Montevideo Wanderers F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Bohemios Vagabundos |
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| Founded | 15 August 1902 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Alfredo Victor Viera, Montevideo | |||
| Capacity | 10,000 | |||
| Chairman | Gabriel Blanco | |||
| Manager | Antonio Pacheco | |||
| League | Primera División | |||
| 2023 | Primera División, 5th of 16 | |||
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Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, often called just Wanderers, is a professional football team from Montevideo, Uruguay. They play in the top football league in Uruguay, called the Primera División, at their home stadium, the Estadio Viera. Besides football, Wanderers also has teams for basketball, volleyball, athletics, futsal, pool, and pelota.
Contents
History of Montevideo Wanderers
How Wanderers Started (1898–1931)
The Montevideo Wanderers club began in the late 1800s. It was started by young people who wanted to make their own decisions in a sports club.
The Sardeson brothers led this group. They quickly became well-known in their neighborhood, El Prado. The name "Wanderers" came from a trip Enrique and Juan Sardeson made to England.
In England, a famous team called The Wanderers played. There were also other teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers (who play in the Premier League today) and Bolton Wanderers F.C.
At first, there was no local league in Uruguay. The team only played friendly matches. Many Wanderers players also played for Albión Football Club. Albión was a founder of the Uruguayan Football Association.
Differences in sports ideas led the Sardeson brothers and their group to create Montevideo Wanderers Football Club. They officially founded the club on August 15, 1902. This happened at a store and bar on 19 de Abril street.
The team's first uniform was a blue and white shirt with thin stripes. They wore white pants and black socks. Mr. Juan Sardeson was the first president.
The Start of Professional Football (1932–1951)
Professional football began in Uruguay in 1932. Ten teams played in the Uruguayan Championship that year. Montevideo Wanderers finished in fifth place.
A year later, on October 15, they opened their own stadium, the Wanderers Park. They won their first game there 2-0 against Bella Vista. This is still their home stadium today.
In 1934, Wanderers was the first non-traditional club to reach a final. They played against Nacional but lost 3-0. In those years, Uruguayan tournaments had three stages.
Wanderers was a strong team in the early professional years. They often finished near the top with Nacional and Peñarol. They were third in the Uruguayan championships in 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, and 1942.
In 1937, Montevideo Wanderers won the Uruguayan Honor Tournament. They beat Nacional 3-0. This made them the third team to win an official First Division tournament.
The famous player Obdulio Varela joined Wanderers in 1938. He played for five seasons. He was known for his strong midfield play and his penalty kicks.
In 1939, Wanderers finished second in the Uruguayan Honor Championship. In 1942, they were close to winning the Uruguayan Championship. They finished third, just behind the two biggest clubs. In 1943 and 1944, they finished fourth.
In the mid-1940s, Wanderers started to struggle. Even with new players from Argentina, they couldn't get back to the top.
In 1950, Wanderers and Club Atlético Bella Vista finished last. The league decided to have tie-breaker games. Wanderers won one game, Bella Vista won one, and one was a tie. Since they couldn't agree on a fourth game, they drew lots. Wanderers won the draw and stayed in the top division. Bella Vista was relegated.
However, after some poor results, Wanderers hired many Argentine players. Even with better play, they were relegated to the Second Division by one point.
Ups and Downs (1952–1972)
In 1952, Montevideo Wanderers celebrated their 50th anniversary. But for the first time, they were in the Second Division. This was due to money problems.
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Some players stayed, and others joined. Even some players who had retired came back. A great scorer, José María Medina, stayed to help his team. The excellent goalkeeper Juan Bautista Besuzzo also returned. After a great season, Wanderers won the Second Division title. They immediately returned to the First Division.
In 1953 and 1954, Wanderers played well enough to stay in the top league. Forward Oscar Chelle scored many goals. By the mid-1950s, they were back among the top teams.
