Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Full name Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Nickname(s) El Lobo, Los Triperos, Mensanas, Basureros
Founded June 3, 1887
Ground Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo,
La Plata, Argentina
(Capacity 33,000)
Chairman Flag of Argentina Walter Gisande
Manager Flag of Uruguay Guillermo Sanguinetti
League Argentine Primera División
Apertura 2007 18th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Home colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Away colours
For other uses, see Gimnasia y Esgrima.

Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (CGE or GELP) is an Argentine sports club, of the city of La Plata, province of Buenos Aires. It was founded on June 3, 1887 as Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima. Its principal activity is football, and it competes in the Primera División Argentina, Argentina's premier league.

Its stadium is the Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo, also known as the Estadio del Bosque, with capacity for 33.000 spectators.

Gimnasia y Esgrima was a champion of División Intermedia of the Argentine Football in 1915, of the Primera División in 1929, and it was runner-up of the Primera División in 1924, during the amateurism. Whereas in the professionalism, Gimnasia was champion of the Copa Centenario de la AFA in 1994 and of the Segunda División in 1944, 1947 and 1952; in addition, it was runner-up of the Primera División in 5 opportunities. It has been in the Primera División for 69 seasons, being the eighth club with major permanency in it.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

The "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata" was founded on June 3rd, 1887 as a civil association, and thus is the oldest surviving club that plays football in the whole of South America[1]. Its foundation came barely five years after the creation of the City of La Plata itself in 1882. The first sports offered to its members were indeed, as its Spanish name indicates, gymnastics and fencing. Clubs supporting these sports were common among the upper classes at the end of the XIX century (cf. the prior foundation of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires in 1880). Later on, other disciplines were added including track and field, football, basketball and rugby.

The institution changed name a few times: from April to December, 1897 it was called a "Club de Esgrima" due to the fact that the fencing was the only activity that was practised at that moment. On December 17, 1897 it returns to its original name: "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima". From July, 1952 to September 30, 1955 was named "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima de Eva Perón", due to the fact that the proper city of La Plata happened to be call Eva Perón in 1952, after Eva Perón's death. The city recovered its previous name during the government of the Liberating Revolution and like that also the club. Nevertheless, it remained unduly identified legally as "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata", mistake that was corrected on August 7, 1964 after the new statute be approved.

[edit] Amateur Era (1891-1930)

The colours of C.G.E.
The colours of C.G.E.

In 1905, Gimnasia had to abandon its original field at the corner of 13 & 71 streets; at that time, it was chosen to discontinue the practice of football and to devote the club mainly to social activities. As a result, some members who were interested in playing football left and founded a club devoted principally to that activity: Estudiantes de La Plata. Later, in 1912, a group of football players who were in conflict with Estudiantes de La Plata joined to Club Independencia, which later fused with Gimnasia y Esgrima in 1914, thereby returning to the practice of football. In 1915 Gimnasia y Esgrima joins "División Intermedia", obtains the championship and thus promotion to the Primera División Argentina. On that year, Gimnasia obtains the cups that were in dispute: Competencia Adolfo J. Bullrich Cup and Campeonato Intermedia Cup.[2]

On April 27, 1916, it faces for the first time its classic rival of La Plata. The match was played at the Estudiantes de La Plata' field (streets 1 and 57), and Gimnasia y Esgrima defeated its classic rival 1:0. That year, Gimnasia finished the championship in fourth place behind Racing Club, Platense and River Plate, with 9 victories, 9 ties and 3 defeats. In 1921 Gimnasia would return to obtain the fourth place, behind Racing Club, River Plate and Independiente, as a result of 23 victories, 6 ties and 9 defeats.

On April 27, 1924 the new stadium was inaugurated, located in the intersection of the 60th avenue and 118th street, called Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo. Gimnasia y Esgrima remained undefeated in its stadium for 15 months (from its first official meeting until July, 1925).[3] This year achieves the second place, behind San Lorenzo, with 15 victories, 7 ties and 1 defeat.

[edit] Title of 1929

The team of 1929.
The team of 1929.

In 1929 Gimnasia y Esgrima obtains its unique championship amateur of the Primera División, after a campaign that it finished with 14 victories and 3 defeats. The championship of 1929 adopted the modality of dispute of the Copa Estímulo, so the teams where separated in two zones ("even" and "odd"), the title being defined in a game between the winners of every zone.

