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Club de Fútbol Monterrey Rayados, A.C., simply known as Monterrey or by its nickname Rayados, is a Mexican professional football club based in the Monterrey metropolitan area in Nuevo León, that plays in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football. Founded in 1945, it is the oldest active professional club from the northern part of Mexico. Since 1999, the club has been owned by FEMSA, Latin America's largest bottling company. Its home games have been played in Estadio BBVA since 2015.[2] The team's nickname of Rayados (The Striped-Ones) stems from the club's traditional navy blue striped uniform. The uniform is reflected in the club's current crest, which is also decorated with stars above the crest representing the club's league titles and stars below representing continental.

Key Information

Monterrey has won five league titles, three domestic cups, and five CONCACAF Champions League titles (notably, three consecutive tournaments in 2011, 2012 and 2013). In 2020, Monterrey became the second Mexican club to complete the continental treble.[3][4]

The club's oldest and biggest rival is Tigres UANL of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. The derby between the two, known as the Clásico Regiomontano, is considered to be one of the most heated and intensely competed rivalries in Mexican football; both teams consistently rank among the highest in attendance[5] and regularly feature among the most expensively assembled squads in the country.[6][7]

History

[edit]

1940s–50s

[edit]
Team lineup in 1945.

Club de Football Monterrey was founded on 28 June 1945, near the end of World War II by a group of industrial businessmen headed by Ramón Cárdenas Coronado, Enrique Ayala Medina, Paul C. Probert, Rogelio Cantú Gómez and Miguel Margáín Zozaya.

The team's nickname was popularly accepted, after the team's uniform, which is traditionally white with navy blue vertical stripes. Although the original uniform was white with a diagonal blue upper shoulder, the stripes were inspired in 1965, when the Tampico Madero (nicknamed "Jaibas Bravas", or Brave crabs) football team wore them, and the Monterrey team adopted them. Since then, the home uniform consists of vertical blue and white striped jerseys with blue shorts.

In its first professional game, played on 19 August 1945 against San Sebastián de León, Monterrey won 1–0, with José "Che" Gómez scoring the winner. That joy quickly came to an end, first by losing 6–0 to Montezuma, and then having the club's travelling bus involved in a tragic accident in the San Juan de los Lagos roads that would take the lives of many of the club's players and had a big impact on the surviving players. The other Mexican clubs in solidarity loaned players to Monterrey in order to continue playing the tournament, but the club struggled nevertheless; they lost 21 games in a row and conceded 121 goals that year, finishing last in the league. Due to these events, the club decided to stop playing in the league in 1946 in honor of the players who died.

It was not until 1952 when the club resumed action thanks to Dr. Carlos Canseco, president of the Asociación de Fútbol de Nuevo León. The club enrolled in the second division and just 4 years later the club earned promotion to the top division. Once again the joy was short-lived, when the club finished last in their first year back and was relegated once again to the second division after finishing with a record of 4 wins, 7 draws and 13 losses for a total of 15 points, just 1 short of Zacatepec who earned their permanence in the category. The club would once again earn the promotion in the 1959–60 season, and haven't been relegated since then.

1960s

[edit]

The club started off the 1960s in bad shape, barely avoiding relegation with only 2 more points than Club Celaya, who had 19 points, in the 1960–61 season.

In the 1961–62 season the club was again close to relegation, finishing second to last for the second year in a row just one point ahead of Zacatepec, who had 18 points and was relegated. In the following season the club finally managed to have a decent campaign in the first division, finishing 5th in the league.

In the 1963–64 season the club improved their performance and would finish 3rd in the league just 5 points behind champions Guadalajara who had 37 points. In the following two seasons the club would finish third and fourth respectively, narrowly missing out on clinching titles by only a few points. The 1966–67 season was mediocre, as the club finished tied for 8th in the league with Irapuato on 30 points each. This season is also remembered for Jabatos de Nuevo Leon's promotion to the first division, which meant 2 clubs from Monterrey would be participating in the first division for the first time. However, the following season was even worse, with the club finishing 14th, only four points from relegation.

1970s

[edit]

In 1970 the tournament was split into 2 short tournaments, due to the 1970 World Cup that was taking part in Mexico. In the first stage, the club was placed in group 1 where they managed to finish 2nd with 17 points, one less than group leader Toluca. In the second stage the club finished 7th of eight teams. The following year Monterrey finished runner up to Club América who went on to win the league title that year against Toluca.

Portuguese football legend Eusébio briefly played for the club in 1975

In the 1971–72 tournament the club qualified for the play-offs which had been introduced a few years back. The club would lose in quarterfinals to Club América 2–1 on aggregate. The following year the club missed out on the playoffs, finishing tied for 5th with Veracruz and Guadalajara each with 32 points. The following season the club managed to qualify for the quarterfinals where they once again were eliminated, this time by Atlético Español 5–6 on aggregate.

Monterrey played its first match in international tournaments on 5 July 1975 in the 1975 CONCACAF Champions' Cup when they defeated Canadian club Serbian White Eagles FC by a score of 2–0.[8]

In the 1975–76 tournament the club finished in first place with a total of 44 points by means of 16 wins, 12 draws and 10 losses. In quarterfinals the club played Cruz Azul and won 7–2 on aggregate. In the semifinals the club played against Guadalajara who eliminated them, 2–3 on aggregate. During 1975, the Portuguese superstar Eusébio played for the club.

In the 1976–77 and 1977–78 seasons, the club failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing 4th both times. In the 1978–79 tournament the club once again qualified to the playoffs finishing 1st in group one with a total of 40 points by means of 14 wins 12 draws and 12 losses. This time a short tournament was played by the best 8 teams in the league who were then split into 2 groups. Monterrey was placed in group 2 along with Pumas, Tigres and Zacatepec. After 6 rounds of play the club finished in 3rd place with 6 points, just 2 points behind Pumas who went on to lose against Cruz Azul, the winners of the other group.

In the following season the club finished 3rd in group 1 with 34 points but failed to qualify for the playoffs again. The decade came to an end with "Rayados" having shown great effort, as they qualified a couple times for the playoffs, but failed to win their first league title.

1980s

[edit]

1986 was the first time than Monterrey won the Liga MX title. Due to the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the Mexican league was splitted in two short tournaments: PRODE 86 and México 86. In México 86, the team was commanded by the coach Francisco Avilán and ended at the top spot of the Group 2 and qualified to the Liguilla with Tampico Madero, Cruz Azul and Chivas Guadalajara. In the Liguilla, thrashed 6-0 in aggregate against Atlante in the quarter-finals and eliminated Guadalajara by 2-0 aggregated at semifinals. In the final, the Rayados won the title defeating Tampico Madero by 3-2 on agregate.

In the year 1989, the anthem of Rayados was created by composer Luis Aguilé. It is considered by Monterrey's fans as one of the symbols of identity of the team.[9]

1990s

[edit]

At the beginning of the decade, Monterrey signed two notable players, Carlos Hermosillo and Manuel Negrete, for the 1990–91 season. The next season, they won their first Copa MX after defeating Juarez 4–2 in the Estadio Tecnológico and then went on to reach the league final of the 1992–93 season, losing to Atlante.

While the early years of the decade seemed promising for Monterrey, the latter half of the decade would prove to be a disappointing one, as financial problems started to become a problem for the club. During this period, the club sold many players who would go on to have successful careers with other teams like Ramón Morales and Sinha. Young talent Jesus Arellano was sold to Guadalajara in 1997, though he returned to the club in 2000 and spent the next eleven years as captain before retiring in 2011.

One of the most memorable moments of this decade was the so-called "Clasico del Descenso" in the 1995–96 season. On 24 March 1996, Monterrey defeated their arch-rivals Tigres 2–1 at Estadio Universitario. Tigres were facing a relegation battle after years of poor results, and needed a victory to avoid being relegated; the defeat meant that Tigres would be relegated for the first and so far only time in their history to the Segunda División.[10]

In 1999, Monterrey was facing a fierce relegation battle of its own against Puebla, culminating on May 9, 1999, when the teams faced each other at the Estadio Tecnológico to decide which team would get relegated. Monterrey only needed a draw to stay in the Primera División, and with a memorable performance from Francisco Javier "El Abuelo" Cruz who had played a vital role in Monterrey's first title win thirteen years before, Monterrey managed to draw 1–1 and stay in Mexico's top flight. Also in 1999, Rayados made his first CONMEBOL Libertadores participation and had a decent campaign despite falling in the group stage.

21st century

[edit]
Guillermo Franco (pictured in 2010) played a vital role in the club's Clausura 2003 title win.
Clausura 2003 Championship starting line-up

In 2002, Monterrey hired Argentinian coach Daniel Passarella and started to form a strong and competitive side featuring the likes of Guillermo Franco, Walter Erviti, Jesus Arellano and Luis Perez. In the Clausura 2003 tournament, they won their first official title. In the semi-finals, they faced their arch-rivals Tigres for the first time ever in a Liguilla. In the first leg, they won 4–1 at the Estadio Universitario, and despite losing 2–1 at their home ground in the second leg, they managed to advance to the finals with an aggregate victory of 5–3. On June 14, 2003, they defeated Monarcas Morelia 3–1 on aggregate to claim their second league title after 17 years.

Pasarella left in 2004, and afterwards, Monterrey hired Miguel Herrera to be their head coach. He led them to the finals of the Apertura 2004, but the club lost against Pumas. He would lead them to the finals again in the Apertura 2005 tournament, this time losing to Toluca by an aggregate of 6–3. After the loss, Guillermo Franco left the club to play for Spanish club Villarreal. Herrera would remain their head coach until 2007, when he was fired after a poor string of results in the Apertura 2007. For the Clausura 2008, Monterrey hired Ricardo La Volpe to be their head coach, and they managed to reach the semi-finals. This team featured new players such as Humberto Suazo and newly acquired league veteran striker Jared Borgetti. However, the next tournament was a poor one for Rayados, as they finished in 14th place.

