Club Atlético River Plate

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River Plate
Full name	Club Atlético River Plate
Nickname(s)	Los Millonarios
Founded	1901
Ground	El Monumental, Núñez, Buenos Aires
Capacity	65,645
Chairman	José María Aguilar
Head Coach	Daniel Passarella
League	Argentine Primera División
2006 Apertura	3rd
Home colours 　 Away colours

Club Atlético River Plate, known also as River Plate or simply River, is an Argentine sports club best known for its football team, established in 1901. Its home base is the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Núñez, and it plays at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti.

"River Plate" is sometimes used as the English name for the Rio de la Plata, the river on which Buenos Aires sits. It is believed that in the club's early days one of the founders (Martínez) observed sailors playing impromptu football games in the port of Buenos Aires next to crates marked "The River Plate", hence the club name.

Contents 1 History 2 Nicknames 3 Stadium 4 Titles 4.1 Amateur 4.2 Professional Championships 4.3 Official Argentina-Uruguay Tournaments (AFA-AUF) 4.4 International Cups 5 List of famous players 6 Other sports 7 Current squad 7.1 Squad Changes 7.1.1 Players In 7.1.2 Players Out 8 Notes 9 See also 10 External links

[edit] History

Club Atlético River Plate was founded on May 25, 1901, close to the La Boca neighborhood (later the home of fierce rivals Boca Juniors). Legend has it that River Plate and Boca Juniors played a match to decide who stayed in the neighborhood, and having lost, River Plate had to relocate. The club moved first to Palermo and then to Núñez on the northern side of the city in 1923.

In the early 1930s, River acquired Bernabé Ferreyra from Tigre for a then unheard-of sum, and paid mostly in gold. The club became known as Los Millonarios ("The Millionaires").

In the 1940s Alfredo Di Stéfano and '50s Eduardo Omar Sívori played for River before moving on to become stars in Europe (Sívori for Juventus, Di Stéfano for Real Madrid). Some River players (among them Di Stéfano) had stints in the (unrecognised by FIFA) Colombian Eldorado "pirate" league when it was the world's wealthiest.

River's attractive, offensive playing style earned their side of the early 1940s the nickname La Máquina ("The Machine"). The names of the team's five forwards (Muñoz, Moreno, Pedernera, Labruna, Loustau) are well-known to most Argentine fans. La Máquina is often considered as the predecessor of Netherlands' Clockwork Orange, whose total football took the 1974 World Cup by storm until Germany beat them in the Final.

Between 1952 and 1957, River won five out of six league titles, before an 18-year drought ensued. River returned to form in 1975 and had a string of championship titles under coach Angel Labruna with players like Ubaldo Fillol, Daniel Passarella and Norberto Alonso.

In 1983, Enzo Francescoli was acquired from Uruguayan side Montevideo Wanderers to occupy Alonso's place. He had two stints with River, achieving international renown, and became known as "The Prince". In 1986, just after Francescoli's departure to Racing Club Paris in France, River won their first Libertadores Cup. A new generation of home-grown players, led by Claudio Caniggia, went on to achieve success both with River and abroad.

River Plate have won 32 Argentine professional championships, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1986, the Copa Libertadores twice (1986 and 1996, both times beating the same club - America de Cali - in the final), the Copa Interamericana in 1987, beating LD Alajuelense from Costa Rica. and the Supercopa in 1997. River was the first team in the country to win simultaneously an International title (Supercopa) with a First Division Championship (Torneo Apertura 1997). This series of successes led the Club to the first place in the IFFHS ranking for six consecutive months, the first Argentinians to achieve it. They are also the only Argentinians ranked as the best World team of a season (1997-1998).^[1]

Being the two biggest and more important football clubs in Argentina, and due to the rivalry between them, the Boca-River Superclásico was listed by the BBC in its famous derbies in the world, and as one of the 50 sporting things you must do before you die by The Observer.

In 1999, a special edition of Argentine sports magazine "El Gráfico" named River Plate as "Campeón Del Siglo" ("Champions Of The Century"), noting River's achievements, especially their then 28 Argentine championships against Boca Juniors' 19 and Independiente's 13 (all figures as of 1999). Indeed, the following year, a FIFA sponsored vote appointed River as the best Argentinian team of the 20 Century (PDF link).

[edit] Nicknames

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 Bernabé Ferreyra from Tigre in 1932. In 1979 - 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 supposedly born in the final of Copa Libertadores 1966 against Uruguayan team Peñarol, when River were ahead 2-0 but ended up losing the game 4-2. La Prensa's article (in Spanish)

Due to the red band in their jersey, 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 streak of titles (three Argentine titles, one Copa Libertadores and one Supercopa), River were sometimes called La Maquinita ("The Little Machine") by the press. That team featured Francescoli and younger players such as Juan Pablo Sorín, Hernán Crespo, Ariel Ortega, Marcelo Salas and Marcelo Gallardo.