Gimnasia y Esgrima obtained the first place in the "odd zone", of which they were forming a part: River Plate, Racing Club, Huracán and Estudiantes de La Plata. The "even zone" it was won by Boca Juniors, that qualified this way for the final meeting.

The above mentioned meeting was disputed on February 9, 1930 in the stadium of River Plate of that one at the time (in the intersection of the streets Alvear and Tagle). After being losing 1:0 at the end of the first time, the team formed by Scarpone, Di Giano and Delovo; Rusciti, Santillán and Belli; Curell, Varallo, Maleani, Díaz and Morgada gave turned the result with two Martin Maleani's goals. That year also obtains the championship of Reserve. [4]

By this way, Gimnasia y Esgrima turns into the first club of the city in a obtained a title organized by an Association recognized by FIFA.

Between December, 1930 and in April, 1931, the team of Gimnasia, which later would be known as "El Expreso" (in English, "The Express") became the first Argentina club outside Greater Buenos Aires to compete in Europe, and the first ever to play in Portugal, Russia, Austria and Italy.[5]

[edit] Professional Era (1931-2008)

[edit] El Expreso of 1933

The team of 1933.
The team of 1933.

Already in the professional era, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata entered in the history of Argentine soccer with a famous team known as "El Expreso" (The Express). The "1933 Express" comfortably won the first round of the First Division championship. In the second round, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata led the championship, until he faced Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo de Almagro. In these matches, Gimnasia was subject to openly biased arbitrations.[6]. In the latter game, the referee Rojo Miró favoured so blatantly San Lorenzo that the Gimnasia players famously refused to continue with the charade, and "went on strike." They simply sat on the field, while San Lorenzo scored unopposedly, before the referee terminated the game with a 7-1 outcome. The 1933 team ended in the fourth place (San Lorenzo was the champion) with a record of 21 victories, 4 draws and 9 defeats.[7] However, the legendary Express had been born, and it never left the memory of its fans. The top scorer of The Express was Arturo "El Torito" Naón with 33 goals.

[edit] Governor Alende Cup (1960)

The team of 1960.
The team of 1960.

This Cup was disputed in 1960 and was organized by the club Estudiantes de La Plata. It was called "Gobernador de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Dr. Oscar Alende Cup", in honoring the governor Oscar Alende. The cup was an international quadrangular, comprising friendly matches between Estudiantes, Gimnasia, Club Nacional de Football and Club Atlético Peñarol, the latter being the two main football clubs from Uruguay.

Gimnasia won both meetings against the Uruguayan teams: 5:2 against Nacional and 1:0 against Peñarol. Estudiantes lost its respective games for 0:1 and 2:5.

In the last match, Gimnasia tied with Estudiantes 2:2. On February 13, 1960, Gimnasia was therefore crowned champion of the Gobernador Alende Cup, at the stadium of its classic archrival, located at the intersection of the 57 & 1 streets of La Plata.

[edit] La Barredora (1970)

The team of 1970.
The team of 1970.

One of the teams most remembered by the group of football fans is "La Barredora". After almost a decade alternating good and bad performances, there were realized restructurations in the accomplishment of the championships organized by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA).

These were the "Metropolitano", with the teams affiliated directly to the AFA divided in two zones, and the "Nacional", in whom some teams affiliated to the AFA were taking part and whom they classified under the first positions of the Metropolitano. The rest of the teams was taking part in the "Promocional" and in the "Reclasificatorio", together with other teams that were representing other leagues of the country.

In the first year, 1967, Gimnasia y Esgrima devoted itself champion of the "Promocional" tournament. Then other variants existed, the "Campeonato Metropolitano" that was disputed in an alone wheel and the "Campeonato Nacional" that was disputed dividing the teams in two zones.

That year, Gimnasia y Esgrima managed to qualify to dispute the semi-final of the "Campeonato Nacional" against Rosario Central, who had occupied the first position of the zone "A". Gimnasia y Esgrima for its part had classified second in the zone "B", behind Chacarita Juniors. At the same time happened a conflict between the football players and the leaders of the club for economic motives, which led the President Oscar Venturino to presenting the third division. The final result was 3:0 for the team rosarino.[8]

The team was shaped for: Hugo Orlando Gatti; Ricardo Rezza, José Bernabé Leonardi, José Masnik, Roberto Zywica, Roberto Gonzalo; Héctor Pignani, José Santiago, Delio Onnis, José Néstor Meija, Jorge Castiglia.

