Atlético Nacional facts for kids
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| Full name | Atlético Nacional S. A. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Verdolagas (The Purslanes), El Verde (The Green), Rey de Copas (King of Cups), El Verde de la Montaña (The Green from the Mountain), El Verde Paisa (The Paisa Green), El Siempre Verde (The Evergreen) |
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| Founded | 7 March 1947 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Atanasio Girardot | |||
| Capacity | 45,043 | |||
| Owner | Organización Ardila Lülle | |||
| Chairman | Sebastián Arango Botero | |||
| Manager | Javier Gandolfi | |||
| League | Categoría Primera A | |||
| 2023 | Primera A, 3rd of 20 | |||
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Atlético Nacional S. A., often called Atlético Nacional, is a professional football club from Medellín, Colombia. It is one of only three clubs that have played in every top-division tournament in Colombia's history. The other two are Millonarios and Santa Fe.
Atlético Nacional started in 1947 as Club Atlético Municipal de Medellín. It was founded by Luis Alberto Villegas López, who used to be the president of the football league in Antioquia. The team changed to its current name in 1950. Since 1996, the club has been owned by Organización Ardila Lülle. Atlético Nacional has the most fans in Colombia, with over 15 million supporters.
The team plays its home games at the Atanasio Girardot stadium. This stadium can hold 40,043 people. They share it with their local rivals, Independiente Medellín. When these two teams play, it's called El Clásico Paisa. This is one of the most important local matches in Colombia. Atlético Nacional also has big rivalries with Millonarios and América de Cali. These are some of the biggest rivalries in Colombian and South American football.
Atlético Nacional is known as one of the strongest and most consistent clubs in Colombia. It is the only Colombian club to win both the Apertura and Finalización tournaments in the same year. They did this in 2007 and 2013. The club has won 18 league championships, seven Copa Colombia titles, and four Superliga Colombiana titles. This makes them the most successful team in Colombia with 29 national titles. They were also the first Colombian club to win the Copa Libertadores in 1989. After winning it again in 2016, they became the most successful Colombian team in that tournament. They have won the most international titles for a Colombian club, with seven trophies in total. These include the Copa Merconorte (twice), the Copa Interamericana (twice), and the Recopa Sudamericana (once). In total, they have 36 trophies.
In 2016, the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) named Atlético Nacional the best football club in the world. They were the first South American club, and the first outside Europe, to get this honor. They are ranked 58th in the world for best clubs of all time by IFFHS. They are also the second-best Colombian club of the 20th century and the best so far in the 21st century. Atlético Nacional is also seen as the best Colombian team in CONMEBOL club tournaments. They rank 17th in the official Copa Libertadores club ranking.
As of January 2021, Atlético Nacional had 9.39 million followers on social media. This makes them the most-followed club in Colombia and one of the most-followed in South America.
Contents
Club Beginnings and Early Years (1947-1954)
Atlético Nacional started as Club Atlético Municipal de Medellín on March 7, 1947. It was founded by Luis Alberto Villegas López and others. The club aimed to promote sports like football and basketball in Medellín. It grew from an amateur club called Unión Indulana Foot-Ball Club.
Atlético Nacional joined the first professional league in 1948. They played their first match in the tournament, winning 2–0 against Universidad. In that first season, they finished 6th out of ten teams.
The club changed its name to Atlético Nacional in 1951. This new name showed the club's goal to support Colombian players. During a time when many Colombian clubs were signing foreign players, Atlético Nacional focused on national talent. They signed their first foreign player, Atilio Miotti from Argentina, in 1953.
Atlético Nacional won its first league title in 1954. Manager Fernando Paternoster led the team, which lost only one game that season. Carlos Gambina, an Argentine striker, was a star player, scoring 21 goals.
Challenges and Comebacks (1950s-1980s)
The club faced money problems in the late 1950s. For a short time in 1958, they even had to join with their rivals, Independiente Medellín. These financial issues and sometimes only signing Colombian players made it hard to win. The club did not win another title for 19 years.
The team's success returned in 1973. This started after 1970 when José Curti became manager and Jorge Hugo Fernández joined the team. In 1971, Nacional almost won the national championship. They finally won their second league title in 1973. They finished first in their group and then won a special playoff round. They also finished second in 1974.
A new successful period began in 1976 with Argentine manager Osvaldo Zubeldia. He focused on strong training and physical play. Zubeldia led the club to two more titles in 1976 and 1981. The team's key player during this time was César Cueto, a midfielder and captain. This era ended when Zubeldia passed away in 1982.
A New Era and International Glory (1987-1990s)
In 1987, the club made a big change by hiring Francisco Maturana as manager. Maturana was also managing the Colombian national team. Atlético Nacional's focus on Colombian players helped Maturana build a strong national team. During this time, the club received significant financial support, which helped them keep their best players and improve their game.
By 1987, the team had many talented Colombian players. These included René Higuita (goalkeeper), Andrés Escobar and Luis Fernando Herrera (defenders), Leonel Álvarez and Alexis García (midfielders), and John Jairo Tréllez (forward). This strong team finished second in both parts of the 1987 season.
