Atlético Bucaramanga

History

In 1948, within the Santanderean Football League, plans were made to develop a centre for football in Bucaramanga, similar to what existed in neighboring regions. The directors of the "Pielroja" team, winner of the local championship, invited Rafael Chaberman to assist in setting up a professional team. Chaberman, who had recently settled in the city, and was based in the "Cafe Centenario", delivered a speech to them on the subject in the Hotel New York. This led to the foundation of the club the following year under the name of "Atlético Bucaramanga".

The first meeting for the formal founding of the team was convened by newspapers and the local radio. That meeting occurred at the consulting rooms of Dr Elias Solano, because Santanderean League Soccer was an amateur association that had no license to promote professional football. The assembly proceeded to elect a board with the following result:

President:

Managing directors:

The first shareholders' meeting was on 25 February 1949. On 11 May a deed (No, 1132) was signed setting up a limited company under the name of Club Atlético Bucaramanga S.A. The director was Néstor Arenas, the treasurer was Juan Silva, and Jorge Arenas Buenahora acted as lawyer. There was $30,000 share capital.

Vicente Díaz Romero, president of Gran Colombia FC, Luis Alba Pinilla (Eleven Friends FC), Antonio "Terremoto" Duran (Girardot FC), Jorge Molina Barba (Freedom Concordia FC) and Simón Santander (Pielroja FC) were the most important local leaders in the formation of the first squad.

The authority for top league Colombian football, Dimayor, accepted the provisional registration pending ratification by their board, depending on the fulfillment of administrative requirements and on the outcome of a match against Once Deportivo of Manizales, a game which was won by Atlético Bucaramanga in the Estadio Alfonso López. In the end Dimayor approved the application for membership, enabling the Club to play in the 1949 Tournament. The team's uniform consisted of yellow shirt, white shorts and gray socks.

The first squad consisted of players from Bucaramanga, Barrancabermeja and Barranquilla. These players had an excellent record in amateur football and some had competed at national level with their regional team. The three "Pachingo" Guerrero brothers were all on the team: Francisco, a formidable center half, played in the 1950 tournament; Juan, on the left wing, and Jorge as an intelligent inside right, both had a long and successful career with the club. Carlos "Flaco" Mutis and Andrés Ramírez came from Girardot FC. Ramírez was a fast, elusive and lethal center forward. Other important members of the first team were Pedro Pinto (goalkeeper), Luís "El Chino" Becerra on the right wing, Luís "Pintao" Pinto and Samuel Otero (middle center) and Francisco "Pacho" Bohórquez (forward center), Alfonso "Chichimoco" Carvajal (goalkeeper); Lucas Martínez, "Jesucristo" Prada and "El Perro" Castillo, "El Loco" Ruiz, Noel Martínez, "Alambre" Carvajal, "Guarapo" Mendoza, Manuel López, Arturo "Chancharito" Cárdenas and Evelio Sierra. The first coach was Francisco "Pacho" Carvajal, former player with Millonarios.

On 1 May 1949, Atlético Bucaramanga played and lost its first game in the Colombian football tournament against Deportivo Cali by 1–5 at the Estadio Alfonso López.

Here is the complete line-up of Atlético Bucaramanga for its first game of all time:

The first won game was against Boca Junior of Cali on 19 June, with a final score of 2–1.

In 1950 the first four Argentinian players joined the club: these were Antonio "Toto" Bernasconi (half-back), Norberto Juan Peluffo (center-half), Aristóbulo Deambrosi (right winger) and José Cayetano Fraccione (goalkeeper), nicknamed "the Flying Fish". Fans began referring to them as the Four Musketeers. They were the first of many foreign players to play for Bucaramanga. Others from Argentina were Felipe "Judío" Stemberg, Raúl Roque "El Colorado" Dimarco, Carlos Alberto Gambina, Miguel Ángel Zazzini, Nicolás Gianastasio, Enrique Pesarini, Julio Cesar Asciolo and Aristóbulo De Ambrosi, who later became coach for the club. Enrique Augurto and José Cardoza came from Peru and Carlos Alberto Umaña and José Joaquín "El Quincho" Quiroz were Costa Rican. Quiroz was especially renowned for his spectacular goals.

Club Nicknames

Atlético Bucaramanga fans and the press are fond of the nickname "Los Leopardos" (The Leopards). This name derives from the 1950s and comes from the yellowish uniform, resembling the animal's fur.

Due to the Bucaro tree that gave the name to the city in which the team plays, it is also common to refer to Atlético Bucaramanga or its fans as "Los Bucaros".

Stadium

Atlético Bucaramanga plays its home games in the Alfonso López stadium.

Since 2016 the team has used the Alvaro Gomez Hurtado stadium (capacity: 10000) in the neighboring Floridablanca, since the Alfonso Lopez stadium is being renovated.

East Colombian Derby

Atlético Bucaramanga and Cúcuta Deportivo play one of the most famous derbies in the country, named the East Colombian Derby or Great Santander Derby. The first match was on 2 April 1950 in the Estadio Alfonso López. Cúcuta won 1–0 with goal by Luis Alberto Miloc. The most recent game was on 29 June 2011, also in the Estadio Alfonso López, and Bucaramanga won 2–0. Since 1950, this derby has been played 180 times. Atlético Bucaramanga have won in 57 of the matches, Cúcuta have won 61 and there were 59 draws. Bucaramanga have scored 233 goals and Cúcuta 244.

Although Cúcuta have had the edge in general, Bucaramanga won the most important game of the series in Cartagena in 2001 when the teams played for promotion to the A Category of the Colombian football league. After the usual 90 minutes then extra time of 30, the match went to penalties. Bucaramanga won 5–3 and the next year were playing in 2002 in the A Category, while Cúcuta was playing in the B Category until 2005. The "Leopard Team" goalkeeper, Leonel Rocco, was the hero of the game. That has been the only time that two rival teams from the same region have played a match determining relegation in the Colombian football championship.

Relegations

Fans

"Fortaleza Leoparda Sur" is the name of the fans of Atletico Bucaramanga. They were founded in 1998 by young people in order to support the team, but over time socially marginal elements have attached themselves. As with many other such groups they are seen as the expression of social problems not inherent to football.

They occupy the south grandstand of the Estadio Alfonso López and have participed in peaceful protests in order to request government support to solve the difficult situation of the Club, but have also taken part in a number of acts of violence. In 2011, they physically and verbally attacked players of their team for bad results. The next year, on 10 March 2012 some of them fought against other hooligans in the Estadio Arturo Cumplido Sierra in Sincelejo in the middle of the game between Sucre FC and Bucaramanga. One man was seriously injured and 19 were arrested by the police.

Honours

International competitions

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Managers