[edit] The last ascent (1984)

After a bad campaign, Gimnasia y Esgrima descends to the Primera "B" in the year 1979. The team formed part of the second division between 1980 and 1984, year in which it manages to ascend. The above mentioned team was shaped by football players as Ricardo "el pulpo" Kuzemka and Carlos Carrió, whereas its trainer was Nito Veiga.

In 1984 Gimnasia y Esgrima obtained the third place in the table of positions and qualified to dispute an Octogonal for the second ascent. In the octogonal formed part Racing Club, Argentino de Rosario, Club Atlético Tigre, Defensores de Belgrano, Club Atlético Lanús, Nueva Chicago and Deportivo Morón. It reached the final instance where it managed to conquer in two opportunities Racing Club (3:1 as visitor and 4:2 as local).

[edit] Copa Centenario de la AFA (1993-94)

In 1993, the AFA organized a cup-style (elimination) tournament[9] named Copa Centenario ("Centennial Cup"), to celebrate its hundredth anniversary. Each first division team played its derby rival in two rounds in a double elimination system. Gimnasia eliminated its classic rival Estudiantes 1-0 with a goal by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and qualified for the next round after a 0-0 tie in the return match. Then, Gimnasia successively eliminated Newell's Old Boys, Argentinos Juniors and Belgrano de Córdoba to win the "round of winners". River Plate won the "round of losers" and qualified for the final, with Gimnasia having home court advantage.

Gimnasia won the final 3:1 with goals by Hugo Romeo Guerra, Fernández and Guillermo Barros Schelotto. River's goal was scored by Villalba. Gimnasia's winning team included Lavallén; Sanguinetti, Morant, Ortiz, Dopazo, Fernández, Bianco, Talarico, Gustavo Barros Schelotto, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Guerra.[10]

After winning this cup, Gimnasia was invited to participate on the Sanwa Bank Cup in 1994.

[edit] From Griguol to Troglio (1994-2007)

With veteran coach Carlos Timoteo Griguol at the helm, Gimnasia took second place in the 1995 Clausura tournament[11], repeating the performance in 1996[12] and 1998[13]. Also took second place in 2002 (coached by Ramaciotti).[14]

Gimnasia also obtained second place in 2005 under Pedro Troglio's management, after an excellent campaign that had them fighting neck to neck with Boca Juniors until the very end of the championship.

These strong showings allowed Gimnasia to take part in the top club-level competitions in South America: the Copa Sudamericana during 2006 and the 2007 edition of the Copa Libertadores.

On September 10, 2006, during the halftime of a match against Boca Juniors, club president Juan José Muñoz confronted (and allegedly threatened) referee Daniel Giménez, who called off the match immediately, with Gimnasia leading 1-0. Muñoz was reprimanded by the football association and temporarily removed from its executive committee[15], although he was confirmed as Gimnasia's President by the club's board.

On October Gimnasia suffered their worst derby defeat ever, a 7-0 Estudiantes victory. A few days later, Gimnasia was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana by the Chilean champions Colo Colo, following a quarter final match where a player of Gimnasia was injured by a cement piece thrown by Chilean supporters [16]. Due to Gimnasia's physical play in the second leg of the quarter finals in Argentina, Argentine Football Association's president Julio Grondona wrote a personal letter to the president of the ANFP (the Chilean football federation) apologizing for the "roughness" of the Gimnasia players [17].

The pending second half against Boca Juniors was played on 8 November 2006. Boca Juniors scored four goals and won the match. After the match, Troglio and some of the players hinted that the team had received death threats from some supporters, who wanted to benefit Boca in its championship bid against Gimnasia's archrivals Estudiantes. Nevertheless, Estudiantes obtained the title in the end.[18]

La Plata District Attorney Marcelo Romero opened an investigation and cited some players and club officers to testify, but the entire affair was soon dismissed. Player Marcelo Goux refused to participate in the next match and quit the team soon afterwards[19], as did fellow players Martín Cardetti and Ariel Franco. Many articles condemned Muñoz's handling of the situation, accusing him of lying to the press, and of treating violent fans as his protégés.[20]

[edit] 2007/08: New management

After a string of losses in the local championship and the Copa Libertadores, there were renewed calls for Muñoz to resign [21]. Coach Troglio felt the burden of responsibility and quit his post on April 2, 2007 [22]. Gimnasia hired first famed Colombian trainer Francisco Maturana, and then Julio César Falcioni, both with limited success.