In 1956, the club finished fourth in one tournament and fifth in the Uruguayan tournament. In 1957, Wanderers almost won the Championship Competition. They were tied with Peñarol before the last game. Wanderers drew 0-0 with Racing at their home stadium, Parque Viera. Peñarol won their game and took the title. Later that year, Wanderers beat Racing 4-0, sending them down to the Second Division.
In 1958, Julio Toja, one of the most exciting players in Wanderers' history, joined the team. He was part of a strong attacking line. Wanderers finished fifth in the Uruguayan league in 1958, 1959, and 1960.
In 1961, Wanderers changed their uniform. They went from thick black and white stripes to thin ones. It was a difficult year for the team. They finished near the bottom and lost to Centro Atlético Fénix in the relegation playoffs.
Wanderers returned to the First Division in 1962. They won the Second Division Championship easily. The team had a mix of experienced players and young talent. They had international goalkeeper Walter Taibo, defenders Beico and Nelson Diaz, and strong attackers.
Back in the top division, the team played brilliantly. They finished third in 1963 and 1964. They had memorable games at the Centenario Stadium against the big teams. Wanderers also attracted many fans to their games, more than most clubs except Nacional and Peñarol.
In 1965, their league performance was very poor. They finished second to last. In 1966, a new relegation system started. It combined scores from the previous year.
Wanderers had good seasons in 1967 and 1968, fighting for promotion. In 1968, they were first until the last game. But they lost 1-0 to Bella Vista and finished third.
In 1969, the team faced its worst crisis. With money problems, they finished sixth. In 1970, they improved to fourth place. That year, Miguel Ortiz, one of Wanderers' best goalkeepers, joined the team.
During these years, Mateo Giri became club president. Under his leadership, Wanderers improved. In 1971 and 1972, Wanderers built a strong team. They returned to the First Division at the end of 1972. They beat Racing 1-0 with a goal by Aníbal Alves to secure their promotion.
Back in the Primera Division (1973–1991)
In 1973, Wanderers aimed to stay in the First Division. They built a strong team with an excellent defense. They earned points against Nacional and Peñarol at the Centenario Stadium. They showed great spirit and achieved their goal, avoiding relegation.
In 1974 and 1975, Wanderers made history again. They qualified for the Copa Libertadores for the first time. This is a very important South American club tournament.
After good performances, Wanderers earned a spot in the Pre-Libertadores de América league. They started with two losses. But then they beat Cerro 5-3 and Liverpool 3-2. This meant they could qualify for the Copa Libertadores if they beat Nacional in the last game. On January 28, 1975, Wanderers won 2-1 against Nacional. Washington Olivera scored the winning goal in the last minute.
On March 14, 1975, Wanderers won their first Copa Libertadores game. They beat Unión Huaral 4-0. Even though they didn't advance (only group winners qualified then), they showed the club's strength.
In 1976, they were back at the top of local tournaments. They finished third in one league, fifth in the Uruguayan, and fourth in the Liguilla Pre Libertadores. Forwards Richard Forlán and Washington Olivera were considered the best players in their positions. They also won the Capital-Interior integration tournament without losing a game.
In 1977, they won a title, beating Peñarol twice. They finished sixth in the Uruguayan Championship and third in the Liguilla.
In 1978, they finished fifth in the Uruguayan Tournament. Striker Alfredo Arias was a key player. Wanderers also beat Peñarol 4-0 in a Major League game.
In 1979, many new players joined the team. Jorge Walter Barrios became a regular starter. On October 17, 1979, Wanderers had an amazing night. They beat Nacional 5-1 in the Uruguayan league.
In 1980, Wanderers had a brilliant season. They finished as Uruguayan Vice Champion, second only to Nacional, who won the South American and World titles that year. They narrowly missed qualifying for the Copa Libertadores.
In 1981, they finished third in the Uruguayan league, behind Peñarol and Nacional.
The next season, Wanderers built a very balanced team. They were Vice Champion in the Pre-Liguilla Libertadores de América. They beat Defensor 5-2 on penalties.
