History of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Encyclopedia
The history of the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
goes back from 1887 up to the current importance. It is a sports Argentine 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 the football and gets out of a jam itself in the First Division
of Argentina
.
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.
The "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata" was founded on June 3, 1887 as a civil association, and thus is the oldest surviving football club in the whole of South America. And that's why it's the oldest club participating in the Argentine Football League. Its foundation came barely five years after the creation of the City of La Plata
in 1882.On June 3, 1887 after a meeting carried out in the Sala Comercial (located on the street 7, between 46 and 47) of the city of La Plata
, there was founded the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima, as a social and sports organization. The above mentioned meeting, or rather, assembly, it was presided by Saturnino Perdriel
(the one who was then the first president of the club) and it relied on the presence of more than 50 founding associates. In addition, it was designated a commission formed by Domingo Echeverri, Ramón Lorenzo Falcón, Julio Llanos, Dante Pelanda and Guillermo Pintos, whose purpose was to prepare the preliminary design of statute.
The first sports offered to its members were, as its Spanish name indicates, gymnastics and fencing. Clubs supporting these sports were common among the upper classes at the end of the 19th 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.
Saturnino Perdriel
, first president, José Muñoz, José M. Ahumada, Pedro Olazábal, Arturo Silveira, Adriano Díaz, Teodoro Granel, Samuel J. Coqué, Alejandro Dillón, Santiago J. Mena, E. Landois, Carlos M. Marenco, Guillermo Pintos, Pedro Bernaté, Enrique Sicardi, M. Piñeiro, Alberto J. Huergo, Juan M. Martínez, Julio Llanos, Ignacio D. Irigoyen, Gensérico Ramírez, Martín Bárcena, Enrique M. Curh, Francisco Alconada, Alberto Albarellos, Arturo Mayol, J. G. González, Juan Bautista Ferreira, Domingo Echeverri, Francisco y Alfredo Madero, Domingo del Carril, Nicolás E. Videla, Luis Monteverde, Pantaleón Molina, Diego J. Villafañe, M. Aráoz, Martín Bermejo, Marcos Bonghero, Dante Pelanda, Estanislao López, Pedro G. Falcón, F. de Basaldúa, José M. Pene, José M. Monsalve, Sergio García Uriburu, Diego Arana, José M. Viñas, Antonio A. Delfino, Francisco Uzal, Mariano Villarino, Andrés Mosquera, José M. Niño and Ramón L. Falcón
.
In 1893 there is born the current Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (A.F.A.), founded as the Argentine Association Football League, re-baptized in 1903 as Argentine Football Association, in 1912 like Asociación Argentina de Football, in 1927 like Asociación Amateur Argentina de Football and in 1931 with its current name, initiating this year the professional age.
At the beginning of the 20th century Gimnasia already were taking part, with other institutions as Facultad de Medicina, Porteño, Belgrano and River Plate, in the third division (1905) of the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino. Also it presented a team in the category Juniors (17-year-old minors).
In 1905, Gimnasia had to left the field of the streets 13 and 71, by what it was chosen not to continue practising football, and to devote itself to merely social activities. This caused that it departs from the partners they were leaving of the club, founding other one where the principal activity was the football, which was named club Estudiantes de La Plata
. Later, in 1912, a group of football players who were in conflict with Estudiantes de La Plata joined to the Club Independencia. The above mentioned club fused with Gimnasia y Esgrima in 1914, returning this way to the football be practising.
After leaving the football for a few years, after the field of the streets having leave 13 and 71 in the year 1905, it returns to this sports practice in 1912. Three years later it works out champion of the intermediate category and ascends to the first division.
The base of the team that achieved the ascent in 1915: Emilio Fernández, Diómedes Bernasconi, Luis Basérico, Ricardo Naón, Roberto Felices, Edmundo Ferreiroa, H. Negri, Angelo Bottaro, Ricardo Gazcón, José Torres Amaral, Manuel Alvarez, Horacio Sancet, José Iglesias, Ernesto Guruciaga, Ignacio Bulla, Pedro Schiaffino, Sebastián Galesio, Clemente Lastra, Sebastián Mansilla, Delfín Derves, Antonio Gismano, Jorge Garbarino, Laureano Spósito Arrieta and Oreste Rutta.
In the final meeting, on December 15, 1915, Gimnasia defeated Honor y Patria by 3:1 and this way it obtains the championship and ascends to the Primera División.
The same year also gains both cups that were in dispute: Competencia Adolfo J. Bullrich Cup and Campeonato Intermedia Cup.
On April 27, 1916, it faces for the first time its classic rival. Disputed in the Estudiantes de La Plata' field, located in the streets 1 and 57
, Gimnasia y Esgrima defeats its classic rival for 1:0 and finishes 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
, product of 23 victories, 6 ties and 9 defeats.
On April 27, 1924 there inaugurates the stadium located in the intersection of the 60th avenue and 118th street, called Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo. Gimnasia y Esgrima would be kept unconquered in its stadium for 15 months (from its first official meeting until July, 1925). This year achieves the second place, behind San Lorenzo
, with 15 victories, 7 ties and 1 defeat.
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.
It was the first time that a team from La Plata had won a championship organized by an Association recognized by FIFA
.
to compete in Europe
, and the first ever to play in Portugal
, Czechoslovakia
, Austria
and Italy
.
The tour began on December 8, 1930, when the team embarked on the ship "Lutetia", bound for Brazil. There was the first stop in a long time and short tour of football as it disputarían total of 27 meetings over four months duration of the tour, something unusual for that time.
Once in Brazil, there were two matches. The first of them against the Vasco da Gama
, who tied at one goal. Four days later came the turn of the Combinado Carioca
, and ended with the adverse score 4-0.
Another issue highlighted by these two meetings, is that for the first time the Gimnasia's team played with artificial light, service not yet implemented for the time in the Argentine courts.
After the meeting in Brazilian lands, the "mens sana"'s team heading out to Spain on board the ship "Asturias," in which to spend Christmas 1930.
Newcomers to the "Motherland" and without time to go into local knowledge, the team faced the already mighty Real Madrid FC.
Despite the long trip, the match was 3-2 in favor of Gimnasia, thus becoming the first team in the country to beat Real Madrid CF in their own stadium. The next day, the Spanish press entitled: "The Argentines seem to have been born to play football".
The summary of the match:
Real Madrid:
Vidal; Torregrosa, Ochandiano, Bonet, Antoñito, J.M. Peña, Lazcano (Leoncito), Eugenio, Gurruchaga, Galé, L. Olaso.
Gimnasia y Esgrima:
Pottazo, Barrio, De Lobo, Conti, Chalu, Belli, Sandoval, Arrillaga, Díaz, De Mario, Morgada.
