The Mayas, also called Mayas LFA or Mayas Puebla, were an American football team based in Mexico City (CDMX), Mexico. The Mayas competed in the Central Division of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional, the top American football league in Mexico. The Mayas played their home games at the Estadio Wilfrido Massieu.
 | |
| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Home field | Estadio Wilfrido Massieu |
| Head coach | Francisco Chaparro |
| League | Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional 2016–2019 |
| Division | Central Division |
| Colours | Navy and White |
| Nickname(s) | Imperio Azul (Blue Empire) |
| Tazón México championships | 2: 2016 (I), 2017 (II) |
| Division Championships | 1 2017 |
| Website | Official page |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
Mayas was the most successful team in the LFA until it folded in 2020, winning the championship twice in 2016 and 2017, and qualifying for playoffs every season as of 2019.
History
editClub origins
editThe club was founded on 4 November 2015 as one of the charter members of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional, alongside Condors, Eagles and Raptors.[1] The team picked navy blue and white as their colours. Originally, the team nickname was supposed to be Mexicas after coming first in a poll among fans, nevertheless, the name Mexicas was already registered, therefore, the team had to pick the name that finished second in the poll: Mayas.[2] The name Mayas, refers to the Maya people.
Ernesto Alfaro era (2016–2018)
editOn their first season, the team finished with a 4–2 regular season record, qualifying for the Tazón México I, where they defeated the Raptors 29–13, winning the league's inaugural championship.[3]
For the 2017 season, Mayas finished as the best team in the league with a 6–1 regular season record. They defeated the Eagles 40–18 at the divisional game and became two-time champions of the LFA after winning the Tazón México II 24–18 to the Dinos.[4]
On their third season, Mayas qualified for playoffs for third time in a row after finishing with a 5–2 regular season record and as leaders of the Central Division and best team in the league. Despite this, the team lost in the divisional game 17–27 against Mexicas.[5]
In April 2018, after losing the divisional game against Mexicas, head coach Ernesto Alfaro announced his departure from the team. As head coach of the Mayas, Alfaro won two Tazón México championships and managed to qualify for the playoffs during his three seasons in charge of the team with a 18–6 overall record.[6]
Francisco Chaparro era (2019–)
editIn 2019, the team again qualified for playoffs, making it to postseason for fourth time in a row, after defeating Artilleros 25–20 at the Estadio Templo del Dolor in the last game of the season.[7]
Hiatus
editMayas had moved to Puebla, Mexico after their first 4 season in Mexico city. The team had intended to be in hiatus for the 2020 season prior to the pandemic in Mexico. In 2021, it was confirmed by the commissioner that the Mayas will remain on hiatus until the team acquires investors.
Stadiums
edit
| Mayas CDMX stadiums | |
| Stadium | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" | 2016–2018 |
| Estadio Wilfrido Massieu | 2019–present |
In 2016, for the inaugural season of the LFA, all of the four founding teams (Condors, Eagles, Raptors and Mayas) played all their matches at the Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo", in the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City.[8]
While other teams left for new stadiums the next season (the Raptors moved to the Estadio José Ortega Martínez in Naucalpan, for instance), the Mayas stayed at the "Palillo" Martínez stadium for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Previous to the 2019 season, it was announced that the Mayas would move to the Estadio Wilfrido Massieu in the main campus of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in northern Mexico City. The stadium is normally used by the IPN's college football teams.[9]
Though it has not been officially stated by the league, one of the probable causes of the Mayas leaving the "Palillo" Martínez stadium, is the fact that the stadium has been designated as a shelter for Central American migrants by Mexico City's government.[10]
With a capacity of 13,000 spectators, the Estadio Wilfrido Massieu is currently the largest venue in the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional.[11]
Staff
edit| CDMX Mayas staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office and support staff
|
Head coach
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
| |||||
Roster
edit| Mayas CDMX roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
|
Offensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Roster updated 2019-03-09 | ||||
Season-by-season
edit| Season | Head coach | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| 2016 | Ernesto Alfaro | 4 | 2 | .666 | 1st (League) | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Won Tazón México I (vs Raptors) 29–13 |
| 2017 | Ernesto Alfaro | 6 | 1 | .857 | 1st (Central) | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | Won Central Division Championship (Eagles) 48–18 Won Tazón México II (vs Raptors) 24–18 |
| 2018 | Ernesto Alfaro | 5 | 2 | .714 | 1st (Central) | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost Central Division Championship (Mexicas) 27–17 |
| 2019 | Francisco Chaparro | 5 | 3 | .625 | 2nd (Central) | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost Central Division Championship at (Condors) 18–13 |
Awards
edit- Tazón México
- Champions (2): (2016, 2017)
- Central Division
- Champions (1): (2017)
Notable players
edit
Ramiro Pruneda – OT (2017–2019)- Diego Viamontes – WR (2018–2019)
References
edit- ^ "Presentaron la Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional en México". ADN Deportivo (in Spanish). January 12, 2016. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "Los 5 datos importantes a seguir de los Mayas de la LFA". Sipse.com (in Spanish). 15 August 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "Mayas 1er campeón del Tazón México" (in Spanish). LFA. April 11, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016.
- ^ "Mayas, bicampeón de la LFA. Se impuso 18-24 ante los Dinos de Saltillos" (in Spanish). LFA. April 23, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "Mexicas se lleva triunfo y enfrentará a Raptors en Tazón México III". Milenio (in Spanish). April 15, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "Ernesto Alfaro anuncia su retiro como head coach de Mayas". Máximo Avance (in Spanish). 15 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ "Artilleros cae con Mayas y dice adiós a la temporada". Milenio. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "Estadio "Palillo" Martínez, el adiós al inmueble que vio nacer a la LFA" (in Spanish). Máximo Avance. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Viene la nueva era en el Imperio Azul". LFA.mx (in Spanish). 4 January 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Debido a migrantes, el equipo Condors cambiará de sede a Santa Fe" (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "Reabrirán estadio Wilfrido Massieu". Excélsior (in Spanish). 12 September 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2019.