In 1983, Enzo Francescoli, a future football star, left Wanderers to play in Argentina. In the Copa Libertadores, Wanderers played very well. They finished seventh, which was their best performance in that tournament's history.
In 1984, Wanderers finished sixth in the Uruguayan league.
In 1985, they were Uruguayan Vice Champion again. This was their third time qualifying for the Copa Libertadores. Under coach Óscar Tabárez, Wanderers finished second in the Uruguayan Championship, behind Peñarol. They also won the Uruguayan Third Division Championship.
In 1986, Wanderers won another official First Division Tournament. This championship was named after the National Commission of Physical Education. In the Copa Libertadores, they finished second in their group, behind River Plate from Argentina. River Plate went on to win the tournament that year.
In 1987, Wanderers had one of their best seasons ever. They won the Competition Championship and the Pre-Liberator League of America. They were also close to winning the Uruguayan Championship. In the Liguilla final, they beat Nacional 1-0 with a goal by Di Pascua. They also won the Uruguayan Third Division Championship again. Gregorio Pérez was their coach that season.
In 1988, their performance was mixed. They beat Millonarios de Colombia and drew with Nacional, who were the South American champions that year. They also won the Uruguayan Third Division Championship for the third time.
In 1989, Wanderers were Vice Champion of the Competition Championship. They beat Peñarol 2-1 at Viera Park, with a great performance by Walter Pelletti.
In 1990, Wanderers had a strong final round. They beat Nacional 3-2 and Peñarol 1-0 in the same week.
In 1991, they finished third in the Uruguayan Championship's second round. This was with the return of Walter Pelletti and Jorge Barrios.
Libertadores and Sudamericana (1992–2015)
After strong performances in the 1980s and early 1990s, Wanderers continued to play well. In 1992, they missed qualifying for the Pre-Liguilla Libertadores de América. They drew with Racing in their last game.
In 1992 and 1993, with Jorge Barrios back, Wanderers had great games at the Centenario Stadium. They often won big against Peñarol.
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Wanderers almost won the 1994 Torneo Clausura title. The Uruguayan league was now split into Opening and Closing Tournaments. With goals from Juan Carlos Juarez and other good players, Wanderers were tied with Peñarol for the Clausura title with three games left. But a poor finish meant they ended up third in that championship. They were fifth in the overall annual table. Because of this, they didn't qualify for the Pre-Liberator Liguilla.
In 1995, Wanderers returned to the Liguilla Pre Libertadores. They had a great Opening Tournament and a good Closing Tournament. Key players included Pablo Correa, Juan Ravera, Juan Amondarain, Jorge Barrios, and Carlos Martínez. Later in the year, Darío Delgado was a standout player.
In 1996 and 1997, Wanderers faced some tough times. In 1996, they fought hard to avoid relegation. They drew with nine players against Cerro and beat Peñarol and Nacional to stay in the division. Paraguayan player Duarte scored important goals. In 1997, a great player who would become world-famous appeared: Mauro Camoranesi. He later won many titles in Italy and even the World Cup with Italy. Wanderers finished seventh in the Uruguayan Championship that year.
In 1998, Wanderers faced relegation. They had a good Apertura tournament, finishing fifth. But they had a terrible Clausura, finishing last with no wins. They were relegated after almost 30 years in the First Division.
In 1999, in the Second Division, Wanderers hired many experienced players. They hoped to return to the top league quickly. But the team finished seventh, their worst position ever.
In 2000, Wanderers became Second Division Champions. This was the year Jorge Barrios retired.
Under the direction of former player José Daniel Carreño, Wanderers returned to the First Division. They had a great season. They won the title by beating Salus 2-0 at Parque Viera. In 2001, they won the Liguilla again, without losing a game.
After a strong Qualifying Tournament, Wanderers won the Liguilla title. They beat Fénix 4-1, drew with Defensor, and beat Danubio 3-0 in the final.
