Monarcas Morelia becomes another team in Liga MX to be dissolved due to money trading business, relocation, and lastly, undeserving fans.
Alongside dissolved teams like: Jaguares de Chiapas, Lobos BUAP, Indios de Ciudad Juarez, Veracruz, and many others have all fallen victims to money and city relocation, and Monarcas was no different. Monarcas is no more and Mazatlán F. C. was born to represent a brand new team in Liga MX starting this Apertura 2020.
Monarcas Morelia was more like your mid-table team but was one that is recognized by many as a great institution giving to their fans remarkable moments in their history. Their last game at the Estadio Morelos is one that fans will never forget. Morelia hosted Gallos Blancos de Queretaro in a 4-0 win.
Mexican player, Aldo Rocha scored two goals via penalty, Martin Rodriguez and Joaquin Martinez both had a goal each to complete the 4-0 thrashing of Queretaro. A joyful night for the fans as their team was fighting for the Liguilla Playoffs. Placed in the ninth spot of the Liga MX, Monarcas was fighting game by game to keep going up in the standings.
Just like any other team, Monarcas also had their dark days. In then 2017 Clausura edition of the Liga MX, Monarcas was on the verge of being relegated, a win against Monterrey, and a loss from Jaguares de Chiapas would avoid relegation. Peruvian striker Raul Ruidíaz scored a crucial game-winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Monterrey. The goal helped Morelia avoid relegation, and even helped the team qualify to the Liguilla. Raul Ruidíaz won his second straight Liga MX scoring title.
We can also remember Monarcas by some of the club’s top goalscorers. The fifth overall goalscorer is Mexican forward Rafael Marques Lugo netting 58 goals. Uruguayan player Carlos Miloc scoring 59 goals. Mexican international Miguel Sabah found the back of the net 64 times. The second-highest goalscorer was Brazilian striker Alex Fernandes. Monarcas’ top goalscorer with a staggering 130 goals was Chilean player Marco Antonio Figueroa. Figueroa represented the club two times from 1986 to 1990, where he scored 55 goals and again in 1993 until 1997, where he scored 75 goals.
Monarcas’ highest achievement was when the club lifted the 2000 Invierno Championship of the Liga MX. Tying against Toluca 3-3 in the aggregate score, Monarcas overcame the Diablos Rojos 5-4 in the penalty shootout. The first and only trophy in Mexico’s top-flight came close to winning it several other times, losing three out of four disputed finals. Another piece of silverware is when the club won the 2013 Copa MX against Atlas in a 3-3 and overcoming Los Zorros 3-1 in the penalty shootout.
Monarcas Morelia will be remembered as one of those teams who always fought to win the games. They were a team that strived to do their best for the love of the game and the fans. I will forever cherish the memories, the good ones, and the bad ones when I went to the stadium myself.