Club Atlético River Plate (ˈriver ˈpleit) is an
ArgentineArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
sports clubA sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
based in the
NuñezNúñez is a barrio or neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is on the northern edge of the city on the banks of the Rio de la Plata.The barrio of Belgrano is to the southeast; Saavedra and Coghlan are to the west; and Vicente López, in Buenos Aires Province, is to the north.The borough has an...
neighborhood of
Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.
They have won the Primera División a record 33 times; their last domestic title was the 2008 Clausura. In addition, they have won five international titles, including two Copa Libertadores, one
Intercontinental CupThe European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
, one
Supercopa SudamericanaThe Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
, and one
Copa InteramericanaCopa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
. Their success in the 1990s had led IFFHS to name them ninth in their All-Time Club World Ranking (and first in the Americas). They are currently ranked 253rd. However, after the 2011 Clausura, River's poor form over the past three years forced them into a relegation/promotion play-off against Nacional B Club Atlético Belgrano. Belgrano won the tie over two legs 3–1 on aggregate, relegating River to second tier football for the first time in their history.
The club was officially founded in 1901 and took its name from the common English name for the
Río de la PlataThe Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
. River has a fierce rivalry with
Boca JuniorsClub Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, also from Buenos Aires. Matches between them are known as
SuperclásicoSuperclásico is the name used to describe the football match in Argentina between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. It derives from the Spanish usage of "clásico" to mean derby, with the prefix "super" used as the two clubs are the most popular and successful clubs in Argentine...
, and is amongst the most heated rivalries in the sport due to both teams' local and global popularity. River's home stadium is
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio LibertiEstadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, Argentina at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Udaondo. It is the home venue of Club Atlético River Plate and is named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti...
, known simply as "El Monumental", which is the largest stadium in the country.
History
River Plate was founded on May 25, 1901, close to the
La BocaLa Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse , and some people believe that...
neighborhood (later the home of fierce rivals Club Atlético Boca Juniors). The club moved first to
PalermoPalermo is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is located in the northeast of the city, bordering the barrios of Belgrano to the north, Almagro and Recoleta to the south, Villa Crespo and Colegiales to the west and the Río de la Plata river to the east. With a total...
and then to
BelgranoBelgrano is a leafy, northern barrio or neighborhood of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Location :The barrio of Palermo is to the southeast; Nuñez is to the northwest; Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortúzar and Colegiales are to the southwest....
on the northern side of the city in 1923. In the 1920s, River won only an amateur championship in 1920.
With the onset of professionalism in the early 1930s, River acquired
Bernabé FerreyraBernabé Ferreyra was an Argentine association football forward. He was one of the first professional players in Argentine football to reach great popularity, to the point that he had a movie biography.-Club:...
, "La Fiera" (the fierce), from
TigreClub Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...
for a then unheard of sum, and paid mostly in
goldGold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. The club became known as
Los Millonarios ("The Millionaires"). They won the league title in 1932 (beating Independiente in the final), 1936 and 1937.
In the 1940s
Alfredo Di StéfanoAlfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
and 1950s
Eduardo Omar SívoriEnrique Omar Sívori was an Italian Argentine football striker and manager. He is known for his time with the successful Juventus side during the late 1950s and early 1960s. At club level he also played for River Plate and Napoli.On the international level, he first appeared for the Argentine...
played for River before moving on to become stars in Europe – Sívori for Juventus and Di Stéfano for
Real MadridReal Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. Some River players, including Di Stéfano, had stints in the
ColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n
El dorado "pirate" league, which was not recognised by FIFA, when it was the world's wealthiest.
River's attractive, offensive playing style earned the side of the early 1940s the nickname
La Máquina ("The Machine"). The names of the team's five forwards (
MuñozJuan Carlos Muñoz was a footballer from Argentina who played right wing for River Plate, from 1939 to 1950, playing 184 games and scoring 39 goals. He started playing professionally for Sportivo Dock Sud in 1938. and he was sold in June 1939 to River Plate...
,
MorenoJosé Manuel Moreno Fernández , nicknamed "El Charro", was an Argentine football inside forward who played for several clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, and was the first footballer ever to have won top division league titles in four different countries .Moreno...
,
PederneraAdolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
,
LabrunaAngel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
,
LoustauFélix Loustau is a former Argentine footballer who was a key player on the River Plate squad known as La Máquina. La Maquina is considered to be one of the greatest team ever assembled in the history of South American football...
) are well known to most Argentine fans.
La Máquina is often considered as the predecessor of
Holland'sThe Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
total football which took the 1974 World Cup by storm, reaching the final where they lost to
GermanyThe Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
. This team crowned itself champion in 1941, 1942, 1945 and 1947. They were dubbed
Los Caballeros de la Angustia ("The Knights of anguish") after winning a number of decisive matches in injury time.
In the 1950s, River won five out of six league titles (1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957), before an 18-year drought ensued. Within those years, "The Millionaires" reached the Copa Libertadores' final in 1966. In the final's playoff in Santiago de Chile, River began winning 2–0, but finally was defeated by Peñarol 2–4. Though the club of Núñez did not win any championship in the 1960s, it finished runner-up several years, including a final loss (1–4) against the
Chacarita JuniorsClub Atlético Chacarita Juniors is an Argentine sports club from Villa Maipú, General San Martín Partido in Greater Buenos Aires, which football squad is currently playing in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.The club was founded on May 1, 1906, in...
in the 1969
National ChampionshipA national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
.
River returned to form in 1975 and then had a string of championship titles under coach Angel Labruna with players like
Ubaldo FillolUbaldo Matildo Fillol , nicknamed el Pato , is an Argentine football coach and former goalkeeper. He took part in the 1974, 1978 and 1982 World Cups representing the Argentine national team...
,
Daniel PassarellaDaniel Alberto Passarella is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup...
and
Norberto AlonsoNorberto Osvaldo Alonso , known colloquially as "Beto" Alonso, is a former Argentine football midfielder, who played the majority of his career for the Argentine club River Plate. He remains one of their most iconic players...
