Chivas Vs. America 2011, Super Clasico: Rivalry Based On Age-Old Themes

Like most great sports rivalries, the Mexican Primera’s Super Clasico is about a lot more than what happens on the field. It can be viewed through the lens of class, ethnicity or geography, as well as numerous other ways. FMF State of Mind, SB Nation’s Mexican soccer blog, touches on all of these things in trying to assess what makes the Chivas-America rivalry one of the greatest in the Western Hemisphere.

When businessman and media owner Emilio Azcarraga bought America in 1959 it is said he stated: “I don’t know anything about football but people have told me that the best players are Brazilians and Argentinians. On that base I’ll construct America.”

That seems to be the real starting point. The line was drawn in the sand. Chivas held firm as America tried to buy quality players to knock them off their throne during the Campeonismo era in which Chivas dominated the Mexican game like no team had before or have since. By 1966, America had won their first league title and carried on during the 1970s and 80s to confirm themselves as a giant of the Mexican game.