The Vucetich Era (2009–13)

[edit]

In 2009, Monterrey hired coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich and formed a team that would become one of the strongest in the league, with an attack led by Humberto Suazo and new acquisition Aldo de Nigris, a midfield featuring veteran players Luis Ernesto Perez and Jesus Arellano along with Walter Ayovi and a defence led by Jose Maria Basanta, Duilio Davino and goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco. They won their third league title, the Apertura 2009 tournament, with an aggregate 6–4 victory against Cruz Azul in the finals.[11] The first leg was played at the Estadio Tecnológico, where Monterrey overcame a 3–1 deficit to win the game 4–3. The second leg was played at the Estadio Azul, with Monterrey winning 2–1. Thus, after a six-year wait Monterrey lifted their third league title.

Monterrey in Clausura 2012
Apertura 2009 Championship starting line-up

In the next tournament, Humberto Suazo left to play for Spanish club Real Zaragoza, but nonetheless, Monterrey managed to finish on top of the table for the first time in their history. However, they would be eliminated in the quarter-finals by Pachuca. Suazo returned to Rayados for the Apertura 2010 tournament, and they managed to win their fourth league title when they defeated Santos Laguna in the finals. Although they lost 3–2 in the first leg, they were able to make a comeback and win 3–0 in the second leg at the Estadio Tecnológico, with Humberto Suazo and Jose Basanta scoring two and one goals, respectively. With an aggregate score of 5–3, Monterrey claimed their fourth title.[12]

Vucetich in 2012

Monterrey secured a place in the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League and won the tournament for the first time in their history. They faced Real Salt Lake in the Finals and won 3–2 on aggregate to claim their first CONCACAF Champions League title and the third title in the Vucetich Era.[13]

Apertura 2010 Championship starting line-up

The following year, they reached the finals of the Clausura 2012 league tournament and the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League. Both finals were against the same opponent, Santos Laguna. Rayados were seeking to win their fifth league title and their second Champions League title. They lost the Clausura 2012 finals against Santos,[14] but won the finals of the Champions League against them to claim their second consecutive CONCACAF title.[15]

Monterrey reached the finals of the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League for the third consecutive time, and faced Santos Laguna in a repeat of the previous year's final. The first leg finished in a 0–0 draw. In the second leg, Santos built a 2–0 lead with goals from Darwin Quintero and former Rayados player Felipe Baloy. However, Monterrey managed to make a dramatic comeback and scored four goals within 30 minutes, starting with a brace from Aldo de Nigris and a goal each from Humberto Suazo and Neri Cardozo, which gave Monterrey their third consecutive CONCACAF Champions League title and the fifth overall title in the Vucetich Era. This solidified them as the best Mexican football team of all time. Although they enjoyed tremendous success in the CONCACAF Champions League, they did not return to the following tournament as they could not reach any league finals during the 2012–13 Liga MX season and thus could not get a chance to try to become the first team to win the tournament four times in a row.

Monterrey started the 2013–14 season with a lot of changes. Aldo de Nigris left the club to join Chivas, and Walter Ayovi joined Pachuca. By now, players like Jesus Arellano and Duilio Davino had retired, and long-time club players like Luis Ernesto Perez had left the club. With the arrival of new players like Dorlan Pabon and Leobardo Lopez, Monterrey was ready for the Apertura 2013 tournament. However, a string of poor results and the shock early departure of Pabon would prove to be a threat as Monterrey started the tournament poorly. On August 25, 2013, Rayados announced that Vucetich had stepped down as coach, and thus the Vucetich Era, which earned the club a total of five titles in four years, came to an end.[16]

Humberto Suazo is the club's second all-time top scorer with 121 goals across all competitions.

Post-Vucetich period (2013–15)

[edit]

Rayados hired José Guadalupe Cruz to become the new manager of the team, and although they managed to reach the semi-finals of the domestic cup, the Copa MX, they failed to qualify to the playoffs of the Apertura 2013 tournament. After a bad start to the Clausura 2014, they fired Cruz on February 18, 2014, after only 17 league games coached.[17]

Monterrey replaced Cruz with Carlos Barra, who had worked as an assistant coach for Vucetich. Although they failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive tournament, the team kept Barra for the 2014–15 season. Colombian striker Dorlan Pabon re-joined the team, and with new signings such as Stefan Medina and Pablo Barrera, Monterrey started the Apertura 2014 tournament with high expectations. They managed to secure 6th place and returned to the playoffs for the first time since Vucetich had managed the club. The club had a strike partnership of Dorlan Pabon and Humberto Suazo, with Pabon scoring 11 goals. The club reached the semi-finals but lost 3–0 on aggregate against the eventual champions Club América in what would prove to be Suazo's last games with the club before returning to Colo-Colo. Suazo had scored over 102 league goals in a seven-year span and became the all-time top scorer for the club at the time.[18]

The team started the Clausura 2015 tournament in poor form, losing four of their first six games, and on February 15, the team fired Barra[19] and replaced him with two-time Liga MX champion Antonio Mohamed,[20] who had led Club América to the league championship the previous tournament. Mohamed had played for Rayados during his years as a player. He was part of the squad that managed to avoid relegation in 1999. Monterrey did not qualify to the playoffs under Mohamed, but the club were keen on keeping him for the 2015–16 season. That season would prove to be a special one as the team were moving to a new home ground, the Estadio BBVA Bancomer. In the summer, Rayados made new signings, including midfielder Walter Gargano, striker Rogelio Funes Mori and re-signed Jose Maria Basanta, who had left for Italian side Florentina after the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Former club veterans Aldo de Nigris and Luis Ernesto Pérez also returned to the club, along with the promotion to the first team of promising young center back Cesar Montes. Rayados had a formidable attacking trio of Dorlan Pabon, Rogelio Funes Mori and Edwin Cardona, who had signed with Monterrey during the winter of 2015. They narrowly missed the playoffs of the Apertura 2015 tournament, but their offense was lauded by many as one of the best in the league.[21][22]

Tenure of Antonio Mohamed (2015–2018)

[edit]

After failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2015, the club loaned several players to other clubs in the league. Players such as Stefan Medina and Severo Meza were loaned to Pachuca and Sinaloa, respectively. In the winter of 2016, the team acquired club veteran Walter Ayovi who had left the club in 2013 and River Plate midfielder Carlos Sánchez[23] who had won the Copa Libertadores a few months prior. The team began the Clausura 2016 tournament in great form by winning their first three games. They went on to have their best regular season in years by finishing on top of the league with 37 points, seven points ahead of second place Pachuca.[24][25] The team's success was primarily due to their attacking trio composed of Pabon, Funes Mori and Cardona, with midfielder Carlos Sanchez providing several goals and assists.

Antonio Mohamed was the club's manager from February 2015 to May 2018

The team entered the playoffs as favourites to win the title.[26] In the quarterfinals, they faced their arch-rivals and defending league champions Tigres UANL, the first leg was played at the Estadio Universitario where Monterrey won 3–1.[27] The away leg was played at the BBVA Bancomer, where Tigres won 2–1 despite several penalties that were controversially awarded to Monterrey.[28][29] Monterrey advanced to the semi-finals with a 4–3 aggregate victory and extended their record of never being eliminated by Tigres in the playoffs. In the semi-finals, they faced América, losing the first leg at the Estadio Azteca 1–0.[30] In the second leg, they faced them at home and pulled off a dramatic 4–2 victory, in what was described by some pundits as one of the best games in the history of the playoffs.[31][32] They advanced to the league finals where they would face Pachuca. Controversy arose when it was confirmed that Carlos Sanchez would not be able to play the finals as the Uruguay national team had called him up for the upcoming Copa América Centenario.[33][34] In the league finals against Pachuca, Monterrey lost the first leg 1–0 at the Estadio Hidalgo, with the sole goal coming from striker Franco Jara. The second leg took place at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer in what was its first ever final since it was inaugurated the year before. On May 29, in front of 53,000 spectators, the final was played. Monterrey opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a shot from Dorlan Pabon to level the aggregate 1–1. Veteran goalkeeper Óscar Pérez had several key saves for Pachuca, and in the closing minutes of the game, a header from Victor Guzman in the 93rd minute gave the title to Pachuca in what was described by the Mexican media as a heart-breaking defeat for Monterrey.[35][36][37][38]

The following tournament ended in disappointment as the team narrowly failed to qualify to the playoffs of the Apertura 2016.[39] However, it also saw the return of Rayados to the CONCACAF Champions League after a three-year absence, having won the tournament three times in a row under Vucetich. The team had high hopes to redeem itself after their league title loss; however, the team was shockingly eliminated in the group stage after finishing second in their group behind Panamanian club Arabe Unido.[40][41]

In the Apertura 2017 season, Monterrey finished the regular season in first place with 37 points and advanced to playoffs. In quarterfinals, Monterrey beat Atlas 2–1 in the first leg and 4–1 in the second, a 6–2 aggregate. Monterrey faced Morelia in semifinals, winning 1–0 in the away leg and 4–0 in the home leg, a 5–0 aggregate. Monterrey advanced to the final against arch rival Tigres, In the first leg, the teams tied 1–1 at the Estadio Universitario. In the second leg at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Tigres beat Monterrey 2–1 with goals from Eduardo Vargas and Francisco Meza. In May 2018, Mohamed resigned from his position shortly after being eliminated from the Clausura 2018 playoffs by Club Tijuana. He left the club having won two titles and breaking the club record amount of points for short seasons, but was criticized for various playoff failures.[42]

Appointment of Diego Alonso (2018–2019)

[edit]
Monterrey players celebrate their fourth CONCACAF Champions League title against Tigres UANL (2019).
Apertura 2019 Championship starting line-up

After announcing the appointment of Diego Alonso in July 2018, the club would have a great run in the Copa MX. Despite beating Querétaro 1–0 in the quarter-finals and Pachuca on penalties in the semi-finals, the club would fall short, losing 2–0 to Cruz Azul in Copa MX Apertura final. Monterrey would finish third in the Liga MX Clausura and fifth in the Liga MX Apertura, giving them a playoff spot in both competitions. They would advance to the semifinals in the Clausura playoffs, beating Necaxa but losing to Tigres on a league position decider after a 1–1 draw. In the Apertura playoffs they would have to face the same faith, going on to the semi-finals of the competition, beating Santos Laguna 3–0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals until facing Cruz Azul and falling short on a league position decider after a 1–1 draw. In the CONCACAF Champions League, they would go on to win the continental tournament after convincingly beating Sporting Kansas City 10–2 on aggregate in the semi-final and finally beating rivals Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League final. This championship was significant to the city, and seen as a kind of revenge for the domestic final lost to Tigres, and is known in the city as "the star that shines the most".[43]

In the Apertura 2019 season, Diego Alonso would be dismissed from his post having more defeats than victories in the Apertura.[44]

Reappointment of Antonio Mohamed (2019–2020)

[edit]

On 14 October, Antonio Mohamed was reappointed as the manager of Monterrey. The club would find themselves in a good run in the Club World Cup, advancing to the semi-finals after beating Al Sadd 3–2, but were eventually eliminated by losing to Liverpool after a stoppage time winner from Roberto Firmino. The club would beat Al Hilal on penalties, earning a third place medal in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. That same month, despite the club finishing 8th on the Apertura general table, they would go on to reach the championship finals against América and defeat them in penalties, winning 4–2 and securing their 5th championship league trophy.[45]

Culture

[edit]

Colours

[edit]

Since the club's founding in 1945, the colours used by the club have been white and blue, with varied use from the usual stripes. The shade of the blue itself has been in constant change, ranging from navy and cobalt to slightly lighter tones. The third colour has also been inconsistent, sometimes presented as being red, orange and cyan, and recently, violet, purple or green.