. Under the command of "Angelito", River won the Metropolitano championships in 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, and the
Nacional tournamentsWithin the years 1931-1966, the Campeonato de Primera División of Argentina included only the clubs from Capital Federal and most important cities of the province of Buenos Aires . In 1939, the clubs from Rosario, Newell's and Central, entered in the championship...
in 1975, 1979. The famous Alfredo Di Stéfano replaced Labruna in 1981 and won the National tournament of that year, with the presence of "Matador" Mario Kempes in the team's lineups.
In 1983,
Enzo FrancescoliEnzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. An elegant and highly skillful dribbler, passer, and goal-scorer, Francescoli was nicknamed El Príncipe or Le Prince...
was transferred from
UruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an side Montevideo Wanderers to take Alonso's place. He had two stints with River, achieving international renown, and became known as "The Prince". In 1986, just after Francescoli's transfer to Racing Club Paris in France, River won their first Libertadores Cup. A new generation of home-grown players, led by
Claudio CaniggiaClaudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his...
, went on to achieve success both with River and abroad.
River Plate have won 33 Argentine professional championships, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1986 and the Copa Libertadores (twice) in 1986 and 1996, both times beating the same club in the final,
América de CaliCorporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
. They also won the
Copa InteramericanaCopa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
in 1987, beating
LD AlajuelenseLiga Deportiva Alajuelense , is a Costa Rican football club, currently playing in the Primera División de Costa Rica. It was founded on June 18, 1919. The team is located in Alajuela's downtown and they play their local games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.Alajuelense was the first Costa...
from
Costa RicaCosta Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and the
SupercopaThe Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
in 1997, beating São Paulo FC. River was the first team in Argentina to simultaneously win an international title (Supercopa) and a First Division Championship (Torneo Apertura 1997). This series of successes led the club to first place in the IFFHS ranking for six consecutive months, the first Argentine club to do so. They are also the only Argentine club ranked as the best World team in a full season (1997–1998).
In 1999, a special edition of the Argentine sports magazine "El Gráfico" named River Plate as "Champions Of The Century" ("Campeón Del Siglo"), noting the clubs achievements, especially their then 28 Argentine championships against Boca Juniors' 19 and
IndependienteClub Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
's 13 (all figures as of 1999). And, the following year, in a
FIFAThe Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
sponsored poll, River were voted the best Argentine team of the 20th century.
In 2008,
Diego Simeone was appointed manager of the club, in his first season he led them to their first league title in four years, winning the Clausura championship. The following season the club suffered a poor run of form resulting in Simeone's resignation mid-season. The club went on to finish in last place in the Apertura 2008, the first time they had ever finished bottom of a league in 107 years.
In
2011The 2010–11 Primera División season was the eighty-second season of top-flight professional football in Argentina. A total of 20 teams competed in two championships —the Apertura and Clausura— over the course of the season, which started on August 6, 2010 and ended on June 30, 2011, one...
, River Plate was facing both an institutional and sports crisis. José María Aguilar left the presidency of the club with a debt of over 10 million dollars, being replaced by Daniel Pasarella. The team ended the 2008 Apertura tournament at the bottom of the table, and River's poor form followed through the 2011 Clausura tournament. As a result, River played the "Promoción", a two-legged play-off against
Belgrano de CórdobaClub Atlético Belgrano is a sport club from Córdoba, Argentina, best known for its football team, promoted to the Argentine first division at the end of the 2010/2011 season. The football team is very popular and it has one of the largest fan bases outside Buenos Aires...
, the fourth placed team of the
2010–11 Primera B NacionalThe 2010–11 Argentine Primera B Nacional is the season of second division professional of football in Argentina. A total of 20 teams will compete; the champion and runner-up will be promoted to Argentine Primera División.-Club...
. Belgrano won the first leg 2–0 at Córdoba, and held on for a 1–1 draw at El Monumental. With the defeat, River Plate was relegated to Nacional B for the first time in its history. The second match was interrupted during injury time by rioting in the stadium and its surroundings which continued after the match was called, despite a substantial police presence. Almost immediately following River's relegation, Juan Jose Lopez resigned as manager.
River in the Copa Libertadores
River Plate first participation in Copa Libertadores came in 1966, when the runners-up of the South American leagues were included for the first time. In this cup River reached the final, but lost the final 2-4 against Peñarol of Montevideo.
In 1975 River won the league title coached by Ángel Labruna, which ended 18 years without a title, including players like
Ubaldo FillolUbaldo Matildo Fillol , nicknamed el Pato , is an Argentine football coach and former goalkeeper. He took part in the 1974, 1978 and 1982 World Cups representing the Argentine national team...
,
Roberto PerfumoRoberto Alfredo Perfumo is a former Argentine footballer.-Club career:El Mariscal won the Intercontinental Cup with Racing Club in 1967, as well as two Argentine leagues, and three with River Plate.-International career:...
(winner of the cup in 1967, playing for Racing Club),
Daniel PassarellaDaniel Alberto Passarella is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup...
, J. J. López (winner of the cup in 1985, playing for Argentinos Juniors),
"El Beto" AlonsoNorberto Osvaldo Alonso , known colloquially as "Beto" Alonso, is a former Argentine football midfielder, who played the majority of his career for the Argentine club River Plate. He remains one of their most iconic players...
and
Leopoldo LuqueLeopoldo Jacinto Luque is a former Argentine football striker.In a career spanning he played for Unión de Santa Fe, Rosario Central, River Plate, Racing Club de Avellaneda and Chacarita Juniors...
. The next year they reached the cup final. This time, their rivals were the Brazilian team Cruzeiro, after losing the first match and winning the second, River lost the tie in the third match played in Santiago, Chile.
River's next appearance in the final came in 1986. On the way to the final
La Banda beat Boca Juniors, Peñarol and Montevideo Wanderers in the first round, and then Barcelona Sporting Club and Argentinos Juniors (the reigning champions) in the semi-final group. They met América de Calí in the final who featured Argentine players such as Oscar Falcioni, Carlos Ischia, and Alejandro Gareca. In the first leg, disputed at Cali, Colombia, River won 2–1, the scorers were Alonso and
"Buffalo" Funes. One week later, before a full Monumental, River ended its long
Via Crucis in the history of the Libertadores, defeating América 1–0, the scorer was again Funes.
River could not retain title the following year, being eliminated by eventual champions Peñarol.
