. Hugo was recognized by the IFFHS as CONCACAF's best Player of the Century and named in Real Madrids all-time greatest XI. They are second behind hated rival America for most titles at eleven.

Chivas Guadalajara - The Los Angeles Dodgers to Amricas New York Yankees, Chivas are inarguably one of Mexico - and the Western Hemispheres - best known teams. What you need to know: One of Mexicos original clubs, Pachuca is one of Mexican soccers gems. Morelia itself is a colonial city with lots of rose-colored buildings and a population of just under one million people. Tolucas biggest rivals are Toros Neza in the Segunda Division (which is the third division in Mexico), and they play in the Clsico Mexiquense. Cruz Azul has won the league eight times, and has made the playoffs more often than not in recent history. Last year they lost in heart breaking fashion to Tigres in penaltiesin the finals. Len - La Fiera (The Beast) was only promoted back into Liga MX in 2012, however has a rich history in the top flight, having their names engraved on the Liga MX trophy seven times. 3) How about the match day atmosphere in Mexico? window.mc4wp.listeners.push( His physical attributes set him as a strong, fast and skillful footballer.

Head coach Tomas Boy is known for his attacking minded soccer, and outburst with opposing coaches, players, and media personal. He currently plays for Dorados de Sinaloa of the Ascenso MX (promotion league). The club also has players who hold both Mexican and American citizenship, including Joe Corona, Michael Orozco, Alejandro Guido, and Paul Arriola, and their biggest rivals are Len (although they share a bit of a friendly rivalry with MLS LA Galaxy). In 1966 he scored Mexico's sole goal in the World Cup, against France. What you need to know: The most eastern team in Mexico is found on the coastal town of Veracruz, in the state under the same name.

Los Tiburones (The Sharks) have two Liga MX titles, both of which came shortly after World War II. Every year in later summer/autumn the butterflies take off from the northern areas of the United States and Canada and migrate south, with millions ending up in the monarch butterfly biosphere reserve, which is a world heritage site in the state of Michoacan, of which Morelia is the capital. The first Mexican to win the UEFA Champions League is considered by many the best defender in the country's football history. hAdY$NUAPbD4I-s Nicknames: Los Camoteros (The Sweet Potatoers) Location: Puebla, Puebla Stadium: Estadio Cuauhtmoc Rivals: Veracruz. They also have had their downs including spending almost 10 years in the second division until winning promotion in 2012. Its more usual to see two teams go out and attack each other. Antonio Mohamed, who has won titles with Tijuana and America, will have pressure on him this year to deliver on the bench for Monterrey as they missed the playoffs last year and hated rivals Tigres look to be winning everything in sight. Their best known player is midfielder Christian Hobbit Bermdez, and they dont have a real rivalry with any teams (although some fans are probably still upset at the original Jaguares moving to Quertaro).

He had superb ball control and pass accuracy, combined with making good choices. They are one of the least popular and forgotten teams in Mexico and usually a mid-table team. They play in the historic Cuauhtmoc Stadium. Xolos Tijuana - Playing just minutes south of San Diego, Xolos is celebrating their 10th anniversary as a club this season. Pelez scored twice in the 1998 World Cup against South Korea and the Netherlands.

Theyre an exciting team and one to keep an eye on with players like Hugo Rodriguez, Rodolfo Pizarro, Hirving Lozano, and Erick Gutierrez. Garca set the scoring record for a Mexican in his debut season; he had 20 goals in 1992/1993. He only played for two clubs in his career: Real Club Espaa (1948-1950), which he left because the squad wasdissolved, and Len (1950-1966). Their main rival is Club America in whats own as El Clsico Capitalino based on both teams playing in Mexico City. From goalkeepers to strikers here's a list of some of the finest footballers that Mexico has had in its history. Jared Borgetti played for Atlas, Santos Laguna, Dorados, Pachuca, Bolton Wanderers, Al-Ittihad, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Morelia and Len.