Youth development

[edit]

The club has constantly emphasized home-grown (cantera) players and has produced international players such as Francisco Javier Cruz, Héctor Becerra, Missael Espinoza, Jesús Arellano, Antonio de Nigris, Severo Meza, Jonathan Orozco, Jesús Zavala, Hiram Mier, Jesús Manuel Corona, César Montes, Jonathan González, and Carlos Rodríguez among others.

Rivalry

[edit]

Rayados' biggest rival is Tigres UANL. This rivalry is called the Clásico Regiomontano. Monterrey and Tigres are both known to sell out all of their home games regardless of weather conditions and the teams' status. For Clásico matches, the stadium is sold out as soon as tickets go on sale. The rivalry has been labeled as the most intensely competed rivalry in Mexican football.[46][47][48]

As of August 2022, there have been a total of 128 official Clásico games, Tigres has been victorious in 47 of them, while Monterrey has won 42, and a total of 39 games have been draws. Monterrey and Tigres played their first Clásico on 13 July 1974 in the Estadio Universitario, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw. Monterrey would be the first team to win the Clásico in their second confrontation, 2–1. Almost all their first encounters were played in the Estadio Universitario, with averages of 70,000 fans attending these games, which were before the stadium renovation. In addition, there were also another six "non-official" games before the first official Clásico, in five of which Rayados were victorious. [citation needed]

Monterrey has recently held somewhat of a regional rivalry with state neighbors Santos Laguna, whom they have played a total of four finals, with Monterrey winning three of them and Santos one. It is known by many as La Nortena.

Fan base

[edit]
25,000 in attendance at a Monterrey training session.[49]

Los Rayados supporters constantly fill the Estadio BBVA Bancomer. They had the highest average Liga MX attendance (50,000 per game) in 2016. The city of Monterrey claims and does have Mexico's most loyal supporting crowds for their teams, due to the city having the only venues that regularly sell-out in the Primera División.[citation needed] There is a rivalry between the La Adicción, a C.F. Monterrey support crowd, and the Libres y Lokos, a Tigres UANL support crowd, each time a Clásico takes place.

Children's web series

[edit]

In 2017, the club launched its YouTube and YouTube Kids original series, Rayados Kids,[50] dedicated to creating content for children who love the team, in interview style format with the team players and original stories revolving around the teams actual positioning on football leagues. The web garnered around six thousand subscriptions and one million views in its first year.

Rayados Christmas Campaign

[edit]

Since 2010 Rayados teammates have joined to wish a Merry Christmas to its fans, by filming their annual holiday campaign.[51] It has become a tradition to include a new rendition of their famous crowd chant song "El Corrido de Monterrey" each year on their holiday video, showing their fans how their passion lives "En la Vida y en la Cancha" (In Life and on the Field).[52]

Grounds

[edit]
Main articles: Estadio Tecnológico and Estadio BBVA

Monterrey played their home matches at the Estadio Tecnológico from 1950 to 2015, though for a period of time from 1973 to 1980 they played at the Estadio Universitario, the stadium was opened on July 17, 1950, by Mexican president Miguel Alemán Valdés, it was the second oldest football stadium in Mexico, after Estadio Azul. The stadium was a part of the 1986 Mexico FIFA World Cup which could hold 38,000 people, and served 4 matches within the tournament but, in July 2017 the stadium began to be demolished.

Monterrey played at the Estadio Tecnológico from 1950 to 2015

In 1977–78, with preparations for the 1977 CONCACAF Championship underway at the Estadio Universitario, both Tigres and Rayados played at the Estadio Tecnológico, including the first Clásico Regio derby held in the stadium; it would be the first of 42 meetings between the two clubs venue, with the final fixture being a 2–2 draw in October 2014.

Monterrey won league titles in 1986 (Mexico 1986) and Apertura 2010 in the venue, as well as the Copa MX in 1991 and the CONCACAF Champions League in 2012–13.

The interior of Estadio BBVA

In July 2015, Monterrey moved to a new stadium called Estadio BBVA, located in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, in Greater Monterrey. The new stadium currently has a capacity of 53,500 people. The stadium has similar features of those incorporated within the design of England's Wembley Stadium and the Aviva Stadium in Ireland. The stadium was inaugurated on 2 August 2015 in a friendly match for the eighth edition of the Eusébio Cup, where Monterrey defeated Benfica 3–0 hosting in front of a sold-out crowd.[53][54]

Estadio BBVA has been Monterrey's current home since Apertura 2015

Estadio BBVA, designed by Christopher Lee of Populous, started its development in October 2011, and included plans for reforestation and environmental healing for the decaying area that surrounds the construction site. The stadium was developed by FEMSA which costed around US$200 million. It is seen as one of the most beautiful stadiums in Mexico, it has the fourth largest capacity crowd in Mexico. It has an authentic grass surface, suites, a club-themed Restaurant, a club lounge, and high-end interior and exterior design. The inclination of the grandstand is 34 degrees and with the minimum distance allowed by FIFA to provide unsurpassed closeness to the action.

On 29 May 2016, Monterrey played their first final in their new stadium in front of 50,000 fans against Pachuca for the Clausura 2016 championship, which they tied 1–1, but lost 2–1 on aggregate.

Kits and sponsorship

[edit]

Kit evolution

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to C.F. Monterrey kits.

The original uniform was a shirt that was split diagonally across the chest with blue and white at each side, with white shorts and navy blue socks. In 1955 after winning the second division the club used a white shirt with two horizontal blue lines across the chest. In the 1960s the club wore a different kit inspired by the one used by Jaibos Tampico Madero with vertical baby blue lines with white shorts and socks. It was in 1962 when D. José Ramón Ballina introduced the kit that the club still uses to date, inspired by Asturias FC, a club he had played in Mexico City.

In the 1970s, many models emerged, some with broad, thicker stripes, and blue and black combinations, but the most significant change occurred in the mid-1980s when the color of the T-shirt changed from royal blue to navy blue, a colour that is still in use today.

Atletica was the kit manufacturer from 1999 to 2007, followed by American company Nike which manufactured the kits from 2007 to 2014. Afterwards, Monterrey signed a contract with German sportswear manufacturer Puma which has been making the team's kit ever since.

Sponsors

[edit]
Year Manufacturer Main Sponsor Other Sponsors
1984–91 Adidas
1991–98 Aba Sport ABACO-CONFIA 1989–98 AGUA SPORT
1998–99 Aba Sport Bimbo AGUA SPORT, Pepsi and Tecate
1999–07 Atletica Bimbo Coca-Cola, Casas Javer, Oxxo, Carta Blanca and BBVA Bancomer
2007–08 Nike Bimbo Coca-Cola, Casas Javer, LG, Carta Blanca and BBVA Bancomer
2008–13 Nike Bimbo Coca-Cola, Casas Javer, Carta Blanca, Berel, The Home Depot and BBVA Bancomer
2014–2016 Puma Bimbo Coca-Cola, Tecate, The Home Depot, AeroMéxico, H-E-B, Berel, HaVital Casas, Carl's Jr and BBVA Bancomer
2016–2017 Puma BBVA Bancomer Coca-Cola, Tecate, The Home Depot, Cemex, H-E-B, Berel, HaVital Casas, AT&T and Hagamoslo Bien
2017–2019 Puma AT&T Coca-Cola, Tecate, The Home Depot, Cemex, H-E-B, Berel, Hagámoslo Bien, Chilchota Alimentos, MAN SE, Vidusa and BBVA Bancomer
2019–2021 Puma AT&T Coca-Cola, Tecate, The Home Depot, H-E-B, Berel, Hagámoslo Bien, Oxxo Gas, Chilchota Alimentos, CREST México, MAN SE, Vidusa and BBVA Mexico
2021–2022 Puma Codere Coca-Cola, Tecate, The Home Depot, H-E-B, Berel, Hagámoslo Bien, Oxxo Gas, Roshfrans, Chilchota Alimentos, CREST México, Vidusa and BBVA Mexico
2022– Puma Codere Coca-Cola, Tecate, H-E-B, Berel, Hagámoslo Bien, Oxxo Gas, Roshfrans, Chilchota Alimentos, Carl's Jr., CREST México, Vidusa and BBVA Mexico

Honours

[edit]

National

[edit]
CF Monterrey honours
Type Competition Titles Winning editions Runners-up

Top division 		Primera División/Liga MX 5 México 1986, Clausura 2003, Apertura 2009, Apertura 2010, Apertura 2019 1992–93, Apertura 2004, Apertura 2005, Clausura 2012, Clausura 2016, Apertura 2017, Apertura 2024
Copa México/Copa Presidente/Copa MX 3 1991–92, Apertura 2017, 2019–20 1963–64, 1968–69, Apertura 2018
Campeón de Campeones 0 – 2003
Supercopa MX 0 – 2018
Promotion division Segunda División 2 1955–56, 1959–60 1957–58, 1958–59
Copa de la Segunda División 0 – 1957–58
Campeón de Campeones de la Segunda División 1 1960 1956

