This Saturday, September 20, is a very special day for the entire Rojiblanca Nation, as we commemorate the birthday of Salvador 'Chava' Reyes Monteón, one of the greatest legends in the history of Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Born in 1936 in Guadalajara, 'Chava' would have turned 89, but his legacy remains as alive as when he wore the Rebaño jersey.
- "I am not a Chiva at heart, I am a Chiva by birth." - Salvador Reyes Monteón
Reyes was not only a brilliant striker, he was also a symbol of humility, commitment, and passion for Chivas. His goals marked an era and made him an idol, his performances filled the fans with pride, and his name was etched in the memory of an entire country that vibrated with the Campeonísimo.
Whenever greatness is mentioned, his figure appears as a reference point. Don 'Chava' Reyes was much more than a goal scorer: he was an inspiration, an example, and a lover of the colors he defended with his soul.
It is very difficult to put into words the magnitude of his greatness and legacy, but we will still try to tell you about some of his greatest moments in eight facts, in honor of the historic number 8 that he made shine so many times and that remains untouchable to this day.
8 facts about the career of 'Chava' Reyes
1. To gauge his impact on the team, consider this: Salvador Reyes was Guadalajara's top scorer for more than four decades, with 122 goals in the league, a figure that kept him at the top of the all-time list until the emergence of Omar Bravo, who surpassed his mark in 2015.
2. When it comes to historic goals, we'll tell you about a couple that undoubtedly marked a turning point for the Rebaño Sagrado: His first came on November 29, 1953, in a match that pitted Chivas against Oro. He also scored the goal that gave Guadalajara its first professional title, when they beat Irapuato by the narrowest of margins on Thursday, January 3, 1957.
3. His forcefulness and clarity in front of the goal were such that he was the Rebaño's top scorer for six consecutive seasons, including 1961-62, when he scored 21 goals, a period in which the club consolidated its position as the Campeonísimo with another six league titles.
4. In fact, another of Melón's characteristics was that he always appeared in moments of need. Proof of this is that he remains the Rojiblanco's top scorer in the history of El Clásico de México, having scored 14 goals against their archrival.
5. 'Chava' Reyes was also a key player for the national team, scoring the goal that qualified Mexico for the 1962 World Cup against Paraguay and participating in three World Cups: Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, and England 1966.
6. Thanks to his hat trick, Guadalajara won its first international title, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with a 5-0 victory over Comunicaciones in the second leg of the Grand Final (6-0 on aggregate).
7. On January 5, 2008, at the age of 71, he played for a few seconds against Pumas in a historic tribute, setting the record as the oldest player to play in a Liga MX match.
8. Reyes left an indelible mark: he was the league's top scorer in the 1961-62 season with 21 goals and shone on the 1964 European tour, scoring 8 of the 12 goals Guadalajara scored in 12 games, 2 of them against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
