Club Nacional de Football facts for kids
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| Full name | Club Nacional de Football | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Bolso Tricolor Bolsilludo Decano |
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| Founded | 14 May 1899 | |||
| Ground | Gran Parque Central | |||
| Capacity | 38,000 | |||
| Chairman | Alejandro Balbi | |||
| Manager | Martín Lasarte | |||
| League | Primera División | |||
| 2023 | Primera División, 3rd of 16 | |||
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Club Nacional de Football is a famous professional sports club from Montevideo, Uruguay. It's often called Bolso or Tricolor.
The club started on May 14, 1899. It was formed when two other clubs, Uruguay Athletic Club and Montevideo Fútbol Club, joined together. While Nacional is best known for football, it also has teams for basketball, futsal, tennis, cycling, volleyball, and chess.
Nacional has won the top Uruguayan football league, the Primera División, an amazing 49 times. Their most recent win was in 2022. They have also won many national cups.
Internationally, Nacional has won 9 major titles. These include three Copa Libertadores, which is South America's biggest club competition. They are also one of only two teams to win the Copa Intercontinental three times, becoming world champions in 1988. Nacional is the only Uruguayan team to win the Copa Interamericana (twice) and the Recopa Sudamericana. Overall, Nacional is one of the most successful clubs in the world, with 163 official titles!
The club's colors are white, blue, and red. These colors are inspired by the flag of Uruguay's national hero, José Gervasio Artigas. Nacional plays most of its home games at the Parque Central. This stadium is famous because it hosted one of the first games of the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
Nacional has a big rivalry with their city rivals, Peñarol. Their matches are known as El clásico del fútbol uruguayo. Both Nacional and Peñarol have never been relegated from Uruguay's top football league.
Contents
History of Club Nacional
How Nacional Started
Nacional was created on May 14, 1899, by combining two clubs. They chose red, blue, and white for their flag. These colors are linked to José Artigas, a hero of Uruguay.
In 1900, Nacional joined Club Defensa and started playing at the Estadio Gran Parque Central. At first, other clubs didn't want Nacional in their league. They thought local Uruguayan players weren't good enough. But Nacional showed great skill in friendly matches. So, they were finally allowed to join in 1901. In 1902, Nacional won their first league title.
In September 1903, Nacional's players represented the entire Uruguay national football team. They beat Argentina 3–2. This was Uruguay's first international win between national teams. In 1905, Nacional won its first international club title, the Copa de Honor Cousenier.
Around 1900, Nacional's players developed a new, more creative style of play. They focused on quick passes and dribbling, rather than just physical strength. This made their games exciting to watch.
Nacional won the 1912 championship. Then, in 1915, they won the Triple Crown. This included three major tournaments: the Primera División, Tie Cup, and Copa de Honor Cousenier. They were also the first club to win three championships in a row (1916, 1917, and 1919).
Amazing International Tours
Nacional's success helped the Uruguay national football team win big. In 1924, many Nacional players helped Uruguay win the Summer Olympics in Paris. Nacional also had many players on the Olympic and World Cup winning teams of 1928 and 1930. Nacional is the only Uruguayan club to have players on every national team that won international tournaments.
In 1925, Nacional was invited to tour Europe because of Uruguay's Olympic success. They played 38 matches in six months against teams from 9 European countries. Nacional won 26 games, tied 7, and lost only 5. They scored 130 goals! About 800,000 tickets were sold during this tour. It is considered the largest tour in football history.
In 1927, Nacional also toured North America. They had great results there too, with 16 wins, 2 ties, and only 1 loss.
The "White Machine" Era (1932–1943)
In 1932, football became professional in Uruguay. Nacional formed a team nicknamed La Máquina Blanca (The White Machine). This team scored 28 goals in their first four games of the 1932 season!
Nacional won the league title in 1933 and again in 1934. The 1933 championship was the longest ever. It ended in November 1934 after many final games against Peñarol. Nacional won the last game 3–1.