International

[edit]
Type Competition Titles Winning editions Runners-up
Continental CONCACAF CONCACAF Champions League 5 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2019, 2021 –
CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup 1‹The template Smallsup is being considered for deletion.› s 1993 –
Notes
  •   record
  • ‹The template Smallsup is being considered for deletion.› s shared record

Friendly

[edit]
  • Eusébio Cup: 2015
  • Los Angeles Nations Cup: 1991[55]
  • Copa Gobernador de Nuevo León: 1992[56]
  • Copa Rial: 1995[57]
  • Copa Movistar: 2002
  • International Challenge Cup: 2003[58]
  • Torneo de Verano Miller Lite: 2004[59]
  • Copa Chiapas: 2006
  • Chicago Mayor's Cup (1): 2009[60]
  • Copa del Pacífico: 2024

Personnel

[edit]

Management

[edit]
Position Staff
Sporting Chairman Mexico José Antonio Noriega
Corporate Chairman Mexico Manuel Filizola
Coordinator of football Mexico Héctor Lara
Director of academy Argentina Nicolás Martellotto

Source: Liga MX

Coaching staff

[edit]
Position Staff
Manager Spain Domènec Torrent
Assistant managers Spain Jordi Gris
Spain Jordi Guerrero
Argentina Nicolás Sánchez
Goalkeeper coach Argentina Fabián Donelli
Fitness coach Mexico Vicente Espadas
Physiotherapist Spain Emilio Ricart
Team doctors Mexico Francisco García
Mexico Felipe Peña
Assistant doctors Argentina Sebastián Giavino
Argentina Gustavo Zingaretti

Players

[edit]

First-team squad

[edit]
As of 12 September 2025

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  MEX Ricardo Chávez
3 DF  MEX Gerardo Arteaga
4 DF  MEX Víctor Guzmán
5 MF  MEX Fidel Ambríz
7 FW  MEX Germán Berterame
8 MF  ESP Óliver Torres
9 FW  FRA Anthony Martial
10 MF  ESP Sergio Canales
13 DF  MEX Carlos Salcedo
14 DF  MEX Érick Aguirre
15 DF  MEX Héctor Moreno
17 MF  MEX Jesús Corona
21 DF  MEX Luis Reyes
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK  MEX Luis Cárdenas
23 DF  MEX Gustavo Sánchez
25 GK  URU Santiago Mele
27 FW  MEX Roberto de la Rosa
29 FW  ARG Lucas Ocampos
30 MF  ARG Jorge Rodríguez
31 MF  MEX Michell Rodríguez
32 DF  MEX Tony Leone
33 DF  COL Stefan Medina
34 DF  MEX César Bustos
35 MF  MEX Iker Fimbres
93 DF  ESP Sergio Ramos (captain)
For recent transfers, see List of Mexican football transfers summer 2025.

Out on loan

[edit]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ARG Esteban Andrada (at Zaragoza)
— GK  MEX César Ramos (at Atlas)
— DF  MEX Orlando Botello (at York United)
— DF  MEX Mauricio Morales (at Santiago)
— DF  CHI Sebastián Vegas (at Colo-Colo)
— MF  MEX César Garza (at Dundee)
— MF  MEX Víctor López (at Querétaro)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  MEX Jaziel Martínez (at Atlético Morelia)
— MF  MEX Jesús Rodríguez (at Santiago)
— MF  COL Johan Rojas (at Necaxa)
— MF  MEX Pablo Sánchez (at Santiago)
— FW  MEX Alí Ávila (at Querétaro)
— FW  MEX Josué Morales (at Santiago)

Reserve teams

[edit]
Main article: Monterrey Reserves and Academy

Top scorers

[edit]
Player FMF CUP CON REC CWC INL TOTAL
Mexico Rogelio Funes Mori 133 19 5 0 3 0 160
Chile Humberto Suazo 102 0 16 0 2 1 121
Brazil Mario de Souza 90 5 1 0 0 0 96[61]
Colombia Dorlan Pabón 73 12 3 0 0 0 88
Mexico Aldo de Nigris 66 0 15 0 2 0 83
Brazil Milton Carlos 73 0 0 0 0 0 73
Uruguay Rubén Romeo Corbo 68 0 1 0 0 0 69
Mexico Guillermo Franco 63 0 2 0 0 0 65
Mexico Alfredo Jiménez 58 0 1 0 0 0 59
Mexico Francisco Javier Cruz 54 0 3 0 0 0 57
Mexico Lucho Pérez 49 0 3 0 0 3 55
Brazil Bira 55 0 0 0 0 0 55
Argentina Sergio Verdirame 46 0 0 4 0 0 50
Mexico Jesús Arellano 48 0 0 0 0 1 49
Argentina Nicolás Sánchez 31 6 5 0 0 0 42
Legend:

FMF: Liga MX
CUP: Copa MX
CON: CONCACAF Champions League
REC: Recopa de la Concacaf
CWC: FIFA Club World Cup

INL: InterLiga

Most appearances

[edit]
Club de Fútbol Monterrey
Rank Player Period Apps
1 Mexico Magdaleno Cano 1967–1982 437
2 Mexico Jesús Arellano 1994–1997; 2000–2011 407
3 Argentina José María Basanta 2008–2014; 2016–2020 390
4 Mexico Lucho Pérez 2003–2012; 2015–2016 388
5 Mexico Jonathan Orozco 2005–2016 371
6 Colombia Stefan Medina 2014; 2016–present 350
7 Mexico Rogelio Funes Mori 2015–2023 328
8 Mexico Jesús Eduardo Zavala 2006–2018 285
  • Players in bold are currently active with Club de Fútbol Monterrey.
  • Does not count appearances in international competitions.

Managers

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

C.F. Monterrey

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Club de Fútbol Monterrey, commonly known as Rayados or simply , is a professional Mexican football club based in the city of , , that competes in the , the top division of Mexican football. Founded on June 28, 1945, by a group of local businessmen including Paul C. Probert and José Fidalgo, it is the oldest active professional club in and derives its nickname "Rayados" (meaning "the striped ones") from its distinctive and striped home kit. The club has a rich history marked by steady growth from its early days in the second division to becoming one of Mexico's most successful teams. After winning its first Second Division title in 1956 and promoting to the top flight, Monterrey experienced relegation in 1957 but returned in 1960, establishing itself as a consistent competitor. Its first major trophy came in the 1985–86 season, securing the Mexican league championship and ending a long wait for silverware. Since 1999, the club has been owned by FEMSA, Latin America's largest beverage company, which has invested heavily in infrastructure and talent development. Monterrey plays its home matches at the state-of-the-art , a 53,500-capacity venue inaugurated in 2015 that replaced the historic Estadio Tecnológico as the club's fortress. The team is renowned for its fierce rivalry with in the Clásico Regio, one of Liga MX's most intense derbies, drawing massive crowds and national attention. On the pitch, Monterrey has amassed an impressive trophy cabinet, including five Liga MX titles (1985–86, Clausura 2003, Apertura 2009, Apertura 2010, and Clausura 2020), three Copa MX cups (1991–92, Apertura 2017, and Clausura 2020), and a league-record five CONCACAF Champions Cup titles (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2018–19, and 2020–21). Internationally, the club has participated in six FIFA Club World Cups, achieving third place twice in 2012 and 2019, and reaching the round of 16 in 2025. Notable players who have shaped its legacy include all-time top scorer Rogelio Funes Mori (160 goals), Humberto Suazo, who led the three-peat CONCACAF triumphs from 2011 to 2013, and historic figure Mario de Souza Bahia, key to the 1986 title win. Monterrey participated in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, reaching the round of 16 before losing 2–1 to Borussia Dortmund, underscoring its ongoing prominence in global football.

History

Foundation and early years (1940s–1960s)

Club de Fútbol Monterrey was established on June 28, 1945, in , , by a group of local industrial businessmen seeking to create a football club in . The founding shareholders included figures such as Ramón Cárdenas Coronado, Enrique Ayala Medina, and Paul C. Probert, with Ayala Medina serving as the first chairman of the board. This initiative came at the close of , reflecting the growing interest in organized sports amid the region's economic expansion driven by industry. The club's formation aimed to represent the burgeoning industrial class and foster local pride in a city historically underrepresented in national football leagues. The team played its debut professional match on August 19, 1945, at Parque Cuauhtémoc, securing a 1-0 victory over Club San Sebastián de León, with José "Che" Gómez scoring the lone goal. Early operations were marked by significant challenges, including a tragic bus on September 14, 1945, that killed players Guillermo Vidal and Enrique Lizano while injuring others, which compounded the club's nascent struggles. Despite finishing last in the 1945-1946 regional season, the club persisted with support from loaned players and community efforts, though financial difficulties led to a request for temporary withdrawal after that campaign due to insufficient sponsorship and revenue. The "Rayados," meaning "the striped ones," emerged during this period, derived from the team's distinctive and white striped kits that became a of their identity. By 1952, following a six-year hiatus, the club reorganized as Asociación Deportiva Monterrey under the leadership of Dr. Carlos Canseco, president of the Soccer Association, and rejoined the amid ongoing economic hardships. The 1950s were characterized by persistent financial woes, with low attendance and debts forcing reliance on raffles and fundraising; by 1959, the club teetered on the brink of dissolution until a group of businessmen, led by José Rivero Azcárraga, formed the Pro-Fútbol Committee to stabilize operations. These efforts culminated in promotion to the Primera División after winning the 1959-60 season, clinched with a 3-0 victory over on March 20, 1960, thanks to goals from Julián Briseño, José Antonio Juárez, and Eugenio Almirón. This achievement, followed by a 1-0 win in the Champion of Champions against Oviedo de Texcoco on June 12, 1960, marked the end of the club's formative struggles and its entry into Mexico's top flight. The initial regional rivalry with began to take shape during these years, highlighted by their first encounter in the second division on March 13, 1960.

