The Mexican stamp on Atlético de Madrid
Charlyn Corral and Héctor Herrera are currently playing at the Madrid's team, but some others have worn the striped shirt in past occasions
LatinAmerican Post | Juan Medina
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Atlético de Madrid has incorporated the male midfielder Héctor Herrera and the female midfielder Charlyn Corral, another demonstration of the great link the rojiblanco has had with Mexican soccer for decades.
It all started in 1981 when Hugo Sánchez packed his bags in the Mexican capital to join Atlético de Madrid. The striker was 23 years old, a great skill, daring and crazy desire to score goals in the Spanish league.
"El Manito", as they called it, or "Hugol", played four seasons in the team, getting his first "pichichi", trophy to the top scorer, and a Copa del Rey.
His subsequent move to the neighboring team of the Spanish capital, Real Madrid, finished consecrating one of the best strikers in the world, achieving five league titles and four top scorers with the Madrid shirt.
The next Mexican to wear the rojiblanca jacket was Luis García who, like Hugo Sánchez, came from the Pumas of the UAM.
Luis García, who declared shortly after arriving in Madrid that "I do not want to be compared to Hugo Sánchez", stayed two seasons at Atlético de Madrid, 1992-93 and 1993-94, before playing several months at Real Sociedad and coming back to Mexico.
Javier Aguirre did not get to play at Atlético de Madrid, but he did so at Osasuna in the Spanish league, but he maintains a rojiblanco link from his stage as coach.
The "Basque" remained on the red and white bench for two and a half seasons (between July 2006 and February 2009), reaching a position in the Champions League and, in contrast, was dismissed for the first time in his career as a professional coach.
At this stage, Javier Aguirre was accompanied by Ignacio Ambriz, his assistant on the bench, currently coach of the Leon club, while Aguirre was dismissed on July 7 from his position as coach of Egypt.
Returning to the chapter of soccer players, Atlético de Madrid took over the services of striker Raúl Jiménez, from America, in August 2014 who, like Hugo Sánchez, arrived in Spain with 23 years.
Jiménez, currently in the Wolverhampton of the English league, has been chosen the best player of the last Gold Cup, which has won the Mexican national team.
Jiménez's arrival in Madrid in 2014 coincided with that of Javier Hernández “Chicharito” at Real Madrid and Javier Aquino, at Rayo Vallecano, the three classic teams of the Spanish capital.
Coincidentally, the three remained only one season in Madrid clubs, leaving teams from other leagues.
HERRERA AND CHARLYN, THE LAST TO ARRIVE
At that time, midfielder Héctor Herrera already stood out in the Portuguese Porto, a club he arrived in 2013. Five years later, the 29-year-old Mexican has committed to the rojiblancos for three seasons.
"I feel very happy to arrive at a historic club like Atlético de Madrid," were his first words after stamping the firm with his new club, which will be number 16.
Along with Herrera, the Atlético de Madrid women's team, current champion of the Iberdrola League, presented 27-year-old Charlyn Corral, who has played in the Levante of the Spanish league in the last four seasons.
Charlyn Corral was the top scorer of the Spanish championship in the 2017/18 season, being second, with 20 goals, in the last year.
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"It is a great challenge and a great responsibility and I feel many emotions, I have come to a good place and I have no doubt that I will be happy here," said Corral in his presentation.
The new Mexican from Atlético de Madrid will coincide with her compatriot Kenti Robles, right side with which she lives in the Mexican national team.
Robles, 28, will start her fifth season with the rojiblancas, with which she has won three leagues and a Queen's Cup. Both Corral and Robles participate in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.
The Mexican seal of Atlético de Madrid does not end here. The people of Madrid maintain a franchise, since 2017, with Atlético San Luis de Potosí, a team that has ascended to the first Mexican Division.
Shortly, these two “sister clubs” will play a friendly match in San Luis de Potosí to strengthen ties that link the rojiblancos with Mexican football since the time of Hugo Sánchez.
