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Junior
ESCUDO JUNIOR.svg
Full name Club Deportivo Popular Junior Fútbol Club S.A.
Nickname(s)
  • Los Tiburones (The Sharks)
  • El Equipo Tiburón (The Shark Team)
  • Los Rojiblancos (The Red-and-Whites)
  • Los Quilleros (The Quilleros)
  • Los Reyes de la Costa (The Kings of the Coast)
  • Los Curramberos (The Curramberos)
  • Tu Papá (Your Dad)
Founded 7 August 1924; 100 years ago (1924-08-07) as Juventud Infantil
Ground Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez
Ground Capacity 46,692
Owner Fuad Char
President Alejandro Char
Manager César Farías
League Categoría Primera A
2023 Primera A, 6th of 20 (Finalización champions)
Third colours

Club Deportivo Popular Junior F.C. S.A. (Latin American Spanish: [ˈʝunjoɾ]), commonly known as Junior de Barranquilla, by its old name Atlético Junior, commonly as Junior FC, or simply as Junior, is a Colombian professional football team based in Barranquilla, that currently plays in the Categoría Primera A. Junior is the main Caribbean team in the top flight of Colombian football. As of 2022, they sit in the 25th place of the best South American teams.

The club was founded on 7 August 1924. Known as Los Tiburones (The Sharks), or El Equipo Tiburón (The Shark Team). Junior have won the Colombian professional football championship ten times (1977, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2004 Finalización, 2010 Apertura, 2011 Finalización, 2018 Finalización, 2019 Apertura, and 2023 Finalización). Some of the most notable players that have played for the club include Heleno de Freitas, Garrincha, Dida, Juan Ramón Verón, Efraín Sánchez, Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama, Iván Valenciano, Teófilo Gutiérrez, Carlos Bacca, Julio César Uribe, Giovanni Hernández, Sebastián Viera and Luis Díaz.

History

In the early 1920s a team named Juventus came into being at the Colegio Salesiano in the San Roque neighborhood of Barranquilla, made up primarily of Italian immigrants. Soon after its launch the name was changed to the Spanish Juventud, though both translate the same in English: youth. In August 1924 some of the younger members of Juventud along with other young men from San Roque created an offshoot of Juventud: Juventud Infantil.

Around the 1940s (and the club's name was shortened to simply Junior) they became known as one of the country's best clubs. In 1945 the players of Junior were selected to represent Colombia at the South American Championship (now known as the Copa América), finishing a respectable fifth (though losing 7–0 to Uruguay and 9–1 to Argentina along the way). In 1949 they were again selected to represent Colombia (finishing last place) but this time their decision to play would have its consequences.

In 1948 Junior were founder members of División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (commonly known as the Dimayor). Their debut match as a professional outfit came at home on 15 August 1948, against Deportivo Cali, which ended in a 2–0 victory for the home side. Early the following year they were again chosen to play as the de facto Colombia national team. Because of ongoing strife between Adefutbol (the original amateur Colombian football association) and the Dimayor, Junior were threatened with expulsion from the Dimayor if they participated. They went ahead and did so and were initially given a two-year suspension from the league. This was later reduced to one year and they returned to the Dimayor for the 1950 season.

This was the golden age of Colombian football commonly referred to as El Dorado, a time when the Dimayor was a "rebel league" unaffiliated with FIFA and many high-profile players from around the world broke their contracts and came to play. Junior were no exception, picking up players from Brazil, Argentina, Hungary and the Czech Republic in these years. But El Dorado eventually came to an end for Colombian football.

A way ahead surfaced in the mid-1960s when a rift had again developed in Colombian football, this time between Adefutbol and the newly created Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, an organization devoted to developing professional football in the country. Adefutbol was still the official body in the eyes of FIFA and organized the national team in this period and additionally Colombian clubs did not enter the Copa Libertadores. Peace was finally made and the bulk of the amateur team that had attempted to qualify for the England World Cup signed up for Junior, who returned to the Dimayor in 1966. Junior have remained in the top level ever since.

In 1977 Junior won their first Colombian championship, finishing first place in the Apertura. They won further championships in 1980, 1993, 1995, the 2004-II (Finalización), the 2010-I (Apertura), the 2011-II (Finalizacion), the 2018-II (Finalización) and the 2019-I (Apertura). They also won Copa Colombia in 2015 and 2017. Junior have appeared in the Copa Libertadores seventeen times (reaching the semi-finals in 1994), the Copa Sudamericana 7 times (reaching the final in 2018), and the Copa CONMEBOL 1 time.

Symbols

Badge

The team's badge has a Swiss shape; it is 6 cm wide by 8 cm tall, divided into two horizontal stripes. The inferior stripe is divided into 9 vertical white and red stripes. The superior part is another horizontal blue stripe where the stars are placed. The stars have 10 points; each star represents a league championships the team has won.

