Club Atlético Rosario Central is a football club in Rosario, Argentina.

History

The Central Argentine Railway Athletic Club was founded in December 24, 1889 by English railway workers. The first president was Colin Calder, and all club activities were carried out in the English language. When the Central Argentine and Buenos Aires railway companies merged in 1903, the name of the club was formally changed to Club Atlético Rosario Central.

The original jersey colors were red and white; later, the club would change to a checkered blue and white, and finally settle on the blue and gold vertical stripes design used to this day.

The team played in the local Rosario league until it joined the Argentine league in 1939 together with rivals Newell's Old Boys.

Rosario Central was relegated in 1942 and then again in 1951; both times, it returned to the first division after only one year.

Rosario Central won the Metropolitano championship in 1971 and again in 1973; the latter was the first of many such achievements by coach Carlos Timoteo Griguol .

For the 1974 season, Central acquired striker Mario Kempes from Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba (Kempes and his Instituto mate Osvaldo Ardiles were to be stars of the 1978 World Cup).

With Kempes gone to Valencia CF and former player Angel Tulio Zof at the helm, Central won the 1980 Nacional title.

Central was relegated in 1985, but returned to first division in the following year and won the 1986/87 first division championship.

In 1995 Rosario Central adquires it's first and only international title, the CONMEBOL Cup.

Stadium

Rosario Central plays in the Dr. Lisandro de la Torre Stadium in Boulevard Avellaneda, Arroyito neighborhood, Rosario.

The stadium is known as El Gigante (the Giant). The official capacity of the stadium is 41,654, but crowds of 45,000 have been accommodated after it underwent major conditioning for the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina.

In that tournament, all three second-round games of the Argentine squad were played in the Gigante. Local hero Mario Kempes enjoyed the support of the fans and went on to become the top scorer of the touranment.

Nicknames

Central's common nickname is canallas ("scoundrels", which is a rather mild insult in Argentina) because they denied to play a charity match for a leprosy clinic; rival side Newell's acquired the leprosos (lepers) nickname because they did play in that event.

Famous Players

• Cesar Menotti
• Angel Tulio Zof
• Aldo Pedro Poy
• Angel Landucci
• Mario Killer
• Mario Kempes
• Edgardo Bauza
• Carlos Aimar
• Omar Palma
• Juan Antonio Pizzi