Mexico and the world have shifted a lot since El Rebaño last lifted the championship trophy.
Veljko Paunovic is described as the new shepherd guiding the Herd, a roster that many fans hope will deliver the 13th league title in the club’s history. The 2017 closing campaign remains the last time Chivas celebrated a MX title, a milestone that still resonates with supporters and pundits alike as a marker of what the club can achieve when everything aligns.
The most recent era of Mexican football has unfolded with plenty of changes since Matias Almeyda shadowed the sideline as technical director during that 2017 triumph. A series of events across the country and the sport has shaped the landscape—and fans are watching closely to see how this season might echo or diverge from that memorable finish.
In reflecting on the sport’s recent history, GOAL provides a snapshot of what happened in the country the last time Chivas earned the MX crown, highlighting moments that still feel relevant today.
SEPTEMBER EARTHQUAKE REMINDER
The nation faced a devastating earthquake on September 19, a devastating event that prompted recollections of past shocks. Buildings, homes, and essential services were affected, a sober reminder of the fragility of infrastructure even as the league carried on. The season that followed featured resilience, with teams rallying to finish the campaign under demanding circumstances.
Music and media also marked the period. The song Despacito, while attributed to Erika Ender, gained worldwide popularity thanks to the collaboration of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, its video reaching a billion views on YouTube in record time and underscoring how cultural moments interlace with sports seasons and national sentiment.
WHITE-HOUSE TRANSITION AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
During that period, Enrique Peña Nieto was the president, and the nation faced concerns over violence rates, which added gravity to the atmosphere surrounding sports and public life. The climate in which the league operated mattered to fans who followed the domestic game closely, and it influenced how teams planned and performed on the field.
JUAN CARLOS OSORIO AND THE WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
Juan Carlos Osorio, Colombia’s national team coach, was involved in discussions around the World Cup qualification process leading up to the 2018 tournament, and debates persisted about the composition of squads and the paths to global events. In that context, no Chivas player appeared on the final World Cup roster for Russia, a fact that sparked conversations about talent development and national team depth.
RANKING SHIFTS AND ECONOMIC MARKERS
In 2017, Mexico’s national team stood at 16th in the FIFA rankings. By the period described, the national squad had risen closer to 15th, prompting questions about progress and consistency on the world stage. It was a time when national pride and sporting performance went hand in hand for many fans and analysts.
ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT
The Mexican peso traded around levels that mirrored broader regional trends, with the exchange rate moving through similar figures year to year. For fans, this context helped shape travel, ticket prices, and the overall experience of following Liga MX, both domestically and abroad.
POP CULTURE AND BOX OFFICE MILESTONES
Star Wars released its eighth installment in 2017, reigniting excitement at the box office and achieving strong global performance, a reminder of how popular culture and sports seasons often intersect in public imagination and media coverage.
OBITUARY AND PUBLIC MEMORIALS
Karla Luna, a beloved comedian known for her role on Las Lavanderas and widely associated with pop culture moments in Mexico, passed away after a battle with cancer. Her memory lingered in conversations and media coverage as fans reflected on careers that bring joy alongside the day-to-day drama of sports seasons.
Which team will win the Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- eleven%Monterrey
- 22%America
- 43%Chivas
- 2%Toluca
- 17%Tigres
- 5%Other
22719 to vote
Source: Goal