LIGA MX
‘Chicote’ Calderón leaves Chivas for América: who else has played for both clubs?
Following Cristian Calderón’s move from Chivas to arch rivals América, we look at some of the other players who have turned out for both clubs.
Cristian ‘Chicote’ Calderón is one of just a few players who have crossed the divide between Liga MX arch rivals Chivas Guadalajara and Club América.
Calderón, who had spent three years at Chivas, has left Los Rojiblancos to join América on a free transfer, having passed a medical at Las Águilas’ Coapa training base on Wednesday. The Mexican international full-back, 26, has penned a three-year deal with the defending Liga MX champions.
In the wake of Calderón’s switch from Estadio Akron to the Estadio Azteca, we take a look back at some of the notable names who have played for both Mexican giants in the past:
Oribe Peralta
During a five-year spell at América, Peralta carved his name into the club’s history books, helping Los Azulcremas to two Mexican league championships and two CONCACAF Champions League titles. The former Mexico forward, who was capped 67 times by El Tri, also picked up a winners’ medal in the Copa MX.
In 2019, having already had a brief loan spell at Chivas in 2005, Peralta made one of the most controversial moves in recent history in the Liga MX, signing a two-year contract with the Guadalajarans. However, he endured an unsuccessful second stint with El Rebaño Sagrado.
Javier Rodríguez
When he played his part in América’s Mexican title triumph in the Clausura 2013 tournament, Rodríguez became the first player to win the Liga MX championship with both Chivas and Las Águilas.
A player who appeared over 100 times for Mexico, the centre-back had emerged from the Chivas youth ranks in 2002, going on to win the Apertura 2006 with the club.
Five years after moving to Europe in 2008 - he had spells at PSV Eindhoven and VfB Stuttgart - Rodríguez returned to Mexico to sign for América, where he spent 18 months. He has said that his championship win with Los Americanistas was the one he most savoured.
Jesús Molina
In 2011, Molina’s fine displays for Tigres persuaded América to snap him up, and he proceeded to win two domestic titles with the club: the Clausura 2013 and Apertura 2014 tournaments.
After leaving the Estadio Azteca in 2015, for short periods at Santos Laguna and Monterrey, the midfielder was bought by Chivas in 2019. A player capped on 32 occasions by Mexico, Molina struggled to reproduce his best form during an injury-hit three years in Guadalajara.
Oswaldo Sánchez
A legend at Chivas, Sánchez was a stalwart of the side during his seven years at the club, captaining the Guadalajarans to their 11th Mexican league title in the Apertura 2006 championship.
Before moving to Jalisco state, the goalkeeper - who fell just one game short of a century of caps for Mexico - also played for Chivas’ bitter rivals. However, his 1996-1999 spell in Mexico City was an unmemorable one.
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Ramón Ramírez
Ramírez is a much-loved player among the Chivas fans. His goals and assists had a big say in the club’s Mexican title win in the Verano 1997 tournament, but in 1999 he was sold to América against his wishes.
He didn’t perform well for Los Azulcremas, and before the year was out he had been offloaded to Tigres. In 2002, the 119-time former Mexico international returned for a late-career stint at Chivas, before joining the club’s now-defunct MLS subsidiary, Chivas USA.
Joel Sánchez
Sánchez’s experience was similar to Ramírez’s. A firm fan favourite at Chivas, where he spent almost all of the 1990s, the defender was then signed by América in 1999. After failing to shine for the 14-time Mexican champions, he rejoined Guadalajara the following year.