Club Universitario de Deportes facts for kids
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| Full name | Club Universitario de Deportes | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Cremas Los Merengues |
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| Founded | 7 August 1924, as Federación Universitaria de Futbol | |||
| Ground | Monumental U Marathon | |||
| Capacity | 80,093 | |||
| Chairman | Manuel Barreto | |||
| Manager | Fabián Bustos | |||
| League | Liga 1 | |||
| 2024 | Liga 1, 1st of 18 | |||
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Club Universitario de Deportes is a famous Peruvian sports club from Lima. Its main sport is football. The club also has teams for women's football, volleyball, and basketball. The football team, often called Universitario, has played in Peru's top league, Liga 1, since 1928.
Universitario is the most successful team in Peruvian football. They have won 28 league titles. They have also never been relegated from the top division. The club was started in August 1924 by students from the National University of San Marcos. It was first named Federación Universitaria. In 1931, the name was changed to Club Universitario de Deportes.
The club won its first Peruvian title in 1929. This was just one year after joining the first division. Universitario won two titles in a row in 1945 and 1946. They won three titles in a row (a "treble") in 2000. Universitario was the first Peruvian club to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1972. This is South America's biggest club competition. Universitario is one of the two most popular teams in Peru.
In 2000, the club opened the Estadio Monumental. It can hold 80,000 people. It is the largest stadium in Peru. Their old stadium, Estadio Teodoro Lolo Fernández, is now used for training. Universitario has the best football facilities in Peru. These include Estadio Monumental, Lolo Fernández, and Campo Mar. They are used for training in many sports.
Universitario has a big rivalry with Alianza Lima. This rivalry is called the Peruvian Clásico. It started in 1928. It is one of the most intense rivalries in South America. Universitario also has rivalries with Sporting Cristal, Deportivo Municipal, and Sport Boys.
Contents
History
How it Started (1924–1927)
The club began on August 7, 1924. It was called Federación Universitaria. Students and professors from the National University of San Marcos founded it. José Rubio was the first president. Dr. Luis Málaga designed the club's badge.
At first, Federación Universitaria was a small league. It held tournaments between university departments. Peru's top sports committee recognized it as an official league. It joined the Peruvian Football Federation. The club played friendly matches but did not join the top division until 1928.
The Early Years (1928–1950)
In 1928, the Peruvian Football Federation let Universitario join the Peruvian Primera División. The club did very well and finished second that year. On September 23, 1928, Universitario played its first "clásico" against Alianza Lima. They won 1–0. Universitario lost the league title to Alianza in a play-off.
The next year, Universitario won its first league title in 1929. This stopped Alianza from winning three titles in a row.
In 1931, the university asked the club to change its name. So, Federación Universitaria became Club Universitario de Deportes. They kept the "U" symbol. That same year, Teodoro Fernández, known as "Lolo" Fernández, joined the team. He was 18 years old.
Universitario's second title in 1934 caused some debate. The rules were complicated. Universitario asked for a play-off match against Alianza Lima. Universitario won 2–1. Some people still argue about this title. But the Peruvian Football Federation and FIFA officially say Universitario won it.
In 1941, Universitario won another title. The league was stopped for a while because the national team played in a big tournament. When it started again, Universitario won its last two games to become champion.
The club won two titles in a row in 1945 and 1946. This was their first "bicampeonato" (two-time champion). Three great players, Víctor Espinoza, Teodoro Fernández, and Eduardo Fernández, scored many goals. In 1949, the club celebrated its 25th anniversary by winning the championship.
The amateur era ended in 1950. Universitario had won seven league titles.
The Professional Era (1951–Present)
Professional football started in Peru in 1951. Only clubs from Lima and Callao played at first. Universitario won its first professional game 4–1. On July 20, 1952, the Estadio Teodoro Lolo Fernandez opened. Universitario beat Universidad de Chile 4–2. Lolo Fernández scored three goals.
In the 1950s, Universitario did not win many titles. Other teams won the championships. But in 1959, they won their eighth title. They tied 3–3 in the final match.
