Name: Club de Fútbol Monterrey Country: Mexico City: Monterrey, Nuevo León Ground: Estadio Tecnológico (33,000) Nickname: Rayados (The Striped Ones) Official website: http://www.rayados.com Honors: 4 Mexican League – 1 Mexican Cup – 1 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup – 1 CONCACAF Champions League A background: Tragic beginning In a city where Baseball was the premier sport at the time, Monterrey was founded in 1945 a few months after the end of World War II. Although they won their inaugural professional match in the same year, the victory was followed by a horrific incident that would change the course of the club for some time. While the squad were heading for a match in Guadalajara, people were celebrating a national day in the streets of the city using rockets and fireworks, only for the Monterrey bus to catch fire killing some members of the first team. The aftermath of the calamity saw most of the devastated survivors quit football, resulting in a series of poor results that eventually forced a six-year hiatus from competitive action. Los Rayados were back in action though in 1952 but were hardly recognized as one of Mexico's top clubs until the 1980s when they clinched their first league title in 1986. In modern day they were able to hit even more success and that was embodied by three Primera Division titles between 2000 and 2010. Monterrey then went to widen their continental reputation by clinching sensational back-to-back CONCACAF Champions League titles in 2011 and 2012. Star man: Cesar Delgado After being hit by the blow of losing Chilean marksman Humberto Suazo to injury, Monterrey had to turn to their Argentine star in Japan 2012. A splendid dribbler and a good finisher as well, Delgado can be a nightmare to any defense behind his team's last line of attack, led by Aldo de Nigris. That was proven by a brace in the Mexicans World Cup opening win over Ulsan Hyundai, which tips the 31-year-old to be the player to watch against Ahli, along with Mexico winger Neri Cardozo. Delgado joined Los Rayados last year to end a fine spell in Europe with Lyon, where he won one league and one cup title. In his first year at Estadio Tecnologico, he helped Monterrey win this season's CONCACAF Champions League. Delgado compilation Coach: Victor Vucetich Vucetich is evidently one of Mexico's most successful managers, having led no less than 10 clubs in the Primera Division since 1990. Moreover, he boasts a superb five league titles with four different teams – Leon, Tecos, Pachuca and Monterrey – to his name. A big name in his homeland, the 57-year-old has sensationally turned down the chance to coach the Mexico national team two years ago, citing family reasons behind his shock decision. Two league titles and a couple more CONCACAF Champions League triumphs arguably make Vucetich the most successful manager in Monterrey's history, even though he has only been in charge since 2009. Interesting fact: The 14-0 shock Monterrey suffered their biggest ever defeat in a competitive game during the crisis that followed the team's bus tragedy, losing 14-0 to Veracruz in 1946.
