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Atlas
Full name	Fútbol Club Atlas
Nickname(s)	Zorros (Foxes); Los Rojinegros (The Red-blacks); La Academia (The Academy); Niños Catedráticos(The Children Professors); Furia Rojinegra (Red and black fury)
Founded	August 15, 1916
Ground	Jalisco,; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; (Capacity: 56,700)
Manager	Ricardo Lavolpe
League	Primera División
Clausura 2009	16th (league)
	Current season

Fútbol Club Atlas is a Mexican professional football club. Atlas is one of three teams that play in Mexico's second important city, Guadalajara, along with C.D. Guadalajara and Estudiantes Tecos. in the Primera División de México. The club shares its home stadium, Estadio Jalisco, with C.D. Guadalajara.

[edit] History

The Atlas Football Club was founded in a café of Guadalajara, Mexico, where a few friends recalled their football experience at English university squads where they had spent the last few years. Alfonso and Juan José "Lico" Cortina, Pedro "Perico" and Carlos Fernández del Valle, the three Orendain brothers and Federico Collignon (who had studied in Berlin) finally decided in the summer of 1916, to set up a football team called "Club de fútbol Atlas" and founded it in Tlaquepaque, outside the city of Guadalajara.

The technical ability that the "Atlistas" employed - triangular passing and skillful dribbling to avoid opponents' tackles - were impressive that they were seen as better than local squads. Atlas and Chivas have also been rivals because they are the oldest of all Mexican teams in their division, they are both known for their elicit histories, and because they play in the same city; the games they play against one another are known as the 'Clásico Tapatío'.

[edit] Youth Academy

Atlas has the best youth academy of all Mexico.^{[citation needed]} They develop and let many young players play more than any other team in Mexico. Many young players go in Atlas youth academy knowing that they'll have a strong possibility to play with the first team. Although Atlas has only won the league championship once, their academy has been famous for developing national idols who have played with the Mexico national football team in the past decade like Jared Borgetti, Daniel Osorno, José de Jesús Corona, Pável Pardo, Oswaldo Sánchez, Rafael Márquez, Juan Carlos Medina, Jorge Hernández, Mario Méndez, Miguel Zepeda, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Juan Pablo Garcia, Hugo Ayala, Jorge Torres Nilo, Edgar Ivan Pacheco, Andrés Guardado,and many more. As of 2007, most teams in Mexico's Primera División have at least one player who started their career in CF Atlas.

CF Atlas had a golden age in the year 1998 with promising players such as Rafael Márquez, Daniel Osorno, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Mario Méndez, Omar Briceño, Erubey Cabuto, and Miguel Zepeda. They lost the final to Toluca and next season became dominant 1st place overall but never claimed a title. Today many of the once young jewels of the team are on elite squads and play important roles.

[edit] International Competitions

Atlas has participated twice in Copa Libertadores. The first appearance been in the year 2000 when the team made it to the quarterfinals and lost to former cup champions Palmeiras. In 2008, Atlas had another chance participation in Copa Libertadores making it to the quarterfinals and losing to cup champions Boca Juniors. In June 2009 Atlas was chosen with other 3 teams from FMF to participate in the Superliga. The Superliga is a tournament that 4 teams from FMF and MLS participate. The winner receives the prize of $1 million.

[edit] Estadio Jalisco

File:Guadalajara vs atlas.jpg

Inside view of the Estadio Jalisco.

Atlas currently shares its home stadium, Estadio Jalisco, with Chivas. Estadio Jalisco is the third largest stadium in Mexico and was constructed on January 31, 1960. It is a venue that has played host to historic matches and teams including Pelé's Brazil in 1970. In total, It was host for 8 games in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, 6 of which were from group stage matches, and two were quarter and semi-finals. Subsequently, the stadium was again host for 9 games in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, 6 of which were group stage matches, 1 was round of sixteen and the last 2 were quarter and semi-finals.

[edit] Fans

Atlas fans are collectively called La Fiel (the faithful)by themselves, but better known to the rest of the population as "Barra 51" ; La Barra 51 is the main organized supporter group. La Barra 51's name recalls Atlas' last and only championship in the Primera División de México in 1951. Through the team's sad performance La Fiel has earned its name, supporting the team for more than 50 years without any major silverware.

[edit] Chants

Vamos rojinegros, que esta noche, tenemos que ganar

[edit] Current Squad

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Mariano Barbosa
2	DF	Ismael Fuentes
3	DF	Néstor Vidrio
4	DF	Luis Robles
5	DF	Ricardo Jiménez
6	MF	Gerardo Espinoza
7	FW	Daniel Ríos
8	DF	Jorge Torres Nilo
9	FW	Gonzalo Vargas
10	MF	Darío Bottinelli
11	FW	Daniel Osorno
12	GK	José Francisco Canales
14	DF	Mario Pérez
15	MF	Jesús Arturo Paganoni
16	DF	Hugo Ayala (Captain)

No.	Position	Player
17	DF	Alonso Zamora
18	MF	Miguel Zepeda
19	MF	Saul Villalobos
20	FW	Hebert Alférez
21	GK	Florencio Morán
22	MF	Edgar Iván Pacheco
23	DF	Eduardo Rergis
24	GK	Alejandro Gallardo
25	MF	Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez
26	FW	Flavio Santos
27	DF	Omar Trujillo
28	MF	Diego Campos
29	DF	Mario Méndez
30	DF	Dárvin Chávez
43	MF	Christian Díaz

[edit] Current Technical Staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Ricardo Lavolpe
Assistant Manager	Flavio Davino
Physical fitness coach	Jorge Graniolati
Team Doctor	Rubén Cruz
Massage Therapist	Guillermo López
Utilityman	Rubén Herrera
Goalkeepers coach	Fernando Palomeque