The
millonarios returned to the Libertadores in 1990, after beating Independiente, lost in the semifinals against Barcelona Sporting Club.
The next year, 1991, River share the group with Boca and the Bolivian teams of Bolívar and Oriente Petrolero. The first match, against Boca in the
Bombonera, saw one of the great
superclásicoSuperclásico is the name used to describe the football match in Argentina between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. It derives from the Spanish usage of "clásico" to mean derby, with the prefix "super" used as the two clubs are the most popular and successful clubs in Argentine...
s: The
bosteros, losing 1–3 at half time, came back to win 4–3. River eventually finished bottom of the group and were eliminated.
In 1993, River faced Argentine rivals Newell's Old Boys in the group stage, along with Olimpia and Cerro Porteño, of Paraguay. After a suspicious match which finished 1–1 between Newell's and Olimpia, River was eliminated again in first round.
1995: River won its first stage group, ahead of Independiente, Peñarol and Cerro (of Montevideo), then defeated Universidad Católica, of Chile, and then Carlos Bianchi's Vélez Sarsfield (reigning champions of South America), but fell in the semifinals against Atlético Nacional of Medellín, where played goalkeeper Carlos Higuita.
1996: After ten years, River won
La Copa again. In the first round won its group, who shared with San Lorenzo de Almagro, the other Argentine champions, and the club of Venezuela Minervén and Caracas FC. Later they defeated the Peruvian club Sporting Cristal; then San Lorenzo de Almagro and Universidad de Chile in the semis. Finally, River must play the decisive matches against the same rival of 1986, América de Cali. Though
La Banda lost the first leg at Cali (0–1), won the second leg in Monumental 2–0 (both goals scored by
"Valdanito" Crespo). The lineups of River that match was:
Germás Burgos; Hernán Díaz, Daniel Rivarola, Carlos Altamirano; Marcelo Escudero, Matías Almeyda, Gabriel Cedrés; Ariel Ortega, Hernán Crespo, Enzo Francescoli (captain). The coach was Ramón
"El Pelado" (the bald) Díaz.
In 1997 River failed to defend their title after defeat by Racing Club, after two drawn matches, 1–1 and 3–3, by penaties shoutouts.
In 1998 eventual winners Vasco de Gama beat the
millonarios in the semifinals.
In 1999, River lost another semifinal, this time against Palmeiras of Brazil.
In 2000, In the quarterfinals, after defeat Boca Juniors 2–1 at Monumental, River was crushed 0–3 in the Boca stadium. The
"Xeneises" advanced to semifinals and later won the Cup against Palmeiras.
In 2004, River Plate were again eliminated by Boca Juniors, this time in a penalty shootout. This time, Boca finished losing in the final to the almost unknown Once Caldas from Colombia.
In 2006, Again under the command of Passarella, River made a great first round, defeated the powerful Corinthians in 2nd round, but after the
intermezzo due the World Cup, and the sale of several players – the team of Núñez fell in Asunción against Libertad, from Paraguay, being eliminated.
In 2008, River reached the quarterfinals, when they were eliminated. After losing 1–2 in the first leg against San Lorenzo de Almagro, River established a 2–0 lead in the second leg at the Monumental, San Lorenzo were then reduced to nine players following two red cards, but came back to score two goals to eliminate River.
Kit
Manufacturers and sponsors
| Period |
Kit Manufacturer |
Shirt Sponsors |
| 1979–80 |
Sportlandia |
none |
| 1981–82 |
Olimpia |
| 1982–85 |
AdidasAdidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
|
| 1985–89 |
Fate O |
| 1989–91 |
Peugeot Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
|
| 1991–92 |
Carta Credencial |
| 1992–95 |
Sanyois a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
|
| 1996-02 |
QuilmesCervecería y Maltería Quilmes is an Argentine Brewery founded in 1888 in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province, by Otto Bemberg, a German immigrant.The company quickly started growing and in the 1920s it was already the most popular beer in Buenos Aires. Since then, it has become something of a national...
|
| 2002–06 |
Budweiser Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
|
| 2006–08 |
PetrobrasPetróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
|
| 2009–10 |
PetrobrasPetróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
and Pokerstars.net |
| 2010–12 |
PetrobrasPetróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
and Tramontina |
| 2012– |
BBVA Banco Francés BBVA Banco Francés is a financial institution in Argentina.-History:Founded on October 14, 1886, in Buenos Aires as Banco Francés del Río de la Plata , it is the oldest private bank in Argentina...
and Tramontina |
Rivalry
River Plate and
Boca JuniorsClub Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
are the two largest football clubs in Argentina, with more than half the country's football fans supporting the clubs. Due to the rivalry between them, the Boca Juniors vs River Plate
Superclásico local derbyIn many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
match was listed by the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as one of the most famous derbies in the world., and also as number one of the
Fifty sporting things you must do before you die by
The ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper.
Club nicknames
The "River Plate" name was chosen in 1901, when the team was still located at the
La BocaLa Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse , and some people believe that...
neighbourhood, next to the
Río de la PlataThe Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
("River Plate" in some English sources). Proposed names as "Club Atlético Forward", "Juventud Boquense" or "La Rosales" had been rejected. Pedro Martínez saw the name "The River Plate" written at ship containers, and proposed it as a name, which was finally accepted as the official name.
River fans and the press are fond of the nickname
Los Millonarios. This name derives from the 1930s after some expensive transfers of players from other clubs, including Carlos Peucelle from Sportivo Buenos Aires in 1931 and Bernabé Ferreyra from Tigre in 1932. Between 1979 and 1981, the River squad was reputed to be amongst the most expensive in the world.
Fans of rival clubs call River
Gallinas (literally
hens, but more akin to
chicken). This nickname was born after the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1966 against
UruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an team Peñarol. River were ahead 2–0 but ended up losing the game 4–2, during the infamous title drought that lasted from 1957 to 1975, a period that included 11 second places in the Argentine league.