Growth and initial successes (1970s–1990s)

Following their promotion to the Primera División in 1960, C.F. Monterrey reinforced their squad with key acquisitions such as Raúl Chávez de la Rosa, Alonso Urdaniga, and Claudio Lostaunau, marking a period of consolidation in Mexico's top flight. The club experienced initial struggles, narrowly avoiding relegation in their first two seasons, but soon achieved consistent mid-table finishes, including 5th place in 1962–63 under coach Roberto Scarone, who instilled the nickname "La Pandilla" for their spirited play. By the mid-1960s, Monterrey secured strong top-half positions, finishing 3rd in both 1963–64 and 1964–65, nearly claiming the league title, and setting a club record with eight consecutive wins in 1963; they also reached the Copa México runner-up spot in 1964 and again in 1968–69. Entering the 1970s, Monterrey faced significant challenges, including declining attendance that threatened the franchise's stability and sparked talks of a potential sale, creating intense relegation battles in the early part of the decade. Under new president Alberto Santos de Hoyos from 1971, the club stabilized and mounted a resurgence, highlighted by a 3rd-place finish in 1970–71 driven by forward Alfredo “El Alacrán” Jiménez's 18 goals. The team peaked in 1973–74, ending as league runners-up with 22 wins in 34 matches, powered by the scoring duo of Milton Carlos and Francisco Bertocchi, who combined for 40 goals; this performance propelled them into the 1974–75 season as the league's highest-scoring side with 72 goals in 38 games. Notable contributors included Javier Quintero Morones and holdover star Ubirajara Chagas “Bira,” fostering growing regional interest amid the emerging Clásico Regiomontano rivalry with Tigres UANL, which began in 1974 following Tigres' promotion to the top flight. The 1980s saw Monterrey push for greater consistency amid economic pressures, with ownership transitioning to Grupo Protexa under Fernando Olvera and a renewed emphasis on the youth academy to build a competitive core. This groundwork culminated in their first title in the 1986 Mexico Tournament, under Argentine manager Miguel Ángel López, where the team dominated from start to finish with 13 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses to claim the overall lead. In the final against Tampico Madero, Monterrey overcame a 2–1 away deficit to win 2–1 at home in extra time on March 1, 1986, at Estadio Tecnológico, with Francisco Javier “El Abuelo” Cruz scoring the decisive goal and finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 14 goals; Reinaldo Güeldini also netted in the final, while academy products Héctor “Tito” Becerra and Missael Espinoza provided vital support. This breakthrough ended a 26-year wait for top-flight silverware since their 1960 promotion, solidifying the club's domestic standing. As the 1990s dawned, Monterrey's fan base expanded significantly in , fueled by optimistic crowds filling Estadio Tecnológico and the team's emergence as a consistent contender under new ownership from Grupo ABACO starting in 1990–91. High-profile signings like forwards and Manuel Negrete bolstered the squad, contributing to a 2nd-place finish in the 1991–92 general standings and their first Copa México title that season. The momentum carried into 1992–93, where they reached the final as runners-up, losing to Atlante despite a strong campaign led by Hermosillo, Alejandro Hisis, Guillermo Vázquez, and ; this era's successes, including the nickname “La Aplanadora” for their powerful style, deepened local loyalty and attendance surges across the region.

Rise to prominence (2000s)

The financial backing from the group, which acquired majority ownership in late 1999, provided C.F. Monterrey with the stability needed to invest in player development and infrastructure during the early , transforming the club from a mid-table team into a more competitive entity. This support also enhanced the club's commercial appeal, attracting larger sponsorships and increasing merchandise sales as fan attendance grew at home games. By the mid-, Monterrey had established Estadio Tecnológico as its full-time venue, hosting all league and cup matches in a facility that symbolized the club's rising ambitions in . A breakthrough came in when, under coach , Monterrey clinched the Clausura league title—their second in club history—by defeating 4-1 on aggregate in the final, with goals from Luis Pérez, (twice), and Alejandro García securing the victory. This success marked the end of a period of inconsistency and boosted the team's confidence heading into international competitions. The arrival of coach in January 2009 revolutionized the squad's approach, emphasizing defensive solidity and quick counterattacks. In his first season, Monterrey captured the Apertura title with a dramatic 6-4 aggregate win over in the final, highlighted by a 4-3 comeback in the first leg at Estadio Tecnológico. The following year, they repeated as champions in the Apertura 2010, edging 5-3 on aggregate to claim back-to-back league crowns for the first time in club history. Chilean striker proved instrumental during this surge, serving as the team's top scorer in the 2009–10 campaign with 10 goals across league and playoff matches, including the winner in the Apertura 2009 final second leg. His clinical finishing and leadership anchored the attack, complementing Vucetich's system. The pinnacle of the decade arrived in the , where Monterrey claimed their first continental title by defeating 3-2 on aggregate in the final, with scoring twice in the decisive second leg. This triumph not only elevated the club's regional stature but also qualified them for the .

Modern dominance and challenges (2010s–2020s)

Under Víctor Manuel Vucetich's management from 2009 to 2013, C.F. Monterrey achieved significant domestic and international success, including back-to-back titles in the Apertura 2009 and Bicentenario 2010 seasons, marking the club's third and fourth league championships overall. The team also secured three consecutive Champions League titles in the 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13 editions, establishing Monterrey as a dominant force in North American club football during this period. Following Vucetich's departure in 2013, the club experienced a period of inconsistency from 2013 to 2015, finishing outside the playoff positions in the 2013–14 Clausura (18th place) and struggling with defensive vulnerabilities that led to early eliminations. In the 2014–15 season, Monterrey reached the playoffs but exited in the quarterfinals of the Apertura and semifinals of the Clausura, highlighting transitional challenges amid coaching changes and squad adjustments. Antonio Mohamed's first tenure from 2015 to 2018 brought renewed stability, culminating in a Copa MX Clausura title in 2017 and consistent top-six finishes in Liga MX, though the team fell short in league finals. Mohamed returned in October 2019, leading Monterrey to the Apertura 2019 Liga MX title and the Copa MX Apertura 2019. In calendar year 2019, the club achieved a treble by also winning the 2018–19 CONCACAF Champions League under previous coach Diego Alonso, becoming the second Mexican club to claim the Liga MX, Copa MX, and CONCACAF Champions League in the same calendar year. Diego Alonso managed the team from June 2018 to September 2019, overseeing the 2018–19 Champions League victory with a 2–1 aggregate win over in the final on June 2, 2019, which qualified Monterrey for the . Separately, in 2021, under subsequent coach , Monterrey won their fifth Champions League title with a 1–0 victory over in the final, securing qualification for the . Entering the 2020s, Monterrey faced heightened competition and setbacks, including a 3–2 aggregate loss to Club América in the 2024 Apertura final despite a strong regular-season performance. The club appointed Domènec Torrent as head coach on May 21, 2025, aiming to leverage his experience as a former assistant to Pep Guardiola to revitalize the squad ahead of international commitments. At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Monterrey advanced from Group E to the round of 16, defeating teams like River Plate before a 2–1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. To bolster their competitiveness, the club made high-profile signings in 2024–25, including veteran defender Sergio Ramos on a one-year deal in February 2025 and forward Anthony Martial on a contract through 2027 in September 2025.

Club Culture

Fan base and supporter groups

The supporters of C.F. Monterrey, affectionately known as Albiazules, constitute one of the most dedicated and expansive fan bases in Mexican football, with their core rooted in the and extending across the country due to the club's consistent success and regional pride. This loyalty is evidenced by Rayados leading in attendance figures year after year, drawing over 761,957 fans to home matches during the 2025 Clausura season alone, surpassing all other teams. Since the inauguration of in 2015, the club has maintained an average attendance exceeding 40,000 spectators per game, a testament to the unwavering commitment of local supporters who fill the 53,500-capacity venue even during midweek fixtures and challenging campaigns. Organized supporter groups play a central role in animating matches and fostering community, with La Adicción emerging as the most prominent . Founded on October 24, 1998, by a small group of 10 passionate fans during a home loss to , La Adicción drew inspiration from South American ultras traditions to create a more dynamic and vocal presence in the stands, evolving into a thousands-strong organization known for choreographed displays, relentless chanting, and travel to away games. Their formation marked a shift in Mexican fan culture during the late , emphasizing collective identity and unyielding support amid the club's transitional period. While other informal groups contribute to the atmosphere, La Adicción remains the flagship, often leading initiatives like fan caravans and tribute events that reinforce the Albiazules' sense of belonging. Beyond , the fan base thrives among the Mexican in the United States, particularly in , where proximity to —less than 300 miles from the border—has cultivated vibrant chapters. , including cities like and , has become a key stronghold, with local supporters organizing watch parties, tailgates, and even youth camps in collaboration with the club, driven by familial ties and . These international communities amplify the club's reach, hosting events for major matches and contributing to sold-out crowds during U.S.-based friendlies or tournaments. Digital engagement further underscores the scale and modernity of the Monterrey fan base, with the official Rayados accounts amassing over 6.27 million followers across platforms like , , , X, and as of 2025. This strong online presence facilitates global interaction, from live match reactions to fan-voted content, while alone exceeds 1 million followers, enabling rapid mobilization for ticket sales and merchandise drives. The intensity of this support is especially palpable in the Clásico Regio rivalry against , where Albiazules' fervor creates an electric, divided atmosphere reflective of Nuevo León's local passions.

