| Ok, you know all about the passion for soccer | | | | Metropolitano next year. It would be until |
| in Brazil from Ronaldinho's promo ads, but | | | | 1985 that Argentina soccer would hold this |
| what about Argentina soccer? Why is it that a | | | | structure, after which the Nacional became |
| country that suffers and lives for soccer | | | | the main championship. |
| equally as the Brazilians don't get their | | | | |
| fair share of spotlight time? | | | | In Argentina, football holds two "seasons" as |
| | | | of 1991, named the Clausura and Apertura (the |
| Admittedly, one of the reasons is its | | | | closing and the opening), and played as two |
| smaller trophy room in comparison to Brazil's | | | | distinct single-round championships. Each |
| (2 titles in 4 finals for Argentina, 5 titles | | | | year, relegation is calculated based on a |
| in 7 finals for Brazil) but still...In order | | | | three-year average and the 2 teams with the |
| to do it justice, I decided to accustom you | | | | lowest average are relegated, with 2 teams |
| to football in Argentina. | | | | with the highest three-year average from the |
| | | | lower division are promoted. |
| Argentina soccer was organized in amateur or | | | | |
| semi-professional local championships at the | | | | I have to admit, this system they adopted for |
| dawn of the 20th century and despite the fact | | | | football in Argentina was a bit weird at |
| that Argentina's national soccer team played | | | | first and needed some getting used to. But I |
| its first match in 1901, don't think it was | | | | can also see the advantages of such a system. |
| the same type of national team you would have | | | | |
| today. Most of the players, spotted in the | | | | There are 5 teams that have dominated |
| semi-professional championships formed up | | | | Argentina soccer ever since the Metropolitano |
| that 1930 World Cup finalist team, after | | | | championship was created: River Plate, |
| which most of them returned to mediocrity. | | | | Independiente, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and |
| | | | Racing Club are fighting for the title of |
| In 1931, the first professional country-wide | | | | Champions each year, for the past 50 years or |
| championship was instituted, although not all | | | | so. |
| teams were affiliated to the national | | | | |
| association. For example, only teams from | | | | Unfortunately, it's a case of "rich get |
| Buenos Aires, Avellaneda and La Plata formed | | | | richer" and smaller teams have less and less |
| the championship structure in the first | | | | of a chance to be crowned as Argentina soccer |
| years, with teams from Santa Fe or Rosario | | | | champions, with these 5 (especially the first |
| joining later on. | | | | 3) dominating and monopolizing the |
| | | | competitions. |
| This early championship called the | | | | |
| Metropolitano did not allow other provincial | | | | It's these 5 clubs that launched many of the |
| teams to join and due to increasing demand, | | | | greatest Argentina soccer players on the |
| the Argentina soccer association finally | | | | world stage, although most of them |
| created a fully nation-wide competition in | | | | transferred to powerful European clubs after |
| 1967, called the Nacional. | | | | only a few years at their home clubs. A few |
| | | | noteworthy examples include Alfredo Di |
| For several years, the Nacional and | | | | Stefano (River Plate), Diego Maradona (Boca |
| Metropolitano championships were played | | | | Juniors), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), |
| separately. The Nacional was a 1-group | | | | Daniel Passarela (River Plate), Esteban |
| championship, of which the six best teams | | | | Cambiasso (Independiente) or Guillermo Franco |
| would be eligible to take part in the | | | | (San Lorenzo). |