In the 1960s, the club had even more success. They won five more championships. They won in 1960, becoming "bicampeonato" again. As champions, Universitario was the first Peruvian club to play in the Copa Libertadores in 1961. This is South America's top club competition.
In 1964, Universitario won the title again. In 1966, the league became national, called the Torneo Descentralizado. Universitario, led by coach Marcos Calderón, became the first national champion. They won their third "bicampeonato" in 1967. In 1968, Universitario had its biggest Copa Libertadores win, beating Always Ready 6–0. They ended the decade with another national title in 1969.
The 1972 Copa Libertadores
In 1971, Universitario won its 14th league title. This qualified them for the 1972 tournament. They were in a group with two Chilean teams. Universitario won their first game against Alianza Lima 2–1. They played well and won enough games to move to the next round.
In the semi-final stage, Universitario played against two strong Uruguayan teams: Peñarol and Nacional. Peñarol had won the Copa Libertadores three times. Nacional had won the year before. Universitario lost their first game to Peñarol. But they won against Nacional 3–0. They then tied both away games in Uruguay. Universitario earned enough points to reach the final. This was a huge achievement for a Peruvian club.
In the final, Universitario played against Independiente from Argentina. The first game in Lima ended 0–0. The second game in Argentina ended 2–1 for Independiente. Percy Rojas scored Universitario's goal. Even though they lost, Universitario made history. They were the first Peruvian club to reach the Copa Libertadores final.
In 1974, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary. They started a football school for young players. They also won the championship that year.
The 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s, the Peruvian football league changed its format. In 1982, Universitario won its 16th league title. They beat Deportivo Municipal 1–0 in the final. In 1985, José Luis Carranza joined the team. He became a very important player for the club. Universitario won both parts of the season in 1985, so they were champions.
In 1987, Universitario won another title. They beat their rivals, Alianza Lima, in the final. This win gave Universitario more Peruvian titles than Alianza Lima. In 1990, Universitario won another regional tournament.
In 1992, the league format changed back to a simpler system. Universitario won the title a week before the end of the season. They beat CD San Agustín 4–1. With Sergio Markarián as coach, Universitario won again in 1993. This was another "bicampeonato" for the club. They beat San Agustín 3–0. This was the fourth time the club won two titles in a row.
The Treble (1998–2000)
Universitario won three titles in a row in 1998, 1999, and 2000. This is called a "Tricampeonato" or "treble." Oswaldo Piazza coached the 1998 team. Miguel Company and Roberto Challe led the club to the other two titles. Universitario was the third Peruvian team to achieve this.
During this time, Universitario also played in the Copa Libertadores. They reached the Round of 16 in 1998. But they were eliminated in the group stage in 1999 and 2000. They also played in the Copa Merconorte but did not get past the group stage.
2001–2009
After their "Tricampeonato," Universitario had less success. In 2002, they won the Apertura tournament. But they couldn't win the national title. In 2005, Universitario qualified for the 2006 Copa Libertadores. They won their first match but were eliminated in the group stage. They also played in the Copa Sudamericana in 2007 and 2008 but were eliminated early.
In 2008, Ricardo Gareca led Universitario to win the Apertura tournament. They won it with many games to spare. This qualified them for the 2009 Copa Libertadores. In 2009, Juan Reynoso, a former player, became the new coach. Many players from 2008 stayed. Nolberto Solano was a key new signing.
In the 2009 season final, Universitario faced their rival, Alianza Lima. Universitario won both games. They won the first leg 1–0. In the second leg, Nolberto Solano scored the winning goal from a penalty.
By 2009, Universitario had 25 league titles. Seven were from the amateur era, and 18 from the professional era. They also won all four "super clásicos" against Alianza Lima that year. This secured their spot in the Copa Libertadores 2010.
2010–Present
In the 2010 Copa Libertadores, Universitario was in Group 4. They won their first away game 2–1. They then beat Lanús 2–0 and tied 0–0 with Libertad. This was their 200th game in the Copa Libertadores.
