Deportivo Cali
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| Full name | Asociación Club Deportivo Cali |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Los Verdiblancos (the white and greens) Los Azucareros (the sugarmakers) La Amenaza Verde (the green menace/threat) La Tromba Verde (the green waterspout/whirlwind) |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Ground | Estadio Deportivo Cali Palmira, Colombia |
| Capacity | 55,000 |
| Chairman |  Herber Celin |
| Manager | Humberto Cruz |
| League | Fútbol Profesional Colombiano |
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football (soccer) team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming. Deportivo Cali is one of the most successful football teams in Colombia (South America) winning eight national championships (1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1996, 1998, and 2005) since 1948.
The new stadium, Estadio Deportivo Cali, with a capacity for 55,000, is the biggest football stadium in Colombia, was officially inaugurated on November 19, 2008. Deportivo Cali's old home stadium was Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, with capacity for 50,000.
Four of the major companies that sponsor Deportivo Cali are: Adidas, Honda, Aguardiente Blanco del Valle, and the international cell phone carrier Tigo.
History
Amateur era
Cali Foot-ball Club was formed in 1908, by students who came back from Europe bringing football to the city of Cali, but in 1912 the students organized the team and renamed it as Deportivo Cali beginning practice under their first coach, Catalan born Francisco Villa Bisa. Their first match was between CFC "A" and CFC "B" in the Versailles pitch, the attendance was 300 spectators. By 1928 the name was changed to "Deportivo Cali A" and the club represented the Valle del Cauca Department in the National Olympics, earning the titles between 1928 - 1930.
In 1945 several clubs decided to become part of the club adding new sports to the institution like athletics, basketball and swimming. During the next several years the club played against different teams from the country and by 1948 the team was ready to play its first professional season in the first division (Division Mayor de Football: Primera A). The first game was a defeat against Junior 2-0. Their first victory was against Nacional (then Atletico Municipal) 4-1. They would end the season in 8th place with a record of 6 victories, 4 draws and 8 defeats.[1][2]
Golden years
Between 1965 - 1974 Deportivo Cali saw its golden age era. During this period, Deportivo Cali achieved 11 finals, from which they won 5 of their 8 Colombian championship titles in the Copa Mustang. It was then that Deportivo Cali was one of the top teams from the national league in Colombia. In 1978 Deportivo Cali reached the Copa Libertadores de America final losing against Boca Juniors from Argentina. During the 1980s Deportivo Cali began to fall behind in championship titles and lost three finals against its home rival America de Cali. Among the key players in Deportivo Cali were Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama and Bernardo Redín. In 1996, twenty two years after Deportivo Cali won its last championship title (1974), justice was made in Colombian football and The Green Ones raised another star under the guidance of coach Fernando "El Pecoso" Castro, and famous goal keeper Miguel "El Show" Calero. Two years later, during the 1998-1999 season Deportivo Cali won Copa Mustang in 1998 and reached the 1999 Copa Toyota Libertadores final for the second time in its history. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side and they lost to Palmeiras of Brazil during PK's, 4-3, over a 2-2 aggregate score. It was during this time period that Deportivo Cali had many of the best players to come across the Colombian soccer league. This team included: Jose Rosendo Toledo, "El Moño" Muñoz, Miguel Escobar, Oscar Lopez, Mario Sanclemente, German "El Burrito" Gonzalez, Jose Yudica, Miguel Angel "El Mago" Loayza, Jairo "El Maestrico" Arboleda, Oscar Mario "Tranvia" Desiderio, Diego Edison Umaña, Henry "La Mosca" Caicedo, Iroldo Rodriguez de Oliveira, Jorge Ramirez Gallego, Roberto Alvarez, Quarentinha, Bernardo "El Cunda" Valencia, and Ricardo Pegnoty. Unfortunately, most of these players did not receive international fame, yet Jairo Arboleda could have been one of the best players Colombia has had in midfield along with Carlos Valderrama. Similar to Valderrama, Arboleda used a variety of skill and "magic" that left opponents lost and beaten, which gave rise to his nickname "El Maestrico". He is mostly recognized in Cali as one of Colombia's best players ever. This is true in most parts of Colombia except for Antioquia, where their pride dominates and mislead people to believe the best players come from Antioquia, especially Medellin. Jairo Arboleda was unfortunate to be called to the Colombian National team at a time when the team was not fully developed and organized, fading away his skill at an international level.