Rivalries

C.F. Monterrey's most prominent rivalry is the against , the other major club from the , which originated with their first competitive encounter on March 13, 1960, when Monterrey secured a 2-0 victory. This derby, often dubbed the "King of the North," has grown into one of Mexico's most intense local rivalries, fueled by the clubs' shared regional identity and competition for dominance in . As of November 2025, the two teams have contested 129 official matches, with Tigres holding 45 wins, Monterrey 44, and 40 draws, reflecting a closely balanced competition. The rivalry intensified during the 2010s, particularly after 2015, as both clubs emerged as powerhouses, collectively winning six titles in that span, with Tigres claiming five and Monterrey one, leading to heated title races and frequent playoff clashes. Prior to Monterrey's move to Estadio BBVA in 2015, the clubs occasionally shared Tigres' home venue, Estadio Universitario, for matches when Monterrey's primary stadium, Estadio Tecnológico, was unavailable, adding layers of historical tension to their encounters in the shared space. The economic stakes are high, with both clubs backed by Monterrey's industrial elite—Tigres by the and Monterrey by corporate sponsors—turning the into a battle for local prestige and commercial supremacy in one of Mexico's wealthiest regions. Culturally, the matches draw massive crowds and embody the city's divided loyalties, with fan passion creating electric atmospheres that amplify the derby's significance beyond the pitch. Another key rivalry for Monterrey is with CF Pachuca, often called the Monterrey–Pachuca derby, which gained prominence in the through repeated clashes in competitions, where both clubs established themselves as continental giants—Pachuca with six titles and Monterrey with five. These encounters, including group stage and knockout matches in the , have seen over 15 meetings since the early , contributing to a broader head-to-head record of 77 official games, where Monterrey leads with 33 wins to Pachuca's 25 and 19 draws. The underscores Monterrey's push for international hardware against Pachuca's established North American pedigree, with stakes elevated by their mutual success in exporting talent and securing regional supremacy. On the national stage, Monterrey maintains significant rivalries with and Chivas Guadalajara, rooted in competition for honors and representing contrasting visions of Mexican football—América's capital-based commercial might versus Chivas' traditionalist, all-Mexican player policy. The feud with América escalated during the 2019 Apertura final, where Monterrey triumphed 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate , securing their fifth league title in a dramatic showdown at . Against Chivas, tensions trace back to the 1986–87 season final, where Chivas won 4-2 on aggregate, but recent battles have kept the rivalry alive, with Chivas holding a slight edge in 61 total meetings (28 wins to Monterrey's 20, 13 draws). These national derbies carry cultural weight, pitting Monterrey's modern, investment-driven model against historic powerhouses, often influencing playoff paths and national narratives.

Traditions and community initiatives

C.F. Monterrey's traditions are rooted in symbols that reflect the industrial heritage of its home city, with the blue-and-white vertical stripes adopted as the club's kit design in the , drawing inspiration from the striped uniforms of Tampico Madero FC and evoking the resilience of Monterrey's steel and manufacturing industries. This enduring pattern has solidified the team's identity, inspiring fan nicknames like "Rayados" and representing the blue-collar spirit of . Pre-match rituals amplify this legacy, as supporters fill with the sounds of the official Rayados Anthem, composed in 1989 by Luis Aguilé and sung collectively to ignite passion and solidarity before every home game. Fan groups enhance these moments with elaborate choreographies, featuring coordinated waves of blue-and-white flags, pyrotechnics, and banner displays that transform the stadium into a sea of motion and color. The club's community initiatives emphasize social impact and youth engagement, highlighted by the annual Navidad Rayada campaign, launched around 2010, where players and staff visit children's hospitals to deliver toys, perform festive activities, and collect donations for pediatric care. Notable efforts include 2012 visits to the Hospital Materno Infantil, where team members brought holiday cheer to dozens of young patients recovering from surgeries and illnesses, and similar events in 2021 supporting children with developmental conditions. Complementing these charitable drives, the Rayados Kids series debuted in 2017 as an educational platform for children, using animated stories and real-life segments to impart football values like and , garnering over one million views and thousands of dedicated subscribers across the club's digital channels. Through broader outreach via its official academies and social programs, C.F. Monterrey supports educational initiatives in , providing resources to local youth that occasionally intersect with academy involvement to promote holistic development.

Youth development system

C.F. Monterrey's youth development system is centered at the Centro de Entrenamiento BBVA El Barrial, inaugurated on April 18, 2006, as the club's primary training facility for emerging talent. This complex supports teams from under-12 to under-23 levels, providing specialized infrastructure including multiple pitches, a gymnasium, and recovery areas to foster comprehensive player growth. The academy's philosophy prioritizes the promotion of sports, discipline, and core values within society, while emphasizing technical skill refinement, game intelligence, and adaptability to prepare players for competitive environments. This approach focuses on nurturing local talent from the region and beyond, integrating over 155 affiliated soccer academies across 27 Mexican states to scout and develop promising youth. Since 2010, the system has contributed numerous graduates to the first team, including defender , who debuted in 2010 and became a key Olympic gold medalist in 2012, and midfielder Jonathan González, who joined the academy in 2014 and made his senior debut in 2017 before representing internationally. Monterrey maintains partnerships with local communities through its extensive network of academies, which collaborate on talent identification and grassroots programs to engage young players early. The club organizes annual youth tournaments, such as the Copa Rayados series, which feature international competition for under-9 to under-19 teams and provide exposure to elite scouts. In competitive achievements, the under-20 squad has secured multiple Liga MX titles, including the 2012 championship with a 3-0 victory over Morelia and the 2021 crown after defeating Pachuca 2-1 in extra time.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Estadio BBVA

, located in , serves as the primary home venue for C.F. Monterrey since its inauguration on August 2, 2015, with a friendly match against Benfica that ended in a 3–0 victory for the hosts. The stadium replaced the aging Estadio Tecnológico, where the club had played for 63 years, marking a significant upgrade in facilities for the team. Designed by the international architecture firm Populous in collaboration with local firm VFO Arquitectos, the stadium features a distinctive steel structure weighing 6,300 tons and a cantilevered roof that provides shelter for spectators. Construction, which began in 2011, cost approximately US$200 million and was fully funded by FEMSA, the parent company of C.F. Monterrey, with naming rights secured from BBVA Bancomer. With a of 53,500—including 43,000 general seats, 5,000 club seats, and 324 luxury suites—the venue emphasizes premium hospitality, boasting more suites than any other soccer stadium in . Modern amenities include energy-efficient LED floodlighting installed by for optimal visibility and broadcast quality, rainwater systems for sustainability, and large LED video displays for enhanced fan engagement. In 2024, the stadium received Gold Certification for operations and maintenance from the U.S. Council. The stadium has drawn record crowds for key matches, including nearly full capacity of 53,000 for the 2016 final against , underscoring its role in hosting high-stakes Regiomontano derbies and contributing to C.F. Monterrey's strong home record in recent seasons. Beyond football, accommodates major non-sporting events such as concerts by artists like , , and , transforming it into a multifunctional arena in the region. It is also scheduled to host four matches of the , including three group-stage games and one Round of 32 fixture.

Training and academy facilities

The Centro de Entrenamiento BBVA El Barrial serves as the primary training hub for C.F. Monterrey's first team and academy squads, spanning 15 hectares with six training pitches, three of which feature FIFA-certified grass surfaces. Inaugurated on April 18, 2006, the complex supports daily operations, including pre-match preparation and performance analysis, while integrating essential support infrastructure such as a concentration , dining hall, gymnasium, , and recovery areas. A dedicated medical center at El Barrial provides comprehensive care, including physiotherapy and rehabilitation services focused on player wellness and injury management. These facilities enable the club to host training camps for over 200 youth players from its academy system, fostering integrated development alongside senior team activities. In 2024, El Barrial was designated as a Team Base Camp for the . Complementing El Barrial, the club's youth scouting and development efforts utilize additional grounds at El Cerrito, operational since 1975 and repurposed for basic forces training following the first team's relocation in 2006. In , El Barrial underwent significant upgrades, adding 1,500 square meters of new space with enhanced medical and physiotherapy labs to bolster protocols for both men's and women's teams.

Commercial Aspects

Kit evolution and suppliers

C.F. Monterrey's earliest known uniform, introduced in the 1952–1953 season, consisted of a jersey with blue and white vertical stripes paired with blue shorts, marking the beginning of the club's signature design elements. This striped pattern solidified in the , evolving from simpler early designs to the bold vertical blue-and-white home kits that symbolize the team's identity as "Rayados," or "the striped ones." Away kits have traditionally varied, often featuring solid white or blue bases since the , providing contrast to the home stripes while maintaining cohesion in the color palette. The club's kit suppliers have changed over decades, reflecting partnerships with various manufacturers. From 1984 to 1990, provided the uniforms, introducing modern materials and designs during a period of growing competitiveness. This was followed by ABA Sport (1990–1999) and (1999–2007), which emphasized local production and affordability for the fan base. Nike took over from 2007 to 2014, coinciding with the team's rise in domestic and international success, and incorporating advanced performance fabrics. Since 2014, Puma has been the official supplier, delivering innovative kits with a focus on bold aesthetics and technology like moisture-wicking materials. Iconic designs highlight key milestones in the club's history. The 2010–11 home kit, produced by Nike, featured the classic white base with navy blue vertical stripes and was worn during Monterrey's Apertura championship victory, establishing it as a fan favorite for its clean, triumphant look. More recently, the 2024–25 third kit from Puma adopts a black base with glossy vertical lines inspired by the exterior of , incorporating local architectural motifs to celebrate the club's regional roots. These evolutions maintain the striped heritage while adapting to contemporary trends and performance needs.

Sponsorships and partnerships

C.F. Monterrey maintains a robust portfolio of sponsorships and partnerships that bolster its financial stability and global reach. The , the club's home venue since 2015, benefits from held by , which secured the initial 10-year deal upon the stadium's inauguration and renewed it in July 2025 for an additional five years, ensuring the partnership extends through at least 2030. However, during the matches at the venue, it will be temporarily renamed Estadio Monterrey in compliance with regulations prohibiting sponsor names. The club's primary shirt sponsorship is with Codere Online, a betting and gaming company that entered as the main sponsor in July 2021 for a four-season term through the 2024/2025 campaign, with logo placement on the front of the jersey; the agreement has since expanded to include official sponsorship for the and further extensions into the women's team Rayadas. Among other key commercial allies, serves as the official beverage partner, with the collaboration renewed in December 2024 to continue providing exclusive soft drink supplies for matches and events. holds exclusive multi-year broadcasting rights for Monterrey's matches, acquired in July 2023 and covering streaming on platforms like , which enhances the club's visibility in and the . To expand in the North American market, SRS Distribution joined as an exclusive sponsor in 2023, focusing on construction and roofing products, with the strategic alliance renewed in 2025 to run until June 2026 and support fan engagement initiatives across the border. In July 2025, Monterrey added , a South Korean soju producer, as a new sponsor to tap into Asian markets and diversify its beverage portfolio. These deals collectively drive substantial commercial , positioning the club as one of Liga MX's leaders in sponsorship ahead of major events like the .

