The 1970s Dominance
The Cement Machine – Mexico's working-class champions.
Cruz Azul is a Mexican professional football club based in Mexico City, founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo. The club competes in Liga MX and plays at Estadio Azteca. It has never been relegated from the top flight and has won ten league titles, four Copa MX, four Campeón de Campeones, one Supercopa de la Liga MX, and one Supercopa MX. Internationally, it holds the joint-record for most CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles (seven).
- Key Achievement
- First Mexican club to win the Copa Interamericana (vs. Club Nacional de Football, Uruguay, 1971)
Lore & Background
Cruz Azul was founded in 1927 by workers of the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul cement company. The club won 15 consecutive amateur league titles in Hidalgo between 1932 and 1943. It gained professional status in 1961 and earned promotion to the Primera División in 1964. The club achieved a continental treble in 1968–69, winning the Primera División, Copa México, and CONCACAF Champions' Cup, becoming the first CONCACAF club and third worldwide to do so, and later the first club worldwide to win the continental treble twice.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights at Estadio Azul hummed against the night sky as the final whistle approached, sealing another historic victory. The crowd roared in unison, their blue scarves waving like a tidal wave of hope and pride. On the pitch, the players embraced, knowing they had just added another chapter to the legend of the 1970s—a time when Cruz Azul was not just playing football, but rewriting destiny.
Reader's Guide
Cruz Azul's home matches are played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The club's main rival is América, with whom it contests the Clásico Joven. Cruz Azul is the third-most popular team in Mexico and the second-most supported in the Mexico City metropolitan area, behind América and ahead of Pumas UNAM.
Did You Know?
- Cruz Azul is one of only seven Mexican clubs never to have been relegated from the top flight.
- The club holds the joint-record for most CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles with seven.
- Cruz Azul has the most league runner-up finishes in Mexican football history (12).
- The club was the first CONCACAF team to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores.
- Cruz Azul was named the 71st-best club in the world and the highest-ranked in CONCACAF for 2025 by the IFFHS in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the 1970s Dominance era?
This period transformed the club from an industrial outfit into Mexico's first true international powerhouse through consistent domestic success. It established the Celestes as a team capable of competing with any giant in Latin America during that decade.
Who was the key manager behind this success?
Uruguayan coach Ubaldo Fillol served as the visionary leader who built the squad's tactical foundation and winning mentality. His guidance was instrumental in securing multiple Liga MX championships throughout the 1970s.
What major international trophy did Cruz Azul win then?
The club made history by becoming the first Mexican team to win a major continental trophy against South American opposition in the Copa Interamericana. They defeated Argentina's Independiente, proving their status as champions of the Americas.
Which domestic titles characterize this dominance?
Cruz Azul dominated Mexican football with multiple Liga MX Championships, including notable victories in 1969-70 and 1973-74. This level of consistency was unprecedented for the club at that time.
Why is this era significant to the club's identity?
It defined the club's identity as the 'Blue' team that could compete with any giant in Latin America. This period created a lasting culture of excellence that remains central to the fanbase today.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Cruz Azul universe
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