Sporting Cristal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sporting Cristal

Full name	Club Sporting Cristal
Nickname(s)	Los Cerveceros Los Rimenses Los Celestes La Fuerza Vencedora La Máquina Celeste
Founded	13 December 1955; 69 years ago (1955-12-13)
Ground	Estadio Alberto Gallardo
Ground Capacity	11,600
Owner	Innova Sports
President	Joel Raffo
Manager	Guillermo Farré
League	Liga 1
2024	Liga 1, 2nd of 18
Home colours Away colours

Club Sporting Cristal S.A. is a famous Peruvian sports club. It is best known for its football (soccer) team. The club is located in Lima, the capital city of Peru.

It was started on December 13, 1955. Engineer Richard Bentín Mujica and his wife Esther Grande de Bentín founded it. They owned the Peruvian brewery Backus and Johnston. Because of this strong link to the brewery, the team is often called los Cerveceros, which means "the brewers".

Sporting Cristal has played in the top football league, the Primera División, since 1956. They won the championship in their very first year! This is why people sometimes call them "El club que nació campeón" (the club that was born a champion).

Since then, they have won the league title 19 times. They are one of the few teams in Peru that have never been moved down to a lower division. Sporting Cristal was also the first Peruvian team to win three championships in a row. They won in 1994, 1995, and 1996.

In 1997, they almost won the Copa Libertadores, a big South American tournament. They finished second, losing to the Brazilian team Cruzeiro. Cristal also holds a record in this tournament: they went 17 games without losing, which is the longest undefeated streak.

Sporting Cristal has a big rivalry with Club Universitario de Deportes. This rivalry grew because some of Universitario's best players moved to Cristal. They also have rivalries with Alianza Lima, Deportivo Municipal, and Sport Boys.

The team plays its home games at the Estadio Alberto Gallardo. For international games like the Libertadores or Sudamericana, they play at the Estadio Nacional. The Estadio Nacional is also used for matches against Universitario and Alianza Lima.

Besides football, Sporting Cristal also has teams for Esports, futsal, women's football, and volleyball.

The Story of Sporting Cristal

The idea for Sporting Cristal came from Ricardo Bentín Mujica. He and his wife owned the Backus and Johnston brewery. They wanted to create a strong football club.

There was an older club called Sporting Tabaco. It was from the Rímac area and played in the top league. But it was having money problems and had never won a national championship.

Sporting Tabaco
1926–1955

Bentín decided to buy Sporting Tabaco. He also found a large piece of land in the La Florida neighborhood. This land would become the club's training and playing ground.

On December 13, 1955, the new club was officially founded. It was named Sporting Cristal after Backus' most famous beer brand. The team started playing in the top league in 1956. Amazingly, they won their first national title that same year! This is why journalists called them "the club born a champion." Over the years, they won many more titles. They became known as one of the best football clubs in Peru, alongside Universitario and Alianza Lima.

At first, some people didn't like that a private company was funding a football team. Even the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) tried to stop Cristal from playing. They said clubs shouldn't be used for advertising. They also said clubs should be named after national heroes or places. But Sporting Cristal overcame these challenges. In 1968, the word "Backus" was removed from the club's name.

As champions in 1956, Cristal was invited to travel the world. This was the first time a Peruvian champion team went on such a tour. They played 30 matches in two months across the United States, Asia, and Spain. They won 20 games, drew 7, and lost only 3. A player named Alberto Gallardo was a star, scoring 37 goals.

In 1962, Cristal signed the famous Brazilian player Didí. He had just won the 1962 World Cup! Didí became the team's coach. He taught them an attacking style of play, like Brazil's. His team played exciting football. They finished second in the league in 1962 and 1963.

Didí returned as coach in 1967, and again they were runners-up. But in 1968, Sporting Cristal won the championship! They beat Juan Aurich 2-1 in an extra match. Alberto Gallardo scored both goals.

Cristal also did well in international games. From 1962 to 1969, they had a 17-game unbeaten streak in the Copa Libertadores. This is still the longest undefeated streak in the tournament's history! They won 8 games and drew 9 during this time.

More titles came in the 1970s. In 1970, they won the championship after a tough fight with Universitario de Deportes. They played 32 games, winning 18, drawing 9, and losing 5.

Sporting Cristal changed its main shirt color from blue to light blue. This is why they are known as "Los Celestes" (The Sky Blues). For a short time (1978-1981), they used blue shirts again. But in 1982, they went back to light blue.

The 1990s were their most successful time. They won 4 national titles, including three in a row! Coach Juan Carlos Oblitas led them to wins in 1991, 1994, and 1995. Then, Sergio Markarián helped them win in 1996.