In the December 2007 election, Muñoz did not run, and the list he supported lost to the opposition. New club president Walter Gisande hired former player Guillermo Sanguinetti as team coach and tried to convince former players, notably Diego Alonso and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, to return to Gimnasia. Only Alonso, who was playing in China, made the leap.

The new management also campaigned for a return to the bosque grounds. As of April 2008, the stadium is undergoing an structural engineering evaluation after all security measures requested by authorities were put in place [1]. Mayor Pablo Bruera has indicated that the city will let Gimnasia buy or lease some city-owned lands for erecting a sports complex.

[edit] Records and curiosities

Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia, 1979.
Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia, 1979.
  • Gimnasia is the oldest club participating in the Argentine Football League, as it was founded on June 3, 1887.
  • Gimnasia was the first South American team to defeat Real Madrid CF on Spanish soil. The match was played on January 1, 1931 and ended with a score of 3-2 for Gimnasia.
  • Gimnasia was the first Argentine club to hire a foreign manager in the professional era: Flag of Hungary Emérico Hirschl.
  • Between August 12, 1932 and September 9, 1934 Gimnasia won 5 consecutive La Plata derbies, the longest run of victories in that derby to date.
  • Gimnasia best score was an 8-1 victory against Racing Club on November 22, 1961. Curiously, Racing Club was the champion on that year.
  • Gimnasia has the record for the fastest goal in the Argentine league: Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia scored against Huracán after 5 seconds, on March 20, 1979.
  • At the reinauguration of Boca Juniors' stadium (La Bombonera) on May 5, 1996, Gimnasia defeated the home team by 6:0.
  • Gimnasia's 2006 defeat to Estudiantes by the score of 0-7 is tied with two others as the worst derby defeats in Argentine professional football: Independiente-Racing (7:0, in 1940) and Vélez Sarsfield-Ferro Carril Oeste (7:0 in 1935).[23]

[edit] Clásico Platense

See also: La Plata derby

The Clásico Platense (La Plata derby) is the nickname given to the match between La Plata's two main football teams: Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata.

The first official derby took place as part of the Asociación Argentina de Football First Division Championship on August 27, 1916. On that occasion, Gimnasia won 1:0 over Estudiantes, with an owngoal of Ludovico Pastor.[24]

The first derby of the professional era took place on June 14, 1931. Since then, they have played 142 official matches in tournaments organized by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino. To date, Estudiantes has won 48 times, with 207 goals, and Gimnasia has won 44 times, with 190 goals. There have been 50 draws.

Between August 12, 1932 and September 9, 1934, Gimnasia won 5 derbies consecutively. On June 25, 1963 Gimnasia obtained a 5-2 victory, this being the best result so far against Estudiantes. On the other hand, its worse result was the aforesaid 7:0 defeat on October 15, 2006. The big-score victory of Gimnasia over Estudiantes was during the Torneo Clausura 2005 (16º round), when Gimnasia won 4:1 on June 12 at the Estadio del Bosque.

A curiosity among the derbies occurred on April 5, 1992, when Gimnasia won over Estudiantes 1:0 at the latter's stadium. On that date, as the stands erupted and Gimnasia's fans shouted in celebration at the goal being scored, the seismograph of the local Astronomical Observatory registered a low-intensity seismic event. That goal was scored by the Uruguayan José Perdomo on a freekick, and it has been known ever since as "El gol del terremoto" ("The earthquake goal").[25]

[edit] Presidents

See also: Presidents of Club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

Throughout its more than 120 years of history, the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata has had 55 Presidents, elected individuals who took on the responsibility of steering this old Institution. Many of them contributed to the growth of the Club over the years. Some of them have remained more vivid in the fans' memory for their achievements or outstanding works.

Saturnino Perdriel 1887.
Saturnino Perdriel 1887.

Saturnino Perdriel was the founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. Mr. Perdriel was an outstanding neighbour and merchant during the first few years of the city of La Plata, in addition to being a civil servant at the Treasury Department of the Province of Buenos Aires. He died prematurely in 1888, after one year as Club president.

Nowadays, the President of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is chosen by its associates, by means of general elections that take place every three years. Any club member over 18 years of age, and with at least three years seniority in the Club, have a right to vote. Members with over seven years seniority have a right to be elected to the Club governmental body, the Management Commission or "Directory".

The current President of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is Mr. Walter Gisande, who won the 2007 electrions over Mr. Gabriel Pellegrino for 16 votes.

