Business · Companies · 2 days ago
How the Azcárraga family turned Club América into a major business
Club América began in 1916, when two 13-year-olds brought classmates together to form a football team in Mexico City.
The club took the name América that October after merging with another school team.
In 1959, businessman Emilio Azcárraga Milmo bought the club when it was struggling financially and on the field.
He aimed to run it as a profitable business, bringing in well-known foreign players and building its profile through television.
Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena led a period of professionalization, during which the team won league and cup titles.
The 1966 opening of the Estadio Azteca gave the club a home and access to major matches and international events.
In 1981, the club adopted the name Águilas del América and a brighter yellow, blue and red identity, helping establish it as a major sporting asset for the Azcárraga family.
Club América began in 1916 as a team formed by teenagers Rafael Garza Gutiérrez and Germán Núñez Cortina.
Emilio Azcárraga Milmo bought the financially troubled club in 1959 and said he wanted to run it as a well-managed, profitable business.
Under Azcárraga, the club pursued high-profile foreign players and used its connection to television to expand its exposure and commercial value.
The club’s growth was also supported by professional management and the opening of Estadio Azteca in 1966.
In 1981, the club adopted the “Águilas del América” nickname and a brighter yellow uniform.
- Who
- The Azcárraga family, beginning with Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, and Club América.
- What
- The family turned the football club into a business through professional management, player recruitment, television exposure and branding.
- When
- The club was founded in 1916; Azcárraga Milmo bought it in 1959.
- Where
- Mexico. The club was founded in Mexico City, at the llanos de la Condesa.
- Why
- Azcárraga Milmo said he wanted to make the club a well-managed and profitable business.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I don’t know anything about football, but I do know about business, and I’m going to turn América into a well-managed and profitable business.
Rafael Garza Gutiérrez and Germán Núñez Cortina formed the team Récord with schoolmates, and the team later merged with Colón.
Pedro “Cheto” Quintanilla proposed the name América and designed its crest.
Isaac Bessudo sold América to Emilio Azcárraga Milmo.
Estadio Azteca was inaugurated.
Emilio Díez Barroso became club president, promoted a brighter yellow uniform and the club adopted the “Águilas del América” nickname.
- Club founded
- 1916
- Founders
- Rafael Garza Gutiérrez and Germán Núñez Cortina, both 13
- Club sale
- Isaac Bessudo sold América to Emilio Azcárraga Milmo on 22 July 1959
- Stadium
- Estadio Azteca, inaugurated in 1966
- Nickname
- Águilas del América,” adopted in 1981
Sources
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