Club Atlético River Plate, commonly referred to as River Plate or simply River, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world. Founded in 1901, the club is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and plays its home matches at the famous Estadio Monumental, which has a seating capacity of over 70,000.
River Plate has a rich history, boasting 36 Argentine league titles, 2 Copa Libertadores, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary manager Marcelo Gallardo, who led River to multiple Copa Libertadores victories.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Alfredo Di Stéfano, Enzo Francescoli, Ariel Ortega, and Juan Pablo Sorín. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, River Plate remains one of the world’s most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence Argentine and world football.
River Plate is one of the most popular football clubs in Argentina, with one of the highest average home attendances in South America. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the River Plate Supporters Club (RPSC), in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that River Plate has 15 million fans worldwide. The club has a significant social media following, with over 8 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that River Plate had the loudest fans in the Argentine League.
River Plate was formed in 1901 by the merger of Santa Rosa and La Rosales, with the new team taking the name of a common English phrase 'The River Plate' (the River Plate region of Argentina). The team initially played games against other local teams, but on 3 June 1905, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the Santa Rosa team—red and white—they defeated Facultad de Medicina 2–1.
In 1941, La Maquina, the most famous line-up in the club's history, was developed. With players like Juan Carlos Muñoz, Jose Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, Angel Labruna, and Felix Loustau, River Plate dominated Argentine football, winning several local titles. The team is still celebrated as one of the best Argentine football teams of all time.
On 27 May 2014, Ramon Diaz announced that he was to retire as manager at the end of the football season, but would remain at the club as a director and club ambassador. He retired as one of the most successful managers in River Plate history. The club announced the next day that Marcelo Gallardo would replace him from 1 July, having signed a two-year contract. Under Gallardo's management, River Plate has seen a resurgence, winning several local and international titles, including the prestigious Copa Libertadores.
Originally funded by the Government of Buenos Aires, River Plate became a civil association in 1901. Its founders, who were all students, used to play football in the English high school, and they took the name from the literal English translation of 'Rio de la Plata', a river estuary shared by Argentina and Uruguay. In 1935, the club's management passed to Antonio Vespucio Liberti, who served as president of the club for 20 years and invested considerable resources into the club, including the construction of the monumental stadium that now bears his name.
In the early 1980s, Hugo Santilli took over as president, and his tenure saw the club win several national and international titles, including the Copa Libertadores, Intercontinental Cup, and several Primera División titles. His son, Daniel Alberto Passarella, a former River Plate player, took over as president in 2009. The club faced financial difficulties under his leadership, culminating in the club's first-ever relegation to the second division in 2011. However, Rodolfo D'Onofrio took over in 2013 and under his leadership, River Plate managed to regain its financial stability and return to the top-flight, winning several domestic and international titles, including the Copa Libertadores in 2015 and 2018.
Ownership of the club remains in the hands of the civil association, with club members electing the president and the board of directors. The club's finances are primarily derived from the sale of players to European clubs, television rights, and ticket sales. The club has also been sponsored by several major companies throughout its history, including Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Turkish Airlines.
River Plate is one of the most successful clubs in Argentina in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the Tie Cup, which they won in 1914. In 1920, the club won their first league title and won the Copa de Competencia Jockey Club for the first time the following year. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 36 top-division titles and their total of 2 Copa Argentina is impressive. Those titles have meant the club has appeared numerous times in the Supercopa Argentina; of those appearances, River Plate have won several times.
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Club Atlético River Plate: Detailed Overview and History of Club Atlético River Plate https://www.riverplate.com/
River Plate Success and Achievements: Comprehensive List of Titles and Honors Won by River Plate https://www.riverplate.com/achievements
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