Universitario finished the group stage with 10 points. They were one of the best defensive teams. They played against São Paulo in the knockout stage. Both matches ended 0–0. São Paulo won on penalty kicks. Universitario left the Cup without losing a single game in regular play.
In the league, the team had a tough start in 2010. They lost their first three games. But they quickly recovered. They faced some management problems and coach changes. This made it hard for them to have a good season.
In 2011, the team struggled at the start. But they improved and finished the first part of the season strong. In the second part, they avoided relegation in the second to last game. In the Copa Sudamericana, they reached the quarterfinals for the first time. They lost to Vasco da Gama.
Due to large debts, the club went through a restructuring process. A temporary administrator was appointed. In 2024, "la U" celebrated its 100th anniversary. They also won both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. This gave them their 28th league title.
Colors and Badge
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| Universitario's first kit |
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| 2023 |
Universitario's main colors are cream (crema), burgundy (granate), and black. For home games, they wear a cream-colored kit with black socks. For away games, they use a burgundy-colored kit with black socks.
The club's first uniforms were white. One time, their white uniforms were being washed. The managers asked the laundry to hurry. But when the jerseys came back, they were yellow! The red color from the badges had mixed with the white fabric. The club had to use the yellow jerseys. They won that game and others. So, they kept the yellow color as a good-luck charm.
The club's badge is a red "U" inside a deep-red circle. Luis Malaga, one of the club's founders, designed it.
Stadium
Universitario's first stadium was Estadio Lolo Fernandez. It could hold 15,000 people. Now, its capacity is 4,000. It is used as a football academy and for games by the reserve and youth teams. It was named after Teodoro "Lolo" Fernandez, the club's most famous player.
The Estadio Monumental was built in the 1990s and opened in 2000. It replaced Estadio Lolo Fernandez and the Nacional. Universitario won the first game there 2–0. Universitario now owns this stadium. It is the largest stadium in Peru, holding 85,000 people. It is the third largest in South America.
The stadium was not allowed to host the "clásico" derby between Universitario and Alianza Lima from 2002 to 2007. This was because of fan violence. The first derby there was in 2002. Universitario won 1–0. Alianza fans reacted badly, causing damage. So, future derbies were played at Estadio Nacional. The derby returned to Estadio Monumental on September 14, 2008.
The stadium was also not chosen for the Copa América 2004 tournament. Many people thought it would have been perfect for the games.
Supporters
Universitario has one of the largest fan bases in Peru. Only Alianza Lima has similar numbers of supporters. Universitario's main fan groups are Barra Oriente and Trinchera Norte. Barra Oriente started in 1968. Trinchera Norte was formed in 1988.
Universitario and Alianza Lima are the two most popular teams in Peru. Polls often show them close in popularity. In some polls, Universitario is more popular. In others, Alianza Lima is. The numbers can change depending on the survey. For example, a 2009 survey showed Universitario first with 37.9% and Alianza second with 36.6%.
Players
Current squad
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Retired numbers
- 9 –
Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández, forward (1930–53) – Number retired since the 2013 season. - 22 – José Luis Carranza, midfielder (1986–04)
Out on loan
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Technical Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Fabián Bustos |
| Assistant manager |  Edgardo Adinolfi |
| Assistant manager |  Jonathan Mejía |
| Physical trainer | Marcos Conenna |
| Technical advisor | Héctor Chumpitaz |
| Goalkeeper manager | Ángel Venegas |
Famous Managers
Seventeen managers have won at least one major trophy with Universitario. Fourteen of them won the Peruvian league title. Arturo Fernández and Marcos Calderon each won four major titles, which is a club record. Roberto Scarone won three league titles. He also led the club to its first Copa Libertadores final in 1972. Universitario's first manager, Mario de las Casas, was a player-manager. He led the club to its first championship.