[edit] Stadium

See main article Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti

El Monumental is River's home stadium in the Núñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. With a capacity of 65,645, the stadium is also used in matches for the Argentina national football team.

[edit] Titles

[edit] Amateur

Second Division: 1

1908

First Division: 1

1920

[edit] Professional Championships

National League (32)

First Division: 32

• 1932, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, Metropolitano 1975, Nacional 1975, Metropolitano 1977, Metropolitano 1979, Nacional 1979, Metropolitano 1980, Nacional 1981, 1985/86, 1989/90, Apertura 1991/92, Apertura 1993/94, Apertura 1994/95, Apertura 1996/97, Clausura 1996/97, Apertura 1997/98, Apertura 1999/00, Clausura 1999/00, Clausura 2001/02, Clausura 2002/03, Clausura 2003/04

[edit] Official Argentina-Uruguay Tournaments (AFA-AUF)

Tie Cup

• 1914

Rio de la Plata Cup

• 1936
• 1937
• 1941
• 1945
• 1947
• 1955

Total: 7

Played between the Champions of both countries leagues. Discontinued since 1959.

[edit] International Cups

International Conmebol Titles (5)

Copa Libertadores: 2

• 1986, 1996

Supercopa (Champions of America's Cup): 1

• 1997

Intercontinental Cup: 1

• 1986

Other International Cups: 1

• Copa Interamericana 1987

[edit] List of famous players

Note: The Players marked '(c)' have also coached the team

Early Days and La Máquina Bernabé Ferreyra Alfredo Di Stéfano (La Saeta Rubia) Norberto Yácono Ricardo Vaghi José Ramos Bruno Rodolfi Enrique Sivori José El Charro Moreno Juan Carlos Muñoz Adolfo Pedernera Ángel Labruna Felix Loustau Walter Gomez Nestor Rossi Renato Cesarini 1950s, 1960s and 1970s Luis Artime Amadeo Carrizo Juan Carlos Sainz Vladislao Cap José Varacka Ermindo Onega Daniel Onega Roberto Matosas Luis Cubilla Hugo Gatti (Loco) Oscar Mas (Pinino) Norberto Alonso (Beto) Juan José López (Jota Jota) Ubaldo Fillol (El Pato) Carlos Morete (El Puma) Alejandro Sabella Reinaldo Merlo (Mostaza) (c) Daniel Passarella (El Káiser) (c) Pablo Comelles Leopoldo Luque Oscar Ortíz Miguel Ángel Raimondo Alejandro Sabella Héctor Artico Américo Gallego (Tolo) (c)

1980s and early 1990s Abel Balbo (1988~1989) Mario Kempes (El Matador)(1981~1982) Gabriel Batistuta (Batigol)(1989~1990) Ángel Comizzo (El Flaco)(1988~1992, 2001~2003) Ramón Díaz (El Pelado) (c)(1975~1982, 1991~1993) Oscar Ruggeri (El Cabezón)(1985~1988) Nery Pumpido(1983~1988) René Houseman Enzo Francescoli (El Príncipe)(1983~1986, 1994~1997) Antonio Alzamendi (La Hormiga)(1982~1983, 1986~1988) Claudio Morresi Juan Funes (El Búfalo) Héctor Enrique (El Negro) Claudio Caniggia (El Pájaro)(1985~1988) Norberto Gorosito (Pipo)(1984~1988) Pedro Troglio(1984~1988) Sergio Goycochea (El Vasco)(1983~1988, 1993~1994) Eduardo Berizzo (Toto)(1996~2000) Leonardo Astrada (El Negro) (c)(1989~2000, 2001~2003) Roberto Ayala (El Ratón)(1993~1995) Ariel Ortega (El Burrito)(1991~1996, 2000~2002, 2006) Sergio Berti (La Bruja)(1990~1992, 1993~1995, 1996~1999) Marcelo Gallardo (El Muñeco)(1993~1999, 2003~) Hernán Crespo (Valdanito)(1993~1996) Rubén Da Silva (1989~1991, 1992~1993) Ramón Medina Bello (El Mencho)(1989~1994, 1996~1998) Germán Burgos (El Mono)(1994~1999) Matias Almeyda (Pelado) (1991~1996) Late 1990s to date Marcelo Salas (El Matador)(1996~1998, 2003~2005) Celso Ayala Juan Pablo Angel (Angelito) Julio Cruz (El Jardinero)(1996~1997) Juan Pablo Sorín (Juampi)(1996~1999) Santiago Solari (El Indiecito)(1996~1999) Martín Cardetti (1997~1998, 1999~2002) Javier Saviola (El Conejo)(1998~2001) Eduardo Coudet (El Chacho)(1999~2002, 2003~2004) Pablo Aimar (El Payaso)(1996~2000) Marcelo Gallardo (El Muñeco) Andrés D'Alessandro (El Cabezón)(2000~2003) Fernando Cavenaghi (El Torito)(2001~2004) Javier Mascherano (El Jefecito)(2003~2005) Luis González (Lucho)(2002~2005) Germán Lux (Poroto)(2001~2006) Gonzalo Higuaín (Pipita) (2005-2006)