[edit] Management Board 2008

Last Update: April 14, 2008

Walter Gisande, 2007.
Walter Gisande, 2007.
  • President: Walter Gisande.
  • Vice-presidents: Fabián Cagliardi, Juan Carlos Escanda and Ernesto Fischer.
  • Vocales Titulares: Renato Ottaviano, Ernesto Díaz, Daniel Giraud, Laureano Durán, Víctor Palladino, Miguel Lavarra, Roberto Coscarelli, Pablo Blanco, Ricardo Vera, Flavio González, Daniel Bellini, Emidio Pappalardo and Marcelo Gisande.
  • Vocales Suplentes: Gustavo Scoppa, Jorge García, Roberto Capalbo, Santiago Barbieri, Ricardo Díaz, Alberto Castillo and Jorge Quintín.
  • Senior Account Overseers: Ricardo López Osornio, Facundo Menéndez and Pablo Juanes.
  • Substitute Account Overseers: Hernán Palladino and Alejandro Cisneros.
  • Senior Juror of Honor: Alberto Durán, Omar Nicora, Elvio Sagarra, Julio Novarini and Eugenio Mijailoff.
  • Substitute Juror of Honor: Alfredo Ferrarini and Carlos Gerez.

[edit] Anthem

The Official Anthem of the club was written in the year 1915 by the popular poet born in Magdalena Délfor B. Méndez and the music was composed by the master Juan Serpentini, who was composing versions of the National Argentine Anthem and "El tambor de Tacuarí", with Rafael Obligado's letter.

The Official Anthem of Gimnasia was intoned by the first time on July 9, 1915 on the occasion of the reception that was giving to the delegation of the club River Plate Football Club, Uruguay.

In 1967 the Official Anthem was recorded by the musical ensemble of the Buenos Aires Police.

[edit] Shield or Logo

The shield of the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is a wreath in which top part is outlined a helmet with a heraldic crest. At the center, on enamel and with the colors of the club (white and navy blue), the club monogram appears in relief. In the top cantons, like a guard, there appear the hilts of a saber and a foil, with their sharp points emerging at lower part of the shield. To the sides of the center a rama of laurels spreads the helmet, for every side.

Since its inception, the club shield has undergone some modifications. From 1887 until 1928, the shield used was devised by Emilio Coutauret, and it was characterized by a handcrafted and adorned design. In 1964, following a reform of the foundational statute, Gimnasia's shield adopted a simpler form, while still keeping the essence of the original one. This is the logo in current use, and often displayed on the team's jerseys.

There have been some minor changes introduced in the past few years. During Héctor Domínguez's presidency, the abbreviation at the center of the shield was changed, replacing the historical CGE (Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima), for the GELP (Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata), modification that persisted during the mandates of Gliemmo and Muñoz. Since the beginning of Walter Gisande's presidency, it was decided to return to the original abbreviation of 'CGE'.

[edit] Kit / Team jerseys

The official historical uniform of Gimnasia y Esgrima is based on the colours displayed in the club shield, as established in the institutional statute.

  • Official uniform ("camiseta titular"): a white jersey with a single horizontal navy-blue stripe over the chest, white (or blue) trousers, white (or blue) socks.
  • Alternative uniform: a navy-blue jersey with a horizontal white stripe over the chest, navy blue trousers, navy blue socks.
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Titular
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Alternative

[edit] Kit Evolution

In the first years of life of the institution, the colors adopted were the white and light blue, seeking of this form to highlight the fact that it was an Argentine club. The first vest used by the team had vertical white and light blue stripes.

Later, in 1905, it was decided to change the colors to make it distinct from Racing Club. This resulted in a vest with vertical stripes of white and navy-blue color.

Finally, from 1910, the design was modified, changing the vertical stripes into the horizontal band of navy-blue color over a white jersey, which has been used ever since.

Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
1903
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
1905
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
1910-present

[edit] Apparel and Sponsor

(Last updated: June 1 2008)

The following table details chronologically the providing companies of apparel and the sponsors that it has had Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata from the years 1980 and 1990 respectively:

Apparel
Period Supplier
1980-1984 Topper
1985-1992 Adidas
1993-1998 Hummel International
1998-2001 New Balance
2001-presente Puma
Sponsor
Period Sponsor
1991 Pegamax
1992 Diario El Día
1993-2001 Banco Municipal de La Plata
2002-2003 Suin
2004 Fideos Manera
2005 Medical Hair
2006 Crown Mustang
2007-presente Motomel

During the year 2008, the apparel of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata will be provided by the company "Puma", the one who will provide from uniform sports up to the extra-sports clothes. In turn, jersey will be supported by the company "Motomel", of which it will take the name written in the principal band and also in the band of the sleeve.