When Hugo Santilli become chairman in 1984, he soon called to a competition where a new emblem would be chosen. The main objective of this new image was to eradicate the nickname
Gallinas that River's rivals (Boca Juniors fans mainly) used to refer to them. Some of the most important artists from Argentina took part in that competition so the club finally chose a logo designed by the famous artist Caloi. This emblem showed the figure of a lion (wearing a River jersey) raising from the Monumental stadium. The lion logo was immediately added to the uniforms (on the field and training clothes) having River Plate won the Copa Libertadores and
Intercontinental CupThe European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
using the lion logo. In 1989, when Santilli left the club so the lion went with him and has not been reestablished since.
Due to the red band in their shirt, it is also common to refer to River as
El Equipo de la Banda Roja (the team with the red band) or simply
La Banda (which also means "the band" -both as in "gang" and "musical group").
Some famous River teams earned nicknames, notably
La Máquina (the machine), the team that astonished Argentine football between 1941 and 1945.
In 1996 and 1997, during a run of title wins (three Argentine titles, one Copa Libertadores and one
SupercopaThe Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
), River were sometimes called
La Maquinita ("The Little Machine") by the press. That team featured Francescoli and younger players such as
Juan Pablo SorínJuan Pablo Sorín is a former Argentine footballer. He was born in Buenos Aires. He is a much-travelled player, having spent time in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. He was captain of the Argentine team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.He is a versatile left wing-back who can play...
,
Hernán CrespoHernán Jorge Crespo is an Argentine footballer who plays for Parma in the Italian Serie A. Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 18 years. His honors include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, an English Premier League title and three Scudettos. He was topscorer in...
,
Ariel OrtegaArnaldo Ariel Ortega is an Argentine football attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" , thus he is called "Burrito Ortega"....
,
Marcelo SalasJosé Marcelo Salas Melinao , better known as El Matador, Shileno or simply Marcelo Salas, is a former football player from Chile. He, along with world cup veterans, 3 time Best Player of America Elías Figueroa and former Real Madrid and Inter Milan forward Iván Zamorano, has been one of Chile's...
and
Marcelo GallardoMarcelo Daniel Gallardo is an Argentine ex footballer who is currently the manager for Nacional de Uruguay....
.
Stadium
El Monumental is River's home stadium in the
BelgranoBelgrano is a leafy, northern barrio or neighborhood of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Location :The barrio of Palermo is to the southeast; Nuñez is to the northwest; Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortúzar and Colegiales are to the southwest....
neighborhood of Buenos Aires. With a capacity of 65,645, the stadium was inaugurated on May 25, 1938. It is also used in matches by the
Argentina national football teamThe Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.
Out on loan
(at Ferro)
(at Independiente RivadaviaClub Sportivo Independiente Rivadavia is a football club from Mendoza, Argentina. The team currently plays in Primera B Nacional, the second major league in Argentine Football league system....
)
(at Ferro)
(at InstitutoInstituto Atlético Central Córdoba is an Argentine sports club from Córdoba, which professional football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.Famous players who have played at Instituto include Osvaldo Ardiles, Mario Alberto...
)
(at Independiente RivadaviaClub Sportivo Independiente Rivadavia is a football club from Mendoza, Argentina. The team currently plays in Primera B Nacional, the second major league in Argentine Football league system....
)
(at FluminenseFluminense Football Club is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in the beginning of the 20th century as a single-sport institution, Fluminense is today an umbrella organization for several teams in more than 16 different sport activities. The most popular endeavor of Fluminense,...
)
(at BanfieldClub Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
)
(at All Boys)
(at Atlético Tucumán)
(at TigreClub Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...
)
Top goalscorers
| # |
Player |
Matches |
Goals |
| 1 |
 Ángel LabrunaAngel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
|
515 |
293 |
| 2 |
Oscar MásOscar Más is an Argentine former football striker. He played the majority of his career for River Plate, and is the club's second highest goalscorer of all-time....
|
382 |
198 |
| 3 |
Bernabé FerreyraBernabé Ferreyra was an Argentine association football forward. He was one of the first professional players in Argentine football to reach great popularity, to the point that he had a movie biography.-Club:...
|
185 |
187 |
| 4 |
José Manuel MorenoJosé Manuel Moreno Fernández , nicknamed "El Charro", was an Argentine football inside forward who played for several clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, and was the first footballer ever to have won top division league titles in four different countries .Moreno...
|
320 |
Adolfo PederneraAdolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
|
278 |
|
| 5 |
Norberto AlonsoNorberto Osvaldo Alonso , known colloquially as "Beto" Alonso, is a former Argentine football midfielder, who played the majority of his career for the Argentine club River Plate. He remains one of their most iconic players...
|
374 |
149 |
| 6 |
 Enzo FrancéscoliEnzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. An elegant and highly skillful dribbler, passer, and goal-scorer, Francescoli was nicknamed El Príncipe or Le Prince...
|
197 |
136 |
| 7 |
Adolfo PederneraAdolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
|
278 |
131 |
| 8 |
Carlos PeucelleCarlos Desiderio Peucelle was an Argentine football player that played inside right/wing and is considered one of Argentina's most technical players in their history as well as being the catalyst for starting "La Maquina" with River Plate who went on to dominate football in South America in the...
|
307 |
113 |
| 9 |
Carlos Manuel Morete Carlos Morete is a retired Argentine football striker. He was born on January 14, 1952, in the city of Munro in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. He is one of the few players to play for and won titles at Argentina's big three clubs River Plate, Boca Juniors and Club Atlético Independiente...
|
195 |
103 |
| 10 |
Félix LoustauFélix Loustau is a former Argentine footballer who was a key player on the River Plate squad known as La Máquina. La Maquina is considered to be one of the greatest team ever assembled in the history of South American football...
|
365 |
101 |
Early days and La Máquina
Adolfo PederneraAdolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
Omar SivoriEnrique Omar Sívori was an Italian Argentine football striker and manager. He is known for his time with the successful Juventus side during the late 1950s and early 1960s. At club level he also played for River Plate and Napoli.On the international level, he first appeared for the Argentine...
Alfredo di StéfanoAlfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
Néstor RossiNéstor Raúl "Pipo" Rossi was an Argentine football midfielder.-Playing career:Nicknamed "Pipo", he started his career at River Plate, playing from 1945 to 1949, and then again from 1955 to 1958, winning a total of 5 Argentine leagues. In total, Rossi played 155 matches for River Plate scoring 7...