[edit] Other sports

River Plate plays in the Argentine National League of Basketball, in which they were runner-ups in 1988. It has professional male and female volleyball teams playing in the first division.

[edit] Current squad

As of 15 February 2007

No. Position Player 1 GK Juan Pablo Carrizo 2 DF Eduardo Tuzzio 3 DF Federico Dominguez 4 DF Paulo Ferrari 5 MF Óscar Ahumada 6 DF Federico Lussenhoff 7 FW Ariel Ortega 8 MF Fernando Belluschi 9 FW Ernesto Farías 11 FW Radamel Falcao García 12 GK Bernardo Leyenda 13 MF Andrés Ríos

No. Position Player 14 DF Danilo Gerlo 15 MF René Lima 16 MF Victor Zapata 17 GK Juan Marcelo Ojeda 18 MF Rubens Sambueza 19 MF Diego Alberto Galván 20 DF Cristian Nasuti 21 MF Marco Rubén 23 DF Nelson Enrique Rivas 24 MF Cristian Villagra 25 MF Leonardo Daniel Ponzio 40 FW Mauro Rosales

[edit] Squad Changes

(January transfer window)

[edit] Players In

• Juan Marcelo Ojeda (GK) from Rosario Central

• Nelson Enrique Rivas (DF) from Deportivo Cali

• Cristian Villagra (DF) from Rosario Central

• Leonardo Ponzio (MF) from Real Zaragoza

• Marco Rubén (FW) from Rosario Central

• Diego Alberto Galván (FW) from Estudiantes de La Plata

• Mauro Rosales (FW) from Ajax

[edit] Players Out

• Cristian Andrés Álvarez (DF) to Universidad Católica

•   Gonzalo Higuaín (MF) sold to Real Madrid

• Marcelo Gallardo {MF) to Paris St. Germain on free transfer

• Gastón Fernández (FW} 50% sold to San Lorenzo de Almagro

• Matías Oyola {MF) on loan to Belgrano de Córdoba

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Quote from the french newspaper L'Humanité, July 15 1998 edition:
   • Les Argentins de River Plate
   ont détrôné la Juventus Turin au palmarès des meilleurs clubs de première division établi par la Fédération internationale pour l'histoire du football et les statistiques (IFFHS), rendu public hier. Le jury de l'IFFHS, composé de journalistes spécialisés et d'experts, a établi un classement des 100 clubs mondiaux pour la saison 1997-1998. La France n'entre dans le classement qu'en 11e position, avec le Paris Saint-Germain. Available link: [1]

[edit] See also

• List of clubs in Buenos Aires

[edit] External links

• Official site (in Spanish, English and Chinese)
• River Plate formations at football-lineups.com
• River Plate Page in BDFA Spanish
• La Pagina Millonaria - Sitio 100% NO Oficial.
• RiveresMundial.com.ar FANS SITE.
• River Exporta - Marca Pais Argentina

Primera División Argentina (2006/07)
Argentinos Juniors | Arsenal de Sarandí | Banfield | Belgrano de Córdoba | Boca Juniors | Colón de Santa Fe | Estudiantes de La Plata | Gimnasia de La Plata | Gimnasia de Jujuy | Godoy Cruz | Independiente| Lanús | Newell's Old Boys | Nueva Chicago | Quilmes | Racing Club | River Plate | Rosario Central | San Lorenzo | Vélez Sársfield

Club Atlético River Plate - Current Squad
2 Tuzzio | 3 Domínguez | 4 Álvarez | 4 Ferrari | 5 Ahumada | 6 Lussenhoff | 7 Ortega | 8 Belluschi | 9 Farías | 11 Falcao | 12 Carrizo | 14 Gerlo | 16 Zapata | 18 Sambueza | 20 Nasuti | 24 Fernández | 25 Méndez | 26 Lima | 30 Pellegrino | 31 Mareque | • Buonanotte | • Burdisso | • Domingo | • Martínez Montagnoli | • Morales Neumann | • Toja | • Villalba | coach: Passarella