History of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

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.

Early days

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

Founding associates

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.

Amateur Era (1891-1931)

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.

The ascent of 1915

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. [cite web
last =
first =
date = 2000
title = Final Tables Argentina Second Level 1937-2000
publisher = RSSSF
url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arg2hist.html
accessdate = 2008-05-01|]

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). [cite web
last = Clerici
first = Ángelo
date =
title = Estadio "Juan Zerillo"
publisher = Gelp.org
url = http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Stadium/4986/gelpstad.htm
accessdate = 2008-05-01|] This year achieves the second place, behind San Lorenzo, with 15 victories, 7 ties and 1 defeat.

Title of 1929

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

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

The above mentioned meeting was disputed on February 9, 1930 in the stadium of River Plate of that one at the time (in the intersection of the streets Alvear and Tagle). After being losing 1:0 at the end of the first time, the team formed by Scarpone, Di Giano and Delovo; Rusciti, Santillán and Belli; Curell, Varallo, Maleani, Díaz and Morgada gave turned the result with two Martin Maleani's goals. That year also obtains the championship of Reserve. Reserve (before known like Third), is the team composed by them footballers that do not have content in the staff of First División ]

It was the first time that a team from La Plata had won a championship organized by an Association recognized by FIFA.

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 Aires to compete in Europe, and the first ever to play in Portugal, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Italy. [cite web |last=Abrodos |first=Roberto |title="Un puñado de deportistas que hizo conocer la ciudad de La Plata en Europa" ("A small group of players put La Plata on the map of Europe") |publisher=Agencia NOVA |url=http://www.novanoticias.com.ar/nota.asp?n=2008_2_25&id=48111&id_tiponota=11 |accessdate=2008-05-01 ] In the European portion of the tour, Gimnasia played twenty-two games, winning eleven and losing six. [ [http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/stadium/4986/gelp1930.htm Statistics of the 1930/1931 Tour of Europe.] ] On February 15, 1931, Gimnasia defeated Sportverein München 4-0 at Munich, in a game remarkable for being the first match played by an Argentine team on a snow-covered pitch. [ [http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/stadium/4986/gelp1930.htm Comments on the 1930/1931 Tour of Europe (in Spanish).] ] On March 8, Gimnasia won 3-1 over "AC Sparta Praha" at Prague, a team that was arguably the strongest in Europe at the time, and that no South American team had yet defeated. [ [http://laplataencuerpoyalma.blogspot.com/2008/02/1930-gira-europea-de-gimnasia-y-esgrima.html European tour of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, 1930-1931.] ] Gimnasia also won its matches against three of the most important European clubs: a 3-1 victory against Real Madrid (at Madrid, on January 1, 1931), 2-1 against FC Barcelona (at Barcelona, on January 6, 1931), and 1-0 against Benfica (at Lisbon, on March 29, 1931).

Professional Era (1931-2008)

El Expreso of 1933

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. [ [http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/libero/11-2005-12-23.html Gimnasia's Place in the glory (Pagina/12 Newspaper, in Spanish)] ] . 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.

Gobernador Alende Cup (1960)

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.

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.

La Barredora (1970)

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

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

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

That year, Gimnasia y Esgrima managed to qualify to dispute the semi-final of the "Campeonato Nacional" against Rosario Central, who had occupied the first position of the zone "A". Gimnasia y Esgrima for its part had classified second in the zone "B", behind Chacarita Juniors. At the same time happened a conflict between the football players and the leaders of the club for economic motives, which led the President Oscar Venturino to presenting the third division. The final result was 3:0 for the team rosarino. [cite web
last = Clerici
first = Angelo
date =
title = El equipo del 70
publisher = Los Triperos
url = http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Stadium/4986/gelp1970.htm
accessdate = 2008-06-01|]

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.

The decrease (1979)

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.

Primera "B" (1980-1984)

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.

The last ascent (1984)

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).

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 Centenario de la AFA (1993-94)

In 1993, the AFA organized 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 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 Hugo Romeo Guerra.

