Impulsora del Deportivo Necaxa S.A. de C.V. (); often simply known as Club Necaxa, is a Mexican professional football club based in Aguascalientes. It competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football. It was founded on August 21, 1923 in Mexico City by the Scottish-born engineer William H. Fraser. In 2003, it changed its headquarters to the city of Aguascalientes, in the Aguascalientes. The team plays its home games at Estadio Victoria.
The club has 12 titles in its record (three in the League, four in the Copa MX, two in the Champion of Champions, one in the Supercopa MX, one in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and one in the CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup), as well as four Ascenso MX titles and two as winners of the promotion series. It was the first team to win the double in Mexico, winning the League and the Cup in the same season, this in 1932-33, thus taking the nickname Campeonísimo, becoming the first team in Mexican football to carry that nickname.
At the international level and beyond its confederation titles, the club's most notable performance was obtaining third place in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship held in Brazil.
It occupies 7th place in the list of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics of the Club of the Century of North and Central America (1901-2000), being the best-placed Mexican club.
Fraser supported the newly merged team with company revenue and funds. In addition, the Light and Power Company offered steady employment to players in an era where half of the players were playing at an amateur level.La serie Mexico Nuevo Siglo: Rueda de la Fortuna Los Rayos However, the Mexican football federation did not allow teams to be named after private companies, so the team changed its name to Necaxa, after the Necaxa River that was close to the electrical plant.
Historians assert that the colors and Necaxa's crest came from following the arrival of the Cornish community in Mexico,Logan James (reprint 1976). The Scottish Gael Or Celtic Manners. John Donald Publishers Ltd. pp. 249–250. . the Cornish community flourished and stayed in Central Mexico until the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Although the Cornish community in Mexico broadly returned to Cornwall, they left a cultural legacy; Cornish pasties, Cornish mining museums, a Cornish Mexican Cultural Society and football, are part of the local heritage and tradition in and around Mineral del Monte. "The Cornish in Mexico" , bbc.co.uk, 30 September 2008, retrieved 2009-09-07 In 1923, it was decided Necaxa team would field players regardless of race and nationality.
In that era, the team was called "Los Electricistas" ( The Electricians). The team adopted the colors red and white as their team colors, earning them the nickname "Los roji-blancos". During this period, the oldest rivalry in Mexican football began to form, between Necaxa and Atlante F.C.
On 14 September 1930, having already been a two-time champion of the amateur Copa Eliminatoria, Necaxa inaugurated its stadium Parque Necaxa, located on the banks of La Piedad River on land donated by the Fraser Family. The stadium had a maximum capacity for 15,000 fans, and was known for its clock tower displaying the team's emblem.
Necaxa, in the early days of Mexican Football were members of the Mexican Amateur Association Football League Primera Fuerza, composed of Atlante F.C., Club España, Germania FV, and seasoned and disciplined team Asturias. Necaxa won championships during the 1932–33, 1934–35, 1936–37, and 1937–38 seasons.
The following season after the stadium's opening, players such as Hilario López and Luis Pérez contributed to the team's success, leading Necaxa to the League final against Atlante, losing 3–2.
But Necaxa would rebound the next season, smashing Atlante by a 9–0 score. The lineup Necaxa used on that day was:
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During this decade, Necaxa became one of the most popular teams in Mexico. Under the direction of the Ernst Pauler, Necaxa, in one season of play (1935–36), the team dominated and won titles ranging from Champion of Champions, Champion of the Liga Mayor De La Ciudad, National Champion of League, National Champion and Central American Champions. Their last title was the Central American Championship in El Salvador.
1935 Caribbean games lineup
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"Paco" Martinez de la Vega, an aficionado, would coin the surname for the first time "Campeonismo" or "Championshipism", which Necaxa would later use to justify their achievements and titles.
In that same year, a talented striker gained popularity within Necaxa's benches. Even though he was not one of the original "once hermano" or "eleventh brother" Horacio Casarìn, was a great player in the Mexican league national ranks. His success took him to the big screen in Mexican Cinema.