In 2002, Wanderers played in the Copa Libertadores again. For the first time, they reached the second phase of the tournament. They were eliminated on penalties by Club Atlético Peñarol in a thrilling match.
In the 2003 Opening Tournament, under coach Jorge Barrios, Wanderers finished in the top positions. They didn't do as well in the Closing Tournament. But they still qualified for the Liguilla.
In 2004, they participated in the Liguilla again.
The year 2005 passed without major events. In 2005, the Uruguayan Championship changed its system to be like European leagues, running from June to June. In the 2005/2006 season, on June 14, 2006, Wanderers crushed Peñarol 5-1, even after being behind.
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Wanderers had a great Uruguayan Championship in 2006/2007. They qualified for the Copa Libertadores again. They were leaders of the Opening Tournament for several weeks under coach Daniel Carreño. Then, under coach Diego Aguirre, they continued to be a strong team.
From 2009 to 2012, Wanderers had good performances. They were consistently in the top positions in the Uruguayan Tournaments. A notable win was beating Nacional 4-0 on October 17, 2009. The club looked forward to a bright future.
With Alfredo Arias as coach and great play from Maxi Rodríguez, Wanderers finished 6th. They qualified for the Copa Sudamericana for the first time. In the first round, they faced Libertad from Paraguay. They lost 2-1 at home and drew 0-0 away, so they were eliminated.
In 2014, Wanderers won the Closing Tournament title. Under Alfredo Arias, they won this historic championship on the last day. They beat El Tanque Sisley 1-0 with a goal from Maximiliano Olivera. Wanderers won both the Clausura and the Annual Table. After a series of matches with Danubio, Wanderers lost the Uruguayan Championship on penalties.
In the 2015 Copa Libertadores, Montevideo Wanderers played very well. They reached the Round of 16. They finished second in their group, which included Boca Juniors, Palestino, and Zamora F.C.. In the Round of 16, they were eliminated by Racing de Avellaneda. They drew 1-1 at home and lost 2-1 away. Maxi Olivera scored a free kick for Wanderers in the second leg. In the local league, they didn't play as well and didn't qualify for international cups.
Continuing International Play (2016–present)
In the 2015-2016 season, with Gastón Machado as coach, the team played consistently. Wanderers finished 5th in the Annual Table. This qualified them for the Copa Sudamericana for the second time.
Gastón Rodríguez was the top scorer in the Clausura Tournament with 16 goals. He also led the Uruguayan Tournament with 19 goals.
In the 2017 season, Wanderers finished 4th in the Uruguayan Championship. This qualified them for the first phase of the Copa Conmebol Libertadores. Wanderers had the league's top scorer again. Cristian Palacios scored 29 goals (19 for Wanderers). Sergio Blanco became the club's all-time top scorer with 105 goals.
In 2018, Wanderers played in international cups again. They faced Olimpia from Paraguay in the first phase of the Copa Libertadores. They lost 0-2 on total score and were eliminated. After a mixed year in the local league, Wanderers had a good Closing Tournament, finishing third. This meant they qualified for an International Cup for the fifth year in a row.
In the 2019 Copa Sudamericana, Wanderers reached the Round of 16. This was their best performance in this competition. For the first time, they played an international cup game at Parque Viera. In the first phase, they beat Sport Huancayo from Peru 3-1. In the second phase, they faced Uruguayan rival Cerro. They drew 0-0 in the first game and won 1-0 in the second with a goal from Rodrigo Pastorini. Wanderers were eliminated in the Round of 16 by the strong Brazilian team Corinthians. It was not a good year for them in the local league. They changed coaches during the season. After 5 years of playing in international cups, Wanderers did not qualify for a cup spot this year.
In 2020, a very unusual year due to COVID-19, the Opening Tournament restarted in mid-August. After a good start, Mauricio Larriera's team had a series of losses. This led to José Daniel Carreño returning to coach the club he loves.