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

From Griguol to Troglio (1994-2006)

With veteran coach Carlos Timoteo Griguol at the helm, Gimnasia took second place in the 1995 "Clausura" tournament, repeating the performance in 1996 and 1998. 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 2006 and the 2007 edition of the Copa Libertadores.

2006/07 crisis

On September 10 2006, during the halftime of a match against Boca Juniors, club president Juan José Muñoz confronted (and allegedly threatened) referee Daniel Giménez, who called off the match immediately, with Gimnasia leading 1-0. Muñoz was suspended for six months by the football association [ [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/EdicionImpresa/deportiva/nota.asp?nota_id=846275 Muñoz Suspended for 6 months] - La Nación] 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 Chilean 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) [ [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/10/28/deportes/d-07010.htm Clarín] ] .

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. [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01306002&fecha=20061109 Death threats] - Clarín]

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 [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01310596&fecha=20061116 Clarín] ] ; 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. [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01310518&fecha=20061116 Clarín] ]

After a string of losses in the local championship and the Copa Libertadores, there were renewed calls for Muñoz to resign [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2007/03/26/01387636.html Ole] ] . Coach Troglio felt the burden of responsibility and quit his post on April 2, 2007 [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2007/04/03/01392915.html Ole] ] . Gimnasia hired first famed Colombian trainer Francisco Maturana, and then Julio César Falcioni, both with limited success.

2007/08: New management

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

The new management also campaigned for a return to the "bosque" grounds. As of April 2008, the stadium is undergoing an structural engineering evaluation after all security measures requested by authorities were put in place [http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/04/03/futbollocal/01642491.html] . Mayor Pablo Bruera has indicated that the city will let Gimnasia buy or lease some city-owned lands for erecting a sports complex.

Records and curiosities

* Gimnasia is the oldest club participating in the Argentine Football League, as it was founded on June 3, 1887.

* On August 27, 1916 Gimnasia won the first ever La Plata derby.

* 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: flagicon|Hungary Emérico Hirschl.

* Between August 12, 1932 and September 9, 1934 Gimnasia won 5 consecutive La Plata derbies, the longest run of victories in that derby to date.

* Gimnasia best score was an 8-1 victory against Racing Club on November 22, 1961. Curiously, Racing Club was the champion on that year.

* Gimnasia has the record for the fastest goal in the Argentine league: Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia scored against Huracán after 5 seconds, on March 20, 1979.

* At the reinauguration of Boca Juniors' stadium (La Bombonera) on May 5, 1996, Gimnasia defeated the home team by 6:0.

* Gimnasia's 2006 defeat to Estudiantes by the score of 0-7 is tied as the "worst derby defeat" in Argentine professional football.

* Gimnasia has been in Primera División Argentina for 69 seasons.

Clásico Platense

"See also: La Plata derby"

The Clásico Platense (La Plata derby) is the nickname given to the match between La Plata's two main football teams: Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata andEstudiantes 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. [ [http://www.laplatamagica.com.ar/futbol.htm www.laplatamagica.com.ar] ]

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

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

A curiosity among the derbies occurred on April 5, 1992, when Gimnasia won over Estudiantes 1:0 at the latter's stadium. On that date, as the stands erupted and Gimnasia's fans shouted in celebration at the goal being scored, the seismograph of the local Astronomical Observatory registered a low-intensity seismic event. That goal was scored by the Uruguayan Jose Perdomo on a freekick, and it has been known ever since as "El gol del terremoto" ("The earthquake goal"). [ [http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/notacompleta.php?id=227&sc=1 The Earthquake Goal: El Grafico (in Spanish)] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.gimnasia.org.ar/ Official Web Site]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/gimnasia.html Historical table of the club at RSSSF]
*es icon [http://www.afa.org.ar AFA site]
*es icon [http://www.afa.org.ar/?m=news&n=1599&idm=12/ Champions of the Primera División del Fútbol Argentino]
*es icon [http://www.afa.org.ar/?m=news&n=1600&idm=12/ Champions of the Segunda División del Fútbol Argentino]

See also

*Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
*Estadio Juan Carlos Zerillo
*Presidents of Club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata