Club Atlético Banfield facts for kids
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| Full name | Club Atlético Banfield | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | El Taladro (The Drill) | ||
| Founded | 21 January 1896 | ||
| Ground | Estadio Florencio Sola | ||
| Capacity | 34,901 | ||
| Chairman | Eduardo Spinosa | ||
| Manager | Miguel Hernández | ||
| League | Primera División | ||
| 2023 | 21st | ||
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Club Atlético Banfield is a sports club from Banfield, a city near Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was started on January 21, 1896, by British people living there. The club is most famous for its football (soccer) teams. They play in the Primera División, which is the top football league in Argentina.
In 2009, Banfield won its first ever Primera División title. This was a huge moment for the club! They also won a national cup called the Copa de Honor Municipalidad de Buenos Aires way back in 1920. The club has won the Second Division title 10 times too.
Banfield has a big rivalry with Lanús. Their games are called the "Southern Classic" and are very exciting. In 2018, something special happened: Lucía Barbuto became the first woman president of a top-division football club in Argentina. Banfield also has a women's football team that started in 1997.
Besides football, Banfield offers many other sports. These include boxing, chess, field hockey, futsal, gymnastics, handball, roller skating, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.
Contents
History of Banfield
How Banfield Started
In the late 1800s, many British families moved to Banfield, a village south of Buenos Aires. They built English-style houses, making the area feel very British. On January 21, 1896, a group of these British people decided to start a club. They named it after the village, which was named after the railway station. The station was named after Edward Banfield, a railway manager.
The first leaders were Daniel Kingsland and George Burton. At first, cricket was the main sport. Football wasn't as important, and the team didn't do well in early championships.
Early Wins
Things changed in 1899 when Alfredo Goode, who loved football, became president. In 1899, Banfield won its first title, becoming the champion of the Second Division. Banfield is the only club still around today that won a title in the 1800s!
Most of Banfield's players were from Great Britain. In 1900, Banfield won the Second Division championship again, this time without losing any games. Key players included Edward "Invincible" Potter and captain Watson Dodds.
After these early successes, the club faced some tough times. In 1904, it was almost shut down. But George Burton, another football lover, helped reorganize the club. He led Banfield until he passed away in 1928.
In 1908, Banfield's third-division team won their championship. In 1912, they won the third category championship again, which helped them move up to the second division. Because of changes in the league, Banfield went straight to the top division!
Banfield played well in 1913 and 1914. But when World War I started, many British players joined the army and went to Europe. In 1919, Banfield returned to the first division after winning a final game.
The 1920s: A Big Cup Win
After being promoted, Banfield finished second in the league in 1920, right behind Boca Juniors. That same year, Banfield played in the Buenos Aires municipal honor cup. They won against several teams, including Sportivo Barracas and Porteño. In the final, Banfield played against Boca Juniors. Banfield was losing 1-0 at halftime, but they scored two goals in the second half to win 2-1! This was their first major cup title.
In 1928, George Burton, the club's president for over 20 years, died. His death caused problems for Banfield for about ten years.
1930s and 1940s: The Drill is Born
In 1931, many big clubs decided to start a professional football league. Banfield was invited to join, but its leaders thought professional football wouldn't last. So, they stayed in the amateur league. This meant many of Banfield's best players left to join professional clubs.
With fewer good players, Banfield struggled. In 1935, Banfield joined the professional league but was placed in the Second Division. They didn't play well and were almost relegated to an even lower division in 1938.
At the end of 1938, a young businessman named Florencio Sola became president. He helped Banfield avoid dropping to the Third Division. Banfield won a special tournament and was promoted back to the Primera División in 1939.
In 1940, Banfield had a new team with many talented players. The newspaper El Pampero gave them the nickname "El Taladro" (The Drill). This nickname stuck and is still used today!
Banfield's stadium, later named "Florencio Sola," was built in 1940. In 1941, Banfield faced a big penalty of 16 points for trying to bribe players. But they played so well that they avoided being relegated!