In 1997, under coach Sergio Markarián, they reached the Copa Libertadores final. They played against the Brazilian team Cruzeiro. The first game was a 0-0 draw. In the second game, they lost 1-0. This was the closest a Peruvian team had come to winning the Copa Libertadores since 1972.

Cristal stayed near the top of the national league in the 2000s. They qualified for the Copa Libertadores eight years in a row (2000-2007). They won two titles in this decade, in 2002 and 2005. Famous players like Sergio Leal, Jorge Soto, and Luis Alberto Bonnet played for them. In 2007, they almost got relegated, but they bounced back in 2008.

Cristal celebrating their victory in 2012

After a seven-year wait, they became national champions again in 2012. They beat Real Garcilaso in the finals. They played in the 2013 Copa Libertadores but didn't get past the group stage.

In 2018, Sporting Cristal achieved another great thing. They became the best Peruvian team in the Historic Table of the Professional Era (1966-2018). They passed Universitario, with 3264 points compared to Universitario's 3236 points.

In 2020, after a tough start, Roberto Mosquera returned as coach. The team won their group in the Clausura Tournament. They then won the national final against Universitario with a total score of 3-2. This gave them their twentieth title!

Home Stadium

The Estadio Alberto Gallardo

Sporting Cristal plays its home matches at the Estadio Alberto Gallardo. This stadium is owned by the Peruvian Sports Institute. Sporting Cristal has the right to use it until 2022. The stadium is in the San Martín de Porres district of Lima. It is also located next to the Rimac River.

The stadium first opened on June 9, 1961. It was called "Estadio Fray Martín de Porres." On May 19, 2012, the stadium was renamed "Estadio Alberto Gallardo". This was to honor former football player Alberto Gallardo. He was a champion with Sporting Cristal as both a player and a coach. Sometimes, the club also plays at the Estadio Nacional del Perú.

Team Rivalries

Sporting Cristal has big rivalries with Universitario and Alianza Lima. These three teams are considered the "big three" of Peruvian football. Games between them are called classics and are usually very exciting. Cristal also has rivalries with Deportivo Municipal and Sport Boys, both from Callao.

Rivalry with Alianza Lima

Sporting Cristal is known for playing a fun, attacking style of football. Alianza Lima also plays an offensive game. This makes matches between them very exciting and often close. They have played against each other in many championship finals.

The first final between them was in 1961. Sporting Cristal beat Alianza 2-0 to become champion. A memorable final was in 2018. Cristal won 4-1 away and 3-0 at home, for a huge 7-1 total score. This was the biggest final win in Peruvian football history. The last national championship they played against each other was in 2021.

Sporting Cristal's biggest win against Alianza Lima was 5-0 in 1960. Their biggest loss to Alianza was also 5-0 in 2004. However, Cristal played with a different team that day. In 1987, Cristal had its biggest away win against Alianza, beating them 4-0 at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva.

Rivalry with Universitario

The matches between Sporting Cristal and Universitario de Deportes are very important in Peru. These two clubs have won the most titles since the Peruvian Primera División started in 1966. Sporting Cristal has 18 titles and Universitario has 16. This history of winning championships has created a strong rivalry. Sometimes, it's called the Modern Classic of Peruvian Football.

Supporters

Sporting Cristal has three main fan groups, also known as ultras or barra bravas. They are called Extremo Celeste, Fverza Oriente, and Gvardia Xtrema.

Fverza Oriente was the first fan group for Cristal, started in 1975. They sit in the eastern part of the stadium. Extremo Celeste was formed in 1991 by younger fans from Fuerza Oriente. It has grown to be one of the biggest fan groups in Peru. In 2007, a third smaller group, Gvardia Xtrema, was created for the western part of the stadium. Sporting Cristal has supporters in every section of the Estadio Alberto Gallardo.

Team Achievements

Main Team Titles

Friendly Competitions

Under-20 Team Titles

International Competitions

Sporting Cristal has played in many South American football tournaments.

• Copa Libertadores: They have played in this big tournament 40 times.

* They were runners-up once, in 1997. * They reached the Quarter-finals twice, in 1993 and 1995.

• Copa Sudamericana: They have played in this tournament 4 times.

* They reached the Quarter-finals in 2021.

• Copa CONMEBOL: They played once in 1994, reaching the Quarter-finals.

• Copa Merconorte: They played 4 times (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), reaching the First Round each time.

• U-20 Copa Libertadores: Their youth team has played twice (2012, 2024), reaching the Group Stage.

Other Sports Teams

Sporting Cristal is not just about football! They also have teams in other sports.