[edit] Supporters

[edit] Fan base

Within the city of La Plata and its environs, the Gimnasia fan base used to be identified with the working class, contrasting with the mostly middle class Estudiantes constituency. This characterization is no longer true. Most of Gimnasia y Esgrima fans are from the Greater La Plata area.

The fans' collective name for itself is "La 22", after 22nd street in La Plata where many famous fans lived, notably Marcelo Amuchástegui. Known as Loco Fierro, Amuchástegui was famous for his exploits, such as hanging a 100-meter Gimnasia flag in the Bombonera stadium. He was shot to death by Rosario police in a murky episode on May 28, 1991, allegedly during an armed robbery.

[edit] Nicknames: The Wolf, and others

Since the 1960s, Gimnasia has been known as El Lobo (short for "El Lobo del Bosque", Spanish for "the wolf in the Forest") after the story of "Red Riding Hood", since its historical football field is located in the middle of La Plata's main park, known as El Bosque ("the forest"). Many other Argentine clubs also called "Gimnasia y Esgrima" adopted later the nicknames of "El Lobo" after the La Plata team.

Another nickname, mensanas, derives from the Latin motto used in the shield: Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body).

An original nickname was (and still is) triperos ("tripe" or "gut-handlers"). This name has its origin in the fact that many of Gimnasia's original supporters worked in the meat-processing plants of nearby Berisso. In newspaper caricatures from the early 1900s, Gimnasia was accordingly depicted as a "butcher", instead of the current "wolf". Yet, still today, Gimnasia is often greeted into the stadia by its fans with a resounding "Tripa corazón!" (Spanish for "Go Tripe Go!"). Curiously, the same nickname is applied when referring to the population of Porto in Portugal, although the meaning of the nickname in Portuguese is closer to "tripe-eaters".

Another nickname is basureros ("garbage or waste collectors"), acquired during the presidency of Mr. Venturino in the 1970s, who also managed the private company dealing with trash pickup in La Plata.

[edit] Stadium

The Juan Carlos Zerillo stadium, known as El Bosque (Spanish for "the forest", because it is located in the La Plata park of the same name) had a capacity of roughly 33,000 and was used until 2005.

When a new city stadium was built for La Plata, both Gimnasia and Estudiantes initially chose to stay at their respective fields, but this arrangement collapsed when both fields were closed down due to new security regulations. Ever since the 2006 Clausura tournament, Gimnasia has used the city stadium for home games.

As of March 2008, Gimnasia has secured most of the permits required to play again in its old field, and it is expected to do so later in the year.

[edit] Club statistics

[edit] Players

see also Cat:Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata footballers

Throughout its 121 years of history, they were more than 800 the Football players of the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata that they have dressed the vest of the first team. Jorge San Esteban, nowadays in activity, with more than 400 disputed meetings is the one who more times illuminated the vest albiazul. In turn, Arturo Naón with 95 goals in 97 meetings is the maximum scorer of the history of the club.

The Asociación del Fútbol Argentino allows to the soccer teams of Argentina to have in its squads a maximum of four foreign football players; Gimnasia y Esgrima historically has formed its squads with football players of the local football but also with foreigners, being the Uruguayans who prevail in the preferences, with 49 football players.

From its low divisions they have arisen a great quantity of football players of national and international renown, as being Guillermo and Gustavo Barros Schelotto, Mariano Messera, Lucas Lobos, Roberto "Pampa" Sosa, Andrés Guglielminpietro, Sebastián Romero, Lucas Licht and Leandro Cufré, among others.