Flag

Junior's flag is composed of 9 horizontal stripes representing the 9 stars they have now, 5 red and 4 white ones which alternate, the superior and the inferior ones are red. Overlapped on top of the strips there is a blue triangle. This triangle occupies all the wide of the flag on its vertical side. The white stars are superimposed on the triangle.

Bandera de Atlético Junior
Flag of Atlético Junior

Honours

Domestic

  • Categoría Primera A
    • Winners (10): 1977, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2004–II, 2010–I, 2011–II, 2018–II, 2019–I, 2023–II
  • Copa Colombia
    • Winners (2): 2015, 2017
  • Superliga Colombiana
    • Winners (2): 2019, 2020

Continental

Performance in CONMEBOL competitions

1971: Group stage
1978: Group stage
1981: Group stage
1984: Group stage
1994: Semifinals
1996: Quarterfinals
2000: Round of 16
2001: Round of 16
2005: Round of 16
2010: Preliminary round
2011: Round of 16
2012: Group stage
2017: Third stage
2018: Group stage
2019: Group stage
2020: Group stage
2021: Group stage
2024: Round of 16
2004: Quarterfinals
2015: Second stage
2016: Quarterfinals
2017: Semi-finals
2018: Runners-up
2020: Quarterfinals
2021: Round of 16
2022: Group stage
2023: First stage
  • Copa CONMEBOL: 1 appearance
1992: Quarter-finals

Players

Current squad

No. Position Player
2 Colombia DF Howell Mena
3 Colombia DF Edwin Herrera
5 Colombia DF Rafael Pérez
6 Colombia MF Didier Moreno (vice-captain)
7 Colombia MF Léider Berrío
8 Colombia FW Yimmi Chará
10 Venezuela FW Luis González
13 Colombia MF Jhon Vélez
15 Colombia DF Yeferson Moreno
16 Colombia MF Yani Quintero (on loan from Deportes Quindio)
17 Colombia FW Marco Pérez
18 Argentina DF Emanuel Olivera
19 Colombia DF Carlos Cantillo (on loan from Barranquilla)
20 Colombia FW Joel Canchimbo
22 Colombia DF Jhon Lerma (on loan from Atlético Huila)
23 Colombia FW Stiven Rodríguez
No. Position Player
24 Colombia MF Víctor Cantillo
25 Colombia MF Andrés Colorado (on loan from Necaxa)
26 Colombia DF Jhon Navia
28 Colombia DF Jermein Peña
30 Colombia GK Jefersson Martínez
31 Colombia GK Jaime Acosta
33 Argentina MF Nicolás Zalazar
34 Colombia MF Léider Berdugo
70 Colombia FW Carlos Bacca (captain)
77 Uruguay GK Santiago Mele
80 Colombia MF Roberto Hinojosa (on loan from Unión Magdalena)
88 Colombia FW Bryan Castrillón
90 Colombia DF Yairo Moreno
99 Colombia FW José Enamorado
Colombia GK Sebastián Araujo

Out on loan

No. Position Player
Colombia MF Fabián Ángel (at Deportivo Cali until 31 December 2024)
Colombia MF Kevin Padilla (at Fortaleza CEIF until 31 December 2024)
Colombia FW Ferlys García (at Barranquilla until 31 December 2024)

World Cup players

The following players were chosen to represent their country at the FIFA World Cup while contracted to Junior de Barranquilla.

  • Colombia Carlos Hoyos (1990)
  • Colombia Alexis Mendoza (1994)
  • Colombia José María Pazo (1994)
  • Colombia Luis Carlos Perea (1994)
  • Colombia Carlos Valderrama (1994)
  • Colombia Iván René Valenciano (1994)
  • Colombia Jorge Bolaño (1998)
  • Peru Alberto Rodríguez (2018)

Club captains

  • Colombia Hermenegildo Segrera (1966–1971)
  • Colombia Dulio Miranda (1972–1973)
  • Colombia Gabriel Berdugo (1974–1982)
  • Colombia Dulio Miranda (1983–1985)
  • Colombia Alexis Mendoza (1985–1990)
  • Colombia Gabriel Martínez (1990–1992)
  • Colombia Carlos Valderrama (1993–1995)
  • Colombia Jorge Bolaño (1996–1999)
  • Brazil Marquinho (1999–2004)
  • Colombia Roberto Peñaloza (2004–2005)
  • Colombia Hayder Palacio (2005–2007)
  • Colombia Giovanni Hernández (2008–2012)
  • Uruguay Sebastián Viera (2012–2023)
  • Colombia Carlos Bacca (2023–present)

Personnel

Technical staff

Position Staff
Manager Colombia Arturo Reyes
Assistant manager Colombia Luis Grau
Assistant manager Colombia José María Pazo
Fitness coach Colombia César Gaitán

Source:

