Slim's Leon comes out on top in battle of billionaires
- by Soccer America , Dec 15, 2013
The title was the sixth for Leon but first since Slim, the richest man in the world, bought a minority interest in Leon 15 months ago. It also came a year after its return to the Liga MX after a decade in the second division.
Slim's move into soccer was part of his effort to bolster America Movil, Mexico's largest digital carrier, in its bid to break the stranglehold Azcarraga's Televisa (and TV Azteca) have on Mexican soccer. Slim signed a cable TV deal with Fox Sports and carries Leon games on Uno TV Noticias.
Leon won the second leg on goals by Argentine Mauro Boselli, Nacho Gonzalez and Edwin Hernandez. It also features Luis Montes, Carlos Pena and former New York Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez, all Mexican national team players.
Leon's goalie is 24-year-old William Yarbrough, whose parents moved from Texas to Mexico 30 years ago. Club America's goalie was Moises Munoz, who lived as a child in Northern California, where his parents, who have U.S. resident status, came to work.
Sunday's final marked the last game in charge for Club America coach Miguel Herrera. He will take over as Mexico's national team coach on a full-time basis. Antonio Mohamed, who led Tijuana to last fall's Apertura title, will replace Herrera as America boss.
Azcarraga, son of the legendary Televisa president of the same name, is considered the godfather of the Mexican soccer federation and agreed to "lend" Herrera to El Tri after its collapse in the Hexagonal.