Women’s Football

Women's Volleyball

Current Players

No. Position Player 1 GK Matías Córdova 2 DF Benjamín Villalta 3 DF Quembol Guadalupe 4 DF Gianfranco Chávez 5 DF Rafael Lutiger 6 MF Jesús Pretell 7 FW Santiago González 8 MF Leandro Sosa 9 FW Martín Cauteruccio 10 FW Alejandro Hohberg 11 FW Irven Ávila 12 GK Renato Solís 15 DF Jhilmar Lora 16 MF Adrián Beltrán 17 FW Diego Otoya 19 MF Yoshimar Yotún

No. Position Player 21 DF Franco Romero 22 MF Gonzalo Aguirre (on loan from Nueva Chicago) 23 FW Maxloren Castro 24 FW Fernando Pacheco 25 MF Martín Távara 26 MF Ian Wisdom 27 MF Adrián Ascues 28 DF Nicolás Pasquini 29 DF Alejandro Pósito 30 MF Jostin Alarcón 31 GK Diego Enríquez 32 DF Leonardo Díaz 39 FW Luis Iberico 55 MF Gustavo Cazonatti (on loan from Tombense)

Players on Loan

No. Position Player GK Alejandro Duarte (at Alajuelense) DF Rafael Lutiger (at Sport Boys) FW Adrián Ugarriza (at Deportivo Garcilaso) DF Flavio Alcedo (at Sport Boys)

No. Position Player DF Gilmar Paredes (at Cienciano) MF Aldair Vásquez (at Atlético Grau) FW Marlon Perea (at Comerciantes FC)

Club Presidents

Team Managers

Years	Nationality	Name
1956–58		Luis Tirado
1958–59		César Viccino
1960		Carlos Peucelle
1960		Víctor Pasache
1961–62		Juan Honores
1962		Víctor Pasache
1962–64		Waldir Pereira "Didí"
1964–66		Alberto "Toto" Terry
1966		Yaldo Barbalho
1967–69		Waldir Pereira "Didí"
1969		Víctor Pasache
1969–70		Vito Andrés "Sabino" Bártoli
1971		Rudi Gutendorf
1972–74		Marcos Calderón
1974		Rafael Asca
1974–75		Eloy Campos
1976		Juan Honores
1976		Víctor Pasache
1976–77		Diego Agurto
1977		Alberto Gallardo
1977–78		Roque Máspoli
1978		Alberto Gallardo
1978–79		José Fernández
1979–81		Marcos Calderón
1981–82		Alberto Gallardo
1982–83		César Cubilla
1984		José Chiarella
1985		Alberto Gallardo
1985		José del Castillo
1985–86		Héctor Chumpitaz
1987–88		Miguel Company
1988		Óscar Montalvo
1988–89		Alberto Gallardo
1989–90		Oscar López Oscar Cavallero
1990		Fernando Mellán
1990		Eugenio Jara
1990–92		Juan Carlos Oblitas
1993		José Carlos Amaral
1993–95		Juan Carlos Oblitas
1996		José Luis Carbone
1996		Roberto Mosquera
1996–97		Sergio Markarián
1997–98		Miguel Ángel Arrué
1998		Luis García
1998–99		Franco Navarro
1999		Rodolfo Motta
1999–01		Juan Carlos Oblitas
2001		Horacio Magalhaes
Jan 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2002		Paulo Autuori
2003		Renê Weber
2003–04		Wilmar Valencia
2004		Eduardo Asca
2004–05		Edgardo Bauza
May 22, 2005 – Dec 17, 2006		José del Solar
Jan 1, 2007 – May 5, 2007		Jorge Sampaoli
2007		Walter Fiori
July 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2009		Juan Carlos Oblitas
Jan 1, 2010 – Dec 9, 2010		Víctor Rivera
Dec 21, 2010 – April 19, 2011		Guillermo Rivarola
April 20, 2011 – Nov 23, 2011		Juan Reynoso
Nov 23, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011		Francisco Melgar
Jan 1, 2012 – Aug 7, 2013		Roberto Mosquera
Aug 7, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013		Francisco Melgar (interim)
Aug 18, 2013 – Dec 19, 2013		Claudio Vivas
Jan 1, 2014–15		Daniel Ahmed
Jan 4, 2016 – Dec 19, 2016		Mariano Soso
Jan 4, 2017 – Jun 25, 2017		José del Solar
Jun 25, 2017 – Dic 3, 2017		Pablo Zegarra
Jan 4, 2018 – Dic 18, 2018		Mario Salas
Jan 7, 2019 – Feb 5, 2019		Alexis Mendoza
Feb 8, 2019 – Sep 10, 2019		Claudio Vivas
Feb 8, 2019 – Sep 10, 2019		Manuel Barreto
Feb 23, 2020 – Nov 08, 2022		Roberto Mosquera
Nov 09, 2022 –		Tiago Nunes

See also

In Spanish: Club Sporting Cristal para niños