Subsequently, on January 6, it reached the turn to the FC Barcelona at its stadium. Here too, wore the team led by Alfonso Doce, after defeating the premises by 2 to 1. In this match, was again given a special, who would take the fence was albiazul John Botasso, so the archer alternate Scarpone Felipe, he was given the night off. A couple of hours before the start of the game, Botasso suffered an injury that left him outside the campus, so we had to resort to Scarpone. Despite his physical condition and that the encounter was played with a ball much lighter than usual, the goalkeeper was the figure of the match.
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After his tenure in Spain, where he contested a total of seven games, winning five, tying one and losing the other direction the convoy traveled to France where he played just once, falling to the local team Red Star 2-0.
From there, they left due to Germany where a total of ten disputarían friendly. In this country, Gimnasia won four victories, two defeats and the same amount of draws. They knew how to play with very cold, snowy fields completely and to a great fog.
Another historical fact that occurred in Germany, was that when measured against the Combinado Dusseldorf, Leipzig, a special envoy sent to a newspaper of Buenos Aires Argentina radiofoto the first showing a goal by Ismael Morgado.
Upon completion of the program in Germany, the delegation boarded again, but this time headed to Italy. Here, two events are disputed, and both were draws, the Ambrosiana (3-3) and SSC Napoli (2-2).
Italy was the last stop. Although not quite. Naples came back to Barcelona, Lisbon, and from there returned to America to put an end to the tour with three other encounters in Brazilian land.
Departed from La Plata on December 8, 1930 to chair the delegation Mr Mario Sureda platense a well-known journalist and as a coach Rafael "Kid" Lafuente, after great boxer of the city.
Alfonso Doce was the technical director and businessman, left them in the French steam of Lutetia as would be expected to debut in Brazil, the delegation comprised: Felipe Scarpone, Evaristo Delovo, Julio Di Giano, Vicente Ruscitti, José María Minella, Antonio Belli, Miguel Currell, Jesús Díaz, Arturo Naón, Juan González e Ismael Morgada de Gimnasia; plantel reforzado con Juan Botasso (Argentino de Quilmes), Pedro Chalú (Ferro Carril Oeste), Oscar Tarrio (San Lorenzo), Leonardo Sandoval y Juan Arrillaga (Quilmes) y Attilio Demaría (Estudiantil Porteño).
----
Already in the professional stage, 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. 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. 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.
as scorer with his 25 goals. The following year, the team finished in the number 13 position, where the highlights were the victories River Plate
(6:4), Platense
(8-2) and the champion Boca Juniors (1:0).
During the decade of the 40s, Gimnasia had an erratic performance, which cost him two drops at the Primera B (second division). In 1943 Gimnasia made a bad campaign, where it finished in last position and descends to the second division of professional soccer in Argentina. The following year, Gimnasia through 31 victories, 4 draws and 5 defeats, achieved the first place, obtaining this way the second division championship and promotion to the first. In 1945, the newly promoted team, finished the championship in the last place to suffer like this again declining. Gimnasia remained in the Primera B during the first two seasons (1946 and 1947). In 1947, the team was crowned champion after 25 wins, 7 draws and 6 defeats and returned to the first division. In 1948 the team again made a bad campaign, which comes last in the table of positions, but in that year there were no declines. The following two years, Gimnasia made modest campaigns.
In 1951, the Gimnasia's first team finished last in Leaderboard and fell of category again. In 1952 it was crowned champion of the second division and returned to first division. During the remaining years of the decade (1953–1960), Gimnasia disputed all the championships of first division finishing most of the times by the middle of the table of positions.
This Cup, of friendly character, 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 quadrangular the international one, in which there took part 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 to Nacional
and 1-0 to Peñarol. Whereas Estudiantes lost its respective games for 0-1 and 2-5.
In the last date Gimnasia tied with Estudiantes 2-2. This way on February 13 of 1960 Gimnasia were crowned champion of the Gobernador Alende Cup, in the stadium of its classic rival in 57 and 1.
In 1962, Gimnasia ranked third in the First Division championship with 16 wins, 6 draws and 6 defeats. This was a good campaign team platense that after a patchy start, managed to remain unbeaten for 15 dates (between the 9th day of the first round and 10th in the second round) with 9 consecutive wins (including the 15th day of the first and the 9th round of the second), to lead the championship dates to before its completion.
The team was led by Uruguayan Enrique Fernández Viola
until the match with Estudiantes, who lost by 0:1 in a local, so he left his charge. Eliseo Prado
assumed the interim leadership until Adolfo Pedernera
took over the team. Pedernera lasted in charge until three dates before the end of the tournament and the post was occupied by an interim Infante
.
The scorer of the team was Alfredo "Tanque" Rojas
with 17 goals, followed by Bayo Diego with 10 goals. Gimnasia managed to score 47 goals, and received 28 goals, leaving a positive balance of 19 goals.
The starting eleven for the team were: Carlos Minoian; Pedro Galeano and José Marinovich; Walter Davoine, Daniel Carlos Bayo and Domingo Lejona; Luis Ciaccia, Héctor Antonio or Eliseo Prado
, Alfredo "Tanque" Rojas
, Diego Francisco Bayo and "Huaqui" Gómez Sánchez
. Also played in the first team: Francisco Gerónimo (goalkeeper), Antonio López, Héctor Trinidad, José Perillo, Natalio Sivo, Jorge Mallo, Antonio Arena and Hugo Carro.
In 1965, Gimnasia finished the penultimate Leaderboard, above Chacarita Juniors by just one point. In 1966, Gimnasia improved its performance and finished the championship in 8th position with 13 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses.
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.
One of the teams most remembered by the group of football fans is "La Barredora".
In 1970, 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.
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. José Varacka
was the coach.
After a forgetful performance in the Campeonato Metropolitano, the wolf must play the quadrangular to determine three decreases of that year against Platense
, Chacarita Juniors
and Atlanta. With 3 won games, 1 drawn and 2 lost, 7 goals to favor and 8 in against, Gimnasia descends to the Second category.
In that tournament Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia successed the most rapid goal
into the Argentine league of football. Against Club Atlético Huracán
after 5 seconds on March 18, 1979.
The base team was: Vidallé; Magallán, Pellegrini, Sergio Castro and Alí; Tutino, Avelino Verón and García Amaijenda; Cerqueiro, Montagnoli and Forgués. DT: Antonio Ubaldo Rattín. Also played: Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia, Oscar Perez, Restelli, Labaroni, Cragno, Villarreal, Gutiérrez, Solari and Esquivel.
Gimnasia remained in the Primera "B" from 1980 up to 1984. The first year obtained the fourth place in the table of positions after obtained 19 victories, 8 ties and losing the remaining 11 games. The team was directed by Roberto Iturrieta during the first dates and then his position was occupied by Jose Santiango.