After a few years, Banfield was relegated again in 1944. But in 1946, with Remigio Sola (Florencio's brother) as president, the club built a strong team. They won the Second Division championship that year, setting a record that lasted over 40 years.
In 1948, Florencio Sola became president again. He signed many new players. The team struggled, but a player strike meant youth players had to play. Coach Renato Cesarini helped the young team earn enough points to stay in the top division.
1950s and 1960s: Great Seasons
In 1951, Banfield finished first in the league! They had to play a tie-breaker against Racing Club. Even though Banfield had a better goal difference, they lost the second game 1-0. The newspaper "El Pampero" called them the "moral champion."
From 1950 to 1953, Banfield went undefeated at home for 49 games in a row! This was an amazing achievement. Many talented young players came from Banfield's youth teams during these years.
In 1962, Banfield had a fantastic season and was promoted back to the First Division. They stayed in the First Division for 16 seasons, except for one year in 1973. During this time, great players like Oscar Calics, Norberto Raffo, and José Sanfilippo played for the club.
In 1968, Banfield won the Promotional Tournament. In 1969, they avoided being relegated by winning a special reclassification game.
1970s and 1980s: Ups and Downs
In 1972, Banfield was relegated. But in 1973, they won the First B (second division) championship and were promoted again. Key players included Ricardo La Volpe and Juan Alberto Taverna.
On October 6, 1974, Banfield achieved its biggest win ever in professional football. They beat Puerto Comercial de Bahía Blanca 13 to 1! This is the most goals ever scored by a team in a single game in Argentina's top division. In that same game, Juan Alberto Taverna scored seven goals, which is also a record for a single player in one match.
After returning to the First Division, Banfield played very well in 1976. But in 1978, they had a very bad season and were relegated again after losing a tie-breaker game.
In 1985, coach Angel Cappa joined the club. He helped build the team that won a special playoff in 1987 to get promoted. This team had a mix of experienced players and young talents from the club.
1990s: Building Up Again
The 1990s started tough for Banfield. But in the 1992–93 season, with Valentín Suárez as president again, Banfield hired Carlos Babington as coach. They also brought in experienced players and had talented young players like Javier Sanguinetti. Javier Sanguinetti has played the most games for the club, with over 450 appearances! Banfield won the championship and was promoted to the Primera División after a penalty shootout.
Back in the top division, Banfield played well at first. Young players like Javier Zanetti became stars. However, the team struggled later and was relegated again in 1997.
In 1998, Carlos Portel became the new president. The club was in a difficult financial situation, and his main goal was to reduce its debts.
The Falcioni Era: A Historic Championship
In 2001, Banfield returned to the Primera División after winning a promotion playoff. The team was coached by Ramón Héctor Ponce. In the first few years, they were often near the relegation zone. But they had some big wins, like beating River Plate 5-0 in 2002!
In 2003, Julio César Falcioni became the coach. He helped many young players, like Daniel Bilos and Rodrigo Palacio, become key players. Banfield finished third in 2003, which meant they qualified for international tournaments like the 2004 Copa Sudamericana and 2005 Copa Libertadores. In the Copa Libertadores, Banfield reached the quarterfinals, which was a great achievement!
During this time, Banfield played in 5 international cups in just 3 years. They even sold players to big European clubs. These successful years also helped the club build new parts of its stadium.
In 2009, with Falcioni still as coach, Banfield started the Apertura tournament very well. They had strong players like Walter Erviti, James Rodríguez, and Santiago Silva. Banfield kept winning and was leading the league.
On December 13, 2009, Banfield lost their last game to Boca Juniors. But their closest rival, Newell's Old Boys, also lost! This meant Banfield won its first ever championship in the top division of Argentine football! About 40,000 fans celebrated at their stadium. It was a dream come true for the club and its supporters.
After winning the title, Banfield played in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. They reached the next stage but were eliminated by Internacional. Falcioni later left Banfield to coach Boca Juniors.