Marius HillerMarius Hiller, also known as Eduardo Hiller was an association football player who played international football for both Germany and Argentina, as well as club football for clubs including 1...
Leonardo CilaurrenLeonardo Cilaurren Uriarte was a Spanish international footballer who played professionally as a midfielder in Spain, Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico between 1929 and 1945.-Club career:...
Ricardo Vaghi
José María MinellaJosé María Minella was a former Argentine footballer and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team.-Club career:...
José Soriano
Carlos PeucelleCarlos Desiderio Peucelle was an Argentine football player that played inside right/wing and is considered one of Argentina's most technical players in their history as well as being the catalyst for starting "La Maquina" with River Plate who went on to dominate football in South America in the...
José Manuel MorenoJosé Manuel Moreno Fernández , nicknamed "El Charro", was an Argentine football inside forward who played for several clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, and was the first footballer ever to have won top division league titles in four different countries .Moreno...
Juan Carlos MuñozJuan Carlos Muñoz was a footballer from Argentina who played right wing for River Plate, from 1939 to 1950, playing 184 games and scoring 39 goals. He started playing professionally for Sportivo Dock Sud in 1938. and he was sold in June 1939 to River Plate...
Walter GómezWalter Gómez was a Uruguayan footballer in the 1940s and 1950s. He played for Club Nacional de Football and Club Atlético River Plate....
Renato CesariniRenato Cesarini was an Italian Argentine football player and coach, who also played for Juventus in Italy...
Ángel LabrunaAngel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
Félix LoustauFélix Loustau is a former Argentine footballer who was a key player on the River Plate squad known as La Máquina. La Maquina is considered to be one of the greatest team ever assembled in the history of South American football...
Bernabé FerreyraBernabé Ferreyra was an Argentine association football forward. He was one of the first professional players in Argentine football to reach great popularity, to the point that he had a movie biography.-Club:...
Norberto YáconoNorberto Yácono was an Argentine football defender who won six Argentine league championships with River Plate. He was born in Buenos Aires.-Playing career:...
1950s, 1960s and 1970s
Luis ArtimeLuis Artime is a retired Argentine footballer, who played as a striker, and scored more than 1000 goals during his career...
Federico VairoFederico Vairo was an Argentine football defender who won three consecutive league titles with River Plate and represented Argentina at the 1958 World Cup....
Eladio RojasEladio Rojas is a former Chilean footballer who played for Everton and Colo-Colo of Chile, River Plate of Argentina and in the Chile national football team in the FIFA World Cup Chile 1962.-Teams: Everton 1954-1962 River Plate 1962-1965 Colo-Colo 1965-1967 Everton 1967-1968-External...
Oscar CollOscar Coll is a former Argentine footballer currently played for clubs of Argentina, Chile and Spain....
Amadeo CarrizoAmadeo Raúl Carrizo is a former football goalkeeper. His nickname was 'Tarzán'. Carrizo was a pioneer, helping to innovate techniques and strategies for goalkeepers....
José RamosJosé Manuel Ramos Delgado was an Argentine footballer and manager. He played for the Argentine national team in two World Cups and had a successful tenure in Brazilian football with Santos. He went on to become a football manager, working in Argentina and Peru.-Club:Ramos Delgado started his...
Juan Carlos Sainz
José Ramos DelgadoJosé Manuel Ramos Delgado was an Argentine footballer and manager. He played for the Argentine national team in two World Cups and had a successful tenure in Brazilian football with Santos. He went on to become a football manager, working in Argentina and Peru.-Club:Ramos Delgado started his...
Vladislao CapVladislao Wenceslao Cap was an Argentine football defender of Polish and Hungarian descent, who represented his native country at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile...
José VarackaJosé Varacka is a former Argentine football player and coach.-Club career:Varacka played for three of the big five teams in Argentina. He started his career in 1952 with Independiente. In 1954 he played and scored in a famous 6-0 win over Real Madrid...
Ermindo OnegaErmindo Ángel Onega was an Argentine footballer, offensive midfielder and forward from River Plate. He played for River Plate from 1957 to 1968, 222 matches making 98 goals. In 1972 he played for Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield in 30 matches making 6 goals.Onega also had spells with Peñarol in...
Daniel OnegaDaniel Onega is a retired Argentine football centre forward who played for the Argentina national team between 1966 and 1972. He is the brother of the late midfielder Ermindo Onega....
Roberto MatosasRoberto Matosas Postiglione is a retired Uruguayan football defender. At the club level, he played for C.A. River Plate of Argentina and C.A. Peñarol of Uruguay. Matosas also was part of the Uruguay national football team...
Luís Alberto Cubilla
Hugo GattiHugo Orlando Gatti, Loco Gatti is a former Argentine professional football goalkeeper who played in the Argentine First Division for 26 seasons and set a record of 765 appearances...
Oscar MásOscar Más is an Argentine former football striker. He played the majority of his career for River Plate, and is the club's second highest goalscorer of all-time....
Roberto PerfumoRoberto Alfredo Perfumo is a former Argentine footballer.-Club career:El Mariscal won the Intercontinental Cup with Racing Club in 1967, as well as two Argentine leagues, and three with River Plate.-International career:...
Norberto AlonsoNorberto Osvaldo Alonso , known colloquially as "Beto" Alonso, is a former Argentine football midfielder, who played the majority of his career for the Argentine club River Plate. He remains one of their most iconic players...
Juan José LópezJuan José "J. J." López, is an Argentine football manager and former player.-Club:López started his playing career with River Plate in 1970. He became an important player at the club, winning seven league titles and playing 466 games with 84 goals scored...
Ubaldo FillolUbaldo Matildo Fillol , nicknamed el Pato , is an Argentine football coach and former goalkeeper. He took part in the 1974, 1978 and 1982 World Cups representing the Argentine national team...
Carlos Manuel MoreteCarlos Morete is a retired Argentine football striker. He was born on January 14, 1952, in the city of Munro in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. He is one of the few players to play for and won titles at Argentina's big three clubs River Plate, Boca Juniors and Club Atlético Independiente...
Alejandro SabellaAlejandro Sabella is an Argentine football manager and former player. He is currently the coach of the Argentina national football team.-Early career:...
