In 1980, Monterrey had better roads and better public transport that made it easier for the fans to travel to the south of the city.

In addition, the Rayados already had a large fan base that would follow the team to any stadium.

From the 1980-1981 season, Monterrey returned to its old home: the Estadio Tecnológico.

 

 

Monterrey also experienced a change in its management: near the end of the 1979-1980 season, the Santos family left control of the team to Grupo Protexa. 

Under the presidency of Fernando Olvera, Monterrey assembled a competitive squad for the 1980-1981 season with the hiring of Argentines Arsenio Ribeca, Miguel Angel Torres, Carlos Mazzoni and Victor Hugo Arroyo, and Mexicans such as Manuel Najera and Roberto Gomez Junco.

 

 

During the 1982-1983 season, the country suffered a severe economic crisis that reduced the possibilities of reinforcing the squad with experienced players.

However, there was also a positive aspect: more and more young players from the Youth Academy were given the opportunity to play in the First Division.

 

 

In the 1983-1984 season, the Club made a renovation and hired the Uruguayan Roberto Matosas, who four years earlier had been in charge of the Youth Academy, as coach.

Matosas gave the team a new mentality, starting by modifying the uniform: the color of the jersey was changed from royal blue to the navy blue used to this day, and red socks were adopted. 

Brazilian Reinaldo Güeldini joined the squad and, almost at the end of the season, two promising young players from the Youth Academy maid their debut: Héctor "Tito" Becerra and Francisco Javier "El Abuelo" Cruz.

Halfway through the 1984-1985 season, Matosas left and his place was taken by Francisco Avilan, who until then was in charge of the Youth Academy. 

With “Potrillo” on the bench, Rayados improved. Brazilians Mario de Souza Mota “Bahía” and Vilson Tadei also arrived. In addition, the Club continued to debut young players such as Missael Espinoza, Antonio González and Memo Muñoz.

 

 

That team was formed almost entirely of youths from the Youth Academy and was led by Brazilians Güeldini, Tadei and Bahia, and experienced Mexicans Rafael “Xalapa” Ortega and Daniel Mora. 

The talented players emerging from the Youth Academy exploded and in the 1986 Mexico Tournament, the Rayados led the competition from start to finish. 

With spectacular soccer, Monterrey finished as overall leader, with 13 wins, 3 ties and 2 losses.

For the first time, the Mexican soccer scoring champion was a Monterrey player: “El Abuelo” Cruz, who scored 14 goals. 

Rayados reached the Final, where they faced Tampico Madero, second place in the overall standings. In the first leg, they lost 2-1 as visitors.

 

 

The second leg was played at the Estadio Tecnologico on March 1, 1986. After a score by Reinaldo Güeldini, Rayados tied the aggregate score and the match went to overtime. 

With a goal by “Abuelo” Cruz in extra time, Monterrey won the first league championship in its history and rounded off a dream season.

The long-cherished dream of the Fan and the people who founded and supported the Club finally became a reality.

 

 

In the 1989-1990 season, a new board headed by brothers Jaime and Manuel Rivero took over the reins of the Club and put together a powerful squad.

Fist class Mexican players such as Felix Cruz, Armando Manzo, Carlos de los Cobos and Mario Díaz arrived, as well as Argentines Gustavo Adolfo Moriconi and Germán Ricardo Martellotto, and Uruguayan Richard Tavares, who were coached by Chilean Pedro García.