Three managers—Miguel Company, Ángel Cappa, and Ricardo Gareca—won an Apertura tournament. But they did not win the national championship. Company left the team after winning the 1999 Apertura. Cappa resigned in 2002 due to money problems. Gareca could not reach the final championship match in 2008.
| Manager | Period | Trophies |
|---|---|---|
| Mario de las Casas |
1928–29, 1934 | 2 Primera División |
 Jack Greenwell |
1939 | 1 Primera División |
| Arturo Fernández |
1941–49 | 4 Primera División |
| Segundo Castillo |
1959–62 | 2 Primera División |
| Marcos Calderón |
1964–67, 1985–86 | 4 Primera División |
| Roberto Scarone |
1969–74 | 3 Primera División |
| Juan Hohberg |
1974 | 1 Primera División |
| Juan Carlos Oblitas |
1987–90 | 1 Primera División |
| Fernando Cuellar |
1990, 1994 | 1 Primera División |
 Ivica Brzić |
1991–93, 1997 | 1 Primera División |
| Sergio Markarián |
1993–94, 1995–96 | 1 Primera División |
| Osvaldo Piazza |
1997–98 | 1 Primera División |
| Miguel Company |
1999 | 1 Torneo Apertura |
| Roberto Challe |
1999–01, 2015–17 | 2 Primera División |
| Ángel Cappa |
2002 | 1 Torneo Apertura |
| Ricardo Gareca |
2007–08 | 1 Torneo Apertura |
| Juan Reynoso |
2009–10 | 1 Primera División |
| Ángel Comizzo |
2013–14 | 1 Primera División |
| Jorge Fossati |
2023 | 1 Primera División |
| Fabián Bustos |
2024– | 1 Primera División |
Honours
Senior Titles
- Keys
- Record
- (s) Shared record
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Primera División | 28 | 15 | 1929, 1934, 1939, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2023, 2024 | 1928, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1955, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1978,1984, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2020 |
| Half-year / Short tournament (League) |
Torneo Apertura | 8 | 2 |
1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2016, 2020, 2024
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1969, 2005 |
| Torneo Clausura | 3 | 6 | 2000, 2023, 2024 | 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2019 | |
| Liguilla Pre-Libertadores | — | 2 | — |
1996, 1997
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| Torneo Regional | 4 | 4 |
1985, 1987, 1988, 1990–II
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1981, 1989–II, 1990–I, 1991–II | |
| Torneo Descentralizado | 1 | 1 |
1985
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1988 | |
| Torneo de Primeros Equipos | 1 | 2 |
1934
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1932, 1933 | |
| Campeonato de Apertura (ANA) | 3 | 4 |
1945, 1946, 1969
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1947, 1955, 1956, 1961 | |
| National (Cups) |
Copa Presidente de la República | 1 | — |
1970
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— |
| Torneo Plácido Galindo | — | 1 | — |
1989
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| International (Cups) |
Copa Libertadores | — | 1 | — |
1972
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Friendlies
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (Cup) |
Torneo Extraoficial | 1 | — |
1936
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— |
| International (Cup) |
Copa El Gráfico-Perú | 1 | 4 | 2000 | 1999, 2001–I, 2001–II, 2005 |
Under-20 Team
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Torneo de Promoción y Reserva | 1 | 2 | 2024 | 2016, 2023 |
| Torneo Equipos de Reserva | 3 | 3 | 1930, 1931, 1932 | 1933, 1934, 1937 | |
| Half-year / Short tournament (League) |
Torneo del Inca | 2 | — | 2014, 2015 | — |
| International (Cups) |
U-20 Copa Libertadores | 1(s) | — | 2011 | — |
Performance in CONMEBOL Competitions
- Copa Libertadores: 35 appearances
- 1961, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
- Runner-up (1): 1972
- Copa Sudamericana: 8 appearances
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- 2002: First Stage
- 2005: First Stage
- 2007: First Stage
- 2008: First Stage
- 2011: Quarterfinals
- 2015: Second Stage
- 2016: First Stage
- 2023: Knockout round play-offs
- Copa CONMEBOL: 2 appearances
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- 1992: First round
- 1997: Semifinals
- Copa Merconorte: 4 appearances
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- 1998: Group Stage
- 1999: Group Stage
- 2000: Group Stage
- 2001: Group Stage
- U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2 appearances
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- 2011:
Champion - 2012: Quarter-finals
- 2011:
Other Sports
Women’s Football
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Liga Femenina | 10 | 2 | 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023 | 2021, 2024 |
| Regional (League) |
Región IV | 3 | — | 2015, 2016, 2019 | — |
| Zona Lima | 1 | — | 2019 | — |
- Copa Libertadores Femenina: 5 appearances
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- 2015: Group Stage
- 2016: Group Stage
- 2017: Group Stage
- 2020: Group Stage
- 2023: Group Stage
Futsal
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Primera División Futsal Pro | 3 | 3 | 2005, 2019, 2024 | 2006, 2022, 2023 |
- Copa Libertadores de Futsal: 2 appearances
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- 2006: Quarterfinals
- 2021: 5th Place
Women’s Volleyball
| Type | Competition | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runner-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Liga Intermedia de Voleibol | 1 | — | 2024 | — |
Ranking
IFFHS MEN'S CLUB WORLD RANKING 2023 at MAY 31 (Previous year rank in italics, IFFHS Club Coefficients in parentheses)
- 198
(216) 
Galatasaray S.K. (84) - 199 (208) Brentford F.C. (84)
- 201 (237) Universitario de Deportes (83)
- 202 (207)
Philadelphia Union (82,5) - 203 (249)
América de Cali (82,5)
Records
- Seasons in Primera División: 94 (1928–2022) (This is the longest time any Peruvian football club has stayed in the top division.)
- Biggest Primera División victory: 9–0 v. Atlético Torino (September 19, 1970)
- Biggest Copa Libertadores victory: 6–0 v. Always Ready (February 27, 1968)
- Biggest Primera División defeat:
- 0–6 v. Sport Boys (1994)
- 0–6 v. Deportivo Municipal (1937)
- Biggest Copa Libertadores defeat: 0–6 v. Rosario Central (February 21, 2001)
- Longest time without losing: 36 games, from May 27, 1974, to February 27, 1975 (This is the longest unbeaten run in Peruvian football.)
- Most games played overall: 524, José Luis Carranza (1986–04)
- Most goals scored in one season: 37, Eduardo Esidio (1998–00)
- Most goals scored overall: 156, Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández (1930–53)
- Most Primera División titles as a player: 7, Ángel Uribe, Luis Cruzado, José Luis Carranza
- Most Primera División titles as a manager: 4, Arturo Fernández, Marcos Calderón
Year-by-Year Performance
Here is a look at Universitario's performance in the last five seasons. For a full history, see List of Universitario de Deportes seasons.
| Season | League | Position | National Cups | Continental / Other | Tournament Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Play-offs | Name(s) | Goals | |||||
| 2018 | Torneo de Verano | 14 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 13 | 8th | DNQ |
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Copa Libertadores | R1 |
—
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| Torneo Apertura | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 11th | ||||||||
| Torneo Clausura | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 17 | 26 | 4th | ||||||||
| 2019 | Torneo Apertura | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 12th | DNQ | Copa Bicentenario | QF | DNQ | Germán Denis |
10 | |
| Torneo Clausura | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 33 | 2nd | ||||||||
| 2020 | Torneo Apertura | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 18 | 42 | 1st | 2nd | Copa Bicentenario |
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Copa Libertadores | R2 | Alejandro Hohberg |
13 |
| Torneo Clausura | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 6th | ||||||||
| 2021 | Fase 1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 3rd | 3rd | Copa Bicentenario | R1 | Copa Libertadores | GS | Alex Valera |
13 |
| Fase 2 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 19 | 32 | 3rd | ||||||||
| 2022 | Torneo Apertura | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 28 | 9th | DNQ |
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—
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Copa Libertadores | R2 | Alex Valera |
12 |
| Torneo Clausura | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 10 | 33 | 4th | ||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Club Universitario de Deportes para niños
- List of Club Universitario de Deportes players
- Club Universitario de Deportes in South American football
- Club Universitario de Deportes–Sporting Cristal rivalry
- Peruvian Clásico
- Iluminados