The 1988 season was even better. The club finished second in the championship, which allowed them to play in the 1989 Copa Libertadores. In 1989, Atlético Nacional focused on winning the Copa Libertadores, a major South American tournament. They hoped to be the first Colombian club to win it.
They advanced through the group stage and then beat Racing Club from Argentina. In the quarterfinals, they faced their Colombian rivals, Millonarios. Nacional won and moved to the semifinals, where they defeated Danubio of Uruguay. In the finals, they played against Olimpia from Paraguay. After losing the first game 2–0, Nacional won the second game 2–0. The match went to penalty kicks, and Nacional won 5–4. This was their first Copa Libertadores title and a historic win for Colombian football.
The domestic league season in 1989 was stopped due to a serious incident involving a referee. Later that year, Nacional played in the 1989 Intercontinental Cup against Milan, the European champion. They lost 1–0 in extra time. As Copa Libertadores champions, Nacional also won the 1989 Copa Interamericana by beating Pumas UNAM 6–1 over two games. They lost the 1990 Recopa Sudamericana to Boca Juniors.
Due to past issues, Colombian clubs were not allowed to play home matches in the 1990 and 1991 Copa Libertadores. Nacional had to play their home games in Chile. They were eliminated in the semifinals of the 1991 Libertadores by Olimpia. In 1991, Nacional won its fifth Colombian league title. They won two more domestic titles in the 1990s: in 1994 and 1999.
In 1995, Nacional reached the Copa Libertadores finals again but lost to Gremio. In 1996, Organización Ardila Lülle bought Atlético Nacional. This made them the first Colombian football club with corporate ownership. In 2002, Nacional reached the Copa Sudamericana finals but lost to San Lorenzo.
Modern Success (2000s-Present)
In 2004, Nacional started signing foreign players again, like Jorge Rojas and Hugo Morales. That year, they reached two finals but lost both. In 2007, Nacional won both the Apertura and Finalización tournaments.
The 2009 season was one of the worst in the club's history. They finished 17th in the Apertura tournament. However, they improved in the Finalización tournament, finishing seventh.
In 2011, Atlético Nacional won its eleventh championship by beating La Equidad in the Apertura final. In 2012, they won their first Copa Colombia title and the first Superliga Colombiana title.
The next year, 2013, was very successful. Nacional won both the Apertura and Finalización league tournaments again. They also won their second Copa Colombia title, completing a "domestic double" (winning two major national trophies in one year).
In 2014, Nacional lost the Superliga Colombiana. They were eliminated from the 2014 Copa Libertadores in the quarterfinals. However, they won their third consecutive league title in the Apertura, becoming the first Colombian club to do so. They also reached the 2014 Copa Sudamericana final but lost to River Plate.
In 2015, Reinaldo Rueda became the new manager. Nacional won the Finalización tournament, making them the team with the most league titles (fifteen).
The year 2016 started with Nacional winning its second Superliga Colombiana title. In the 2016 Copa Libertadores, Nacional played very well. They won their group without giving up any goals. They then beat Huracán and Rosario Central to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, they defeated São Paulo from Brazil. This sent Nacional to the Copa Libertadores finals for the first time since 1995. They won the final against Independiente del Valle 2–1, earning their second Copa Libertadores trophy. This made them the first Colombian club to win the competition more than once. In 2016, Nacional also won its third Copa Colombia title.
Nacional also played in the 2016 Copa Sudamericana. They reached the finals, where they were set to play against Chapecoense from Brazil. However, a tragic plane crash happened two days before the first final match. The plane was carrying the Chapecoense team, and many people died. Atlético Nacional then asked CONMEBOL to award the title to Chapecoense. On the day the match was supposed to be played, Nacional and the city of Medellín held a memorial for the victims. CONMEBOL honored Nacional's request and awarded Chapecoense the title. Nacional received a special "Fair Play" award for their kind gesture.
In the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, Nacional finished third. They lost to Kashima Antlers in the semifinals but won against Club América to secure third place.
In 2017, Atlético Nacional won the 2017 Recopa Sudamericana by beating Chapecoense. They lost the first game but won the second game 4–1, winning the tournament 5–3 overall. In the 2017 Copa Libertadores, Nacional was eliminated early. However, they won their sixteenth league championship in the 2017 Apertura. After losing the first game of the final, Nacional made a great comeback, winning the second game 5–1.
Club Rivalries
El Clásico Paisa: Nacional vs. Independiente Medellín
Atlético Nacional has a long-standing rivalry with local team Independiente Medellín. This match is called El Clásico Paisa, meaning "The Paisa Derby," referring to the Antioquia Department. It is one of Colombia's most important rivalries. Nacional has won more matches in this rivalry and has more trophies than Medellín. However, Independiente Medellín won the first final series they played against each other in 2004.
Nacional vs. Millonarios: A National Classic
The rivalry between Atlético Nacional and Millonarios is one of the biggest matches in Colombia. These two clubs have won the most league titles in the country. This rivalry is seen as a "superclásico" of Colombian football and one of the greatest classic matches in South America. It is fueled by the historical rivalry between the Antioquia Department (Medellín) and Bogotá.