Stadium
The club had more than four home grounds in its first 30 years. This included Liverpool's current stadium, Estadio Belvedere. Their current home stadium is Estadio Viera. It is located in the Prado neighborhood of Montevideo.
The Alfredo Víctor Viera Stadium is the home stadium of Wanderers. It opened on October 15, 1933, as Wanderers Park. At first, it could hold 9,500 fans. After some changes, its capacity is now 10,000 spectators. However, it is not big enough for international matches like the Copa Libertadores or Copa Sudamericana. For those games, Wanderers use the Centenario Stadium, which is owned by the city.
In the Prado area of Montevideo, there are two other stadiums close to Estadio Viera. These are Parque Saroldi (home of River Plate) and the Estadio José Nasazzi Park (home of Bella Vista).
Honours and Trophies
Wanderers has won many important titles throughout its history. Here are some of their main achievements:
| Type | Competition | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Primera División | 3 | 1906, 1909, 1931 |
| Segunda División | 4 | 1952, 1962, 1972, 2000 | |
| Half-year / Short tournament (League) |
Torneo Apertura | 1 |
2014
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| National (Cups) |
Liguilla Pre-Libertadores | 2 |
1987, 2001
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| Campeonato 75 aniversario C.N.E.F | 1 |
1986
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| Torneo Competencia | 2 |
1987, 1990
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| Torneo de Honor | 1 |
1937
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| Copa de Competencia | 5 |
1906, 1908, 1911, 1917, 1918
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| Copa de Honor | 2 |
1908, 1910
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| International (Cups) |
Copa de Honor Cousenier | 1 |
1908
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| Tie Cup | 3s |
1911, 1917, 1918
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Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Coaching Staff
Here are the people who help coach and manage the Montevideo Wanderers team:
| Coaching Staff | |
|---|---|
 José Daniel Carreño |
Head coach |
| Rodrigo Bengua |
Assistant coach |
| Víctor Guala |
Goalkeeping coach |
| Fitness Coaches | |
| Guillermo González |
Head Fitness Coach |
| Santiago Mendaña |
Fitness coach |
| Sport Management | |
| Mauricio Nanni |
Technical director |
| Medical Department | |
| Dr. Nicolás Arrieta |
Club doctor |
| Juan Zaragoza |
Physiotherapist |
| Sebastián Guzman |
Kinesiologist |
| Mathias Álvarez |
Nutritionist |
Source: Montevideo Wanderers
Managers Since 1985
Here is a list of the head coaches for Montevideo Wanderers since 1985:
- Óscar Tabárez (Jan 1, 1985 – Dec 31, 1985)
- Gregorio Pérez (Jan 1, 1987 – Dec 31, 1987)
- Daniel Carreño (July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2001)
- Santiago Ostolaza (Jan 1, 2002 – May 20, 2002)
- Daniel Carreño (Jan 1, 2005 – Dec 31, 2006)
- Diego Aguirre (Jan 1, 2007 – June 11, 2007)
- Jorge Miguel Goncalves (July 1, 2007 – April 15, 2008)
Salvador Capitano (Jan 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2009)- José Alberto Rossi (Dec 16, 2009 – March 15, 2010)
- Daniel Carreño (March 3, 2010 – Dec 31, 2011)
- Alfredo Arias (Jan 1, 2012 – Jun 13, 2015)
- Gastón Machado (Jul 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2016)
- Jorge Giordano (Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017)
- Eduardo Espinel (Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018)
- Román Cuello (Jan 1, 2019 – Sep 1, 2019)
- Alfredo Arias (Sep 2, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019)
- Mauricio Larriera (Jan 1, 2020 – Oct 12, 2020)
- José Daniel Carreño (Oct 12, 2020 – )
Records and Statistics
Here are some interesting records for Montevideo Wanderers players:
Most League Appearances:
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League Top Goalscorers:
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Images for kids
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Estadio Alfredo Victor Viera
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Estadio Centenario
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Estadio Belvedere
See also
In Spanish: Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club para niños
