Chivas, created by French founders, now proudly all-Mexican | OneFootball

Founded by French emigrants over a century ago, CD Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, are now proudly all-Mexican and among the country’s most popular sides. As reported by L'Équipe, their identity is rooted in an origin story unlike any other in Mexico.

Before each match, supporters unfurl a tricolour in the stands. It is not Mexico’s green, white and red but France’s blue, white and red, a ritual that nods to the club’s unusual origins.

In 1906, Aimé and Édouard Gandoulf joined Auguste Teissier and Calixte Gas to form a works team for employees of Las Fabricas de Francia, with Belgian Edgar Everaert from La Ciudad de México involved. Reflecting those links, they called it Union FC.

Two years later the side became CD Guadalajara, still mixing Belgian, French and Mexican employees. After an all-white debut, red and white vertical stripes echoed Bruges’ flag and Club Bruges KV, and blue shorts kept the French thread.

On turning professional in 1943-44, the city’s biggest club, ahead of Atlas, adopted a Mexicans-only policy. A 1948 headline mocked them as panicked goats, a jibe fans embraced as the Chivas nickname. Father Cornelio Lopez blessed them as El Rebaño Sagrado.

That stance hardened with seven league titles between 1957 and 1965, the El Campeonssimo era. Former coach Oscar Garcia, in charge between December and March 2025, says the policy can be complicated, as with Athletic Bilbao, but remains central to Chivas’ pride and popularity. Today Club América have one Mexico call-up, Chivas have five.

Source: L'Équipe