In 1938, a great Argentine player named Atilio García joined the club. From 1939 to 1943, Nacional won the Quinquenio de Oro. This means they won five championships in a row! During this time, they beat Peñarol 5–1, with Atilio García scoring 4 goals. In 1941, Nacional won every single game they played (20 out of 20).
Nacional was much stronger than Peñarol during these years.
- Between 1938 and 1943, Nacional won 18 out of 23 clásicos (matches against Peñarol).
- On December 14, 1941, Nacional had their biggest win ever against Peñarol, beating them 6–0.
- On November 23, 1943, Nacional won their tenth clásico in a row.
Many legendary players played for Nacional during this time. Atilio García is Nacional's all-time top scorer. He also scored the most goals in Uruguayan Clásico matches (34 goals).
International Triumphs
Nacional's international fame grew from tournaments played in the Río de la Plata region. These were the most important international tournaments in America before the Copa Libertadores began.
Nacional first played in the Copa Libertadores in 1962. They reached the finals in 1964, 1967, and 1969, but lost each time.
Finally, in 1971, Nacional won their first Copa Libertadores! They beat Estudiantes de La Plata in Peru. That same year, Nacional won their first World Club title, the 1971 Intercontinental Cup. They beat Panathinaikos from Greece. The next year, Nacional won their first Copa Interamericana.
During this period, Nacional also won four Uruguayan Championships in a row (1969-1972). They also had an amazing unbeaten streak against Peñarol, going 16 games without a loss.
Nacional won the Copa Libertadores again in 1980. They beat Internacional from Brazil in the finals. After that, Nacional won the Intercontinental Cup for the second time. They defeated Nottingham Forest from England 1–0. Nacional also won the Uruguayan championship that year.
Nacional won their third Copa Libertadores in 1988. They beat Newell's Old Boys from Argentina 3–0. That same year, Nacional won their third Intercontinental Cup. It was a thrilling final against PSV Eindhoven from the Netherlands. Nacional won in a penalty shootout after the game ended 2–2. The next year, Nacional won their second Copa Interamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana.
Recent Successes
In the 1990s, the club faced some financial challenges. But they still won the 1992 Championship. In 1998, Nacional won the Uruguayan Championship by winning both short tournaments (Apertura and Clausura). This was a new achievement for any club.
Nacional continued to dominate Uruguayan football for three years in a row (2000, 2001, and 2002).
In 2005, Nacional decided to renovate their stadium, the Estadio Gran Parque Central. They now play most of their home games there instead of the larger Estadio Centenario.
Nacional has been the most successful team since the year 2000. They have won many championships, including in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2022.
In 2018, Nacional made their 45th appearance in the Copa Libertadores. This was their 22nd time in a row, a new record for the tournament!
Team Image and Identity
Club Colors and Crest
Nacional's crest (or logo) has a white stripe with "C.N de F." written on it. The design is inspired by the flag of Artigas.
When the club started in 1899, their first home kit was a red shirt with blue sleeves and collar. In 1902, they changed to a white shirt with a front pocket. This is how they got the nickname "Los Bolsos" (meaning "The Pockets" in Spanish). They also added the "C. N de F." crest above the pocket.
Over the years, Nacional has used different away kits. In 1995, a red shirt became the third kit, and a blue shirt with a red stripe became the official away kit. Since 2002, the red kit is usually the away kit, and a blue one is the third option.
Nacional's Stadium
Nacional plays most of its home games at its own stadium, the Gran Parque Central. It can hold 38,000 fans, and it's still growing! The stadium was first built in 1900.
It's located in a historic spot where a revolutionary leader, José Gervasio Artigas, was named "Chief of the Orientals" in 1811.
For many years, Nacional often played at the national stadium, Estadio Centenario. But since 2005, Nacional decided to return to the Gran Parque Central. The stadium has been renovated, allowing Nacional to play most of its home games there. However, big rivalry matches are still played at the Centenario.
The four stands in the stadium are named after important figures from the club's history:
- The main stand is called José María Delgado, after a very important club president.
- The largest stand is the Atilio García, named after Nacional's all-time top scorer.