Tough Times and Comeback
In 2011, Banfield had a few different coaches and struggled. In June 2012, Banfield was relegated to the second division (Primera B Nacional) after a very poor season. The club's president resigned, and Eduardo Spinosa was chosen as the new chairman.
In the 2012–2013 season, Banfield almost got promoted back to the First Division. Many young players from the club's youth teams started playing for the main team.
For the 2013–2014 season, with Matías Almeyda as coach, Banfield built a very strong team. Players like Nicolás Bertolo and Nicolás Tagliafico returned. They also had talented young players like Chávez and Toledo. Banfield won the title and was promoted back to the First Division! They secured promotion with a 1-1 draw and won the title with a 2-1 victory.
Back to International Games
In 2015, Banfield aimed to return to international competitions. They played a long tournament and qualified for the Copa Sudamericana in 2016.
In 2016, Julio Falcioni returned as coach. The 2016–2017 season was great for Banfield. With many young players and experienced leaders, they fought for the championship and qualified for the Copa Libertadores again.
In the 2017–2018 season, Banfield played in the Copa Libertadores. They had a competitive team and continued to promote young players. After the Copa Libertadores, Banfield also played in the Copa Sudamericana in 2018.
Club Symbols
Green and White Colors
The colors of Banfield are green and white. In the early days, around 1900, the club's colors were brown and old gold. These colors might have been linked to railway danger signs, as many early members worked for the railway.
Later, in 1903–1904, the club used shirts with red and white squares. But in 1904, when the club was reorganized, they officially chose green and white. Some people think the green color came from the Irish players in the team. Since 1907, the Banfield jersey has been green and white stripes.
Sometimes, Banfield's alternate jersey includes orange. This color was added in the 1970s, inspired by the famous "Clockwork Orange" Dutch national team.
The Drill (El Taladro)
The nickname "El Taladro" (The Drill) was given to Banfield in 1940. Florencio Sola had completely changed the team with new players. The team played surprisingly well for a newly promoted club. The newspaper El Pampero said that Banfield "drilled" their opponents' goals, meaning they scored many goals. This nickname has been with the club ever since!
Another idea for the nickname is that Banfield would "drill" the big teams, meaning they would make them drop down the league table.
Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni is a very important person for Banfield. He has been the coach four times and led the team to win its first top-division championship. He is considered the biggest idol of the club. Banfield fans love his style of play, which they call "Falcionismo," and they call themselves "Falcionistas." A famous flag at the stadium says: "The happiest days were always Falcionistas."
Supporters
Banfield fans are known as "La Banda del Sur" (The Southern Crew) in Argentina. Most fans come from the Banfield neighborhood and other areas in the south of Greater Buenos Aires. But you can find Banfield fans all over the southern part of Buenos Aires and even in the city itself. A survey in 1998 showed that Banfield had about 104,000 fans in Argentina.
Rivalries
Main Rivalries
The biggest rivalry for Banfield is against Lanús. Their matches are called the "Clásico del Sur" (Southern Classic). This rivalry became very strong in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The second most important rivalry for Banfield fans is against Quilmes. Quilmes is another team from the southern part of Buenos Aires.
Other Rivals
Banfield also has important rivalries with Temperley, another team from the Southern Zone. Other local teams like Talleres (RdE), Los Andes, and Defensa y Justicia also see Banfield as a big rival.
From other areas, Banfield has rivalries with Morón (from the West Zone) and Nueva Chicago (from the Federal Capital).
Uniform Evolution
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Stadium
Banfield's home stadium is called Florencio Sola. It was built in 1940 and is named after Florencio "Lencho" Sola, a very important former president of the club.
To celebrate its opening, Banfield played a match against Independiente, which they won 1-0. At this stadium, Banfield had an amazing record of 39 matches without a loss from 1950 to 1953. The stadium was very modern for its time. It was one of the first "medium" clubs to have concrete stands, even before some of the bigger teams.
The stadium is located in Banfield city. It can hold 34,901 spectators. There are plans to make the stadium even bigger, with a goal to reach a capacity of 45,326 spectators.