[edit] Current squad

(Last updated: February 11 2008)

No. Position Player
2 Flag of Argentina DF Jorge San Esteban
3 Flag of Argentina DF Federico Domínguez
4 Flag of Argentina DF Cristian Piarrou
5 Flag of Argentina MF Matías Escobar
6 Flag of Argentina DF Renato Civelli
7 Flag of Uruguay FW Sergio Leal
8 Flag of Chile FW Luis Ignacio Quinteros
9 Flag of Uruguay FW Diego Alonso
10 Flag of Argentina MF Diego Villar
11 Flag of Argentina FW Juan Ángel Neira
12 Flag of Argentina GK Carlos Kletnicki
13 Flag of Argentina DF Abel Masuero
14 Flag of Argentina MF Elvio Fredrich
15 Flag of Argentina MF Mauricio Yedro
17 Flag of Argentina DF Daniel Romero
18 Flag of Argentina MF Reinaldo Alderete
No. Position Player
19 Flag of Argentina DF Santiago Gentiletti
20 Flag of Argentina MF Roberto Salvatierra
22 Flag of Argentina MF Ignacio Piatti
23 Flag of Argentina MF Nicolás Medina
24 Flag of Argentina DF Marcelo Cardozo
25 Flag of Chile MF Álvaro Ormeño
26 Flag of Argentina GK Pablo Bangardino
27 Flag of Argentina GK Fernando Monetti
28 Flag of Argentina MF Luciano Aued
29 Flag of Argentina FW Antonio Piergüidi
30 Flag of Argentina MF Ignacio Oroná
31 Flag of Argentina MF Alejandro Agustín Domenez
32 Flag of Argentina DF Lucas Landa
33 Flag of Argentina MF Juan Cuevas
34 Flag of Argentina MF Jonathan Chávez
35 Flag of Argentina FW Néstor Martinena
Flag of Argentina FW Roberto Sosa

The argentine teams are limited by the AFA to have in their squad of primera división a maximmum of four foreigners footballers. At the moment the above mentioned quota is covered in its entirety.

Individual distinctions

Scorers

[edit] List of famous players

[edit] Managers

Main Category: Cat:Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata managers

The Club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata has had a total of 63 managers all along its history. The first one was Emérico Hirschl, who trained the team between 1932 and 1934.

[edit] Manager squad 2008

  • Manager (DT):
  • Field Assistants:
  • Preparador Físico:
    • Daniel Curbelo
  • Doctor:
    • Pablo Del Compare
  • Coordinator of Professional Football:
    • Mario Díaz
  • Coordinator of Amateur Football:

[edit] Achievements

[edit] Amateur Era

[edit] National Official Tournaments

  • División Intermedia del Fútbol Argentino:

Winners (1): 1915[27]

[edit] National Friendly Tournaments

  • Copa Competencia Adolfo J. Bullrich (1): 1915
  • Copa Campeonato Intermedia (1): 1915

[edit] Professional Era

[edit] National Official Tournaments

[edit] National Friendly Tournaments

[edit] International Friendly Tournaments

[edit] Other Sports

[edit] Volleyball

GELP has a female Volleyball team. They are the only one of the nine founder clubs from the Federación de Voleibol y Pelota al Cesto, still playing volleyball and in the highest division. The federation is now Federación Metropolitana de Voleibol (FMV).[33]

Competitions
Competition Country Year Position
Copa Morgan FMV ARG 1951 Champions
Torneo Evita ARG 1954 Champions
Torneo Lola Berta VEN 1955 Champions
Torneo Cuadrangular CHI 1972 Champions
Torneo Cuadrangular CHI 1975 Champions
Cuadrangular Náutico URU 1976 Champions
Banco República URU 1976 Second
Liga Argentina de Clubes ARG 1998-1999 Third
Liga Argentina de Clubes ARG 1999-2000 Champions
Federación Metropolitana ARG 2000 Champions
Torneo Sudamericano BRA 2000 Fourth
Liga Argentina de Clubes ARG 2000-2001 Champions
Federación Metropolitana ARG 2000-2001 Champions
Liga Argentina de Clubes ARG 2003 Champions
Liga Metropolitana (FMV) ARG 2004 Champions
Liga Argentina de Clubes ARG 2005 Second
Torneo Int. Norma Rimoldi ARG 2005 Champions

[edit] Basketball

Metcalfe in front of Cadillac during a match in 1979.
Metcalfe in front of Cadillac during a match in 1979.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is also known for several excellent campaigns in baskeball. The GELP basketball team peaked during the 1978 and 1979 campaigns, when they won twice in a row Argentina's premier basketball championship (Metropolitano titles). In both cases, they prevailed over favorite Obras Sanitarias, Argentina's powerhouse at the time. The team included players such as "Gallego" González, "Finito" Gehrmann, Peinado, as well as some Americans: Michael Jackson, Lawrence Jackson Jr., and the team leader and star, point-guard Clarence Edgar Metcalfe, chosen as the league MVP in 1979. The twice-champions were coached by Rolando Sfeir.