Necaxa's "Once Hermanos" lineup
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In the late sixties, Necaxa played football in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. A modern lighting system in Estadio Azteca was inaugurated on 5 June 1966 with the first night game between Valencia CF and Necaxa. The first goal of the game was scored by Honduran José Cardona. In this game Roberto Martínez o Caña Brava scored the first goal made by a Mexican. Estadio Azteca was the largest stadium in Latin America, and the fifth largest stadium in the world. It is known throughout North America and South America as the home stadium for the Mexico national football team.
Throughout the 1950s Necaxa struggled financially to keep afloat. In 1955, large debts obliged Necaxa to sell the majority of its star players. Miguel Ramierz Vazquez a new owner, contracted the services of the coach Donald Ross, who eventually took Guadalajara to a championship 1957, beginning a road to stability, yet not winning championships.
The electricians won the Title cup in 1960 and the following year, in the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Olympic stadium, "the electricians" defeated Rey Pele and the club and team of the Santos of Brazil 4–3 in an official match of that year's "Exagonal" tournament. "Morocho" Dante Juarez assisted in two victorious goals in Necaxa's win over the Santos de Brazil.
Through the early 1960s, Necaxa struggled financially until it was sold. New owners, Julio Orvañanos, brought a championship in 1965–66.
The case of Carlos Albert begins with a small group of veteran footballers in the spring of 1969. Club Necaxa Veteran players petitioned the organization for better wages and argued that as a team and group, they have always responded to the team's performance. Carlos Albert was the face of the disagreement between the players and management.
Albert was listed by Necaxa Management as transferable and was retained on half his salary. He asked management to void his contract in order, to avoid loss of income and to be able to continue playing in the League with another team. Necaxa Management did not accept his request.
The courts ruled in favour of Albert on Thursday 8 October 1971, and Necaxa was forced to pay MX$77,000 to Carlos Albert. Due to the will of managements unfair psychological abuse and labour malpractice, This case forced a cause to action from several players to request better treatment and more rights for Necaxa football players.
In 1975, the organization won their only international title in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, playing the final against Transvaal of Suriname and defeating them 5–1 on aggregate. In 1973–74, they reached the final against Cruz Azul. They played a two-legged tie in which the Atlético Español won the first leg 2–1 but lost the second 3–0, becoming sub champion of the league.
Players who distinguished themselves in Atlético Español were the Brazilian striker Carlos Eloir Perucci, Ricardo Brandón, Salvador Plascencia,'Sabanita' Rivera, Juan Santillán, and Tomás Boy, under the direction of Miguel Marín, 'the Witch' Gutiérrez, Enrique Díaz and 'Chucho' Prado and the Chiliean Prieto.
In 1982, the Spanish ownership within the Federal District of Mexico city sold the franchise. A new group of Mexican businessmen purchased Necaxa in 1982, then telecommunications Giant Grupo Televisa returned the organization's original name from 1971 and opened its training facilities in Cuautitlán Izcalli in the state of Mexico. The ownership renamed the franchise Necaxa by 1982 after the cultural and historical importance of the franchise in Mexican football. While Mexico experienced a crisis called "the Lost Decade" or "La Decada Perdida" in the 1980s and early 1970s, Necaxa in the 1980s struggled against two relegation matches. One at the end of the 1982–83 season against Zacatepec and another by the end of the 1984–85 season against Leones Universidad de Guadalajara.
Atlético Español footballers: Goalkeepers: Julito Aguilar, Jan Gomola, Goyo Cortez, Enrique Vazquez del Mercado, Defense: El Pimienta Rico, Juan Manuel Alvarez, Mario Trejo, Midfielder: Juan Carlos Rodriguez Vega, Manuel Manzo, Benito Buen Hombre Pardo, Tomas Boy. Forwards: Juan Manuel Borbolla, J.J. Muñante, Romano, Carlos Eloir Perucci, El Cachito Ramirez, Ricardo Brandon, Pio Tabaré Gonzalez, Juan Carlos Rossete. Raúl 'El Cora Isiordia", y Alejandro Romanh.
In the 1989 and 1990 season, director of football operations Anibal Ruiz acquired the services of the Ecuadorian midfielder, Álex Aguinaga, one of the iconic figures of the Necaxa in the 1990s and one of the most talented foreign players who has ever set foot on Mexican soil.