Reinaldo Merlo Daniel PassarellaDaniel Alberto Passarella is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup...
Pablo Comelles
Leopoldo LuqueLeopoldo Jacinto Luque is a former Argentine football striker.In a career spanning he played for Unión de Santa Fe, Rosario Central, River Plate, Racing Club de Avellaneda and Chacarita Juniors...
Ricardo LazbalRicardo Lazbal is a former Argentine footballer who played for clubs in Argentina and Chile.-Teams: All Boys 1966–1968 River Plate 1969–1971 Loma Negra 1972 Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata 1973 Atlético Ledesma 1974 San Lorenzo 1975 Palestino 1976–1979-External links:* Profile at...
Óscar Ortiz
Miguel Ángel RaimondoMiguel Ángel Raimondo is an Argentine football midfielder. He won ten trophies in his career, eight with Club Atlético Independiente and a further two with River Plate, he was awarded the Olimpia de Plata as the 1974 Argentine sports journalist's footballer of the year.Raimondo played his first...
Héctor Artico
Américo GallegoAmérico Rubén "El Tolo" Gallego is an Argentine football coach and former player, he played 73 times for the Argentina national team during his playing career.-Playing career:...
Emilio CommissoEmilio Nicolás Commisso is a former Argentine footballer. He played for a number of clubs in Argentina and Spain....
1980s and early 1990s
Ramón DíazRamón Ángel Díaz , is a former Argentine football player. For most of his career, he played for, and later coached, Club Atlético River Plate. He is also known by the nickname of El Pelado ....
(1975–82; 1991–93)
Héctor EnriqueHéctor Adolfo Enrique is a retired Argentine footballer and current assistant coach of the Argentina national team...
(1980–90)
Mario KempesMario Alberto Kempes Chiodi is a retired Argentine footballer. His father, Mario, also a footballer, inspired him to play from a young age. At the age of 7, he began playing with a junior team and at 14, he joined La Cuarta de Talleres...
(1981–82)
Antonio AlzamendiAntonio Alzamendi Casas was a Uruguayan football player who retired in 1991.His official debut was with the Uruguayan team Wanderers de Durazno. Alzamendi played for Uruguay at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, scoring against West Germany in 1986...
(1982–83; 1986–88)
Enzo FrancéscoliEnzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. An elegant and highly skillful dribbler, passer, and goal-scorer, Francescoli was nicknamed El Príncipe or Le Prince...
(1983–86; 1994–97)
Jorge BorelliJorge Horacio Borelli is a former Argentine football player. He played in the defence and featured in the 1993 Copa América in Ecuador and the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States....
(1983–87)
Nery PumpidoNery Alberto Pumpido is a football coach and former goalkeeper who played for the Argentine national team in two World Cups. After retirement, Pumpido moved into club management and is currently in his second spell as coach of Paraguayan side Olimpia of Asunción.-Club career:Pumpido began his...
(1983–88)
Sergio Goycochea (1983–88; 1993–94)
Nestor GorositoNéstor Raúl Gorosito is a retired Argentine footballer.-Playing career:Néstor Pipo Gorosito began his playing career at River Plate, he had 3 spells at San Lorenzo where he scored 72 goals in 241 appearances...
(1984–88)
Pedro Troglio (1984–88)
Claudio CaniggiaClaudio Paul Caniggia is a former Argentine football forward, who played 50 times for the Argentine national team. He appeared in three World Cups, and was a member of both rival clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Caniggia was known for his speed as a player and competed in Athletics before his...
(1985–88)
Claudio MorresiClaudio Alberto Morresi is a former football player from Argentina. He is currently the Sports Secretary of Argentina and with Enzo Francescoli formed one of the best striking partnerships in soccer at the River Plate football club in the early 1980s.-Titles:-References:...
(1985–88)
Oscar RuggeriOscar Alfredo Ruggeri is a former footballer. Nicknamed "El Cabezón" , Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders ever to come out of Argentina....
(1985–88)
Juan Gilberto FunesJuan Gilberto Funes , nicknamed "El Búfalo" was an Argentine football player, known for his physical style of play...
(1986–88)
Abel Balbo (1988–89)
Jorge HiguaínJorge Nicolás "El Pipa" Higuaín is a former Argentine football central defender. He played for Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo, and Stade Brestois 29, at that time in French top division....
(1988–91)
Ángel ComizzoÁngel David Comizzo Leiva is a retired Argentine football goalkeeper.Comizzo was born in Reconquista, and began his career at Talleres in the Primera Division Argentina. In 1988 he joined River Plate where he was loaned to UANL Tigres of Mexico in 1990–1991...
(1988–92; 2001–03)
Ramón Medina Bello (1989–93; 1996–1997)
Hernán DíazHernán Edgardo Díaz is a former Argentine football right back. During his club career he played for Rosario Central, Los Andes, River Plate and Colón de Santa Fe.-Early career:...
(1989–99; 2000–01)
Gabriel BatistutaGabriel Omar Batistuta , nicknamed Batigol, is a former professional footballer. The prolific Argentine striker played most of his club football at Fiorentina in Italy, and he is the tenth top scorer of all-time in the Italian Serie A league, with 184 goals in 318 matches...
(1989–90)
Rubén Da Silva (1989–91; 1992–93)
Leonardo AstradaLeonardo Rubén Astrada is a retired Argentine football player, who went on to become a football manager. He currently manages Paraguayan team Cerro Porteño.-Playing career:...
(1989–00; 2001–03)
Sergio BertiSergio Ángel Berti is a retired Argentine professional football player, nicknamed La Bruja....
(1990–92; 1993–95; 1996–99)
Matías AlmeydaMatías Jesús Almeyda is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and the current manager of Club Atlético River Plate....
(1991–96; 2009–11)
Ariel OrtegaArnaldo Ariel Ortega is an Argentine football attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" , thus he is called "Burrito Ortega"....
(1991–96; 2000–02; 2006–08; 2009–11)
Roberto AyalaRoberto Fabián Ayala , nicknamed el Ratón , is a former Argentine football centre back.Regarded as one of the best central defenders of his generation, Ayala captained the Argentine national team for more matches than anyone else...