Honours

Domestic competitions

C.F. Monterrey has achieved significant success in domestic competitions, particularly in the and , establishing itself as one of Mexico's top clubs with five league titles and three cup triumphs. These victories highlight the club's consistency in the playoff format known as the Liguilla, where they have reached the final on multiple occasions. The club's titles span from the 1980s to the late 2010s, demonstrating periods of dominance under various coaches. In the México 1986 tournament, Monterrey defeated Tampico Madero 4-2 on aggregate in the final to claim their first league championship. Their second title came in the Clausura 2003, overcoming 3-1 on aggregate after a 0-0 first leg draw and a 3-1 second leg win. The Apertura 2009 final saw them triumph over with a 6-4 aggregate score, highlighted by a 4-3 second leg victory following a 2-1 first leg loss. In the Bicentenario 2010 (Clausura 2010) edition, Monterrey beat 5-3 on aggregate, securing a 5-0 home win in the second leg after a 3-0 first leg defeat. Their most recent league title was the Apertura 2019, where they defeated 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 aggregate draw (2–1 first leg win, 2–1 second leg loss after extra time).
SeasonOpponentAggregate Score
México 1986Tampico Madero4-2
Clausura 20033-1
Apertura 20096-4
Bicentenario 20105-3
Apertura 20193–3 (4–2 pens)
Monterrey has also experienced several near-misses, finishing as runners-up in six finals, underscoring their competitive edge in high-stakes matches. Notable runner-up finishes include the Clausura 2012 against (3-2 aggregate loss), Clausura 2016 versus (2-1 aggregate loss), Apertura 2016 to (3-2 aggregate loss), and the Apertura 2024 final where they lost 3-2 on aggregate to . Other runner-up appearances occurred in the Clausura 2011 against UNAM. In the , has secured three titles, contributing to their domestic trophy cabinet. The first came in the 1991–92 season, defeating 4-2 in the final at Estadio Tecnológico. They won the Apertura 2017 edition against with a 1–0 single-leg victory. The most recent triumph was the 2019–20 edition, where they beat 1–0 in a single-leg final.
SeasonOpponentAggregate Score
1991–924-2
Apertura 20171–0
2019–201–0
Beyond the league and cup, Monterrey has claimed additional domestic honors, including the in 1992, defeating 3–0. Their overall domestic record reflects a balance of titles and competitive final appearances, with over ten Liguilla final berths since the short tournament format began in 1996.

International competitions

C.F. Monterrey has established itself as a dominant force in North American club football, securing six international titles, primarily through its success in competitions. The club has won the Champions League five times, more than any other team in the competition's history alongside , underscoring its regional supremacy during the . These victories highlight Monterrey's consistent qualification and performance in continental tournaments, often advancing as champions or cup winners. The club's first international honor came in the 1993 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup (Recopa CONCACAF), where it defeated Salvadoran side 4-3 in the decisive final match held in , marking Monterrey's inaugural cross-border triumph. This early success set the stage for greater achievements in the premier continental competition. Monterrey's Champions League triumphs began with a 3-2 aggregate victory over in the 2010–11 final, featuring a 2-2 draw in the first leg and a 1-0 second-leg win at Estadio Tecnológico. The club then achieved a historic from 2011–12 to 2012–13, defeating in both finals: 3-2 aggregate in 2011–12 (2-0 home win, 1-2 away loss) and 4-2 aggregate in 2012–13 (0-0 away, 4-2 home comeback). After a hiatus, Monterrey reclaimed the title in 2019 with a 2-1 aggregate win over rivals (1-0 away, 1-1 home), and completed its quintuple in 2021 by edging 1-0 in a single-leg final at . These five finals appearances—all resulting in victories—represent the bulk of the club's seven total international final outings, with the remaining stemming from earlier cup formats. Beyond the Champions League, Monterrey has participated in the FIFA Club World Cup on five occasions as CONCACAF representatives, finishing third in 2012 and 2019. In the expanded 2025 edition hosted in the United States, the club advanced from Group E after a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan at Rose Bowl Stadium—highlighted by Sergio Ramos's goal for Monterrey—and other group results, before a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 eliminated them from further contention. This performance reaffirmed Monterrey's competitive edge on the global stage despite not securing additional silverware.

Other tournaments and friendlies

C.F. Monterrey has participated in the , an annual tournament featuring clubs from and , since its inception in 2019. In the 2023 edition, the club topped Group West 2 with victories over (2-1) and (2-1), advanced past (1-0) in the Round of 32, and defeated (3-2) in the quarterfinals before falling 0-2 to in the semifinals. The club frequently undertakes pre-season tours to the , engaging in exhibition matches to prepare for the campaign and build international visibility. Since the early , these tours have included games against fellow sides and MLS opponents, often held in and other southern states to connect with the large Mexican-American fanbase. Notable examples include a 2023 friendly against in Dallas, , resulting in a 0-5 defeat; a 2022 Tour Águila match versus at in ; and a 2023 mid-season exhibition with at in , . In 2019, Monterrey played an invitational exhibition against at in , , as part of efforts to expand the club's presence in the U.S. market. These tours typically feature multiple fixtures over a week or two, emphasizing tactical preparation and fan engagement rather than competitive outcomes.

Personnel

Club management

C.F. Monterrey's administrative structure is overseen by a primarily composed of executives from , reflecting the conglomerate's integrated approach to sports investments. Key board members include as Executive Chairman, alongside directors such as Eva María Garza Lagüera Gonda and Lagüera Gonda, who ensure alignment with FEMSA's broader corporate objectives. The board also incorporates representatives from major sponsors to facilitate commercial synergies, though operational leadership focuses on internal executives. Current top executives are Manuel Filizola Flores, serving as Chairman of the Board and overseeing corporate affairs, and , who has held the position of Sports President since 2020, directing sporting strategy and operations (as of November 2025). Under this leadership, notable decisions have shaped the club's infrastructure and long-term sustainability. In 2015, fully financed the construction of , investing approximately $200 million in a state-of-the-art venue that enhanced fan experience and revenue potential without public funding. Following the 2020 treble victory, management prioritized youth development by expanding the Rayados Soccer Academies network to over 155 locations across and the , including new international partnerships like the 2023 collaboration with to create professional pathways for emerging talents. These initiatives underscore a commitment to sustainable growth, with the executive team occasionally influencing coaching selections to support on-field competitiveness.

Coaching staff

The coaching staff of C.F. Monterrey forms a comprehensive technical team that supports the in areas such as tactical , player fitness, goalkeeping development, and injury management. Following a tactical overhaul after the team's elimination in the Clausura 2025 playoffs and in preparation for competitions including the , the current setup (as of November 2025) emphasizes a blend of experienced assistants, specialized coaches, and analytical support to enhance performance. Domènec Torrent serves as , appointed on May 21, 2025, with prior experience as an assistant at under , bringing a focus on possession-oriented tactics. His key assistants include Nicolás Sánchez, an assistant manager since June 5, 2023, who contributes to match preparation and player development; Jordi Guerrero, appointed May 21, 2025, specializing in tactical analysis; and Jordi Gris Vila, also joining in May 2025 to oversee training methodologies. Specialized roles within the staff include goalkeeping coach Fabián Donelli, who joined on July 1, 2024, and emphasizes distribution and shot-stopping techniques for the squad's keepers. Fitness coach Vicente Espadas manages physical conditioning programs, credited with maintaining high athletic levels during intense schedules, including international tournaments. The medical team, led by club doctor Francisco García since July 1, 2018, handles injury prevention and rehabilitation, supported by physiotherapists such as Emilio Ricart. Since the early 2020s, the coaching staff has integrated data analytics to inform decisions, with Director of Soccer Analytics George providing performance insights and reports to the technical team during and game planning. This addition, part of broader recent changes, aims to optimize tactics and player selection through empirical analysis.

Players

Current first-team squad

As of November 2025, C.F. Monterrey's first-team squad comprises 25 players with an average age of 29.1 years, including 8 foreign players representing 32% of the roster. The team blends seasoned international talent with domestic prospects, led by captain , a veteran Spanish defender who joined in February 2025 on a one-year deal. Key midfield leadership comes from , while the forward line features high-profile additions like and . The squad's composition emphasizes defensive solidity and attacking versatility, with most contracts extending through 2026 or later; notable shorter-term arrangements include and , both set to expire in December 2025. In the 2025 , Monterrey invested approximately €1 million across 9 incoming players, highlighted by Martial's €1.1 million move from AEK in September, while generating €16.44 million from 9 departures, including several to European clubs like Nelson Deossa to and Esteban Andrada to . The current roster, as registered for the Liga MX Apertura 2025 and FIFA Club World Cup, is detailed below by position.
PositionPlayerNationalityAgeNotes
GoalkeepersSantiago MeleUruguay28Contract until June 2029; signed June 2025
Luis CárdenasMexico32Contract until June 2026
DefendersSergio Ramos (Captain)Spain39Signed February 2025, free transfer; contract until December 2025
Carlos SalcedoMexico32Signed January 2025; contract until December 2027
Héctor MorenoMexico37Contract until December 2025
Gerardo ArteagaMexico27Key left-back; contract until December 2027
Stefan MedinaColombia33Right-back; contract until December 2025
Víctor GuzmánMexico23Centre-back; contract until June 2028
Érick AguirreMexico28Versatile defender
Ricardo ChávezMexico30Full-back
Luis ReyesMexico34Defender
Luis SánchezMexico25On loan from Mazatlán FC until December 2025
Tony LeoneMexico/USA21Young centre-back; contract until December 2027
MidfieldersSergio CanalesSpain34Midfield leader; contract until June 2026
Óliver TorresSpain30Attacking midfielder; contract until June 2027
Jorge RodríguezArgentina30Defensive midfielder; contract until June 2027
Fidel AmbrízMexico22Promising talent; contract until June 2028
Iker FimbresMexico20Young midfielder
ForwardsAnthony MartialFrance29Signed September 2025 for €1.1m; contract until June 2027
Germán BerterameArgentina/Mexico26Leading scorer; contract until December 2027
Lucas OcamposArgentina31Winger; contract until June 2027
Roberto de la RosaMexico25Striker; contract until June 2026
Michell RodríguezMexico25Forward
Jesús CoronaMexico32Winger

