Defensores de Belgrano

Club Atlético Defensores de Belgrano (usually known as Defensores de Belgrano) is an Argentine sports club from Nuñez, Buenos Aires. The club is mostly known for its football team, which currently plays in Primera Nacional, the regionalised second division of the Argentine league system.

Defensores de Belgrano
Full nameClub Atlético Defensores de Belgrano
Nickname(s)Defe
El Dragón (The Dragon)
Founded25 May 1906; 117 years ago (1906-05-25)
GroundEstadio Juan Pasquale, Buenos Aires
Capacity9,000
ChairmanMarcelo Achile
ManagerPablo Frontini
LeaguePrimera Nacional
2023Primera Nacional Zone A, 5th
WebsiteClub website

Apárt from football, other sports practised at Defensores de Belgrano are boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, karate, and artistic roller skating.

History edit

 
Team of Defensores that won the 1914 División Intermedia title, promoting to Primera División

Defensores de Belgrano was founded on 25 May 1906 by a group of young people who wanted to participate in the football leagues of Buenos Aires. In 1914, Defensores de Belgrano won the División Intermedia champion, therefore promoted to Primera División, the top division. The squad debuted in Primera in 1915, being relegated to the second division at the end of that season.[1] The team returned to Primera for the 1918 season, remaining there until 1934 when the official association (AFA) (which Defensores was affiliated to) merged with the dissident professional league (Liga Argentina de Football); as a result of the merger, all teams in the amateur league were relegated to the second division.[2]

During its first years, the team's color's were light blue and light pink but would later be changed to the red and black colors that have remained since then. The stadium was at the "Plaza Alberti" venue in the suburb of Belgrano, Buenos Aires.

In 1934 two players of the club, Ernesto Belis and Luis Izetta went on to play for the Argentina national team in the 1934 FIFA World Cup held in Italy that year.

For many decades Defensores played the league games between the B and the C League's, gaining promotion and also being relegated. Throughout that period a rivalry against Platense was developed.

In August 2011, the veteran 37-year-old player Ariel Ortega (who had been played for All Boys during the 2010–11 season) was signed by Defensores de Belgrano.[3] The "Burrito" made his debut in the match against Deportivo Morón scoring a goal by penalty shot.[4]

Estadio Juan Pasquale edit

The Estadio Juan Pasquale is located in the Nuñez district of Buenos Aires. It is approximately 10 walking blocks away from Monumental stadium. The street's surrounding the Juan Pasquale contain many graffitied wall's and objects in tribute of Defensores de Belgrano, and are the meeting points of many of the club's supporters which begin walking in large groups upon their arrival to the stadium.[5][6] The capacity of the stadium holds 9,000 people.

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 14 July 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ARG Mariano Monllor
GK   ARG Fernando Otárola
GK   ARG Agustín Scilingo
DF   ARG Maximiliano Centurión
DF   ARG Emir Faccioli
DF   ARG Gonzalo Mottes
DF   ARG Luciano Goux
DF   ARG Rodrigo Mazur
DF   ARG Nicolás Álvarez
DF   ARG Mauro Luque (loan from Racing Club)
DF   ARG Francisco Martínez
DF   ARG Christian Moreno
MF   ARG Marcos Rivadero
MF   ARG Agustín Benítez
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   ARG Francisco Solé (loan from Barracas)
MF   ARG Martín Rio
MF   ARG Juan Manuel Olivares
MF   ARG Fernando Chávez (loan from Independiente)
MF   ARG Cristián Sánchez
MF   ARG Ramiro Rumbolo
FW   ARG Francisco Ilarregui (loan from Argentinos)
FW   ARG Ramiro Cáseres
FW   ARG Ezequiel Aguirre
FW   ARG Nahuel Piethe
FW   ARG Nicolás Benegas
FW   ARG Iván Sandoval
FW   ARG Juan Ignacio Baiardino (loan from Boca Juniors)

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ARG Ignacio Pietrobono (at San Luis until 31 December 2022)
FW   ARG Gonzalo Aquilino (at Deportivo Merlo until 31 December 2022)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   ARG Adrián Lugones (at Villa San Carlos until 31 December 2022)

The club operates its junior divisions, beginning from age categories of Sub-7 until Sub-20 level.

Former players edit

Honours edit

References edit

  1. ^ Argentina 1915 at RSSSF Archived May 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Argentina 1934 (amateur) at RSSSF". Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. ^ "Ortega continuará su carrera en Defensores de Belgrano". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  4. ^ Defensores de Belgrano, el noveno club en la carrera de Ortega Archived 2009-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Télam, 2011-08-25
  5. ^ "Redirecting". Archived from the original on 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  6. ^ "World Stadiums - Stadiums in Argentina". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2009-11-08.

External links edit