(1993–95)
Marcelo GallardoMarcelo Daniel Gallardo is an Argentine ex footballer who is currently the manager for Nacional de Uruguay....
(1993–99; 2003–06; 2009–10)
Hernán CrespoHernán Jorge Crespo is an Argentine footballer who plays for Parma in the Italian Serie A. Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 18 years. His honors include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, an English Premier League title and three Scudettos. He was topscorer in...
(1993–96)
Germán Burgos (1994–99)
Late 1990s to date
Celso Ayala (1995–98, 2000–05)
Julio Ricardo CruzJulio Ricardo Cruz is a former Argentine footballer.-Early career:A tall, physical striker at , Cruz started his career with Banfield in 1993. He moved to River Plate in 1996.-Feyenoord:...
(1996–97)
Marcelo SalasJosé Marcelo Salas Melinao , better known as El Matador, Shileno or simply Marcelo Salas, is a former football player from Chile. He, along with world cup veterans, 3 time Best Player of America Elías Figueroa and former Real Madrid and Inter Milan forward Iván Zamorano, has been one of Chile's...
(1996–98; 2003–05)
Juan Pablo SorínJuan Pablo Sorín is a former Argentine footballer. He was born in Buenos Aires. He is a much-travelled player, having spent time in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. He was captain of the Argentine team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.He is a versatile left wing-back who can play...
(1996–99)
Santiago SolariSantiago Hernán Solari Poggio is a retired Argentine professional football player.-Career:El Indiecito. Solari played for Newell's Old Boys, local amateur Renato Cesarini and attended Richard Stockton College playing one season before moving to Buenos Aires' CA River Plate in 1996...
(1996–99)
Pablo AimarPablo César Aimar Giordano is a Argentine professional footballer who plays for Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the Portuguese first division. An attacking midfielder with a vast array of skills, he also holds a Spanish passport....
(1996–00) Roberto Bonano (1996–01)
Eduardo BerizzoManolo Eduardo Berizzo is a retired Argentine football central defender and a current coach....
(1996–99; 2000)
Marcelo EscuderoMarcelo Alejandro Escudero is a retired Argentine football midfielder who won five league titles and the Copa Libertadores 1996 with River Plate....
(1996–02)
Diego PlacenteDiego Rodolfo Placente is an Argentine footballer who plays at left-back for Nacional.-Club:Placente started playing professionally in 1996 with Argentinos Juniors, before moving to Argentine giant River Plate in 1997. He transferred to Bayer Leverkusen in 2001, where he played until 2005 when his...
(1997–00)
Roberto TrottaRoberto Trotta is an Argentine football manager and former defender.Trotta played club football in Argentina, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Ecuador...
(1997; 1999–01)
Martín CardettiMartín Cardetti is an Argentine football striker. He played professional club football in Argentina, Spain, France, Mexico and Colombia....
(1997–98; 1999–02)
Juan Pablo ÁngelJuan Pablo Ángel Arango is a Colombian footballer. He currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Atlético Nacional and River Plate:...
(1997–00)
Pedro SarabiaPedro Alcides Sarabia Achucarro is a Paraguayan football defender.Sarabia made his debut for the Paraguayan national team in 1995, and has got 47 caps. He represented Paraguay at the World Cups in 1998 and 2002....
(1997–02)
Nelson Cuevas (1998–03)
Javier SaviolaJavier Pedro Saviola Fernández is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in Portugal, as a striker....
(1998–01)
Mario YepesMario Alberto Yepes Díaz is a Colombian professional footballer, who plays as a defender for Serie A club Milan. He has also been the captain of the Colombian national team since 2008.- Club career :...
(1999–02)
Eduardo CoudetEduardo Germán Coudet is an Argentine footballer currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Career:...
(1999–02; 2003–04)
Andrés D'AlessandroAndrés Nicolás D'Alessandro is a left-footed Argentine footballer who currently plays for Sport Club Internacional in Brazil. He is best known for his dribbling and his short passing ability.-Early career:...
(2000–03)
Esteban CambiassoEsteban Matías Cambiasso Deleau , nicknamed "Cuchu" , is an Argentine football midfielder who plays for Italian Serie A club Internazionale....
(2001–02)
Martín DemichelisMartín Gastón Demichelis is an Argentine footballer who plays for Málaga CF in Spain, mainly as a central defender - he can operate as a defensive midfielder on occasion....
(2001–03) Ricardo Ismael Rojas (2001–06) Germán Lux (2001–06)
Fernando CavenaghiFernando Ezequiel Cavenaghi is an Argentine football player who currently plays for River Plate in the second division.-Career:...
(2001–04; 2011-) Lucho González (2002–05)
Javier Mascherano (2003–05)
Gonzalo HiguaínGonzalo Gerardo "El Pipita" Higuaín is an Argentine professional footballer. He was born in France, attaining Argentine citizenship in 2007, and now holding dual nationality...
(2004–06)
Juan Pablo CarrizoJuan Pablo Carrizo is an Argentine football goalkeeper who plays for Lazio in the Italian Serie A.-River Plate:Carrizo made his debut with River Plate on January 29, 2006, against Tiro Federal, keeping a clean sheet in River's 5–0 win...
(2005–08; 2010–11)
Radamel FalcaoRadamel Falcao García Zárate , commonly known simply as Falcao, is a Colombian football striker who currently plays for Atlético Madrid....
(2005–09)
Sebastián AbreuWashington Sebastián Abreu Gallo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays with Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas in Brazil as a striker.Best known by his nickname El Loco , the prolific goalscorer – for club and country – played for more than 20 teams during his professional career, in six different...
(2008–09)
Alexis SánchezAlexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez , is a Chilean footballer who plays as a forward for FC Barcelona and for the Chilean national team. He is well known for his excellent dribbling ability, great speed and his unusual strength for a fast winger....
(2007–08)
Diego BuonanotteDiego Mario Buonanotte Rende , is an Argentine footballer who plays for Málaga CF, as a attacking midfielder or winger.-River Plate:...
(2006–11)
Erik LamelaErik Manuel Lamela is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Roma.-River Plate:Lamela made his first team debut for Club Atlético River Plate on 14 June 2009, in a game against Tigre for the 2009 Clausura tournament. He entered the field on the 80th minute, substituting...
(2009–11)
Notable managers
See also List of Club Atlético River Plate managers
The following managers have all won at least one championship or, in the case of
Reinaldo Merlo, coached many games in a championship that was ultimately won.
| Name |
Period |
Trophies |
Total |
| Domestic |
International |
| CA The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
|
MT The Metropolitano championship was an Argentine football tournament that existed between 1967 and 1984. The Metropolitano formed one half of the Argentine 1st division taking place in the first half of the year, the Nacional took place in the 2nd half of the year. This arrangement lasted until 1982...
|
NC The Nacional championship was an Argentine football tournament that existed between 1967 and 1985. The Nacional formed one half of the Argentine 1st division taking place in the second half of the year, the Metropolitano took place in the first half of the year. This arrangement lasted until 1982...
|
AP The Apertura and Clausura system is the format currently used by the Primera División Argentina. It was introduced for the 1990-1991 season.-Format:...
|
CL The Apertura and Clausura system is the format currently used by the Primera División Argentina. It was introduced for the 1990-1991 season.-Format:...
|
CLThe Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
|
SCThe Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
|
CIA Copa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
|
CI |
| Victor Caamaño |
1931–33 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
 Emerico Hircshl |
1934–38, 1961 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
 Renato CesariniRenato Cesarini was an Italian Argentine football player and coach, who also played for Juventus in Italy...
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1939–44, 1965 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
José María MinellaJosé María Minella was a former Argentine footballer and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team.-Club career:...
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1945–59, 1963 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Ángel LabrunaAngel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
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1968–70, 1975–81 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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6 |
Alfredo di StéfanoAlfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
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1981–82 |
0 |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Héctor Veira |
1984–87 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Carlos Griguol |
1987–88 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Reinaldo Merlo |
1989, 2005 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Daniel Passarella Daniel Alberto Passarella is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup...
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1990–94, 2006–07 |
1 |
0 |
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2 |
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0 |
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3 |
Americo GallegoAmérico Rubén "El Tolo" Gallego is an Argentine football coach and former player, he played 73 times for the Argentina national team during his playing career.-Playing career:...
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1994, 2000–01 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
Ramón DíazRamón Ángel Díaz , is a former Argentine football player. For most of his career, he played for, and later coached, Club Atlético River Plate. He is also known by the nickname of El Pelado ....
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1995–99, 2001–02 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
 Manuel PellegriniManuel Luis Pellegrini Ripamonti is a Chilean manager and former footballer. His current club is La Liga side Málaga CF.-Club career:...
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2002–03 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Leonardo Astrada Leonardo Rubén Astrada is a retired Argentine football player, who went on to become a football manager. He currently manages Paraguayan team Cerro Porteño.-Playing career:...
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2004–05, 2009–10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Diego Simeone |
2008 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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National
Amateur Era
- Second División (1): 1908
- Primera División (1): 1920
Profesional Era
- Primera División (33): 1932, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1975 Metropolitano, 1975 Nacional, 1977 Metropolitano, 1979 Metropolitano, 1979 Nacional, 1980 Metropolitano, 1981 Nacional, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1991 Apertura, 1993 Apertura, 1994 Apertura, 1996 Apertura, 1997 Apertura, 1997 Clausura, 1999 Apertura, 2000 Clausura, 2002 Clausura, 2003 Clausura, 2004 Clausura, 2008 Clausura
International
Continental Cups
- Copa Libertadores (2): 1986
The 1986 Copa Libertadores was the 27th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's annual international club tournament. River Plate won the competition for the first time ever.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Group 3 :- Group 4 :- Group 5 :...
, 1996
- Supercopa Sudamericana
The Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
(1): 1997The 1997 Supercopa Sudamericana was the tenth and final season of the Supercopa Sudamericana, a club football tournament for past Copa Libertadores winners. Vasco da Gama were admitted to the tournament for the first time in recognition of winning the South American Championship of Champions in...
Intercontinental Cups
- Intercontinental Cup
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
(1): 1986The 1986 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 14 December 1986 between River Plate of Argentina, winners of the 1986 Copa Libertadores, and FC Steaua Bucureşti of Romania, winners of the 1985–86 European Cup. The match was played at the neutral venue of the National Stadium in Tokyo...
- Copa Interamericana
Copa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
(1): 1987
Other unofficial titles
- Copa Río de La Plata (6): 1936, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1947, 1955
- Copa de Competencia Jockey Club
Copa de Competencia Jockey Club is a defunct football tournament which took place in Argentina between 1907 and 1933.-History:The Copa de Competencia Jockey Club was first awarded in 1906 to the winners of the Argentine qualifiers for the final of the Tie Cup competition which was played between...
(1): 1914
- Cup Tie Competition (1): 1914
- Copa de Competencia (1): 1932
- Copa de Oro (1): 1936
- Copa Dr. Carlos Ibarguren
Copa Dr. Carlos Ibarguren or Copa Ibarguren is a defunct Argentine football tournament which was contested between 1913 and 1958.-History:...
(4): 1937, 1941, 1942, 1952 (shared)
- Copa Adrián C. Escobar
The Copa Adrián C. Escobar was an official football tournament contested by clubs of Argentina, organized by the Argentine Football Association in 1939, 1941 to 1944, and 1949.-Name of the tournament:...
(1): 1941
- Copa San Martín de Tours (10): 1965, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1996
- Liguilla Pre-Libertadores (5): 1969, 1976, 1989, 1992, 1999
- Trofeo Día de los Museos Municipales (1): 1990
- Copa Estado de Israel (1): 2008
Other sports
River Plate also has a
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team playing in the amateur Buenos Aires league. It played 10 seasons in the
Liga Nacional de BásquetbolThe Liga Nacional de Básquet is the top level of the Argentine basketball league system. The league is controlled by the Basketball Clubs' Association...
between 1985–1993 and 2004–06, reaching the finals in 1988 and obtaining 2nd place in 2004 and 2005 editions of Copa Argentina, but in July 2006 the club got expelled by the League because of a debt in player's salaries. River Plate also has professional male and female
volleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
teams in regional and national competitions, male and female handball teams among the best in regional and national competitions and a female field hockey team that made its debut in Buenos Aires' top division in 2007.
External links