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Defensor Sporting
Defensor Sporting.svg
Full name Defensor Sporting Club
Nickname(s) El Violeta
La Viola
El Tuerto
El Defe
La Farola
La Cometa
Founded 15 March 1913; 112 years ago (1913-03-15)
Ground Estadio Luis Franzini,
Montevideo, Uruguay
Ground Capacity 16,000
Chairman Alberto Ward
Coach Álvaro Navarro
League Primera División
2023 Primera División, 4th of 16

Defensor Sporting Club is a famous sports club from Montevideo, Uruguay. It was started in 1913. This club is known for its many sports, but football (soccer) and basketball are the most important. They have won many big awards in Uruguay and even in international games.

Defensor Sporting is the third most successful club in Uruguay. They have won 24 official titles! Only Peñarol and Club Nacional de Football have won more. Their best international result was in 2014. They reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, which is a huge South American football tournament. They have won the top Uruguayan football league, the Uruguayan Championship, four times: in 1976, 1987, 1991, and 2007-08. The 1976 win was very special because it broke a 44-year streak where only Nacional or Peñarol had won the title.

Club History: How it All Started

The club began on March 15, 1913, and was first called Club Atlético Defensor. Later, in 1989, it joined with Sporting Club Uruguay and changed its name to Defensor Sporting Club. They were part of the very first professional football league season in Uruguay back in 1932.

Defensor Sporting has often played in the Copa Libertadores. This means they have represented Uruguay many times in big international competitions. The club is also famous for finding and training many talented players. These players often become successful around the world. Some well-known players who started at Defensor include Sebastián Abreu, Martín Cáceres, and Maxi Pereira.

A legendary coach named Prof. José Ricardo de León led Defensor to win the national championship in 1976. He created a special way of playing football that is still seen in some teams and coaches today. In September 2007, a group called the IFFHS even named Defensor Sporting the "World's Club Team of the Month."

Home Ground: Estadio Luis Franzini

Defensor Sporting plays its home games at its own stadium, called Estadio Luis Franzini. This stadium can hold up to 18,000 fans! It first opened on December 31, 1963. You can find it in the Parque Rodó area of Montevideo.

Big Games: Club Rivalries

Defensor Sporting has a strong rivalry with Danubio. This is because both clubs are the next biggest teams in Uruguay after the two historical giants, Peñarol and Nacional. Games between Defensor and Danubio are known as the "Clásico de los medianos." This means "Classic of the Mediums" in Spanish.

Club Achievements: Trophies and Wins

This section shows all the important titles and competitions Defensor Sporting has won.

Type Competition Titles Winning years
National
(League)
Primera División 4 1976, 1987, 1991, 2008
Segunda División 2 1950, 1965
Segunda División (1903-1914) 1
1914
Divisional Tercera Extra 1
1913
Half-year / Short
tournament

(League)
Torneo Apertura 4
1994, 2007, 2010, 2017
Torneo Clausura 4
1997, 2009, 2012, 2013
National
(Cups)
Copa AUF Uruguay 2
2022, 2023
Liguilla Pre-Libertadores 8
1976, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2006
Campeonato Nacional General Artigas 1
1960
Torneo Cuadrangular 1
1957

Playing in International Tournaments (CONMEBOL)

Defensor Sporting has often played in big international football tournaments organized by CONMEBOL. These competitions bring together top clubs from all over South America.

1977: Group Stage
1980: Group Stage
1982: Group Stage
1990: Round of 16
1992: Round of 16
1994: Round of 16
1996: Round of 16
2001: Group Stage
2006: First Round
2007: Quarter-finals
2009: Quarter-finals
2012: Group Stage
2013: First Stage
2014: Semi-finals
2018: Group Stage
2019: Third Qualifying Stage
2024: First Qualifying Stage
  • U-20 Copa Libertadores: 1 appearance
2012: Runner-up
2005: Second Round
2007: Quarter-finals
2008: Round of 16
2010: Round of 16
2015: Quarter-finals
2017: First Stage
2018: Second Stage
2023: First Stage
  • Copa CONMEBOL: 2 appearances
1995: First Round
1997: First Round

Team Uniforms: Kit Evolution

Current Team Players

Here are the players who are currently part of the Defensor Sporting football team.

No. Position Player
1 Uruguay GK Matías Dufour
2 Uruguay DF Lucas Ymbert
3 Uruguay DF Guillermo de los Santos
4 Uruguay DF Rodrigo Cabrera
6 Uruguay MF Mauricio Amaro
7 Argentina FW Claudio Spinelli
8 Uruguay MF Francisco Barrios
11 Uruguay FW Lucas Agazzi
12 Uruguay GK Kevin Dawson
13 Uruguay FW Augusto Cambón
14 Argentina DF Renzo Giampaoli (on loan from Boca Juniors)
15 Uruguay DF Juan Viacava
16 Uruguay DF José Álvarez
17 Argentina FW Felipe Cadenazzi
No. Position Player
18 Uruguay MF Agustín Soria
19 Uruguay FW Pablo Viudez
20 Uruguay DF Patricio Pacífico
21 Uruguay MF Joaquín Valiente
22 Peru MF Alfonso Barco
23 Uruguay GK Bruno Simone
24 Uruguay FW Brian Mansilla (on loan from Peñarol)
25 Mexico MF Xavier Biscayzacú
27 Uruguay MF Juan Manuel Jorge
28 Brazil MF Luan Brito (on loan from Fluminense)
29 Uruguay FW Rodrigo Dudok
30 Uruguay MF Erico Cuello
32 Argentina MF Walter Montoya

Players on Loan

Sometimes players are loaned to other teams for a while. Here are some Defensor Sporting players who are currently playing for other clubs.

No. Position Player
Uruguay FW Facundo Labandeira (at CRB until 31 December 2024)
Uruguay MF Nicolás Wunsch (at Cerro until 31 December 2024)
No. Position Player
Uruguay FW Diego Abreu (at Deportivo Toluca until 31 December 2024)

Famous Former Players

Many great players have played for Defensor Sporting over the years. Here is one of them:

  • Uruguay Diego Jaume

Well-Known Coaches

These are some of the important coaches who have managed Defensor Sporting:

  • Uruguay Hugo Bagnulo (1952–1957; 1960–1961)
  • Uruguay Gregorio Pérez (1983–1984)
  • Uruguay Juan Ahuntchaín (1996)
  • Uruguay Ricardo Ortiz (1996–1997)
  • Uruguay Juan Tejera (2004–2005)
  • Uruguay Jorge da Silva (2005–2009)
  • Uruguay Gustavo Ferrín (2009–2010)
  • Uruguay Pablo Repetto (2010–2011)
  • Uruguay Gustavo Díaz (2011–2012)
  • Uruguay Tabaré Silva (2012–2013)
  • Uruguay Fernando Curutchet (2013–2014)
  • Uruguay Mauricio Larriera (2015–2016)
  • Uruguay Eduardo Acevedo (2016–2018)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Defensor Sporting Club para niños

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