Tigres UANL

Founding and promotion to Primera División, Cup and League champions

Club de Fútbol Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León was founded on 7 March 1960. They previously were named the Jabatos de Nuevo León. In 1967, their venue, the Estadio Universitario was built. In the 1973–74 season, José "Ché" Gómez guided the team to the title and promotion to the Primera División de México, now Liga MX. They defeated the Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara for 3–2. In the 1975–76, Tigres won their first domestic cup, the Copa México (now Copa MX), against América after winning 3–2.

Under the command of Uruguayan coach Carlos Miloc and players such as Tomás Boy and Gerónimo Barbadillo, for the 1977–78 season Tigres aimed to the league championship. In the quarter-finals of the liguilla (play-offs), they defeated Estudiantes Tecos by 1–0 and 3–2 (4–2). In the semi-finals Tigres defeated Cruz Azul 0–1 and 3–0 (3–1). In the finals they defeated UNAM 2–0 and 1–1 (3–1). Tigres made their best season ever with 48 points in the 1978–79, but did not reach the finals.

In the 1979–80 season, Tigres made it to the finals against Cruz Azul. In the first leg, Cruz Azul won 1–0 at the Estadio Universitario, and in the second leg, at the Estadio Azteca, Tigres, although down 3–0 at one point, rallied back to ensure a 3–3 draw. Nonetheless, Tigres still lost the finals by an aggregate scoreline of 4–3. In the 1981–82 season, they won their second League championship against Atlante at the Estadio Azteca. In the quarter-finals of postseason, they tied with Guadalajara 1–1 and 1–1 (2–2). In the semi-finals, they defeated América 2–0 and 0–1 (2–1), and in the finals they tied 2–1 and 0–1 (2–2) against Atlante. Tigres won by penalty shoot-out ending 3–1 (5–3 aggregate). In the 1983–84, they lost in quarter-finals against Pumas UNAM 1–0; 0–3 (1–3). In the 1986–87 season, they lost in the semi-finals against Monarcas Morelia 3–2 and 0–2 (3–4). In 1988, after fourteen years in the team, the iconic Mexican midfielder Tomás Boy retired. In the 1989–90 season, meanwhile, Tigres finished the tournament as the first place of their group with 40 points and went to liguilla. They lost in quarter-finals by 3–2 and 1–3 (4–5) against Club Universidad de Guadalajara. In 1990, Tigres lost the finals of the 1989–90 Copa Mexico against Puebla. In the 1992–93 season, they earned 44 points and went to play-offs. In the quarter-finals, Tigres lost 0–2 and 2–4 (2–6) against Club León.

Relegation, quick return to Primera División, 2001 and 2003 runner-up

In 1996, Tigres hired the Chilean international forward Claudio Núñez and after several years of ups and downs the team won their second domestic cup defeating Atlas by 2–1 but were relegated to Primera División A, now Ascenso MX, because of negative results of past seasons. Note that the Mexican League uses a percentage-based relegation system, in which the team with the worst performance percentage by year (instead of the worst team in the season) is relegated. Under the command of Victor Manuel Vucetich, the team qualified to play-offs in 1996 but because of the relegation they were unable to compete. After some negotiations, the administration of the team was given for ten years to Sinergia Deportiva, a trust-holder run by CEMEX. In 1997, after two consecutive Primera División A championships, the team returned to the Primera División. In 1998, Tigres hired international striker Luis Hernández.

Under the command of the Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferretti, Tigres finished the Verano 2001 season in the fourth place with 27 points and secured postseason. In the quarter-finals Tigres lost by 3–1 and 2–2 (5–3) against Puebla. In the Invierno 2001 season, Tigres finished the tournament as leader with 36 points. In the play-offs, they beat Santos Laguna in the quarter-finals 1–1 and 3–0 (4–1). In the semi-finals, they tied with Cruz Azul 1–1 (0–1 and 1–0), and because of the 36 points they achieved in the tournament, they went to the next stage. In the finals, Tigres lost 2–0 and 1–1 (3–1) against Pachuca in the Estadio Universitario. In June 2002, the talented Argentine attacking midfielder Walter Gaitán was hired, a player that later would become an icon of the team. In the Clausura 2003, Tigres finished the tournament as the fourth place with 34 points, and went to postseason. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Toluca by 2–1 and 2–2 for an aggregate of 4–3. In the semi-finals, Tigres lost against arch-rival Monterrey. In the first game they lost by 4–1, while in the second Tigres won 2–1 for an aggregate score of 5–3. After the loss, coach Ricardo Ferretti was fired.

On the Apertura 2003, now under the command of Argentine coach Nery Pumpido (with a team that Ferretti build), Tigres finished the tournament as leader now with 38 points. In the play-offs, they tied 1–0 and 1–2 (2–2) with Cruz Azul in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they faced Toluca, who was now under the command of Ricardo Ferretti, and defeated them 0–1 and 2–0 (2–1). In the finals, Tigres lost 1–3 and 1–0 (3–2) once more against Pachuca in the Estadio Universitario. In the Clausura 2004, Argentine striker Andrés Silvera finished the tournament as one of the top goal scorers, but Tigres ended in 12th place and missed the play-offs. That same tournament they scored the biggest result in a Clásico Regiomontano, beating archrival Monterrey 6–2.