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América vs. América (2022)

Netflix shows what makes Club América so popular

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by

MJ-A
in

Club América touts itself as the winningest club in Mexico. This 5-hour Netflix series is entitled Club América vs. Club América because it compares mainly the 2020-2021 season under Manager Santiago Solari with the club’s over 100 year history. Because if you are at the top, you often compete against yourself and your history.

As the series hops back and forth between present and past, it also sets the context of each period’s culture, politics, and the generational family ownership. Through that lens, you get a good sense of what appeals to Mexican fans about futbol, and what made América so popular.

Why Club América draws attention

Episodes 1 & 2 establish that Club América is deeply entwined with television entertainment. 1st generation owner Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta was already in television and had literally invented the telenovela. He bought the small Mexico City club for $4,500 in 1959, when they were known as the Canaries or the Creamies.

When the 1st owner dies, the enterprise falls to 2nd generation owner Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, known as El Tigre. Like a Televisa telenovela, he sought to make América the villain in a rivalry with Chivas Guadalajara, thought of as the team of la gente (the people). América became the team that rose in the standings by bringing in foreign players. And plus, the club was owned by a wealthy media family. At various times América is accused of referee influence. What is not to hate.

But credit Milmo for building Estadio Azteca in 1966 for his club and for the National Team. It was originally built to hold 105,000 fans and hosted WC 1970.

On the sporting side, the theme of various interviews throughout the series is that América’s style of play is to be “a spectacular team that scores offensively”. Their greatest games seem to be comebacks in pouring rain with a man down. Scoring and winning is their mantra, and if they do less than that, the fans are loyal but unforgiving. It is a lot of pressure.

In the final episode, the 3rd generation owner reminds us that the club is great storytelling and that they have gone beyond television.

Great moments and players in Club América history

Going back and forth on América’s timeline allows the series to interview the greatest players and to include footage of them. Of these, I was only familiar with Cuahtemoc Blanco and GK Guillermo Ochoa, but I’m sure Américanistas will enjoy all the other players such as Enrique Borja, Carlos Reinoso, Bam Bam, Biyik, Hugo Sanchez, and Moisés Munoz.

The great moments include:

  • Episode 3: In 1981, the team transitions from Canaries to Las Aguilas (eagles). In 1984, they win the championship a man down in pouring rain vs Jalisco.
  • Episode 4: The Televisa building is crushed in the Sep-1985 earthquake, just 8 months before Mexico and Azteca are to host WC 1986. Note that WC 1986 also introduces futbol to the world in color. The 80s becomes América’s greatest decade as they win 5 league championships. But by 1994, Mexico is in economic crisis. Even though the club has Cuahtemoc Blanco, the club falls into decline.
  • Episode 5: The club wins something in 2002, and in 2005, Cuahtemoc returns to the club and wins his first championship with them. But by 2011, the club is close to relegation. This episode covers the fans as well.
  • Episode 6: Covers the current youth and women’s teams, who are having success. Returning to 2011, the club brings in Miguel Herrera, and in 2013 they reach the final vs Cruz Azul. This game is the source of the iconic gif of Miguel Herrera celebrating in the rain. Although he leaves for the MEX NT after that season, the club does well for the next few years.

Club América in 2020-2021

In 2020-2021, the fact is that under Santiago Solari, the club is not good and doesn’t win anything. There are interviews and backstories of current players, but I assume that content only appeals to Américanistas. So for me, the real charm of the present day is the interviews of the players and staff of old, who say outrageous things about teammates and coaches and revisit the passion they had to be with América.

For example, in Episode 4, former teammates call Cuahtémoc Blanco a fking hunchback. He came from Tepito (a barrio of Mexico City) and was pure Mexican: blunt, daring, and “didn’t give a fk”. The series also points out that Cuahtémoc had human weaknesses that la gente forgive. That’s why he is now a Governor. The series highlights his pose of a dog urinating into the goal.

Producer Alex Reider says he got the idea to do the documentary series during the early stages of the pandemic, to show what the club was going through. LigaMX went 215 days without fans in stadiums. But as it turns out, other than the empty stadiums and people wearing masks, there are few scenes that specifically address the impact of the pandemic.

In episode 2, there is a May-2020 zoom meeting where owner Emilio Azcárraga Jean tells the players and staff there will be a deferral of payment of salaries. Colombian Roger Martinez refused to have his salary reduced, which the owner considers a deficit of character. And later, in 2021, 30 players/staff get COVID.

3rd generation owner Emilio Azcárraga Jean figures heavily throughout the series. He is emblematic of América’s greatest fan. Episode 5 covers his family and the crises he faced when he took over the enterprise at age 29.

In Conclusion

The first 2 episodes of this series really held my attention because of the emphasis of tying América in with Mexican history and popular culture. But not being a fan of the club, I was not engaged by the final 4 episodes. I also found the timeline hopping somewhat difficult to follow.

However, although I’ve written many times that club and player documentaries are often just marketing vehicles, I would not categorize this series that way. So if you’re not a fan, at least watch the first 2 episodes. If you are a fan, I am sure you will enjoy the rest of the show, because it has excellent game footage of the clasicos, which highlight América as an exciting team to watch and support, even if they don’t win.

7 Soccer Movie Mom Rating = 7

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