In 1981 it obtained the seventh place with 14 victories, 17 ties and 11 defeats, what it left the team without possibilities of achieving the ascent. In this tournament the scorer of the team was Jorge "Potro" Domínguez with 17 goals.
In 1982 it worked out first from the group A with 17 victories, 15 ties and 10 defeats. This way it classified to play the octogonal for the ascent, but it was eliminated after losing by penalties in the semi-final against Temperley. Gimnasia was the most scorer team of the tournament with 73 goals, and its main scorer was again Jorge "Potro" Domínguez with 21 goals.
And in 1983, Gimnasia had a very weak campaign that positioned it in the last position with 8 victories, 15 ties and 19 defeats.
In 1984, Gimnasia achieve the longed return to the First Division after obtaining the third place in the table of positions with 18 victories, 10 ties and 14 defeats, qualifying this way to dispute the Octogonal for the second ascent to First "A". In the octogonal formed part Racing Club
, Argentino de Rosario
, Club Atlético Tigre
, Defensores de Belgrano
, Club Atlético Lanús
, Nueva Chicago and Deportivo Morón.
Gimnasia eliminated of the octogonal in quarters of final Argentino de Rosario
after tying 1:1 as visit, and to win 2:1 at home. Then, in the semi-final it faced Defensores de Belgrano
achieving a tie 2:2 as visitor and a victory 1:0 at home. By this way, it reached the final instance where it managed to conquer in two opportunities Racing Club (3:1 as visitor and 4:2 at home). After these victories, Gimnasia returned to First Division in 1985 and has been playing there ever since.
The team was conformed by football players as Ricardo "el pulpo" Kuzemka, Carlos Carrió and Osvaldo Ingrao, whereas its trainer was Nito Veiga. The scorers of the team were Carlos Carrió and Osvaldo Ingrao with 12 goals each one and Gabriel Pedrazzi with 10 goals.
, organized by the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol.
In the first phase traveled to Chile
to face O'Higgins
which tied 0-0, then in the rematch in the city of La Plata
, Gimnasia won by 2-0 and classified for the quarterfinals; and in this instance had to deal with Peñarol of Uruguay
, which tied with 0-0 as a visitor and a 3-1 victory in the stadium of the forest.
In the semifinal he had to dispute the classification to the final against Club Olimpia of Paraguay
. Both matches (home and away) finished tied at zero and the classification was decided by a penalty kicks. The Paraguayan team made the difference in the penalty kicks and classified to the final with a score 0-3, leaving out the "platense" team.
organized in 1993 a cup-style (elimination) tournament 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.
, which was invited by the J-League to be the champion of the Centennial of the AFA Cup. The cup will be played in one game and had to play against the champion of the J-League, the Verdy Kawasaki (now known as Tokyo Verdy).
The match was played in the National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo
, and ended regular time with a 2-2 tie, and was defined with penaltys, where Verdy Kawasaki won 4-2.
at the helm, Gimnasia took second place in the 1995 Clausura tournament, repeating the performance in 1996 and 1998. At the reinauguration of Boca Juniors' stadium (La Bombonera
) on May 5, 1996, Gimnasia defeated the home team by 6–0. Also took second place in 2002 (coached by Ramaciotti).
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 the 2006 and 2007 editions of the Copa Libertadores.
, 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 suspended for six months by the football association but was confirmed in his post by the club's board.
On October 15, 2006, Gimnasia suffered their worst derby defeat ever, a 7-0 Estudiantes victory. It was the first derby played in the new La Plata city stadium with Estudiantes as home team. A few days later, Gimnasia was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana
by the Chile
an Colo Colo, in a match so marred by Gimnasia's violence that Argentine Football Association
's president Julio Grondona
wrote a letter of apology to the president of the ANFP (the Chilean football federation).
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 a fraction of their own supporters, who wanted to benefit Boca in its championship bid against Gimnasia's archrivals Estudiantes. Nevertheless, Estudiantes obtained the title in the end.
La Plata District Attorney Marcelo Romero opened a criminal case and cited some club players and officers to testify. Player Marcelo Goux
refused to play the next match and quit the team; he was soon followed by 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.
After a string of losses in the local championship and the Copa Libertadores, there were renewed calls for Muñoz to resign. Coach Troglio felt the burden of responsibility and quit his post on April 2, 2007. Gimnasia hired first famed Colombia
n trainer Francisco Maturana
, and then Julio César Falcioni
, both with limited success.
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.
Sanguinetti quit after a string of bad results that left Gimnasia in serious danger of relegation. Under new coach Leonardo Madelón
, team results improved markedly, and as of the beginning of the 2009 Clausura tournament, Gimnasia is better positioned to stay in the Primera level.
The new management also campaigned for a return to its traditional ground at El Bosque. Starting April 2008, the stadium underwent a structural engineering
evaluation after all security measures requested by authorities were put in place. On June 2008, Gimnasia was allowed to play again at El Bosque; the return took place in a match against Lanús, the last game of the Clausura 2008 championship. Mayor Pablo Bruera
has indicated that the city will let Gimnasia buy or lease some city-owned lands for erecting a sports complex.
Throughout 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 the 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
was the founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. Mr. Perdriel was a 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 membership of the Club, have a right to vote. Members with over seven years membership 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 elections over Mr. Gabriel Pellegrino for 16 votes.
Below is detailed how is composed the management board of the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata elected in 2007:
.
Here are the places where locally made (without regard to temporary situations):
It should be noted, however, that the stadium's club remains the Juan Carlos Zerillo Stadium, which is owned by the club. At present, after the steering committee headed by Gisande arrangements made at the security agency Co.Pro.Se.De enabled the stadium for matches of minor visitor attendance.
shield, as established in the institutional statute
.
and light blue, seeking to highlight the fact that it was an Argentine
club. The first vest used by the team had vertical white and light blue stripes.
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, in 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.
The following table details the companies that provided the team's apparel, and sponsored the team, from the years 1980 and 1990 respectively:
During the year 2009, the apparel of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata will be provided by Kappa
, and jerseys by La Nueva Seguros.
'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.
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 five consecutive La Plata derbies, the longest run of victories in that derby to date. On June 25, 1963 Gimnasia obtained a 5–2 victory, this being the best result so far against Estudiantes. On the other hand, its worst result was a 7–0 defeat on October 15, 2006.
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 Uruguay
an José Perdomo
on a freekick, and it has been known ever since as "El gol del terremoto" ("The earthquake goal").
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...
goes back from 1887 up to the current importance. It is a sports Argentine club of the city of La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, province of Buenos Aires. It was founded on June 3, 1887 as "Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima". Its principal activity is the football and gets out of a jam itself in the First Division
Primera División Argentina
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...
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , 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...
.
