Atlante (MEX) (AA)

Atlante (MEX)

* Overview
* News
* Squad List
* Photos

The past
Atlante have a long-standing pedigree within the Mexican game, having been founded way back in 1916. A force on the regional scene for some time, underlined by victory in the 1983 edition of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (now the CONCACAF Champions League), Los Potros de Hierro (The Iron Colts) have also won three Mexican league titles in the professional era. The last of these was the 2007 Apertura, which came shortly after the club had upped sticks from Mexico City to Cancun and earned them a place in the 2008/09 CONCACAF Champions League.

The present
The Iron Colts were deserved winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, after losing just two games along the way: one against group-stage rivals Joe Public from Trinidad and Tobago and the other in a two-legged semi-final tie with compatriots Santos Laguna. Coach Jose Guadalupe Cruz has a balanced blend of up-and-coming talents and battle-hardened veterans under his command and, having dispatched MLS side Houston Dynamo in the last eight before the last-four success over Santos, his charges went on to clinch a comfortable 2-0 aggregate victory over fellow Mexicans Cruz Azul in the final.

The future
Atlante would dearly love to be the first Mexican outfit to reach the final of a FIFA Club World Cup, and with that aim in mind will surely rely heavily on their superb team ethic and a smattering of star players. These include Argentinian goalkeeper Federico Vilar, lively Mexican midfielder Christian Bermudez and Colombian front-runner Luis Gabriel Rey. "Competing against the best teams in the world will be a great experience for us. Wet will prepare for this well, as we intend to fly our region's flag as high as we possibly can," said coach Cruz.