Club Headquarters
The club's main office is in Banfield. This is where athletes meet for different activities and where important club meetings are held.
Many other sports are practiced here, like volleyball, futsal, chess, and gymnastics. The headquarters also has a gym and a team room where fans can gather.
Team Records
- Seasons in first division: 73
- Biggest win achieved:
- In first division: 13–1 over Puerto Comercial de Bahía Blanca (October 6, 1974). This is the biggest score ever in the first division!
- In National B: 10–2 over Unión de San Juan (1987)
- Biggest defeats:
- First division: 1–8 to Estudiantes La Plata (June 1, 1947)
- Best league position: 1st (champion) in 2009 Apertura
- Worst league position: 19th
- Top Scorer: Gustavo Albella: 136 goals (1945–51, 1954).
- Player with most appearances: Javier Sanguinetti: 493 games (1989–93, 1994–2008).
- International participations: Banfield has played in many international cups, including the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores.
Football Records
Banfield holds several special records in the First Division:
- Between 1950 and 1953, they were undefeated at home for 49 games in a row. This lasted for three years and 17 days!
- In 1951, Banfield was the first team outside of Argentina's "Big Five" clubs to finish first in an AFA tournament.
- On June 20, 1951, Banfield scored 5 goals against River Plate at their home stadium, winning 5-1. They scored four goals in just 13 minutes!
- On October 6, 1974, Banfield won 13-1 against Puerto Comercial. This is the biggest win in professional football history in Argentina.
- In that same match, Juan Alberto Taverna scored seven goals, which is a record for goals scored by one player in a single professional game.
- Banfield is the only club affiliated with the AFA to have won titles in three different centuries: 1800s (1899), 1900s (1920), and 2000s (2009).
- James Rodríguez of Banfield became the youngest foreign player to debut in Argentine football at just 17 years old.
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Famous Players
Here are some notable players who have played for Banfield:
- Javier Sanguinetti: Played the most games for the club (493 matches).
- Gustavo Albella: The club's all-time top scorer with 136 goals.
- Javier Zanetti: A famous defender who played for Banfield early in his career.
- James Rodríguez: A talented midfielder who played for Banfield before becoming a global star.
- Rodrigo Palacio: Another forward who played for Banfield and later for big clubs.
- Walter Erviti: A key midfielder during Banfield's championship win.
- Darío Cvitanich: A forward who scored many goals for the club.
Most Appearances
| No. | Player | Pos. | Years Played | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Javier Sanguinetti |
DF | 1989–93, 1994–2008 | 493 |
| 2 | Cristian Lucchetti |
GK | 1996–2003, 2005–10, 2011–12 | 319 |
| 3 | Luis Bagnato |
GK | 1946, 1955–56, 1958–59 | 311 |
| 4 | Silvio Sotelo |
DF | 1971–78 | 242 |
| 5 | Gustavo Albella |
FW | 1946–51, 1955–56 | 233 |
Top Scorers
| No. | Player | Pos. | Years Played | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gustavo Albella |
FW | 1946–51, 1955–56 | 136 |
| 2 | Rafael Sanz |
FW | 1940–44, 1947–48 | 81 |
| 3 | Norberto Raffo |
FW | 1963–66 | 68 |