Gimnasia y Esgrima was a champion of División Intermedia of the Argentine Football in 1915, of the Primera División
Primera División Argentina
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...
in 1929, and it was runner-up of the Primera División
Primera División Argentina
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...
in 1924, during the amateurism. Whereas in the professionalism, Gimnasia was champion of the Copa Centenario de la AFA
Copa Centenario de la AFA
The Copa Centenario was an official tournament among Argentina's First Division Football clubs, organized by AFA in 1993/1994 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary...
in 1994 and of the Segunda División
Primera B Nacional Argentina
Primera B Nacional is the second most important category of Argentine football organized by the Argentine Football Association.It is played by teams from all over the country...
in 1944, 1947 and 1952; in addition, it was runner-up of the Primera División
Primera División Argentina
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...
in 5 opportunities. It has been in the Primera División
Primera División Argentina
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...
for 69 seasons, being the eighth club with major permanency in it.
Early days
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
in 1882.On June 3, 1887 after a meeting carried out in the Sala Comercial (located on the street 7, between 46 and 47) of the city of La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, there was founded the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima, as a social and sports organization. The above mentioned meeting, or rather, assembly, it was presided by Saturnino Perdriel
Saturnino Perdriel
Saturnino Perdriel was the Argentine founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. He was a civil functionary in the Treasury Department of the Province of Buenos Aires....
(the one who was then the first president of the club) and it relied on the presence of more than 50 founding associates. In addition, it was designated a commission formed by Domingo Echeverri, Ramón Lorenzo Falcón, Julio Llanos, Dante Pelanda and Guillermo Pintos, whose purpose was to prepare the preliminary design of statute.
The first sports offered to its members were, as its Spanish name indicates, gymnastics and fencing. Clubs supporting these sports were common among the upper classes at the end of the 19th century (cf. the prior foundation of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires, Gymnastics and Fencing of Buenos Aires , is a sports and social club headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina....
in 1880). Later on, other disciplines were added, including track and field, football, basketball and rugby.
Founding associates
Saturnino Perdriel
Saturnino Perdriel was the Argentine founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. He was a civil functionary in the Treasury Department of the Province of Buenos Aires....
, first president, José Muñoz, José M. Ahumada, Pedro Olazábal, Arturo Silveira, Adriano Díaz, Teodoro Granel, Samuel J. Coqué, Alejandro Dillón, Santiago J. Mena, E. Landois, Carlos M. Marenco, Guillermo Pintos, Pedro Bernaté, Enrique Sicardi, M. Piñeiro, Alberto J. Huergo, Juan M. Martínez, Julio Llanos, Ignacio D. Irigoyen, Gensérico Ramírez, Martín Bárcena, Enrique M. Curh, Francisco Alconada, Alberto Albarellos, Arturo Mayol, J. G. González, Juan Bautista Ferreira, Domingo Echeverri, Francisco y Alfredo Madero, Domingo del Carril, Nicolás E. Videla, Luis Monteverde, Pantaleón Molina, Diego J. Villafañe, M. Aráoz, Martín Bermejo, Marcos Bonghero, Dante Pelanda, Estanislao López, Pedro G. Falcón, F. de Basaldúa, José M. Pene, José M. Monsalve, Sergio García Uriburu, Diego Arana, José M. Viñas, Antonio A. Delfino, Francisco Uzal, Mariano Villarino, Andrés Mosquera, José M. Niño and Ramón L. Falcón
Ramón Lorenzo Falcón
Ramón Lorenzo Falcón was an Argentine Army officer, politician, and Chief of the Argentine Federal Police.-Early life and career in Army:...
.
Amateur Era (1891-1931)
At the beginning of the 20th century Gimnasia already were taking part, with other institutions as Facultad de Medicina, Porteño, Belgrano and River Plate, in the third division (1905) of the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino. Also it presented a team in the category Juniors (17-year-old minors).
In 1905, Gimnasia had to left the field of the streets 13 and 71, by what it was chosen not to continue practising football, and to devote itself to merely social activities. This caused that it departs from the partners they were leaving of the club, founding other one where the principal activity was the football, which was named club Estudiantes de La Plata
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
. Later, in 1912, a group of football players who were in conflict with Estudiantes de La Plata joined to the Club Independencia. The above mentioned club fused with Gimnasia y Esgrima in 1914, returning this way to the football be practising.
The ascent of 1915
The base of the team that achieved the ascent in 1915: Emilio Fernández, Diómedes Bernasconi, Luis Basérico, Ricardo Naón, Roberto Felices, Edmundo Ferreiroa, H. Negri, Angelo Bottaro, Ricardo Gazcón, José Torres Amaral, Manuel Alvarez, Horacio Sancet, José Iglesias, Ernesto Guruciaga, Ignacio Bulla, Pedro Schiaffino, Sebastián Galesio, Clemente Lastra, Sebastián Mansilla, Delfín Derves, Antonio Gismano, Jorge Garbarino, Laureano Spósito Arrieta and Oreste Rutta.
The same year also gains both cups that were in dispute: Competencia Adolfo J. Bullrich Cup and Campeonato Intermedia Cup.
On April 27, 1916, it faces for the first time its classic rival. Disputed in the Estudiantes de La Plata' field, located in the streets 1 and 57
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi is a football stadium in La Plata, Argentina. It is the home field of Estudiantes de La Plata.The stadium, named after Jorge Luis Hirschi, who served as Estudiantes' president between 1927 and 1932, is located on 1st Avenue between 55th and 57th Streets, and thus is also...
, Gimnasia y Esgrima defeats its classic rival for 1:0 and finishes the championship in fourth place behind Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, Platense
Club Atlético Platense
Club Atlético Platense is an Argentine sports club based in Vicente López, in the north side of Greater Buenos Aires. The club nickname is Calamar after the journalist Palacio Zino said that the team moved "like a squid in its ink"....
and River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, with 9 victories, 9 ties and 3 defeats. In 1921 Gimnasia would return to obtain the fourth place, behind Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
and Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club 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....
, product of 23 victories, 6 ties and 9 defeats.
On April 27, 1924 there inaugurates the stadium located in the intersection of the 60th avenue and 118th street, called Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo. Gimnasia y Esgrima would be kept unconquered in its stadium for 15 months (from its first official meeting until July, 1925). This year achieves the second place, behind San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
, with 15 victories, 7 ties and 1 defeat.
Title of 1929
Gimnasia y Esgrima obtained the first place in the "odd zone", of which they were forming a part: River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
and Estudiantes de La Plata
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
. The "even zone" it was won by Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club 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....
, that qualified this way for the final meeting.
The above mentioned meeting was disputed on February 9, 1930 in the stadium of River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
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
Francisco Varallo
Francisco Antonio "Pancho" Varallo was an Argentine football forward. He played for the Argentine national team from 1930 to 1937. He was a member of Argentina's squad at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930...
