A Beginners Guide to Football Teams in Buenos Aires

Flags swirl, banners fly, balloons reach high into the clear Buenos Aires sky. The communal voice of 50,000 of Argentina’s most fanatic fans overwhelm Boca Junior’s Bombonera stadium.

Shirts are swung, songs screamed out. Frenzied fans let off fire crackers and fireworks. On the east stand drums beat and horns blast, while above them the outnumbered enemy, dressed in the red and white jerseys of River Plate, try their best to drown out the Boca crowd.

If residents six kilometres away had managed to avoid the weeks of build up, constant world-wide media coverage, cancellation of buses, taxis and public offices, they would still know that Boca Juniors are about to kick off against River Plate. How? The ground shakes.

Welcome to Argentina. Welcome to football.


Crazy fans of Boca Juniors; photo by nica*.

I’ve written about football across the globe: Paraguay, Siberia and, er, Scunthorpe. And nothing is even close to the experience of seeing an Argentinian football game. It doesn’t have to be the ‘superclásico’ either, I spent years going to Huracán (my team) and Argentino Juniors (just around the corner from my apartment), and enjoying the thrill just as much as at Boca. While Boca claim to have ‘la mitad mas 1’ (‘the half plus one’ of all Argentinians as fans) and River the rest, it’s over egged. The fans of Independiente, San Lorenzo, and Racing are no less passionate. Here’s our guide to the Buenos Aires teams you’ve got to see.

Boca Juniors

Nickname: Xeneizes (Genoese), Bosteros


An empty Bombonera in La Boca; photo by Alessandro Grussu.

The most famous of all Argentinian teams. Buenos Aires is all but painted blue and gold, and La Boca certainly is. And going to a game at the Bombonera is, without exaggeration, the one things you should do on any visit. River Plate are their eternal rivals.

Star players: Where to start? Maradona, Martín Palermo, Román Riquelme, Carlos Tevez

Bluffers fact: There’s an official Boca Juniors cemetery.

If it was an English team: Liverpool. Working class roots, world domination, lustre worn off a bit.

River Plate

Nickname: Los Millonarios


The scene at River Plate; photo by verndogs.

The other big team in world football. River Plate, playing in El Monumental in the upmarket Núñez neighbourhood, are the most successful team in Argentinian football, winning the Primera 36 times. After a disastrous few years on and off the field (hooliganism, demotion, massive debt), in 2014 they won the league and the domestic cup.

Star players: Angel Labruna (their top scorer), Hernán Crespo, Martín Demichelis, Javier Mascherano

Bluffers fact: River Plate was actually formed almost in La Boca.

If it was an English team: Chelsea. A ‘wealthy’ team, but lacking in the personality stakes.

Argentina Juniors

Nickname: Bichos Colorados (Red Bugs)


Fans of the Argentina Juniors celebrate as the team runs onto the pitch; photo by Sam Kelly.

This unassuming team from the unassuming neighbourhood of La Paternal (my old home) is a wonderful barrio club: friendly and full of history. Despite the fact they have just been relegated, visiting the stadium here is a great experience. One of the safest to visit.

Star players: Diego Maradona, Román Riquelme

Bluffers fact: They were originally called the Martyrs of Chicago after the anarchists hanged after the Haymarket Riot in Chicago.

If it was an English team: Southampton. Under achievers, but with a long history of great players.

Racing

Nickname: La Academia


Racing’s Avellaneda stadium; photo by Sebastián Dario.

Racing’s Avellaneda home is literally a stone’s throw from arch-rivals Independiente (stones are often thrown) and are another great underachievers. They are, however, having one of their best seasons for years right now.

Star players: Agustín Cejas (goalkeeper in the 1960s), Alfredo Basile (current manager)

Bluffers fact: Carlos Gardel wrote a tango ode called Patadura to one of Racing’s greatest player Pedro Ochoa.

If it was an English team: Everton. Wobbly at times, and not widely popular.

San Lorenzo

Nickname: Ciclón


The scene in San Lorenzo after a goal; photo by Fer Quintana.

One of the five biggest teams in the country, and successful overall. Plenty of celebrity fans (Viggo Mortensen! For one), and middle class supporters. Their biggest rival is Huracán when they are in the top division.

Star players: Pablo Zabaleta

Bluffers fact: Pope Francis is a big fan!

If it was an English team: Arsenal. Enough money, celebrity fans, pretty successful.

Independiente

Nickname: Diablo, Rey de Copas


Fans of Club Atlético Independiente; photo by Juan Felipe Rubio.

They may be nicknamed the King of Cups, but it’s been a while since their trophy cabinet was opened, with the notable exception of the Copa Sudamericana in 2010. The 1970s were their glory days. They were relegated in 2013 for the first time in their 109-year history, but immediately promoted again. Some of the most passionate fans in Argentina.

Star players: Ricardo Bochini (Maradona’s idol), Sergio Agüero

Bluffers fact: During the 1970s, they won more than a dozen titles.

If it was an English team: Tottenham. Fairly successful and fairly solid and fairly well liked. Mid table.

How the league works

There are two divisions: The Primera Division with 20 clubs and the Primera B Nacional with 22 clubs. The Primera season runs from August to May and is divided into two tournaments, the Inicial and Final, with the winner of each playing a superfinal to crown one overall winner each year. It changed in 2013 from the slightly more confusing aperture and clausura in which we saw a winner for each and an overall winner.

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Daniel Neilson

Daniel Neilson

Daniel Neilson is a freelance writer and photographer, and lived in Buenos Aires for five years eating too much meat, going hoarse at football games and thoroughly failing to learn a step of tango. He edited Time Out’s Buenos Aires guidebook and has contributed words and photos to a variety of publications about Argentina for Four Four Two, The Wire, CNN Traveller, Real Travel, Adventure Travel and the Observer among others. He now spends his days drinking imported mate and planning his return journey.
Daniel Neilson

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One response to “A Beginners Guide to Football Teams in Buenos Aires

  1. Russ Eduardo-Gough says:

    Good article sir, but shame you didn’t mention two of Argentina’s most important clubs, namely Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys. Although not from Buenos Aires these two teams regularly get bigger crowds than all the other teams apart from River and Boca, and from what I’ve seen (admittedly only on Youtube) their ‘derby’ is equal to, if not better than the River/Boca one. Speaking as an Englishman forget any comparisons between Premier League clubs. There is no atmosphere at English stadiums, especially Liverpool, which is one of the most overrated places on earth. In Europe, the only atmosphere that matches Argentina is Turkey, especially the Istanbul derbies – Galatasaray – Fenerbahce – Besiktas. The Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce rivalry is particularly explosive.

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