| 4 | Luis E. Suárez |
FW | 1954–61 | 68 |
| 5 | Darío Cvitanich |
FW | 2003–08, 2016–18 | 65 |
Presidents
- 1896-1898 Daniel Kingsland
- 1899-1900 Alfred John Goode
- 1901 Federick James Cassini
- 1902 George Stearn
- 1903-1904 Clement August Mason
- 1905-1906 Dante Terenziani
- 1906 R. Valenzuela
- 1907-1910 George James William Burton
- 1910: J. L. Howard
- 1911: L. J. Thiesen
- 1912: Guillermo Coo
- 1913–28: G. J. W. Burton 1
- 1928–30: Félix Sola (h)
- 1930–32: Rafael de Seta
- 1933: Américo Pisano
- 1934: Rafael de Seta
- 1935: Francisco Ventura
- 1936: Gerardo Martínez Abal
- 1937: Américo Pisano
- 1938–44: Florencio Sola
- 1945–46: Remigio Sola
- 1947–54: Florencio Sola
- 1955: Antonio Benito Ferranti 2
- 1956: Enrique Beltrán Simo
- 1957–59: Alfredo Gómez 2
- 1960–62: Valentín Suárez
- 1963–65: Juan Carlos Fontela
- 1966–68: Valentín Suárez
- 1969: Juan Carlos Fontela
- 1970–71: Carlos Ismael Soler
- 1972–74: Valentín Suárez
- 1975–77: Osvaldo Fani
- 1978–79: Manuel Salgado
- 1980: Aniceto Rodrigo 2
- 1980: Juan Carlos Mori
- 1981–83: Néstor Edgardo Villar
- 1984–85: Valentín Suárez 2
- 1985: Miguel M. Alberdi
- 1986: Atilio Pettinati 2
- 1986–87: Fernando Oscar Tomás 2
- 1987–89: Raúl Alfonso Muñiz
- 1989–91: Julio César Grigera
- 1991–93: Valentín Suárez
- 1993–95: Carlos Fontela 2
- 1995–96: Raúl Alfonso Muñiz 2
- 1996–98: Atilio Pettinati
- 1998–2012: Carlos Portell 2
- 2012–2018: Eduardo Spinosa 2
- 2018: Lucía Barbuto
Managers
- Emilio Baldonedo
Dan Georgiadis (1958)- Adolfo Pedernera (1976)
- Norberto Raffo (1977)
- Ángel Cappa (1985–86), (1987–88)
Luis Garisto (2001–03)- Julio César Falcioni (2003–05)
- Pablo Sánchez (2007)
- Juan Manuel Llop (2007–08)
- Jorge Burruchaga (2008–09)
- Julio César Falcioni (2009–10)
- Sebastián Méndez (2011)
- Eduardo Acevedo (2012)
- Daniel Garnero (2012–13)
- Matías Almeyda (2013–15)
- Claudio Vivas (2015–16)
- Julio César Falcioni (2016–18)
- Hernán Crespo (2018–19)
- Julio César Falcioni (2019–20)
- Javier Sanguinetti (2020–21)
- Claudio Vivas (2022)
- Javier Sanguinetti (2022–23)
- Julio César Falcioni (2023–24)
- Gustavo Munúa (2024-present)
Clubs with the Banfield Name
There are several other clubs in Argentina named "Banfield" that also wear green and white colors!
- In Chaco: C.A. Banfield de Chaco in Sánez Peña.
- In Entre Ríos: Banfield de Victoria in Victoria and C.A. Banfield in Paraná.
- In Buenos Aires Province: One in San Pedro and another in Mar del Plata.
- In Córdoba: "Club Deportivo Banfield" in San Vicente and another C.A. Banfield in Alta Gracia.
- In Mendoza Province: "Club Sportivo Banfield" in Perdriel.
- In Santa Fe Province: "C.A. Defensores de Banfield" in Casilda.
Honours
Major Titles
- Keys
- Record
- (s) Shared record
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Primera División | 1 | — | 2009 Apertura | — |
| Primera B Nacional | 3 | 1 | 1992–93, 2000–01, 2013–14 | 1986–87 | |
| División Intermedia | 1 | — | 1919 | — | |
| Primera B | 7 | 1 | 1899, 1900, 1912, 1939, 1946, 1962, 1973 | 1961 | |
| Primera C | 1 | — | 1908 | — | |
| National (Cups) |
Copa de Honor Municipalidad de Buenos Aires | 1 | — | 1920 | — |
| Copa de la Liga Profesional | — | 1 | — | 2020 | |
| Copa de Competencia Jockey Club | — | 1 | — | 1933 |
See also
In Spanish: Club Atlético Banfield para niños