, Maleani, Díaz and Morgada gave turned the result with two Martin Maleani's goals. That year also obtains the championship of Reserve.
It was the first time that a team from La Plata had won a championship organized by an Association recognized by FIFA
FIFA
The 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...
.
The European Tour of 1930/1931
Between December 1930 and April 1931, Gimnasia's team, which later would be known as "El Expreso" (in English, "The Express"), toured Europe and Brazil. Gimnasia became the first Argentine club outside Greater Buenos AiresGreater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
to compete in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and the first ever to play in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The tour began on December 8, 1930, when the team embarked on the ship "Lutetia", bound for Brazil. There was the first stop in a long time and short tour of football as it disputarían total of 27 meetings over four months duration of the tour, something unusual for that time.
Once in Brazil, there were two matches. The first of them against the Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
, who tied at one goal. Four days later came the turn of the Combinado Carioca
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, and ended with the adverse score 4-0.
Another issue highlighted by these two meetings, is that for the first time the Gimnasia's team played with artificial light, service not yet implemented for the time in the Argentine courts.
After the meeting in Brazilian lands, the "mens sana"'s team heading out to Spain on board the ship "Asturias," in which to spend Christmas 1930.
Despite the long trip, the match was 3-2 in favor of Gimnasia, thus becoming the first team in the country to beat Real Madrid CF in their own stadium. The next day, the Spanish press entitled: "The Argentines seem to have been born to play football".
The summary of the match:
- January 1, 1931. Friendly. In Madrid (Chamartin)
- REAL MADRID - C GIMNASIA Y ESGRIMA (ARG) 2-3
- Umpire: Espinosa
- Goals: 1-0 Díaz 7´, 2-0 Sandoval 17´, 2-1 Lazcano 30´, 3-1 Sandoval 49´, 3-2 Galé 85´.
Real Madrid:
Vidal; Torregrosa, Ochandiano, Bonet, Antoñito, J.M. Peña, Lazcano (Leoncito), Eugenio, Gurruchaga, Galé, L. Olaso.
Gimnasia y Esgrima:
Pottazo, Barrio, De Lobo, Conti, Chalu, Belli, Sandoval, Arrillaga, Díaz, De Mario, Morgada.
Subsequently, on January 6, it reached the turn to the FC Barcelona at its stadium. Here too, wore the team led by Alfonso Doce, after defeating the premises by 2 to 1. In this match, was again given a special, who would take the fence was albiazul John Botasso, so the archer alternate Scarpone Felipe, he was given the night off. A couple of hours before the start of the game, Botasso suffered an injury that left him outside the campus, so we had to resort to Scarpone. Despite his physical condition and that the encounter was played with a ball much lighter than usual, the goalkeeper was the figure of the match.
Another historical fact that occurred in Germany, was that when measured against the Combinado Dusseldorf, Leipzig, a special envoy sent to a newspaper of Buenos Aires Argentina radiofoto the first showing a goal by Ismael Morgado.
Upon completion of the program in Germany, the delegation boarded again, but this time headed to Italy. Here, two events are disputed, and both were draws, the Ambrosiana (3-3) and SSC Napoli (2-2).
Italy was the last stop. Although not quite. Naples came back to Barcelona, Lisbon, and from there returned to America to put an end to the tour with three other encounters in Brazilian land.
Departed from La Plata on December 8, 1930 to chair the delegation Mr Mario Sureda platense a well-known journalist and as a coach Rafael "Kid" Lafuente, after great boxer of the city.
Alfonso Doce was the technical director and businessman, left them in the French steam of Lutetia as would be expected to debut in Brazil, the delegation comprised: Felipe Scarpone, Evaristo Delovo, Julio Di Giano, Vicente Ruscitti, José María Minella, Antonio Belli, Miguel Currell, Jesús Díaz, Arturo Naón, Juan González e Ismael Morgada de Gimnasia; plantel reforzado con Juan Botasso (Argentino de Quilmes), Pedro Chalú (Ferro Carril Oeste), Oscar Tarrio (San Lorenzo), Leonardo Sandoval y Juan Arrillaga (Quilmes) y Attilio Demaría (Estudiantil Porteño).
EWLINE
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El Expreso of 1933
Boca Juniors
Club 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....
and San Lorenzo de Almagro. In these matches, Gimnasia was subject to openly biased arbitrations. 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. 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.
Irregular performances (1934-1960)
In 1934, Gimnasia finished in ninth place after securing 14 wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats, with Arturo NaónArturo Naón
Arturo Naón was an Argentine football striker. He played 150 matches and scored 120 goals in the Primera División Argentina.He is the top goal scorer of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata with 95 goals.-Clubs:...
as scorer with his 25 goals. The following year, the team finished in the number 13 position, where the highlights were the victories River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
(6:4), Platense
Club Atlético Platense
Club Atlético Platense is an Argentine sports club based in Vicente López, in the north side of Greater Buenos Aires. The club nickname is Calamar after the journalist Palacio Zino said that the team moved "like a squid in its ink"....
(8-2) and the champion Boca Juniors (1:0).
In 1951, the Gimnasia's first team finished last in Leaderboard and fell of category again. In 1952 it was crowned champion of the second division and returned to first division. During the remaining years of the decade (1953–1960), Gimnasia disputed all the championships of first division finishing most of the times by the middle of the table of positions.
Gobernador Alende Cup (1960)
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
. It was called "Gobernador de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Dr. Oscar Alende Cup", in honoring the governor Oscar Alende
Oscar Alende
Oscar Eduardo Alende was an Argentine politician who founded the Intransigent Party.Alende was born in Maipú, Buenos Aires Province. He studied medicine at the University of La Plata, where he led the student union, and completed his medical studies at the University of Buenos Aires in 1933...
. The cup was quadrangular the international one, in which there took part Estudiantes, Gimnasia, Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
and Club Atlético Peñarol, the latter being the two main football clubs from Uruguay.
Gimnasia won both meetings against the Uruguayan teams: 5:2 to Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
and 1-0 to Peñarol. Whereas Estudiantes lost its respective games for 0-1 and 2-5.
In the last date Gimnasia tied with Estudiantes 2-2. This way on February 13 of 1960 Gimnasia were crowned champion of the Gobernador Alende Cup, in the stadium of its classic rival in 57 and 1.
The Wolf of 1962
The team was led by Uruguayan Enrique Fernández Viola
Enrique Fernández Viola
Enrique Fernández Viola, commonly referred to as Enrique Fernández, was a Uruguayan footballer and manager who played for Nacional, FC Barcelona, Uruguay and the Catalan XI. As a manager he won two Uruguayan championships with Nacional and La Liga titles with both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid...
until the match with Estudiantes, who lost by 0:1 in a local, so he left his charge. Eliseo Prado
Eliseo Prado
Eliseo Prado is an Argentine football forward who played for Argentina in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Atlético River Plate.-External links:*...
assumed the interim leadership until Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo 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...
took over the team. Pedernera lasted in charge until three dates before the end of the tournament and the post was occupied by an interim Infante
Ricardo Infante
Ricardo Roberto "Beto" Infante is a former Argentine football striker. He is the 2nd highest scoring player in the history of Estudiantes de La Plata and the 6th highest scoring player in the professional era of the Primera División Argentina.Infante made his professional debut in 1942 for...