Recent years
In recent years (2000–2007), the Colombian club of Deportivo Cali from the city of Santiago de Cali, has seen a major downfall in quality of players, quality of team and general managers, and overall result in both Copa Mustang, and Copa Toyota Libertadores. During this time frame, Cali won 1 more championships (2005), but lost finals to the underdog teams such as Deportes Tolima, and Deportivo Pasto. Not only this, but during this time, Deportivo Cali, for the first time in Copa Mustang history, did not make it to what the DIMAYOR calls the "Cuadrangulares", or the "semi-finals" of the cup. In the recent 2007 Finalization season, Deportivo for the second time in club history, failed to make it to the cuadrangulares. Spectators say that the down fall of the 2007 season way a result of the major injury of Sergio Herrera, and the departure of Martin Cardetti. During the time frame of 2006 - 2007, the club from Santiago de Cali have seen over 3 different coaches, and 2 different ones in the 2007 Finalization season alone. Some of the coaches which served Deportivo Cali during this time are: Omar Labruna, Nestor Otero, and Pedro Sarmiento. Deportivo Cali fans and the Board of Directors of Club Asociación Deportivo Cali hoped that the newly elected coach, Uruguayan Jose Daniel Carreño, would have changed the face of the club, and re-enter them back to their glory days, he failed and was replaced by Ricardo Martinez before the end of the "Cuadrangulares" during the Copa Mustang I 2008.
Daniel Carreño era
Deportivo Cali, during the management of Daniel Jose Carreño, had an above average Apertura season in the Copa Mustang, coming in 6th place which qualified them for the semifinals of the Copa Mustang. In the Copa Colombia, they finished 3rd place, not qualifying for further play, which was a real embarrassment, as Deportivo Cali was the favorite to win the group. During the semifinals of the Copa Mustang, Cali failed to win the first 4 matches, losing 2, and drawing 2, and winning the fifth one, 2-1 against Deportivo Independiente Medellin. After the failing to win the fourth game, it was ultimately decided by the official council of Deportivo Cali for him to be sacked, and be replaced. The successor of Daniel Carreño is Ricardo Martinez.
Start of the Ricardo Martínez era
On July 10, 2008, the successor of Daniel Carreño was ultimately decided to be Ricardo Martínez. He was the assistant manager of the club under the management of Daniel Carreño. His first game with the club will be on July 28, when the Copa Mustang begins. His main focus right now is to bring in players from both the national squads, and other foreign players. The other candidate for the position, Santiago Escobar, was chosen as the new manager for Independiente Medellín. On December 2009, the executives decided to re-hire José Eugenio "Cheché" Hernández as the new coach. This is the second time "Cheché" takes the team, last time he guided the team to the Championship of 1998 and to the runners-up of the Copa Toyota Libertadores of 1999 that lost against Palmeiras from Brazil after penalty kicks shootout.
International competitions
Deportivo Cali was the first Colombian side to dispute a Copa Libertadores final in 1978. Under coach Carlos Bilardo Deportivo Cali played against Boca Juniors. The first match in Cali ended 0-0. The second match in Buenos Aires resulted in a 4-0 victory for the Argentines. In 1999 they also disputed the final, this time it was against Brazilian side Palmeiras. The first match in Cali was a victory for the home side 1-0. The second match was a 2-1 defeat. The cup was decided on penalty kicks where Deportivo Cali lost 4-3. Beside Copa Libertadores the club has also disputed the Merconorte final and participated in the Copa Sudamericana. Deportivo Cali is currently ranked 3rd on the Colombian club ranking by the Conmebol[1].
Rivalries
Deportivo Cali's long time rival is América. The derby is known either as the "Clasico de San Fernando" because of the location of the Pascual Guerrero stadium or the Valle del Cauca Derby.
The first derby was played in 1931 when the final of the Valle del Cauca league was disputed by the two teams. The result was a victory for America de Cali 1-0.[3] The first derby in the professional era was played in 1948. The first leg was a victory for América 1-0 while on the second leg of the tournament it was a Cali victory 4-3.On October 10, 2010 Deportivo Cali, for the first time in the history of it's new stadium, won against America de Cali, with a final score of 6-3 which including a hat trick from Argetine player Martin Gerardo Morel, and three of the most higlighted goals of the tournament. With new a stadium and having addidas as a sponsor, Deportivo Cali is currently at the bottom of the league with only one victory which is disgraceful for the fans of Cali.[1]
- Total matches played: 266 [4]
- Deportivo Cali Victories: 101
- América Victories: 86
- Draws: 81
Honors
- Primera A (8): 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1996, 1998, 2005
- Copa Colombia (1): 2010
Roster
As of Feb 8, 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
References
- ^ a b "RSSSF statistics". Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "Historia del Deportivo Cali". Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "Primer Clasico (Español)". Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "El Pais - Clasico Caleño". Retrieved 2008-08-19.