Leones Negros U. de G.

History

The Universidad de Guadalajara football club, nicknamed Leones Negros (Black Lions), was founded the 19th of August, 1970 and started in the Tercera División (third division) in the Mexican professional league, where they played for two seasons after which they gained promotion to Segunda División Profesional.

They reached the top division by acquiring the Primera Division's franchise of Torreón.

During their first years in the top flight they had several skilled Brazilian players, reason for which noted sports broadcaster Ángel Fernandez started to call them "Leones Negros" (the Black Lions), a nickname that stuck and remains part of the folklore of Mexican football.

Disappearance of los Leones Negros de la U. de G.

After 20 years in top flight football the team was in decline, alleged questionable financial dealings, a very poor squad and hardly any local fans (who are loyal to more popular teams like Guadalajara, better known as "Chivas" and to a lesser extent, Atlas) Leones Negros were acquired by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, to make way for the reduction in the number of teams in the Primera División. Their last game was on May 27, 1994 against Atlas, in which they lost 2–1.

New Era

After the disappearance of the team by the Federación Mexicana de Futbol, the franchise was returned to the third division, the team obtained a title in the verano 1997 tournament, gaining promotion to the Primera División "A" where they stayed until the franchise was sold and moved to Coatzacoalcos.

The team played in Segunda División Mexicana in the Norte region and a few seasons back was close to gaining promotion to the Primera División A, first losing the final against, Académicos and then losing to Chivas La Piedad. For the Apertura 2007 season they changed stadium to Estadio Municipal Santa Rosa de Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, but have stated that some of their home games will still played at their traditional home in twice worldcup host Estadio Jalisco.

Return to the Primera División A

For some time businessmen, among them Jorge Vergara, tried to return the team of Club Universidad de Guadalajara to the top divisions of football in Mexico, this was achieved through the purchase of the franchise of Primera División A's CD Tapatio for $800,000 USD from Guadalajara of which CD Tapatio was a subsidiary.

On May 21 of 2009 it was confirmed that team Club Universidad de Guadalajara entered the Primera División A instead of CD Tapatio, which disappeared completely.

Apertura 2013 Champions and Promotion to Liga MX

In the Apertura 2013 tournament, Leones Negros finished 5th and entered the Liguilla, where they reached the final and ended as Champions beating Necaxa 2–1, earning the right to compete in the Final de Ascenso and the possibility to be promoted to the 2014–15 Liga MX.

After a hard Clausura 2014 tournament, Leones Negros ended 4th placed, but lost in the quarter-finals against Oaxaca. However, as Apertura 2013 champions they played the Final de Ascenso against Estudiantes Tecos, who were the Clausura 2014 Champions.

After two very disputed games, both of them ended in a tie, the Promotion was defined in a penalty shoot-out, in which goalkeeper Humberto "Gansito" Hernández scored the final and decisive penalty, giving the Leones Negros the promotion and the right to play in the 2014–15 Liga MX season.

Club Universidad de Guadalajara was officially relegated after only one season in the Mexican top flight on May 9, 2015. Despite winning the match against Cruz Azul 2–0, relegation rivals Puebla managed to obtain a 2–2 tie, thus giving them more percentage in the relegation table. As a result U. de G. will have to return to Ascenso MX.

Kit Evolution

National

International

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserve teams

Managers