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In case you missed it last week, Liga MX took MLS to school in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The Mexican clubs (Club America, Queretaro, Santos Laguna, and Tigres) dominated their American opposition. While watching the results unfold, I realized I don’t know much about Mexico’s Liga MX and I needed to learn more.
So after diving into the wild world of Mexican club soccer, I came away with a wonderful, crazy, exciting, and bizarre realization.
Club Tijuana is AWESOME.
If you are new to Mexican soccer, or a neutral (or both, like me), then you’re welcome. I just found your new favorite team.
Let’s start with the most recognizable piece of any club: the crest. Tijuana’s is unrivaled. It features a Mexican hairless dog! In Spanish, that’s “xoloitzcuintles.” Legend has it that these dogs were considered sacred by the ancient Aztecs and, thus, Club Tijuana wanted to pay homage to man’s best friend.
The beautiful, bizarre, crest of Club Tijuana. Photo: @coachcoy23 | Twitter
If the hairless dog doesn’t intimidate you, then Tijuana’s owner and manager surely will. Club owner Jorge Hank Rhon is probably best described as a lethal combination of Mark Cuban and Roman Abramovich. Rhon owns Grupo Caliente, a sports betting company in Mexico. During his rise to power he was accused of murdering an investigative journalist (his bodyguards took the fall).
Knowing what we know about Rhon, it’s not a surprise that he chose Miguel Herrera to be Tijuana’s newest head coach. Herrera has his own history with nosey journalists – the allegation of him punching one after a 2015 Gold Cup match in Philadelphia was enough to have him fired from El Tri. But really, who wouldn’t want this guys as their manager…
You should be afraid if you give Miguel Herrera.
On top of all that, the fact the club was only founded in 2007 and has already established itself in Mexico’s top division is pretty impressive. Tijuana even won the 2012 Apertura tournament and followed that up with a run to the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals in 2013.
And, sitting just opposite of San Diego, California, the club have made an effort to recruit and develop Mexican and American players alike, including USMNT contributors Joe Corona, Michael Orozco, and Greg Garza to name a few.
So do yourself a favor. Pay attention to Club Tijuana. Just don’t ask too many questions.