.
The scorer of the team was Alfredo "Tanque" Rojas
Alfredo Rojas
Alfredo Hugo "El Tanque" Rojas Delinge is a former professional Argentine football player....
with 17 goals, followed by Bayo Diego with 10 goals. Gimnasia managed to score 47 goals, and received 28 goals, leaving a positive balance of 19 goals.
The starting eleven for the team were: Carlos Minoian; Pedro Galeano and José Marinovich; Walter Davoine, Daniel Carlos Bayo and Domingo Lejona; Luis Ciaccia, Héctor Antonio or Eliseo Prado
Eliseo Prado
Eliseo Prado is an Argentine football forward who played for Argentina in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Atlético River Plate.-External links:*...
, Alfredo "Tanque" Rojas
Alfredo Rojas
Alfredo Hugo "El Tanque" Rojas Delinge is a former professional Argentine football player....
, Diego Francisco Bayo and "Huaqui" Gómez Sánchez
Óscar Gómez Sánchez
Óscar Gómez Sánchez was a Peruvian football player.-Club career:Gómez Sánchez was a forward and played for Alianza Lima, where he won the Primera División Peruana three times...
. Also played in the first team: Francisco Gerónimo (goalkeeper), Antonio López, Héctor Trinidad, José Perillo, Natalio Sivo, Jorge Mallo, Antonio Arena and Hugo Carro.
1963-1969
In 1963, Gimnasia finished the championship in 13th position, at just three points from the last position. The highlight of that season was the victory of the derby by 5:2, with goals from Ciaccia, Gómez Sánchez, Diego Bayo and 2 from "Tanque" Rojas. The following year Gimnasia ended in the same position.In 1965, Gimnasia finished the penultimate Leaderboard, above Chacarita Juniors by just one point. In 1966, Gimnasia improved its performance and finished the championship in 8th position with 13 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses.
In the first year, 1967, Gimnasia y Esgrima devoted itself champion of the "Promocional" tournament.
La Barredora (1970)
In 1970, Gimnasia y Esgrima managed to qualify to dispute the semi-final of the "Campeonato Nacional" against Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
, 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
Chacarita Juniors
Club 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...
. 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.
The team was shaped for: Hugo Orlando Gatti; Ricardo Rezza, José Bernabé Leonardi, José Masnik, Roberto Zywica
Roberto Zywica
Roberto Zywica is an Argentine former football midfielder and manager.-Playing career:Zywica started his professional playing career in 1966 with CA River Plate...
, Roberto Gonzalo; Héctor Pignani, José Santiago, Delio Onnis
Delio Onnis
Delio Onnis is a retired Argentine football forward. He was nicknamed "el Tano" in Argentina....
, José Néstor Meija, Jorge Castiglia. José Varacka
José Varacka
José 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...
was the coach.
The decrease (1979)
Platense
Platense may refer to:*Club Atlético Platense : a football team in Uruguay*Club Atlético Platense: a football club from Argentina*C.D. Platense: a football club from Honduras*C.D. Platense Municipal Zacatecoluca: a football club from El Salvador...
, Chacarita Juniors
Chacarita Juniors
Club 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...
and Atlanta. With 3 won games, 1 drawn and 2 lost, 7 goals to favor and 8 in against, Gimnasia descends to the Second category.
In that tournament Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia successed the most rapid goal
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
into the Argentine league of football. Against Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
after 5 seconds on March 18, 1979.
The base team was: Vidallé; Magallán, Pellegrini, Sergio Castro and Alí; Tutino, Avelino Verón and García Amaijenda; Cerqueiro, Montagnoli and Forgués. DT: Antonio Ubaldo Rattín. Also played: Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia, Oscar Perez, Restelli, Labaroni, Cragno, Villarreal, Gutiérrez, Solari and Esquivel.
Primera "B" (1980-1984)
In 1981 it obtained the seventh place with 14 victories, 17 ties and 11 defeats, what it left the team without possibilities of achieving the ascent. In this tournament the scorer of the team was Jorge "Potro" Domínguez with 17 goals.
In 1982 it worked out first from the group A with 17 victories, 15 ties and 10 defeats. This way it classified to play the octogonal for the ascent, but it was eliminated after losing by penalties in the semi-final against Temperley. Gimnasia was the most scorer team of the tournament with 73 goals, and its main scorer was again Jorge "Potro" Domínguez with 21 goals.
And in 1983, Gimnasia had a very weak campaign that positioned it in the last position with 8 victories, 15 ties and 19 defeats.
The last ascent (1984)
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
, Argentino de Rosario
Argentino de Rosario
Club Atlético Argentino, commonly known as Argentino de Rosario, is a football club from Rosario in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. The team currently plays in Primera D Metropolitana, which is the regionalised fifth tier of the Argentine Football Association league system.1946 was Argentino's most...
, Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club 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...
, Defensores de Belgrano
Defensores de Belgrano
Defensores de Belgrano is a sports club from the Nuñez neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. the football team currently plays in Primera B Metropolitana, the regionalised third division of the Argentine Football Association....
, Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a sports club from Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Founded on 3 January 1915, the club's main sports are football and basketball. In both sports, Lanús plays in Argentina's top divisions: Primera División and Liga Nacional de Básquet...
, Nueva Chicago and Deportivo Morón.
Gimnasia eliminated of the octogonal in quarters of final Argentino de Rosario
Argentino de Rosario
Club Atlético Argentino, commonly known as Argentino de Rosario, is a football club from Rosario in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. The team currently plays in Primera D Metropolitana, which is the regionalised fifth tier of the Argentine Football Association league system.1946 was Argentino's most...
after tying 1:1 as visit, and to win 2:1 at home. Then, in the semi-final it faced Defensores de Belgrano
Defensores de Belgrano
Defensores de Belgrano is a sports club from the Nuñez neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. the football team currently plays in Primera B Metropolitana, the regionalised third division of the Argentine Football Association....
achieving a tie 2:2 as visitor and a victory 1:0 at home. By this way, it reached the final instance where it managed to conquer in two opportunities Racing Club (3:1 as visitor and 4:2 at home). After these victories, Gimnasia returned to First Division in 1985 and has been playing there ever since.
The team was conformed by football players as Ricardo "el pulpo" Kuzemka, Carlos Carrió and Osvaldo Ingrao, whereas its trainer was Nito Veiga. The scorers of the team were Carlos Carrió and Osvaldo Ingrao with 12 goals each one and Gabriel Pedrazzi with 10 goals.