Nacional vs. América de Cali: Another Superclásico
Atlético Nacional also has a strong rivalry with América de Cali. These are the two Colombian clubs with the largest fan bases. This rivalry is also called a "superclásico" of Colombian football. It is an extension of the historical rivalry between the Antioquia and Valle del Cauca departments. This match became very important in the 1980s when both teams started to do well in local and international tournaments. They have played in 15 final stages against each other, including five league title deciders. Nacional won three of these finals, and América won two.
Club Identity
Team Colors and Uniforms
The main colors of Atlético Nacional are green and white. These colors come from the flags of the Antioquia Department and its capital city, Medellín. The team is often called cuadro verdes, meaning "green team." Black is also used as a secondary color. The team used to use red, but they stopped because it is associated with their rival, Independiente Medellín.
The home uniform is mostly green, while the away uniform is white with green details. The team also has a third jersey that uses black. Since 2024, the main sponsor on their jersey is Betsson.
Club Badge
Atlético Nacional's current badge was adopted in 2000. It is a rectangle shape with the letters A and N inside. Above the letters is a castle tower. This tower symbolizes "grandeur, tradition, strength, and hierarchy," similar to Medellín's city coat of arms.
The club's main nickname, Verdolagas (which means "purslanes"), was given in the 1950s when the team started wearing green kits. The purslane plant is common in the Paisa region. It has small yellow, white, or red flowers. The white variety is most common in the region, which gives the team its colors. Antioquia is also known for its flower cultivation, celebrated yearly during the Festival of Flowers.
- Evolution of Atlético Nacional's badge
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1935–1946 -
1947–1949
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Home Stadium
Estadio Atanasio Girardot
Atlético Nacional plays its home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot. This stadium is part of the Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex and is owned by the city of Medellín. They share the stadium with their rivals, Independiente Medellín. The stadium is in the northwest part of the city and can hold 45,087 fans. It opened on March 19, 1953, with a game between Nacional and Alianza Lima.
Before 1948, when the team was called Unión Indulana Foot-Ball Club, they played at Los Libertadores Racecourse. When the professional league started, they moved to San Fernando Racecourse until the Atanasio Girardot opened in 1953.
Club Achievements
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
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| Domestic | Categoría Primera A | 18 | 1954, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2005–I, 2007–I, 2007–II, 2011–I, 2013–I, 2013–II, 2014–I, 2015–II, 2017–I, 2022–I, 2024–II |
| Copa Colombia | 7 | 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 | |
| Superliga Colombiana | 4s | 2012, 2016, 2023, 2025 | |
| Continental | Copa Libertadores | 2 | 1989, 2016 |
| Copa Interamericana | 2 | 1989, 1995 | |
| Copa Merconorte | 2 | 1998, 2000 | |
| Recopa Sudamericana | 1 | 2017 | |
| Regional | Liga Antioqueña - Segunda División | 1 | 1942 |
- record
- s shared record
Runner-up Finishes
- Categoría Primera A
- Runners-up (12): 1955, 1965, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2002–I, 2004–I, 2004–II, 2018–I, 2023–I
- Superliga Colombiana
- Runners-up (3): 2014, 2015, 2018
- Copa Libertadores
- Runners-up (1): 1995
- Copa Sudamericana
- Runners-up (3): 2002, 2014, 2016
- Recopa Sudamericana
- Runners-up (1): 1990
- Intercontinental Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1989
- Copa Simón Bolívar
- Runners-up (1): 1971
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Third Place (1): 2016
Awards and Recognition
- FIFA Fair Play Award: 2016
- IFFHS The World's Club Team of the Year: 2016
Players and Managers
Current Squad
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Players in the World Cup
Many players from Atlético Nacional have been chosen to play for their country in the FIFA World Cup while they were part of the club. Some of these players include:
Jairo Arias (1962)- Ignacio Calle (1962)
César Cueto (1982)- Guillermo La Rosa (1982)
- Geovanis Cassiani (1990)
- Luis Fajardo (1990)
- Gildardo Biderman Gómez (1990)
- René Higuita (1990)
- Luis Carlos Perea (1990)
- José Ricardo Pérez (1990)
- León Fernando Villa (1990)
- Leonel Álvarez (1990,1994)
- Andrés Escobar (1990,1994)
- Luis Fernando Herrera (1990,1994)
- Hernán Gaviria (1994)
- Gabriel Jaime Gómez (1994)
- Mauricio Serna (1994)
- Miguel Calero (1998)
- Andrés Estrada (1998)
- Ever Palacios (1998)
- José Fernando Santa (1998)
- Alexander Mejía (2014)
Club Managers
Women's Team
Atlético Nacional Femenino is the women's football team of Atlético Nacional. They play in the Colombian Women's Football League, which is the top women's league in Colombia. The women's team started as a youth academy on August 25, 2009. They joined the professional women's league in 2018 and finished as runners-up. They also placed third in the 2023 Copa Libertadores Femenina.
See also
In Spanish: Atlético Nacional para niños
