The greatness of Club Deportivo Guadalajara can be understood from the contribution of characters like Don Tomás Balcázar, who through his soccer and human qualities built what Chivas represents today. A true 'Campeonísimo' in every sense of the word, on and off the field, whose legacy lives on today in the most popular and beloved team in Mexico.
With an enviable goal-scoring instinct, with a header as his trademark, he was born in the Mexicaltzingo neighborhood on May 4, 1931, and at the age of 18, he began to write his history as a legend of the Rebaño Sagrado. On June 12, 1949, he wore the Red and White jersey for the first time in Veracruz and just two weeks later, he made his debut as a goal scorer, scoring on two occasions against the Perla Tapatía's greatest rival, ¡Grande, Tomás!
That same year he scored the club's first goal abroad, when the Chiverío defeated the Honduran national team 3-2 in Honduras. As if that were not enough, in 1955 he overcame a tough injury to make history again with the team of his love, as he was an important part of the team that won the first league title for Guadalajara in the 1956-1957 season.
His legacy with Chivas could not remain only as a player, because when he hung up his boots he joined the coaching staff of 'Ingeniero' Javier de la Torre along with Jesús 'Chuco' Ponce. A few years later, he was also Alberto Guerra's assistant in the 1986-87 campaign title, in addition to being a great trainer in the Cantera Rojiblanca with the Tapatío.
In 2018, Club Guadalajara presented him with the Galardón Rojiblanco at the Akron Stadium to recognize the great legacy he left at the club throughout his life. The ovation was not only for a great footballer who paved the way for the golden era of Rebaño Sagrado but also for an impeccable human being who, in his own words, became a good man through soccer.
Although Don Tomás Balcázar physically left us 4 years ago, his impact is still alive today in Guadalajara in the figure of his grandson Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández, who throughout his soccer career has been an ambassador of what Chivas represents and it is largely thanks to the values that his grandfather helped forge in the most popular and beloved team in Mexico.
Tomás Balcázar González
Place of birth: Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Date of birth: May 4, 1931
Debut: Veracruz 4-2 Guadalajara (June 12, 1949)
His numbers with Chivas in Liga:
Tournament / Games / Goals
1948-49 / 4 / 2
1949-50 / 21 / 5
1950-51 / 11 / 7
1951-52 / 22 / 10
1952-53 / 22 / 10
1953-54 / 10 / 3
1954-55 / 20 / 10
1956-57 / 5 / 1
1957-58 / 4 / 0
Total / 119 / 48