Copa Conmebol 1992
In 1992, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata qualified for the first time to an international cup, as it was the ConmebolCONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
, organized by the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol.
In the first phase traveled to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
to face O'Higgins
Club Deportivo O'Higgins
Club Deportivo O'Higgins, is a Chilean football club based in the city of Rancagua. The club was founded on April 7, 1955 following the merger of the clubs America and O'Higgins Braden, and plays in the first division of the Chilean football league. The club was previously called PARHS FC...
which tied 0-0, then in the rematch in the city of La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Gimnasia won by 2-0 and classified for the quarterfinals; and in this instance had to deal with Peñarol of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,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...
, which tied with 0-0 as a visitor and a 3-1 victory in the stadium of the forest.
In the semifinal he had to dispute the classification to the final against Club Olimpia of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. Both matches (home and away) finished tied at zero and the classification was decided by a penalty kicks. The Paraguayan team made the difference in the penalty kicks and classified to the final with a score 0-3, leaving out the "platense" team.
Copa Centenario de la AFA (1993-94)
The AFAArgentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
organized in 1993 a cup-style (elimination) tournament named Copa Centenario
Copa Centenario de la AFA
The Copa Centenario was an official tournament among Argentina's First Division Football clubs, organized by AFA in 1993/1994 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary...
("Centennial Cup"), to celebrate its hundredth anniversary. Each first division team played its derby rival in two rounds in a double elimination
Double-elimination tournament
A double-elimination tournament is a type of elimination tournament competition in which a participant ceases to be eligible to win the tournament's championship upon having lost two games or matches...
system. Gimnasia eliminated its classic rival Estudiantes 1–0 with a goal by Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
, and qualified for the next round after a 0–0 tie in the return match. Then, Gimnasia successively eliminated Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys
Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football...
, Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
and Belgrano de Córdoba
Belgrano de Córdoba
Club 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...
to win the "round of winners". River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
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
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
. River's goal was scored by Villalba. Gimnasia's winning team included Lavallén; Sanguinetti
Guillermo Sanguinetti
Guillermo Óscar Sanguinetti Giordano is a retired football player and the current manager of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata...
, Morant, Ortiz, Dopazo, Fernández, Bianco, Talarico, Gustavo Barros Schelotto
Gustavo Barros Schelotto
Gustavo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine footballer who played as a midfielder. He is the twin brother of Guillermo Barros Schelotto.-Playing career:...
, Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
and Guerra.
Sanwa Bank Cup (1994)
In 1994, Gimnasia traveled to Japan to play the Sanwa Bank CupSanwa Bank Cup
The Sanwa Bank Cup was a one-match friendly competition officially organised by J. League and sponsored by Sanwa Bank . The competition was held between 1994 and 1997 and played two weeks before the opening of J. League . The teams invited were the J...
, which was invited by the J-League to be the champion of the Centennial of the AFA Cup. The cup will be played in one game and had to play against the champion of the J-League, the Verdy Kawasaki (now known as Tokyo Verdy).
The match was played in the National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and ended regular time with a 2-2 tie, and was defined with penaltys, where Verdy Kawasaki won 4-2.
From Griguol to Troglio (1994-2006)
With veteran coach Carlos Timoteo GriguolCarlos Timoteo Griguol
Carlos Timoteo Griguol is an Argentine football coach and former player.His playing career was spent with Atlanta and Rosario Central. As a coach, after winning the championship with Rosario Central in 1973. He had 3 spells and a successful career in the Rosario's club...
at the helm, Gimnasia took second place in the 1995 Clausura tournament, repeating the performance in 1996 and 1998. At the reinauguration of Boca Juniors' stadium (La Bombonera
Estadio Alberto J. Armando
The Estadio Alberto J. Armando is a stadium located in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires. Widely known as La Bombonera due to its shape, with a "flat" stand on one side of the pitch and three steep stands round the rest of the stadium...
) on May 5, 1996, Gimnasia defeated the home team by 6–0. Also took second place in 2002 (coached by Ramaciotti).
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
Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
during the 2006 and 2007 editions of the Copa Libertadores.
2006/07 crisis
On September 10, 2006, during the halftime of a match against Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors
Club 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....
, club president Juan José Muñoz
Juan José Muñoz
Juan José Muñoz is an Argentine businessman and hailing from the city of La Plata, Argentina. He was an advisor to the current Minister of Interior, Mr. Aníbal Fernández, during the period when the latter was a federal senator. Afterwards, he worked for the trade union that represents State Workers...
confronted (and allegedly threatened) referee Daniel Giménez
Daniel Giménez
Daniel Giménez is a Argentine footballer currently playing for Defensores de Belgrano of the Primera B Metropolitana in Argentina....
, who called off the match immediately, with Gimnasia leading 1-0. Muñoz was suspended for six months by the football association but was confirmed in his post by the club's board.
On October 15, 2006, Gimnasia suffered their worst derby defeat ever, a 7-0 Estudiantes victory. It was the first derby played in the new La Plata city stadium with Estudiantes as home team. A few days later, Gimnasia was eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana
Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
by the Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an Colo Colo, in a match so marred by Gimnasia's violence that Argentine Football Association
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
's president Julio Grondona
Julio Grondona
Julio Humberto Grondona is an Argentine football executive. He has served as president of the Argentine Football Association since 1979...
wrote a letter of apology to the president of the ANFP (the Chilean football federation).
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 a fraction of their own supporters, who wanted to benefit Boca in its championship bid against Gimnasia's archrivals Estudiantes. Nevertheless, Estudiantes obtained the title in the end.
La Plata District Attorney Marcelo Romero opened a criminal case and cited some club players and officers to testify. Player Marcelo Goux
Marcelo Goux
Marcelo Jesús Goux is an Argentine football defender who plays for Gimnasia de La Plata.-Career:Goux started his professional playing career with Huracán on 11 August 1996 in a 2-1 defeat to Ferro Carril Oeste...
refused to play the next match and quit the team; he was soon followed by fellow players Martín Cardetti
Martín Cardetti
Martín Cardetti is an Argentine football striker. He played professional club football in Argentina, Spain, France, Mexico and Colombia....
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.
After a string of losses in the local championship and the Copa Libertadores, there were renewed calls for Muñoz to resign. Coach Troglio felt the burden of responsibility and quit his post on April 2, 2007. Gimnasia hired first famed Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, 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 trainer Francisco Maturana
Francisco Maturana
Francisco Maturana, also known as Pacho is a Colombian ex-football player and later a successful football manager.-Player:...
, and then Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni is an Argentine football manager and former goalkeeper. He currently works as the manager of Boca Juniors in Argentina.-Club career:...
, both with limited success.
