Guadalajara

Early history

The team was founded by Edgar Everaert, who arrived in Mexico in 1906. First named "Unión" because of the camaraderie between the players of different nationalities, most of whom were employees of the Fábricas de Francia store, with founder Everaert as coach. A few Spanish and English players also became members of the Unión Football Club. The club's first match was against Gimnasio Atlético Occidental. That match, Unión was coached by member Rafael Orozco, who alongside his brother, Gregorio, were the first Mexicans at Unión. The Orozco family were one of the club's earliest benefactors, with Orozco's grandmother, Nicolasa Sáinz, allowing her home to be used as Unión's first clubhouse. His uncle, Sabino Orozco, who reportedly came up with the name Unión, would also donate land to the club that would become its first ground.

On a tour of Europe, Everaert noticed that European teams named after their respective town or city seemed to generate more support from fans in their communities. Once he returned to Guadalajara, Jalisco, he told his observations to Rafael and Gregorio Orozco. So, in 1908, in a club meeting at Sáinz's house attended by the Orozco brothers, Sabino Orozco, and the remaining Mexican Unión members, Club de Fútbol Unión was renamed as Club Deportivo Guadalajara to engender a sense of loyalty within the city's population. Notably, this decision was made without Everaert or any European members present. Gregorio Orozco would take credit for the decision to rename the club. At the same meeting, Rafael Orozco would be named the first club president.

Amateur Era (1908–1943)

Newly founded Atlas would join the league, becoming a powerhouse in Tapatio football winning 4 tournaments from 1918 to 1921, with Guadalajara finishing runners-up twice. Guadalajara would win the 1922 tournament as well as in 1923 and 1924, with Atlas finishing runners-up all thrice. The competitiveness and the socioeconomic differences of the clubs would create the Clásico Tapatío, one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in Mexican football.

From 1924 to 1934, Chivas would win 5 Occidente titles, only losing the other championships to newly founded Nacional. During this period, the Selección Jalisco would be founded in 1926 by the members of the Liga Occidente. A regional team composed of the best players from Jalisco based in Club Guadalajara, Atlas, Nacional, and Oro, would play exhibitions against Primera Fuerza teams based in Mexico City, and by 1937, teams outside of Mexico. By 1940, the popularity of the exhibition side would result in many players being poached by Mexico City-based clubs, and later in an invitation to the Primera Fuerza. The 1941 Primera Fuerza tournament would end with the Selección Jalisco finishing second in their inaugural tournament. The exhibition team would participate in the following Primera Fuerza tournaments, before the foundation of the Liga Mayor.

Between 1906 and 1943, Guadalajara won 13 amateur titles.

Professional Era and "El Ya Merito" (1943–1955)

In 1943 the Liga Mayor was founded after the merging of several regional leagues and the era of professional football began. Guadalajara would make their professional debut on 6 July 1943 in the Copa MX, where they would play against local rivals Atlas. They would go on to lose the match 3–1, with Manuel "Cosas" López's 30-minute goal becoming the first of Guadalajara's professional era. Later that year, they would make their Liga Mayor debut on 21 October against Atlante, where they would go on to win 1–4 at Parque Asturias. Pablo "Pablotas" González scored the first league goal in Guadalajara's history.

Guadalajara struggled during the early years, with the exception of the 1948–49 season when they finished third. This same year Guadalajara was given the name "Chivas Locas" (Crazy Goats) during a game against Tampico. The name was initially considered an insult but later adopted as the team's nickname due to the overwhelming popularity of the club.

During the 1952 season, Guadalajara would challenge for their first league title, competing with León and city rivals Atlas and Oro. Guadalajara were league leaders by matchday 20, but a 0–1 loss at home to León on matchday 21 and a 1–0 loss away at Puebla on the final matchday would result in León winning the title by one point. Guadalajara would again challenge for the league title in the 1954–55 seasons, where the team finished as runner-up in the league to Zacatepec. This era of competing for the title would lead to the nickname "¡Ya Merito!" ("Almost There!").

"El Campeonísimo" (1955–1970)

During the 1956–57 season, players such as Salvador "Chava" Reyes, Jaime "El Tubo" Gómez, Arturo "Curita" Chaires, Juan "Bigotón" Jasso, Isidoro "Chololo" Díaz, Guillermo "Tigre" Sepúlveda, and José "Jamaicón" Villegas formed part of the team known as El Campeonísimo. Guadalajara won its first professional league championship on January 3, 1957, after Salvador Reyes scored the winning goal against Irapuato. This marked the beginning of one of the club's most successful periods.

Led by coaches such as Donaldo Ross and Javier de la Torre, Guadalajara went on to win eight league championships between 1956–57 and 1969–70, along with two Copa México titles, seven Campeón de Campeones honors, and the 1962 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.