Youth and reserve teams

The reserve and youth teams of C.F. Monterrey form a structured development system aimed at nurturing talent for the senior squad, with the U-23 team serving as the primary reserve side competing in the U-23 league. This team participates in both the phases of the competition, providing competitive experience for players under 23 years old while integrating them into professional environments. In the 2024–25 season, the U-23 squad maintained a mid-table position, finishing around fourth in key standings after 17 matches with a balanced record that highlighted defensive improvements and occasional standout performances in . The reserve structure is centered at the Centro de Entrenamiento BBVA El Barrial, a dedicated facility in Santiago, Nuevo León, which supports over 50 players aged 16 to 22 across the U-23 and U-20 squads. El Barrial features modern amenities, including multiple pitches and a capacity of 570 for , fostering an integrated pathway where younger talents alongside reserves to accelerate development and tactical understanding. This setup emphasizes physical conditioning, technical proficiency, and team cohesion, with squads drawing from the club's broader academy network that spans multiple age groups. Key prospects in the ranks include several promising midfielders currently on to first-team affiliates or lower divisions to gain senior exposure. The U-20 team competes in the U-20, where it has secured notable victories, including tournament wins that underscore the academy's competitive edge in domestic youth football. Additionally, the youth squads regularly participate in international tournaments such as the , where C.F. Monterrey has claimed 16 titles across various age groups, demonstrating global competitiveness and providing platforms for emerging players to shine against elite international opposition. In 2025, the saw players promoted to the first team, exemplifying the direct pathway from youth to senior level and reinforcing Monterrey's commitment to internal talent cultivation over external acquisitions. These promotions, drawn from the U-20 and U-23 ranks, included versatile contributors who debuted in matches, contributing to squad depth amid injury challenges and rotation needs.

All-time records and notable players

C.F. Monterrey holds several notable all-time records in and international competitions. Additionally, Monterrey achieved its biggest league victory with an 8-0 win over Chiapas FC on April 10, 2016, in the Clausura tournament, highlighting offensive dominance in that fixture. In terms of individual contributions, stands as the all-time leading scorer with 160 goals since joining in 2015, including key strikes in multiple title-winning campaigns. ranks second with 121 goals across two stints from 2007 to 2012 and 2014 to 2015, renowned for his free-kick prowess and role in three consecutive Champions League triumphs. For appearances, Jesús Arellano leads with 484 matches from 1990 to 2000 and 2003 to 2011, embodying loyalty as a versatile winger who contributed to early successes. Among notable former players, emerged as an international star after debuting professionally in 2005, later representing Mexico in five World Cups while developing his technical skills in Mexican football. , a local icon, scored crucial goals during his 2011–2017 tenure, aiding two titles and three Champions League wins before retiring as a club legend. The club's Hall of Fame, established to honor hall-of-fame caliber alumni, has inducted key figures since 2010, including manager for his role in building the modern dynasty with five domestic titles overall.
CategoryPlayerStatisticPeriod
Top Scorer160 goals2015–present
Top Scorer121 goals2007–2012, 2014–2015
Most AppearancesJesús Arellano484 matches1990–2000, 2003–2011

Managerial History

Current manager

Domènec Font, born on 14 July 1962 in , , serves as the current of C.F. Monterrey. He was appointed on 21 May 2025, succeeding Martín , with a reported annual salary of $1.5 million and a 12-month . 's extensive experience stems from his role as assistant coach to across three clubs from 2008 to 2022, including (2008–2013), where he contributed to three titles and two wins, Bayern Munich (2013–2016) with three championships, and Manchester City (2016–2022) featuring multiple successes. Prior to Monterrey, he managed from 2022 to 2023 and had a stint at in 2018. Since taking charge, Torrent has implemented a possession-oriented tactical style, influenced by his time under Guardiola, favoring a 4-2-3-1 formation that emphasizes control and high pressing. As of November 2025, his record at stands at 48% win rate across 24 matches (11 wins, 6 draws, 7 losses), with the team averaging 57.1% possession per game. In the Apertura 2025, has recorded 9 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses after 16 matches, securing 31 points and fifth place, positioning them for the playoff phase. Key achievements under Torrent include advancing to the round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where Monterrey defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 4–0 in the group stage before a 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund; this marked a strong international debut for the coach. However, challenges persist in integrating veteran stars like Sergio Ramos, who joined in February 2025 and has served as captain while contributing 7 goals in 26 appearances, amid a playoff push that requires balancing experience with tactical discipline to avoid defensive lapses.

Previous managers

Since its founding in , C.F. Monterrey has employed over 50 head coaches in the Mexican Primera División. The marked a period of managerial instability, characterized by short tenures and frequent changes, including multiple brief stints by Chilean coach Fernando Riera in 1975–1976, 1977–1978, and 1988–1989. Post-2000, the club's managers have overseen an overall win rate of approximately 43% across 762 matches (331 wins, 208 draws, 223 losses), reflecting improved consistency and multiple title challenges. Key previous managers include:
ManagerTenuresTitles Won with ClubWin Rate (Approximate, All Competitions)
2009–2013; 2013–2014; 2016–2017; 2022–20232 (Apertura 2009, Clausura 2010), 3 Champions League (2011, 2012, 2013)55% (across 534 matches: ~294 wins)
2015–2018; 2019–20201 (Apertura 2019)60% (across 221 matches: ~133 wins)
2018–20191 Champions League (2019)58% (across 72 matches: 42 wins)
2020–2022None49% (across 51 matches: 25 wins)
Fernando Ortiz2023–2024None52% (across 61 matches: 32 wins)
2024–2025None47% (across 43 matches: 20 wins)
These figures highlight contributions from long-serving tacticians like Vucetich, who built a dynasty in international play, and Mohamed, who delivered domestic dominance through high-pressing styles.

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  87. https://www.bbva.com/es/mx/bbva-mexico-y-el-club-de-futbol-monterrey-renuevan-alianza-estrategica-hasta-2030/
  88. https://www.pasionfutbol.com/en/news/Rayados-confirms-BBVA-changes-its-name-for-the-2026-World-Cup-20250725-0027.html
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  91. https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/07/15/111432-codere-online-becomes-main-sponsor-of-rayadas-in-expanded-deal-with-club-de-futbol-monterrey
  92. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OorNybaY8pY
  93. https://corporate.televisaunivision.com/press/2023/07/07/televisaunivisions-sports-division-secures-cf-monterreys-exclusive-multi-year-rights/
  94. https://www.srsdistribution.com/en/news-and-events/contractor-solutions/rayados-and-srs-distribution-renew-their-strategic-alliance/
  95. https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2025071008514792827
  96. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/liga-mx-every-mexican-champion-all-time-winners/blt189dfe6bb8c7fdba
  97. https://www.si.com/soccer/liga-mx-champions-clubs-most-titles-league-history
  98. https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/230/seasons/liga-mx
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  100. https://www.worldfootball.net/winner/mex-copa-mx/
  101. https://en.as.com/soccer/how-many-trophies-have-monterrey-won-in-their-history-have-they-ever-won-the-concacaf-champions-cup-n/
  102. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/685764/nashville-sc-monterrey
  103. https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-bow-out-of-leagues-cup-in-valiant-1-0-defeat-to-c-f-monterrey-in-round-o
  104. https://www.leaguescup.com/news/the-cf-monterrey-roster-for-leagues-cup
  105. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8mqfoe
  106. https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/soccer/q2-stadium-club-america-cf-monterrey-tour-aguila-friendly/269-00d75a77-66ba-4bee-a354-296a9326e100
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  110. https://www.rayados.com/en/monterrey/Executives
  111. https://www.northcarolinafc.com/news/2023/10/27/ncfc-signs-historic-global-partnership-with-cf-monterrey/
  112. https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/we-had-ambitions-for-much-more-rayados-de-monterrey-head-coach-martin-demichelis-part-ways-after-dramatic-liguilla-elimination-by-toluca/blta9e683177e427d9a
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  114. https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/monterrey-confirm-domenec-torrent-as-new-head-coach-ahead-of-club-world-cup/blt3213a0b1f7e9574f
  115. https://www.transfermarkt.us/cf-monterrey/mitarbeiter/verein/2407
  116. https://www.rayados.com/en/news/20710
  117. https://www.facebook.com/RayadosDelMonterreyOficial/posts/el-entrenamiento-con-el-profe-vicente-espadas/1312284060806270/
  118. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLDZZtGNM49/
  119. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/george-brown-95359259
  120. https://www.transfermarkt.us/cf-monterrey/kader/verein/2407/saison_id/2025
  121. https://www.transfermarkt.us/cf-monterrey/transfers/verein/2407/saison_id/2025
  122. https://www.[espn.com](/page/ESPN.com)/soccer/story/_/id/46236857/anthony-martial-transfer-liga-mx-monterrey-man-united
  123. https://www.besoccer.com/team/squad/monterrey
  124. https://soccer365.net/competitions/2201/
  125. https://www.transfermarkt.us/cf-monterrey-u23/stadion/verein/110461
  126. https://www.transfermarkt.us/cf-monterrey-u20/startseite/verein/18498
  127. https://www.dallascup.org/past-champions
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  140. https://www.soyfutbol.com/en/news/domenec-torrent-warns-rayados-wont-make-it-unless-they-fix-key-mistakes-20251102-0007.html
  141. https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/cf-monterrey/9/
  142. https://fbref.com/en/squads/dd5ca9bd/history/Monterrey-Stats-and-History
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