Notable players

Most appearances

Rank Player Appearances
1. Uruguay Sebastián Viera 627
2. Colombia Dulio Miranda 445
3. Colombia Hayder Palacio 432
4. Colombia Alexis Mendoza 417
5. Colombia José María Pazo 392
6. Colombia Gabriel Berdugo 379
7. Colombia Víctor Pacheco 367
8. Colombia Jesús Rubio 363
9. Colombia Luis Grau 341
10. Brazil Othon Dacunha 333

Most goals

Rank Player Goals
1. Colombia Ivan Valenciano 180
2. Colombia Carlos Bacca 116
3. Colombia Teófilo Gutiérrez 94
4. Brazil Víctor Ephanor 86
5. Uruguay Nelson Silva Pacheco 81
6. Colombia Víctor Pacheco 78
7. Colombia Martín Arzuaga 70
8. Colombia Vladimir Hernández 65
9. Colombia Orlando Ballesteros 56
10. Brazil Marcos Cardoso 55

Historic players

  • Argentina Carlos Babington
  • Argentina Edgardo Bauza
  • Argentina Juan Carlos Delménico
  • Argentina Carlos Ischia
  • Argentina Omar Pérez
  • Argentina Walter Ribonetto
  • Argentina Fabián Sambueza
  • Argentina Juan Ramón Verón
  • Brazil Paulo César Caju
  • Brazil Cassiano
  • Brazil Dida
  • Brazil Garrincha
  • Brazil Heleno de Freitas
  • Brazil Quarentinha
  • Brazil Víctor Ephanor
  • Chile Cristián Montecinos
  • Colombia José Amaya
  • Colombia Alfredo Arango
  • Colombia Martín Arzuaga
  • Colombia Carlos Bacca
  • Colombia Orlando Ballesteros
  • Colombia Gabriel Berdugo
  • Colombia Jorge Bolaño
  • Colombia Miguel Ángel Borja
  • Colombia Déiber Caicedo
  • Colombia Víctor Campaz
  • Colombia Víctor Cantillo
  • Colombia Yimmi Chará
  • Colombia José Luis Chunga
  • Colombia Víctor Cortés
  • Colombia Gustavo Cuéllar
  • Colombia Luis Díaz
  • Colombia José Enamorado
  • Colombia Fernando Fiorillo
  • Colombia Gabriel Fuentes
  • Colombia Miguel Ángel Guerrero
  • Colombia Teófilo Gutiérrez
  • Colombia Giovanni Hernández
  • Colombia Vladimir Hernández
  • Colombia William Knight
  • Colombia Homer Martínez
  • Colombia Roberto Meléndez
  • Colombia Alexis Mendoza
  • Colombia Dulio Miranda
  • Colombia Didier Moreno
  • Colombia Luis Narváez
  • Colombia Víctor Pacheco
  • Colombia Hayder Palacio
  • Colombia José María Pazo
  • Colombia Rafael Perez
  • Colombia Marlon Piedrahita
  • Colombia Efraín "El Caimán" Sánchez
  • Colombia Iván Valenciano
  • Colombia Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama
  • Colombia Alex "Didi" Valderrama
  • Hungary Béla Sárosi
  • Panama Román Torres
  • Peru Julio César Uribe
  • Uruguay Lorenzo Carrabs
  • Uruguay Julio Comesaña
  • Uruguay Santiago Mele
  • Uruguay Héctor Gerardo Méndez
  • Uruguay Nelson Silva Pacheco
  • Uruguay Sebastián Viera
  • Venezuela Luis Daniel "Cariaco" González

International players

The following players, despite not having been able to establish themselves as idols, had a stage as internationals with their national teams.

  • Argentina Daniel Carnevali
  • Argentina Santiago Santamaría
  • Colombia Luis Carlos Perea
  • Colombia René Higuita
  • Colombia Carlos Hoyos
  • Colombia Juan Fernando Quintero
  • Chile Matías Fernández
  • Chile Nelson Tapia
  • Panama Román Torres
  • Peru Alberto Rodríguez

Managers

Notable fans

  • Freddy Cricien, hardcore punk singer; Madball lead singer.
  • Diomedes Díaz, vallenato singer.
  • Martín Elías, vallenato singer.
  • Gabriel García Márquez, novelist, journalist and short-story writer; 1982 Nobel Prize Literature.
  • Melissa Martínez Artuz, journalist
  • Ernesto McCausland,journalist writer and filmmaker.
  • Rafael Orozco Maestre, vallenato singer.
  • Edgar Perea, politician and football radio and television commentator .
  • Shakira, pop singer.
  • Paulina Vega, TV Host ,model and beauty queen; Miss Universe 2014.
  • Sofía Vergara, actress.

Affiliated clubs

  • Colombia Barranquilla Currently in the second division

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Junior de Barranquilla para niños

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