Necaxa has a great season, previously in the 1980s they battled twice against México Primera División's regulations of the Mexican League. In that year Necaxa reached the finals losing to Pumas of the University of Mexico. The following season Aníbal Ruiz was replaced with new coach, the Argentine ex-defender, Eduardo Luján Manera who contracted the services of the Chilean Ivo Basay. Under Manera, Necaxa didn't qualify for the finals of the championship. The acquisition of new coach Roberto Saporiti, marked the beginning of a commitment to competition excellence in a period known to Necaxa fans as "La Epoca Necaxista bajo el Capitalismo" or "the new era of Necaxa under Capitalism".
In 1992, the talented footballer of UNAM, ex-Puma player Enrique Borja was put under contract and headed the club's football operations, leaving Saporiti as head coach of Necaxa. Eventually Saporitti was replaced. The team Saporitti, Manera, Ruiz leave was an offensive minded team, that was disciplined, yet lacked great defensive talent. The following season management engaged the services of Manuel Lapuente. Sergio Zarate, Octavio Becerril, the Chilean Eduardo Vilches, José María "El Chema" Higareda were key figures in the defense and offense of the club. Manuel Lapuente managed Club Necaxa to three Championship titles in Mexico's National Football League.
After 56 years, once again Necaxa found itself with the title of "Campeonísimo", contributing talent in the 1990s and late in the millennium, within the Primera División of the Mexican League and in the Mexico national team.
They won the Mexican League Championship in 1994 (beating Cruz Azul), in 1995 (beating Celaya) and 1998 (beating Guadalajara), becoming Champion of CONCACAF,created a huge upset against European Giants Real Madrid CF in 3rd place match of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup the following season. Champion of champions the legacy of the "Once Hermanos" attempted to be reestablished within the franchise's values and mind set. The Necaxa team of the 1990s had represented the cohesion and ability of working and playing as a team under lucrative financial incentives, forced great communication on the field and execution on the field during advanced Capitalism competition play. Necaxa's Championships were similar, yet different reminder of the spirit of "Los Once Hermanos" or "the Eleven Brothers" in the late 1930s.
Attendance continued to decline steadily despite the change of city and stadium for Necaxa. This consistent decline would lead to a relegation for Necaxa during the Spring 2009 campaign.
The Hidrorayos would bounce back winning the fall 2009 and Spring 2010 (undefeated) Ascenso MX titles thus earning an automatic promotion back up to the Liga MX.
Despite having a good performance in the 2nd division, Necaxa was initially unable to return to the top flight, losing two finals in 2013 against Toros Neza and Universidad de Guadalajara.
On 6 December 2014, Necaxa won the Apertura 2014 championship in the final game against Coras de Tepic ultimately losing the promotion play-off against Dorados de Sinaloa.
The Apertura 2015 tournament was not good for Necaxa, finishing in 10th place. However, in Clausura 2016, Necaxa finished the regular season as runner-up, one point behind U. de G. In the playoffs, Necaxa beat Correcaminos 2–1 in the Quarterfinals, Atlante 5–3 in the Semifinals, and Zacatecas 2–0 in the Finals to become champion. Next was a two-legged playoff series against Cd. Juarez, the Apertura 2015 champion. Necaxa won the first leg in Aguascalientes 1–0, and one week later in Cd. Juarez 2–0, thus clinching its return to Primera Division Liga MX for the first time in five years.
On July 9th, 2024, a TV series was ordered with filming beginning on the same day. The series will be similar to Welcome to Wrexham.
1922–23 | No sponsors* | Mexican Light & Power Company, Ltd. |
1922–23 | No sponsors* | StreetCar Operators |
1923–26 | No sponsors* | |
1926–36 | No sponsors* | |
1936–40 | No sponsors* | |
1950–70 | To be determined* | |
1971–82 | To be determined | |
1987–88 | Adidas | Choco Milk |
1989–92 | Adidas | |
1993–94 | Adidas | Coca-Cola / Elf |
1994–95 | Adidas* | Coca-Cola / Elf |
1995–96 | Umbro* | Coca-Cola / Elf |
1996–97 | Umbro | Coca-Cola / AFORE Garante |
1998 (Winter'98) | Umbro* | Coca-Cola |
1999-00 | EEscord | Coca-Cola |
2000–01 | EEscord | Coca-Cola/Sol |
2001 | EEscord | Masfresco / Grupo Modelo / Coca-Cola |
2002 | Atletica | Coca-Cola / Victoria |
2003 | Atletica | Grupo Bimbo / Victoria / Coca-Cola |
2004 | Atletica | Bimbo / Office Depot / Victoria |
2005 | Atletica | Visa / Leche San Marcos / Banamex / Corona |
2006 | Atletica | Visa / Seguros Argos SA de CV / Leche San Marcos / Corona / Banamex |
2007–08 | Atletica | Visa / Seguros Argos SA de CV / Leche San Marcos / Corona / Aeroméxico / Banamex / Cemex / Caja Libertad |
2008 | Voit | Sabritas / Corona / Leche San Marcos |
2009 | Voit | Diversity Capital / Corona / Leche San Marcos |
2009–10 | Voit* | Caja Popular Mexicana / Corona / Seguros Argos |
2010–11 | Atletica | Caja Popular Mexicana / Corona / ETN / Pepsi / Rolcar / Bimbo |
2011–12 | Atletica | Futura/Leche San Marcos/Corona/Caja Popular Mexicana/SKY/Coca-Cola/Trucka/Rolcar/Agro depot |
2012–13 | Pirma | ETN/Leche San Marcos/Meson del Taco/Corona/Caja Popular Mexicana/SKY/Coca-Cola/Trucka/Rolcar/Agro depot |
2013–14 | Pirma | Aeroméxico/Coca-Cola/Corona/ETN/Leche San Marcos/Pizza Ola/Rolcar/SKY/Trucka/Oxxo Gas |
2014-17 | Umbro | Aeroméxico/Coca-Cola/Corona/ETN/Grupo Herdez/Leche San Marcos/Pizza Ola/Rolcar/SKY/Trucka/Oxxo Gas |
2017–20 | Charly | Rolcar/Cavall Sport/Búfalo/Circle K/Coca-Cola/Mercedes-Benz/SKY/Mediotiempo |
2020–23 | Pirma | Rolcar/Stubhub/Sisolar/Mercedes-Benz/Mobil/L’Anqgel/Del Monte/Perdura/PlayDoIt |
2023 – Present | Charly | Rolcar/H-E-B/Electrolit/Sertifex/Perdura/Grupo Modelo/Carl's Jr./PlayDoIt/ETN/J.M. Romo/Mobil/Coca-Cola/Salsa Huichol/Circle K/Welch's/Megacable/Nissan/Grupo San Cristóbal/ViX/Quesos Bionda/Boletomóvil/Sisolar/BrandMe |
+Club Necaxa honours | ||||
Top division !scope=col | Liga MX | 3 | 1994–95, 1995–96, Invierno 1998 | Invierno 1996, Verano 1998, Verano 2002 |
Promotion division !scope=col | Ascenso MX | 4 | Apertura 2009, Bicentenario 2010, Apertura 2014, Clausura 2016 | Apertura 2012, Clausura 2013 |
CONCACAF Continental !scope=col | CONCACAF Champions Cup | 2 | 1975, 1999 | 1996 |
CONCACAF CONMEBOL Intercontinental !scope=col | Copa Interamericana | 0 | – | 1976 |
1994 | CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup | Quarter-final | CD México | 5–1 | ||
Semi-final | Lambada | 4–1 | ||||
3–0 | ||||||
1996 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup | Second round | Saprissa | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–3 |
Final group stage | Cruz Azul | 1–1 | 2nd | |||
Seattle Sounders | 4–1 | |||||
Comunicaciones | 3–3 | |||||
1997 | CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup | Group north | Cruz Azul | 1–1 | 1st | |
FC Dallas | 4–1 | |||||
Final | Olimpia | Cancelled 1 | ||||
1999 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup | Qualifying playoff | LA Galaxy | 1–1 (4–3 p) | ||
Quarter-finals | Saprissa | 3–2 | ||||
Semi-finals | D.C. United | 3–1 | ||||
2–1 | ||||||
2000 | FIFA Club World Championship | Group B | Manchester United | 1–1 | 2nd | |
South Melbourne | 3–1 | |||||
Vasco da Gama | 1–2 | |||||
1–1 (4–3 p) | ||||||
Copa Merconorte | Group B | Atlético Nacional | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3rd | |
Alajuelense | 1–1 | 2–2 | ||||
Alianza Lima | 0–0 | 0–1 | ||||
2001 | Copa Merconorte | Group A | Aucas | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1st |
América de Cali | 1–0 | 3–1 | ||||
Alianza Lima | 2–1 | 3–0 | ||||
Semi-finals | Millonarios | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–5 (1–3 p) | ||
2003 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup | Round of 16 | Arnett Gardens | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
Quarter-finals | LA Galaxy | 2–1 | 4–1 | 6–2 | ||
Semi-finals | Morelia | 0–0 | 0–6 | 0–6 | ||
2007 | Copa Libertadores | Group 2 | Alianza Lima | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1st |
Audax Italiano | 2–0 | 1–2 | ||||
São Paulo | 2–1 | 0–3 | ||||
Round of 16 | Nacional | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | ||
2023 | Leagues Cup | South 4 | FC Dallas | 0–3 | 3rd | |
Charlotte FC | 1–4 | |||||
2024 | Leagues Cup | West 6 | Minnesota United FC | 0–1 | 1st | |
Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | |||||
Round of 32 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–5 | ||||
2025 | Leagues Cup | League Phase | Atlanta United FC | 3–1 | 11st | |
Inter Miami CF | 2–2 (4–5 p) | |||||
Orlando City SC | 1–5 | |||||
Final never played, tournament tacitly abandoned.
Fernando Gago |
Fabricio Coloccini |
Ángel Maldonado |
Roberto Luzzi |
Juan Lozano |
Gonzalo Astrada |
Franco Vázquez |
1994–95 Champions
| 1995–96 Champions
| Winter 98
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Ricardo Peláez | 138 | |
Ivo Basay | 101 | |
Víctor Lojero | 86 | |
Álex Aguinaga | 82 | |
Alberto García Aspe | 65 | |
Julio Maria Palleiro | 64 |
Enrique Díaz | 1982 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
Walter Ormeño | 1982–84 | 60 | 14 | 27 | 19 |
José Antonio Roca | 1984–85 | 38 | 5 | 15 | 18 |
Mario Pérez | 1986–87 | 40 | 7 | 24 | 9 |
Cayetano Ré | 1987–88 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Aníbal Ruiz | 1988–90 | 70 | 24 | 28 | 18 |
Eduardo Luján Manera | 1990–91 | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
Roberto Saporiti | 1991–94 | 121 | 52 | 39 | 30 |
Manuel Lapuente | 1994–95 – Inverno 97 | 61 | 26 | 15 | 20 |
Raul Arias | Verano 98 – Clausura 2005 | 297 | 120 | 76 | 101 |
Enrique López Zarza | Apertura 2005 – Apertura 2006 | 45 | 16 | 10 | 19 |
Pablo Luna | Apertura 2006 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Hugo Sanchez | Apertura 2006 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Jose Luis Trejo | Clausura 2007 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
Hans Westerhof | Apertura 2007 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Salvador Reyes | Clausura 2008 – Apertura 2008 | 33 | 6 | 18 | 9 |
Octavio Becerril | Apertura 2008 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Raul Arias | Clausura 2009 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
Omar Arellano Nuño | Apertura 2009 – Bicentenario 2010 | 44 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
Daniel Brailovsky | Apertura 2010 – Clausura 2011 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
Sergio Bueno | Clausura 2011 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
Paco Ramírez | Apertura 2011 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Luis Francisco García Llamas | Apertura 2011 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Tita | Clausura 2012 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Jaime Ordiales | Apertura 2012 – Apertura 2013 | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
Armando González | Apertura 2013 – Clausura 2014 | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 |
Miguel de Jesús Fuentes | Apertura 2014 – 2015 | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 |
Alfonso Sosa | 2015–2017 | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
Ignacio Ambríz | 2017–2018 | 47 | 18 | 18 | 11 |
Marcelo Michel Leaño | 2018 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
Guillermo Vázquez | 2018–2019 | 50 | 21 | 11 | 18 |
Alfonso Sosa | 2020 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
José Guadalupe Cruz | 2020–2021 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
Pablo Guede | 2021–2022 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Jaime Lozano | 2022 | 32 | 11 | 7 | 14 |
Andrés Lillini | 2023 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
Rafael Dudamel | 2023 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Eduardo Fentanes | 2023–2024 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 |
Nicolás Larcamón | 2025 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 |
Fernando Gago | 2025–Present | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
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