Mérida FC
Encyclopedia
Club de Fútbol Mérida is a Mexican
football club based in Mérida, Yucatán
. As of the 2010/11 season they are playing in the Liga de Ascenso
, at the second tier of the Mexican football league system. For the Clausura 2011 season they became the filial team of Atlante
, whilst until that point they had been the subsidiary team of Monarcas Morelia.
to scout local talent. Mérida F.C. returned to the professional ranks when they participated in the Tercera División
in 2006/07. During 2007, the brothers oversaw the construction of a training facility located at the Unidad Deportiva Tamanché. By the 2007/08 season Merida was participating in the Segunda División.
that the team would remain in Mérida.
On November 11, 2008, the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
(FMF) granted the club the certification required to be promoted to the Primera División
.
In the Clausura 2009 season Merida defeated Club Tijuana
1–0 on aggregate to win the Clausura title. Merida lost the subsequent promotion play-off for the Primera Division de Mexico
, after a defeat by Querétaro FC
on penalties.
and that Monarcas Morelia would decide if a team would stay in the city, but that talks were also underway with Atlante F.C.
regarding the creation of a link with them.
The Merida franchise was subsequently sold to Atlante and they became that team's filial team for the Clausura 2011
, whilst the original Atlante filial team (Atlante UTN) swapped franchises to become the subsidiary team for Morelia.
, which seats 21,050 people and was founded in June 1987. Due to the stadium undergoing renovation, the Venados played their first five home games at the Unidad Deportiva Tamanché, which only seats around 2,500 people. Plans are in place to build a new stadium in Ucú, a suburb town eight kilometers west of Mérida. The new stadium, whose construction is scheduled to begin in January 2009 and completed by 2011, will seat 28,500 fans.
and a new crest was brought in.The new crest has the city's name as well as a start which represents the Clausura 2009 Primera A
championship.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
football club based in Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
. As of the 2010/11 season they are playing in the Liga de Ascenso
Liga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
, at the second tier of the Mexican football league system. For the Clausura 2011 season they became the filial team of Atlante
Atlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
, whilst until that point they had been the subsidiary team of Monarcas Morelia.
Origins and first Merida franchise
Mérida F.C. was founded in 2003 by the brothers Arturo and Mauricio Millet Reyes, who obtained the franchise of Nacional de Tijuana.Loss of franchise in 2005 and continuation at lower levels
After the Clausura 2005 tournament, the Millet brothers announced that they would be selling the team to Irapuato FC due to economic problems, citing lackluster attendance and poor support from the local government. Nevertheless, the brothers formed a team that participated in an amateur league in Yucatán and also opened a training facility in ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
to scout local talent. Mérida F.C. returned to the professional ranks when they participated in the Tercera División
Tercera División de México
Tercera División is Mexico's fourth tier in the Mexican League System. The Tercera División is divided into 15 groups. For the 2009/2010 season, the format of the tournament has been reorganized to a home and away format, which all teams will play in their respected group...
in 2006/07. During 2007, the brothers oversaw the construction of a training facility located at the Unidad Deportiva Tamanché. By the 2007/08 season Merida was participating in the Segunda División.
Return of second level franchise with Morelia
On June 16, 2008, Arturo Millet Reyes announced that he had acquired the filial team of Morelia. Millet Reyes has stated that his intention is to maintain the team in Mérida for an extended period of time, unlike in previous years. He also received a guarantee that if the Venados were to be promoted to the Primera DivisiónPrimera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
that the team would remain in Mérida.
On November 11, 2008, the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación
The Mexican Federation of Football is the governing body of association football in Mexico. It administers the Mexican national team, the Mexican league and all affiliated amateur sectors, and is in charge of promoting, organizing, directing, spreading, and supervising competitive football in Mexico...
(FMF) granted the club the certification required to be promoted to the Primera División
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
.
In the Clausura 2009 season Merida defeated Club Tijuana
Club Tijuana
Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente is a Mexican football team from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Tijuana plays in the Primera División de México It was founded in January 2007. The colors that identify the club are red and black.-History:...
1–0 on aggregate to win the Clausura title. Merida lost the subsequent promotion play-off for the Primera Division de Mexico
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
, after a defeat by Querétaro FC
Querétaro FC
Querétaro Fútbol Club, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of Querétaro, Mexico. Queretaro plays in the Primera División of Mexican football league system, after being promoted at the end of the 2008-2009 season from the Primera División A...
on penalties.
Sale of franchise to Atlante
On 4 December 2010 the brothers Arturo and Mauricio Millet Reyes announced that Mérida F.C. would no longer form part of the Liga de AscensoLiga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
and that Monarcas Morelia would decide if a team would stay in the city, but that talks were also underway with Atlante F.C.
Atlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
regarding the creation of a link with them.
The Merida franchise was subsequently sold to Atlante and they became that team's filial team for the Clausura 2011
2010 Liga de Ascenso Apertura
The 2010–11 Liga de Ascenso season is the second season of the Liga de Ascenso, the second-level football league of Mexico. It consists of two separate tournaments, the Apertura and the Clausura. The winners of both tournaments will meet in a playoff to determine the team being promoted to the...
, whilst the original Atlante filial team (Atlante UTN) swapped franchises to become the subsidiary team for Morelia.
Stadium
The home stadium for Mérida F.C. is the Estadio Carlos IturraldeEstadio Carlos Iturralde
The Estadio Carlos Iturralde is a multi-use stadium in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Merida F.C.. The stadium holds 21,050 people.- History :...
, which seats 21,050 people and was founded in June 1987. Due to the stadium undergoing renovation, the Venados played their first five home games at the Unidad Deportiva Tamanché, which only seats around 2,500 people. Plans are in place to build a new stadium in Ucú, a suburb town eight kilometers west of Mérida. The new stadium, whose construction is scheduled to begin in January 2009 and completed by 2011, will seat 28,500 fans.
Crest
The clubs first crest consisted of the original colors Black, White and blue which the club used from 2003 till 2011.That same year the club was sold to the Azcárraga familyAzcárraga family
The Azcárraga family is a wealthy Mexican media dynasty. The center of their business empire, Televisa, is the main television network in Mexico and the largest producer and broadcaster of Spanish language media around the world.Notable family members include:...
and a new crest was brought in.The new crest has the city's name as well as a start which represents the Clausura 2009 Primera A
Liga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
championship.
Current squad
- Last updated: October 29, 2011
Club Honors
- Primera División A: 1
-
- Clausura 2009
- Segunda División: 1
-
- Apertura 2008