- The Abdón Porte stand is named after another big symbol of Nacional.
- The Héctor Scarone stand is named after a famous striker, nicknamed el Mago (the Wizard).
Nacional Supporters
The First "Hincha"
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The Spanish word for football fans is "hincha." This word was actually created by Nacional fans! Prudencio Miguel Reyes, an early employee of Nacional, was famous for cheering loudly for the team. Other fans started calling him by one of his jobs: pumping air into the balls (in Spanish, "hinchar" means to pump). Soon, Reyes was known as Nacional's "hincha." This is how a word used by Spanish speakers worldwide came to be!
"The World's Biggest Flag"
In June 2013, Nacional supporters showed off what they called the biggest flag in the world. They displayed this huge flag during a match against Deportivo Toluca in the 2013 Copa Libertadores. The flag cost US$50,000, which fans collected themselves.
The flag was 600 meters long and 50 meters high! It even entered the Guinness World Records as "the biggest flag ever seen in a football match." It weighed 5,000 kg, and 400 people were needed to move it!
Nacional's Nicknames
Nacional has several nicknames:
- "Tricolores" (meaning "three colors") because of their white, blue, and red colors.
- "Albos" (meaning "whites") referring to their white jersey.
- "Bolsos" (short for "bolsilludos") which means "pockets." This nickname came from their early jerseys that had a pocket on the chest.
Player Records
Here are some impressive records held by Nacional players:
- Most appearances: Emilio Álvarez played 511 matches for Nacional.
- Most years with the club: Héctor Scarone played for Nacional for 21 years (1917 to 1939).
- All-time greatest goalscorer: Atilio García scored an amazing 465 goals for Nacional.
- Longest time without letting in a goal: Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet went 1064 minutes without conceding a goal.
World Champion Players
Nacional has contributed many players to Uruguay's national teams that won major international tournaments.
- In 1924, Nacional had the most players on the Uruguayan team that won the Olympic gold medal in football.
- This happened again with Uruguay's teams in 1928 (Olympic champions) and 1930 (World Cup champions). Nacional provided most of the players for these teams.
- Nacional is the only Uruguayan club that has had players on every Uruguay national team that won international tournaments.
Below are some Nacional players who were part of Uruguay's Olympic and World Cup winning teams:
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1924 Olympic Champions
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1928 Olympic Champions
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Other Sports at Nacional
Nacional is a multi-sport club, meaning it has teams in many different sports!
Basketball
Nacional has been part of Uruguayan basketball tournaments since 1932. The club won championships in 1935 and 1937. Today, Nacional plays in the top Uruguayan basketball league.
Cycling
Nacional's cycling team has won major competitions like the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay and Rutas de América. They have won both team and individual titles many times. A famous cyclist, Milton Wynants, who won a silver medal for Uruguay in the 2000 Summer Olympics, is part of Nacional's cycling team.
Tennis
Nacional has several tennis courts at Parque Central. These courts host various tournaments in Uruguay. In 2005, Nacional even hosted games for Uruguay in the Davis Cup.
Volleyball
Nacional has a volleyball court at Parque Central. Their teams play in championships organized by the Uruguayan volleyball federation.
Men's Volleyball
Nacional's men's team has won the Campeonato Federal once (1954), the Super Liga Uruguaya de Voleibol three times (2008, 2009, 2010), and other national titles.
Women's Volleyball
Nacional's women's team has won the Campeonato Federal three times (1955, 1960, 1961) and other tournaments.
Women's Football
Nacional has a women's football team that started in 1996. They have won the Uruguayan Championship four times (1997, 2000, 2010, 2011/2012). They also compete in South American championships.
Futsal
Nacional's futsal (indoor football) team has won the Uruguayan league title many times. Their biggest international achievement is finishing second in the South American Futsal Cup in 2003.
Images for kids
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Hosting the 1923 Copa América
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A plaque commemorating the 1930 world championship of fútbol
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In 2022
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In 2023
In Spanish: Club Nacional de Football para niños
