Animals in Mexican Soccer Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eagle

Club America was founded on October 12, 1916 by Mexican college students. As this day commemorates the discovery of the continent, students decided to name the team America. It won four title back-to-back from 1924 to 1928. On July 22, 1959, Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, owner of television station Telesistema Mexicano, purchased the team, arguing that even though he knew nothing about soccer, the objective was to get Mexico to host the 1970 World Cup (which eventually happened), and it wouldn't be possible if they weren't involved in the soccer business.

Given that Azcarraga was a millionaire, the team earned the nickname of "millonetas", which could translate to "spoiled". On 1981, the concept of "Aguilas del America" (or "America Eagles") was introduced, and through a gigantic advertising campaign promoted by Televisa (new name of Telesistema Mexicano by then), the animal became an essential part of the team and Mexican soccer in general. For many years, TV broadcasts "were biased" in favor of America, and the amount of dissemination of the team surpassed that of any other club.

Answer: Puma

Also known as Club Universidad Nacional, the history of Pumas UNAM started in 1937 when the university first tried to put a team with their students in a professional soccer league, which happened until 1954. The puma was elected as a mascot by Roberto Mendez, a legendary American football coach in the university, since the animal "is strong, aggressive, brave, quick and intelligent". Interestingly, the German brand Puma made the uniforms for the team from 2009 to 2014, when Nike took over.

One of the most enduring legends the institution has formed is Hugo Sanchez, considered one of the best Mexican soccer players ever. He was a five-time top scorer of the Spanish League, where he played notably for Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid. He was both a player and a coach in Pumas, and while he obtained two back-to-back championships for the team in 2004, he also had them in the verge of relegation in 2005, which led to his firing.

Answer: White

Queretaro became Gallos Blancos de Queretaro in 1954, the nickname was suggested by Mr. Herrera Pozas, then an executive of the club. When the team jumped to the field, each player carried a white rooster with them, marking a funny anecdote for the team to remember.

Queretaro has struggled since its creation with relegation. The team even disappeared in the late 1970s, to return in 1981. The franchise gain disappeared in 2013, after being relegated. However, thanks to the strange way things work in Mexican soccer, multiple franchises were sold, and Queretaro bought one of them to remain in the First Division. A scandal was unleashed that same year as the owner of the team, Amado Yaņez, was arrested by the Federal Police under charges of fraud, and a crisis started as the players weren't even getting paid. The problem was solved by the start of Apertura 2014 in July, with a new owner.

Answer: Chiapas

Jaguares de Chiapas, which became known as Chiapas FC in 2013, was founded in 2002. The team had its up and downs from then to 2010, not achieving any important results. It was bought on that year by Grupo Salinas, then on-sold to Amado Yaņez, turning the team into Queretaro FC. However, another team was quickly returned to Chiapas, bringing soccer back to the state.

When the logo was first introduced, there was controversy involved since it was almost identical to that of the Jacksonville Jaguars, an NFL team in the USA. The logo was quickly changed after that.

Answer: Mexican hairless dog

The xoloitzcuintle is an endemic dog species of Mexico. It is a nahuatl word that comes from the god of lightning and death, Xolotl, and itzcuîntli, which means dog. The animal was chosen to represent the team due to its connection with the northwest part of Mexico.

"Xolos" were promoted in 2011, becoming the first team in the state of Baja California to achieve this, and won their first championship in 2012 by defeating Toluca with an aggregate score of 4-1.

Answer: Monterrey

Tigres de la UANL was promoted in the 1970s and stayed in the First Division until 1996, when the team surprisingly was relegated. It quickly returned a year later, and in 2011, the team won their third league title.

Tigres plays in a derby against Club Monterrey, as they are both from the same city and there is a heated rivalry going on between them from a long time ago.

Answer: Sharks

The Red Sharks of Veracruz were founded in 1943 (as a result of a merger), and participated in that same year in the very first season of the Mexican First Division. Sports broadcaster Manuel Seyde gave the name to the team when Veracruz Sporting Club merged with and Espaņa de Veracruz. Tiburones Rojos were crowned champions of Mexico in 1945-46 and won the Mexican Cup two years later in 1947-1948.

Answer: Hare

When the team was promoted to the First Division in the 1960s, the team played at an impressively fast pace, and taking into account they dressed in white for most of their games, people started calling them "hares". Some years later, the managing board of the club decided to introduce the hare as the official mascot, and even though some people think it's actually a bunny, the board has confirmed it is a hare.

Cruz Azul win their first Mexican title in season 1968-69, forty years after they were formed.

"The Tortoise and the Hare" is an Aesop fable, that talks about a race between these two animals, and how the tortoise surprisingly wins the race.

Answer: Guadalajara

Chivas de Guadalajara, also known as Club Deportivo Guadalajara, is one of the teams with most tradition in Mexican soccer history. From 1956 to 1965, Chivas went through a golden age, winning 7 championships. Atlas is also from Guadalajara, and was founded in 1916. Despite this, the 1950-51 season saw their first championship, and finished the 20th century with only that title.

Answer: Lion

Based in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, Club Leon was dramatically relegated in 2002, and after playing several promotion matches and losing them, it finally returned to the First Division in 2012. In the Apertura 2013, the team defeated Club America to win their sixth championship, but the story was just beginning.

The next tournament, Clausura 2014, also saw Leon become champions, becoming the second Mexican team to achieve back-to-back championships in the short tournament format of Mexican soccer, following Pumas in 2004.