THE VITALS:

Team: Club America

Brand: Nike

Era: 2003-04 (Used for the 2003-04 Primera Division de Mexico Apertura and Clausura season’s)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This article celebrates its 20^th birthday at the time of writing and it remains in more than respectable condition despite its advanced years! The main flaws are the pulling to the material, and the fading to the respective Corona and Coca-Cola sponsorship decal; the rubber crest however is still fine order.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Extra Large (XL)

Pit to Pit Measurement: 23.5 inches

Shirt Length: 28.5 inches

Made by Nike in their range of shirts which they introduced in 2003; these dimensions are classic early 2000’s in that they are very roomy, and it wouldn’t surprise me that this shirt would also fit someone who is a size XXL by today’s standards.

DESCRIPTION:

Nike’s 4^th edition of Club America’s home shirt would see mostly navy sleeves used for the first time in the club’s history, while perforated panels were also used across the upper chest/shoulder region and down the side panels. This shirt would feature the Coca-Cola and Corona sponsors, while the club crest is made using felt and rubber – another unique feature of some of the Nike shirts which were made during the early 2000’s. This shirt would be worn as America defeated Atlas Guadalajara both home and away in the Group Stage of the 2004 Copa Libertadores during an excellent Group Stage showing where they comfortably topped their table. In the Primera Division, after missing out on the play-off during the 2003 Apertura, they would finish 4^th in the 2004 Clausura to reach the play-off, however, they would fall in the quarter-final to Toluca.

THE SEASON:

After their 2002 Verano triumph; Club America would enjoy a mixed 2002-03 campaign, where they would be beaten in the semi-final of the 2002 Copa Libertadores by Sao Caetano, they would go on to dominate the 2002 Apertura, only to be stunned in the quarter-final by Santos Laguna in a classic quarter final, before a disappointing 2003 Clausura saw them miss out on the play-off entirely. Still, they would also reach the semi-final of the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup and there would be another participation in the Copa Libertadores to look forward to in 2004 as well!

The 2003 Apertura would cap off a very disappointing year on the domestic front as they could only finish 3^rd in their group which meant that although their 28 points on the board was more than both Toluca and Cruz Azul’s, as they weren’t either the first or second best of the 3^rd placed teams – they would miss out entirely on the play-off for the second half season in a row.

The 2004 Clausura would see Club America return to something resembling their best as they placed 2^nd in their group in a group that featured a UNAM side that claimed 41 points, however, their 32 point return would earn them a 4th place finish in the national standings which enable to take their place in the summer play-off. Drawn against rivals and 5^th placed – Toluca in the quarter final; America would be beaten 4-2 on aggregate.

Club America took their place in the 2004 Copa Libertadores Group Stage alongside: Penarol, The Strongest, domestic rivals in the form of Atlas Guadalajara, and their nemesis’ from 2002 -  Brazilian outifit: Sao Caetano. America would complete the double over Atlas, and then defeat Penarol 3-1 at home, before drawing away against The Strongest. Up came the pair of fixtures against Sao Caetano, and the ‘Aguilas’ would win both home and away against the team that eliminated them in the semi-final of this competition back in 2002! They would go on to defeat The Strongest 4-0 at home, before ending their group with a dead rubber defeat against Penarol.

After the winning the group by a clear 5 points, they would again have to battle against their adversaries from Brazil – Sao Caetano, who reached the Round of 16 after winning a play-off versus Independiente of Argentina. Sao Caetano would win the 1^st Leg 2-1 at home, and would hold out for a 1-1 draw in the Estadio Azteca to condemn the Mexican side to an exit in the Last 16.

The notable players that season were:

Hugo Castilo, Richard Olivares, Reinaldo Navia, Jesus Mendoza, Ariel Gonzalez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, German Villa, Ignacio Torres, Francisco Torres, Marco Reyna, Jose Luis Ramirez, Pavel Pardo, Frankie Oviedo, Alvaro Ortiz, Walter Jimenez, Carlos Sanchez, Raul Salinas, Pablo Rotchen, Ricardo Rojas, Christian Ramirez, Leonel Olmedo, Israel Martinez, Alfredo Gonzalez, Tahuilian, Duilio Davino, Jose Castro, Gustavo Canete, Adolfo Rios, Guillermo Ochoa