Gimnasia were runners-up in the 2003/04 Argentine league tournament, when GELP was defeated by Boca Juniors 4-2 in the final series. In the following season, the team was relegated to the TNA (Second Division) after president Juan José Muñoz decreased substantially the basketball budget, thereby causing the loss of its principal players.

[edit] Missing Sports

Besides all the metioned sports disciplines, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata has had teams in others sports disciplines along its history. These disciplines are not longer practiced in the club.

  • Rugby football: In 1933 the Unión de Rugby del Río de la Plata reports that for regulation it will not allow the affiliation of clubs with professionals of other sports, so the representation mens sana began to figure with the name of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Rugby Club, but four years later the rugby gets free completely, giving place to what today is called itself as La Plata Rugby Club.
  • Table tennis: Between 1945 and 1951 there conforms the Asociación Platense de Tenis de Mesa and the Federación Argentina. Gimnasia was a founder of the Association and obtain the majority of the tournaments organized during these six years.
  • Fencing: From its creation the practice of Fencing was intensified. It is in 1914 when this sport was growing to an insuperable level, shining Horacio Casco, then president of the club, and Carmelo Merlo, both Argentine representatives in the Olympic Games of Paris 1924. At the end of the decade of forty one stops practising this discipline.
  • Gymnastics: It is during the decade of 1930 when the practice of gymnastics is intensified in big devices and five years later members of athletics travel with the Argentine delegation that takes part in the Olympiads of Berlin. This discipline worked between 1957 and 1976.

Other activities today extinct that developed in the club were: Water polo, Boxing, Cycling, Pétanque, auto racing, Judo and Tennis, among others.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hasta El Gol Siempre article
  2. ^ Final Tables Argentina Second Level 1937-2000. RSSSF (2000). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  3. ^ Clerici, Ángelo. Estadio "Juan Zerillo". Gelp.org. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  4. ^ Reserve (before known like Third), is the team composed by them footballers that do not have content in the staff of First División
  5. ^ Abrodos, Roberto. Un puñado de deportistas que hizo conocer la ciudad de La Plata en Europa. Agencia NOVA. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  6. ^ Gimnasia's Place in the glory (Pagina/12 Newspaper, in Spanish)
  7. ^ Clerici, Angelo. El Expreso de 1933. Los Triperos. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  8. ^ Clerici, Angelo. El equipo del 70. Los Triperos. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  9. ^ Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (2007). Asociación del Fútbol Argentino. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  10. ^ Copa Centenario 1993. RSSSF (1999/2005). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  11. ^ Ciullini, Pablo (2005/2007). Argentina 1994/95. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  12. ^ Argentina 1995/96. RSSSF (1996). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  13. ^ Argentina 1998/99. RSSSF (1999). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  14. ^ Argentina 2001/02. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  15. ^ Muñoz Suspended for 6 months - La Nación
  16. ^ Colo Colo supporters throwing chunks of cement onto the pitch
  17. ^ Clarín
  18. ^ Death threats - Clarín
  19. ^ Clarín
  20. ^ Clarín
  21. ^ Ole
  22. ^ Ole
  23. ^ Great Futbol: Argentine derby matches
  24. ^ La Plata ciudad Mágica (2008). Fútbol. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  25. ^ The Earthquake Goal: El Grafico (in Spanish)
  26. ^ Gorgazzi, Osvaldo José (2000/2005). Argentina 1929. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  27. ^ Final Tables Argentina Second Level 1937-2000. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  28. ^ Ciullini, Angelo (2005). Argentina 1924. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  29. ^ Gorgazzi, Osvaldo José (1998/2008). Argentina - Second Level Champions. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  30. ^ Ciullini, Angelo (2007). Argentina Second Level 1947. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  31. ^ Ciullini, Angelo (2006). Argentina Second Level 1952. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  32. ^ Buren, Mariano (2006). Argentina – Friendly Tournaments. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  33. ^ But volleyball is also a woman's thing

[edit] Related links

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Argentinos Juniors | Arsenal | Banfield | Boca Juniors | Colón | Estudiantes (LP) | Gimnasia (LP) | Gimnasia (J) | Huracán | Independiente | Lanús | Newell's Old Boys | Olimpo | Racing Club | River Plate | Rosario Central | San Lorenzo | San Martín (SJ) | Tigre | Vélez Sársfield