2007/08: New management
In the December 2007 election, Muñoz did not run, and the candidate he supported lost to the opposition. New club president Walter Gisande hired former player Guillermo SanguinettiGuillermo Sanguinetti
Guillermo Óscar Sanguinetti Giordano is a retired football player and the current manager of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata...
as team coach and tried to convince former players, notably Diego Alonso
Diego Alonso
Diego Martín Alonso López is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for C.A. Peñarol in the Uruguayan first division, as a striker.-Club career:Alonso was born in Montevideo, the country's capital. He made his professional debuts with C.A...
and Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
, to return to Gimnasia. Only Alonso, who was playing in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, made the leap.
Sanguinetti quit after a string of bad results that left Gimnasia in serious danger of relegation. Under new coach Leonardo Madelón
Leonardo Madelón
Leonardo Carol Madelón is an Argentine former footballer and current manager.-Career:Madelón played club football for San Lorenzo, Unión de Santa Fe and Rosario Central between 1982 and 1993.-Coaching career:...
, team results improved markedly, and as of the beginning of the 2009 Clausura tournament, Gimnasia is better positioned to stay in the Primera level.
The new management also campaigned for a return to its traditional ground at El Bosque. Starting April 2008, the stadium underwent a structural engineering
Structural engineering
Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right....
evaluation after all security measures requested by authorities were put in place. On June 2008, Gimnasia was allowed to play again at El Bosque; the return took place in a match against Lanús, the last game of the Clausura 2008 championship. Mayor Pablo Bruera
Pablo Bruera
Pablo Bruera is an Argentine politician, who was elected as mayor of La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, in the 28/Oct/2007 elections .On December 9, 2007, Bruera replaced incumbent Julio Alak....
has indicated that the city will let Gimnasia buy or lease some city-owned lands for erecting a sports complex.
Records and curiosities
- 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:
Emérico Hirschl.
- Between August 12, 1932 and September 9, 1934 Gimnasia won five consecutive La Plata derbies, the longest run of victories in that derby to date.
- Gimnasia best score ever was an 8–1 victory against Racing ClubRacing Club de AvellanedaRacing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
on November 22, 1961. Curiously, Racing Club was the champion on that year.
- Gimnasia has been in Primera División ArgentinaPrimera División ArgentinaThe 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...
for 69 seasons.
Presidents of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Saturnino Perdriel
Saturnino Perdriel
Saturnino Perdriel was the Argentine founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. He was a civil functionary in the Treasury Department of the Province of Buenos Aires....
was the founder and first president of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. Mr. Perdriel was a 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 membership of the Club, have a right to vote. Members with over seven years membership 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 elections over Mr. Gabriel Pellegrino for 16 votes.
Management board 2007-2010
- Last update: April 14, 2008
Below is detailed how is composed the management board of the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata elected in 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 Paladino, Miguel Lavarra, Roberto Coscarelli, Pablo Blanco, Ricardo Vera, Flavio González, Daniel Bellini, Emidio Pappalardo and Marcelo Gisande.
- Vocales Suplentes: Carlos Gerez, 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 Paladino 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 Gustavo Scoppa.
Chronology of the home stadium
The club have not always had its own stadium, before 1924 the team played in different courts. Also, at present, due to problems with the Juan Carlos Zerillo Stadium, the team is forced to play matches of high concurrence at the Ciudad de La Plata StadiumEstadio Ciudad de La Plata
The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único and is owned by the Province of Buenos Aires, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs...
.
Here are the places where locally made (without regard to temporary situations):
- 1901-1905 Plaza de Juegos Atléticos, 1 Avenue & 47 Street, La PlataLa PlataLa Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Province of Buenos Aires. - 1905 51 & 20 streets, La PlataLa PlataLa Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, Province of Buenos Aires. (Belgrano's field - played a few matches to complete 1905 season) - 1906-1911 Practice of football is suspended.
- 1912-1914 Plaza de Juegos Atléticos de los Bomberos, 60 Avenue (near present stadium)
- 1915 Club Independientes field (near present stadium)
- 1916-1923 12 & 71 streets (Meridiano V), La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires.
- 1924-2005 Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo (named on December 21, 1974), 60 Avenue & 118 Street, La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires.
- 2005-2008 Estadio Ciudad de La PlataEstadio Ciudad de La PlataThe Estadio Ciudad de La Plata is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único and is owned by the Province of Buenos Aires, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs...
, 32 & 25 streets, La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires. - 2008–present Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo, 60 Avenue & 118 Street, La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires.
It should be noted, however, that the stadium's club remains the Juan Carlos Zerillo Stadium, which is owned by the club. At present, after the steering committee headed by Gisande arrangements made at the security agency Co.Pro.Se.De enabled the stadium for matches of minor visitor attendance.
Kit
The official historical uniform of Gimnasia y Esgrima is based on the colours displayed in the clubClub
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
shield, as established in the institutional statute
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
.
- Official uniform: 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.
Kit evolution
In the first years of the institution, the colors adopted were whiteWhite
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and light blue, seeking to highlight the fact that it was an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , 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...
club. The first vest used by the team had vertical white and light blue stripes.
In 1905, it was decided to change the colors to make it distinct from Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
. This resulted in a vest with vertical stripes of white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and navy-blue color.
Finally, in 1910, the design was modified, changing the vertical stripes into the horizontal band of navy-blue color over a white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
jersey, which has been used ever since.
Apparel and sponsors
- Last updated: February 16, 2009
The following table details the companies that provided the team's apparel, and sponsored the team, from the years 1980 and 1990 respectively:
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
During the year 2009, the apparel of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata will be provided by Kappa
Kappa (company)
Kappa is an Italian company specialized at the manufacture of sporting clothes and accessories, that started as a sock and underwear manufacturer in 1916 in Turin.-Logo:...
, and jerseys by La Nueva Seguros.
Clásico Platense
The Clásico Platense (La Plata derby) is the nickname given to the match between La PlataLa Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
's two main football teams: Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
.
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.
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.
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 Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,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 José Perdomo
José Perdomo
José Batlle Perdomo Teixeira is a Uruguayan former footballer.Born in Salto, he started his career with Club Atlético Peñarol in 1983, being later noted in 1989 by Genoa head coach Franco Scoglio during a South-American scouting visit, being signed by the rossoblu together with fellow Uruguayans...
on a freekick, and it has been known ever since as "El gol del terremoto" ("The earthquake goal").
See also
- Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La PlataClub de Gimnasia y Esgrima La PlataClub de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...
- Statistics of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (football)Statistics of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (football)Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is an Argentine sports club from La Plata, province of Buenos Aires. It was founded on June 3, 1887, as Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima...
- Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo
- Presidents of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
- La Plata derbyLa Plata derbyThe La Plata derby is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in Argentine football. It is played between Estudiantes de La Plata and Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata....