Club Nacional de Football is aUruguayan sports institution, founded on May 14, 1899, inMontevideo by a group of young students with the aim of creating a football club for local Uruguayan players in response to the dominance of foreign European clubs and athletes, particularly English and German. For this reason, it is regarded as the “first local team” in the country and one of the first clubs in theAmericas founded by nationals.
Although Nacional later grew into a multi-sport institution,football has always been its greatest source of success, making it one of the most decorated and recognized clubs in the world at both national and international levels. Known as the “Dean” of Uruguayan football, Nacional has competed in the country’s top division continuously since its debut in1901 and has won 49Uruguayan Championship titles, in addition to finishing first in the incomplete1925 and1948 tournaments. In total, the club holds 164 official titles, 145 domestic and 19 international, making it the most decorated club in Uruguay and one of the most successful worldwide.
Identified with the colors white, blue, and red — drawn from theArtigas Flag — Nacional plays its home matches at theEstadio Gran Parque Central, located in theLa Blanqueada neighborhood of Montevideo. The stadium is historically significant, as it hosted one of the opening matches of the inaugural1930 FIFA World Cup, featuring Belgium and the United States, and saw the World Cup debuts ofArgentina andBrazil. It also served as the sole venue for the1923 and1924 editions of theCopa América.
Nacional’s greatest rival isPeñarol, in what is considered the oldest football rivalry outside the British Isles and one of the most important derbies in the world.[citation needed] Matches between Nacional and Peñarol have been ranked among the three most exciting football derbies globally by the British magazineFourFourTwo.
Nacional is a result of the fusion between Montevideo Football Club and Uruguay Athletic Club, which was done on May 14, 1899. It was decided there that the club's flag should include the three colours (red, white and blue), historically connected toJosé Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay's national hero. In 1900, Nacional started playing at theEstadio Gran Parque Central. That same year, four clubs governed by foreigners (Albion F.C.,CURCC,Uruguay Athletic Club andDeutscher F.K.) founded theUruguayan Primera Division. Nacional's petition to be included was dismissed on the thought thatcriollo clubs and their players lacked category. However, the League's clubs had to admit Nacional in 1901, after the club was invited to join the Argentinean League, due to their impressive performances in a number of friendly matches. In1902, Nacional won their first Uruguayan league title.
After winning the1912 championship, they won the 1915Triple Crown, which included the three major domestic and international tournaments of that time:Primera División,Tie Cup, andCopa de Honor Cousenier. Nacional would go on to win the firstCopa Uruguaya en propiedad (the first club to win three league championships in a row), by winning the1915,1916 and1917 championships. They also found success in the next two decades by also winning the1919,1920,1922,1923 and1924 league titles.
Nacional saluting the crowd in Paris, during their 1925 European tour
After two very successful initial decades in the domestic league of Uruguay and internationally againstArgentinian clubs, Nacional became the foundation ofUruguay's first international success at the world level. In 1924, Nacional contributed players (Mazzali,Urdinarán,Scarone,Romano,Zibechi and Pascual Somma) for Uruguayan national team that won the firstFIFA world championship at theSummer Olympics in Paris. Nacional also made also a substantial contribution to the Uruguayan teams at the1928 Summer Olympics and theinaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. Moreover, Nacional is the only Uruguayan club that contributed players to every Uruguay national team that has won an international tournament.
Then, in 1925, motivated by the excellent performance of the Uruguay national team at the1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where the core of the squad was made up of Nacional players, the club traveled to Europe to begin the famous 1925 tour. This lasted 190 days, from February to August 1925, and is considered the longest in the history of world football.
Nacional in 1934, winners of the Torneo Competencia
In 1932,Uruguayan football became professional, and by 1933 Nacional had formed a great team that became known as“La Máquina Blanca” ('The White Machine'). They began the season with emphatic results, scoring twenty-eight goals in just four matches: four againstNewell's Old Boys, seven againstFlamengo, eight againstRampla Juniors, and nine againstCentral Español. The1933 Uruguayan Primera División was the longest championship in the world, as Nacional were crowned champions on 18 November 1934 after several finals againstPeñarol that year: the first in April was suspended — remembered as the“Clásico del gol de la valija” after a goal was scored when a briefcase kept the ball in play— and resumed in August, and finally finished in November, where Nacional won 3–2 with three goals by1930 World Cup heroHéctor Castro, after Peñarol had been leading 1–0 at halftime.
In 1938, the ArgentineAtilio García joined the club, who would go on to become the institution’s all-time top scorer. That year Nacional won theNocturno Rioplatense title, defeating major clubs from theRío de la Plata region. Between1939 and1943, with former player Héctor Castro as coach, Nacional achieved the first Quinquenio de Oro (five consecutive championships) in the history of Uruguayan football.
In 1940, Atilio García scored four goals against Peñarol, all of them headers, in a 5-1 victory. That year Nacional finished thirteen points ahead of their traditional rival. To win the1941 Uruguayan Primera División, the club won every match, including a 6–0 victory over Peñarol. Between 1938 and 1943, twenty-threeclásicos were played, with eighteen victories for Nacional and only four defeats. In addition, on 21 November 1943, Nacional secured their tenth consecutive victory over Peñarol in the Uruguayan Primera División. Furthermore, between 1938 and 1943, Nacional won the Torneo de Honor, a domestic cup, a record six times in a row.
At the domestic level, the club won theUruguayan Primera División championships of1946,1947,1950, and1952. The title achieved in 1950 was special, because Nacional were crowned champions in the same year thatUruguay becameworld champions. Between 1955 and 1957, under the management ofOndino Viera, Nacional secured another three consecutive league titles.
Nacional took part for the first time in theCopa Libertadores in the1962 edition, in which they were eliminated in the semifinals byPeñarol. The following year,Zezé Moreira replacedHugo Bagnulo as coach, implemented the Brazilian 4–2–4 system, and won the1963 Uruguayan Primera División. Nacional later reached the continental final in 1964, but were defeated byIndependiente of Avellaneda. In1966, they once again claimed the Uruguayan championship, and the following year they again reached theCopa Libertadores final, after defeatingCruzeiro and Peñarol in the semifinals. The final, againstRacing Club, was decided in a third match played inLima, where the Argentines won 2-1.
That victory allowed the club to contest two more international trophies: the1971 Intercontinental Cup and the 1971Interamerican Cup. To win the Intercontinental, Nacional facedPanathinaikos, the European runners-up. The first leg was played on 15 December, finishing 1–1 at theKaraiskakis Stadium inPiraeus, with a goal by Luis Artime. The return leg was a 2-1 victory for Nacional, with both goals scored by Artime. On 28 December 1971, Nacional won theIntercontinental Cup for the first time, becoming club world champions. The following year, they won their first Interamerican Cup, defeatingCruz Azul of Mexico, being the only Uruguayan club to hold this trophy.
At the same time, they achieved four consecutive domestic titles —1969,1970,1971, and1972 — maintaining an unbeaten record against their clásico rival: from 2 March 1971 to 31 January 1974, 16clásicos were played, of which Nacional did not lose a single one.
1980: the return of a trio of legends and a second club world title
On 26 January 1980, a new era began with the election of Dante Iocco as president. The club was going through a poor sporting period, and the new board urgently appointedJuan Martín Mugica, champion of 1971, as coach and Esteban Gesto as fitness trainer to finish the 1979 Liguilla Pre-Libertadores qualifiers. Mugica made some changes to the team and its tactics, introducing man-to-man marking across the pitch.
With the new coaching staff, Nacional eliminatedPeñarol 2–0 and qualified for the1980 Copa Libertadores. In the group stage, they advanced overDefensor Sporting and the Bolivian clubsThe Strongest andOriente Petrolero; in the semifinals, they overcameO'Higgins of Chile and reigning championsOlimpia of Paraguay, earning a place in the final againstInternacional of Porto Alegre. On 30 July, in Porto Alegre, the first leg was played, and more than 22,000 Uruguayans traveled the thousand kilometers in what Nacional fans called the “second exodus of the Oriental people.” The first leg finished 0-0, and the return match, on 6 August at theEstadio Centenario, was a 1–0 victory with a header goal byWaldemar Victorino.
That same year, theIntercontinental Cup was played for the first time as a single match inJapan, thanks to the efforts of Nacional’s directors, who managed to convince the European clubs that had been reluctant to participate. In February 1981, Nacional won their second club world title, defeatingNottingham Forest of England 1-0 with a goal by Waldemar Victorino.
Later, Nacional won their third world title by defeatingPSV Eindhoven of theNetherlands. In what was considered one of the most thrilling finals in the history of theIntercontinental Cup, Nacional defeated the Dutch team on penalties. The match had ended 1-1 in regular time and 2=2 after extra time, with both goals scored by Ostolaza. In the penalty shootout,Jorge Seré saved four shots, andTony Gómez converted the final, the twentieth of the series. With this victory, Nacional were crowned the first undefeated three-time world champions, a feat later matched bySão Paulo FC of Brazil.
To contest the continental trophies granted by their Libertadores win, Nacional kept much of the squad in 1989, though with a change in coaching staff, former club playerHéctor Núñez took charge. That year, Nacional won their secondInteramerican Cup, defeatingOlimpia of Honduras, and theRecopa Sudamericana, defeatingRacing Club of Avellaneda. With these new successes, Nacional equaled Peñarol as one of the two Uruguayan clubs with the most official international titles organized byCONMEBOL–FIFA, with a total of nine. Adding the thirteen won inRío de la Plata competitions, the club reached a total of twenty-two international titles.
During most of the 1990s, the club had irregular campaigns. It won theUruguayan Championship in 1992, with outstanding performances from Panamanian strikerJulio Dely Valdés and ArgentineAntonio Vidal González. Six years later, with the debut ofHugo De León as head coach andRubén Sosa leading on the field, Nacional captured the1998 Uruguayan Championship, becoming the first team to win both the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura in the same season, since the format was introduced in1994. Since then, onlyDanubio F.C. has achieved the title in the same manner, during the2006–07 season.
On May 14, 1999, Nacional celebrated its centenary under the motto“100 Años de Verdad” (“100 Years of Truth”), a reference to the controversy surrounding the foundation date ofClub Atlético Peñarol. The celebration included a match against their opponent from the final of the1988 Intercontinental Cup,PSV Eindhoven, at theEstadio Centenario. That same year, Nacional’s fans unveiled what they called “the largest flag in the world.”
2000s: domestic dominance and a return to the Copa Libertadores elite
2004 is remembered for the derby comebacks vs.Peñarol: in the Apertura they won 2-1, and in the Clausura they prevailed 3-2 after trailing 0-2. By2005, in addition to the arrival ofMartín Lasarte, the club decided to renovate theGran Parque Central and return to its historic stadium, after 75 years of hosting home games at theEstadio Centenario. Shortly after being re-inaugurated, the Parque hosted two consecutive championship celebrations: Nacional won the2005 Uruguayan Championship unbeaten, and in the2005–06 season secured the bicampeonato. This last championship is remembered because Nacional finished as champion while Peñarol ended in last place — notably, the AUF had deducted 12 points from Peñarol — and a plaque at Nacional’s headquarters commemorates the event.
On April 19, 2008, during that year’s Clausura championship, fans remember the comeback againstRiver Plate Montevideo at the Centenario: after being down 0-3, Nacional claimed a historic 6-3 victory against the side that was competing with them for the title. After three years, Nacional regained the Uruguayan Championship in the2008–09 season, managed byGerardo Pelusso. As a highlight, the team won all three clásicos that season: 1-0 in the Apertura, 2-1 in the summer friendly tournament, and 3-2 in the Clausura with three goals fromGustavo Biscayzacú.
In2009, Nacional achieved its best Copa Libertadores performance in 21 years. Managed by Gerardo Pelusso, the club reached thesemifinals after surpassingRiver Plate (Argentina),Club Nacional (Paraguay), andSan Martín (Peru) in the group stage, and then eliminatingPalmeiras. In that round, they facedEstudiantes de La Plata, the club that would go on to win the title.
In 2010, club presidentRicardo Alarcón decided to appointJuan Ramón Carrasco as the new head coach, following the short spell of Luis González. The change paid off, as the team quickly improved and results followed: Nacional finished second in that Apertura and went on to win the Torneo Clausura, also securing first place in theAnnual Table. This gave Carrasco’s team the right to play for theUruguayan Championship againstDefensor Sporting, winner of the Apertura. Only one match was needed, as Nacional defeated Defensor and was crowned champion. Just a few days later, Carrasco resigned from his position.
For the2011–12 Uruguayan Primera División, former Argentinian playerMarcelo Gallardo, who had retired the previous season, took over as manager. In his first semester he won the Apertura, withAlvaro Recoba as the main star of the squad. In the Clausura they finished second behind Defensor Sporting but once again secured the Annual Table, five points clear of their closest rivals. On June 16, 2012, Nacional faced Defensor Sporting in the semifinal of the 2011–12 season, becoming bicampeón of Uruguayan football after a 1-0 win. It was their 44th national championship, highlighted by winning both clásicos that season thanks to decisive goals from Recoba himself: a last-minute penalty for a 2-1 Apertura win, and a free kick for a 3-2 Clausura victory.
After the championship, Gallardo decided not to renew his contract, and the board appointedGustavo Díaz, former Defensor Sporting coach, for the following season. Due to irregular results, in March 2013 he was replaced by interim coaches Juan Carlos Blanco, a former Nacional player. By the end of that month, it was announced that ArgentineRodolfo Arruabarrena would take charge. Under his leadership, Nacional finished third in the2012–13 Annual Table and qualified for the2014 Copa Libertadores first stage, their 41st appearance and 18th consecutive, a tournament record. After finishing third in the Apertura 2013, Arruabarrena resigned, being replaced byGerardo Pelusso.
By failing to win any title in 2013, Nacional ended a remarkable cycle of success: between 1995 and 2012 they had won at least one official tournament every year. Still, the club added 15,080 new members, reaching 65,738 by December 2013. Under Pelusso, Nacional endured their worst-ever Copa Libertadores campaign in2014, taking just one point in the group stage. His successor,Álvaro Gutiérrez, won theApertura 2014 almost perfectly (42 points out of 45), including a last-minute 2-1 clásico win, and after topping the Annual Table, Nacional were crowned champions by beatingPeñarol, Clausura winners, 3-2 in the final.
After Gutiérrez left forAl-Shabab FC, Nacional appointed former goalkeeper and captainGustavo Munúa. His team performed well in the2016 Copa Libertadores, losing only on penalties toBoca Juniors, but won no domestic title. He left, but Nacional still qualified for the2017 Libertadores after finishing second in the Annual Table. In the second half of the year, the2016 Campeonato Uruguayo Especial was played to restore the calendar-year format. Nacional, led by Martín Lasarte, won their 46th Uruguayan Championship, taking all home matches at the Gran Parque Central and finishing five points ahead.
In 2017, Nacional won the firstTorneo Intermedio, but, having missed out on both the Apertura and Clausura, they were left out of the championship final. Lasarte departed and was replaced byAlexander Medina, then coach of the third team. Despite a difficult start in 2018, including two clásico defeats, Medina’s side bounced back, winning the Apertura and again the Intermedio, though they were eliminated in the2018 Copa Libertadores group stage. They dropped to the2018 Copa Sudamericana, eliminatingSol de América andSan Lorenzo, before falling in the quarterfinals toFluminense.
For the 2019 season, José Decurnex became club president. One of his first decisions was not to renew 14 contracts expiring December 31, except for striker Bergessio, top scorer the previous year. In January, ArgentineEduardo Domínguez was appointed manager. His spell was short: despite winning the2019 Supercopa Uruguaya against Peñarol and two2019 Copa Libertadores victories, Nacional quickly fell behind in theApertura. After five games and only three points, Domínguez was dismissed and replaced by a returning Alvaro Gutiérrez.
Under Gutiérrez, results improved: Nacional finished third in the Apertura, then in theIntermedioCup of 2019 earned 14 of 21 points and won the clásico 3-0. Though they missed that final (won byLiverpool Montevideo), Nacional then tied Peñarol on points in the Clausura, forcing a playoff final which Nacional won 2-0. Having also topped the Annual Table, they gained the advantage in the Championship final, where they again faced Peñarol, Apertura winners. With a goal fromMatías Zunino, Nacional won 1–0 and secured their 47th Uruguayan Championship. This title is especially remembered by fans, as Nacional won three clásico finals in the same year, including two in four days.
In 2020, Amid the challenges posed by theCOVID-19 pandemic, particularly a long suspension between March and August, Nacional successfully defended their Uruguayan championship, defeatingRentistas in the final and securing their 48th Primera División title . They also captured the2020 Torneo Intermedio, adding another trophy to their season. In 2021, A quieter domestic campaign, as Nacional were dethroned byPeñarol, who claimed the2021 league championship. No major titles were won this year, and Nacional were also eliminated by their rivals in the Round of 16 of the2021 Copa Sudamericana.
2022 saw a landmark return to glory, and to the club, forLuis Suárez, who returned to his boyhood club in July and made an immediate impact. El Pistolero scored twice in the final againstLiverpool Montevideo, helping Nacional lift the2022 Uruguayan championship. His presence and performance became a defining highlight of the season; as one former teammate recalled, “He… told us that this was the most important title of his career… after that talk… I knew that it was impossible to lose that final.” In 2023, Nacional fell short domestically, losing the league title toLiverpool Montevideo. In 2024,Nacional won the2024 Torneo Intermedio, defeating Peñarol in a dramatic final that ended in a penalty shootout. The season ultimately ended in disappointment, as Peñarol won both the Apetura and the Clausura to claim the2024 Uruguayan league title.
2025: remodelling of the Gran Parque Central stadium
In August of 2025, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the preliminary Master Plan for the remodelling of theGran Parque Central, with a comprehensive vision to transform the historic stadium into a renewed heart of both the club and the community. The plan envisions expanding the current capacity of approximately 34,000 spectators to44,000, building new corner stands to connect all four tribunes, and partially covering them with a semi-roof, along with significant upgrades to the overall fan experience.
The project also includes flexible multi-use spaces, a supporters’ plaza, a multipurpose indoor arena, an underground parking facility for around 1,000 vehicles, and even a dedicated World Cup museum. Covering the full five hectares of the site, the initiative represents an ambitious effort to unite architectural innovation, historic identity, and community engagement.
Nacional’s statute establishes that the colors representing the club are blue, white, and red, as a reflection of Uruguay’s national symbols and taken from the flag of the country’s greatest independence hero,José Gervasio Artigas. The club’s flag was created on May 23, 1902, at the initiative of Domingo Prat. The person in charge of designing it was Ernesto Caprario, co-founder of the club, who proposed completing the sports uniform with a small flag placed on the left side of the jersey, over the heart, thus forming the shield.
The flag is made up as follows: on a blue background, a white diagonal stripe, drawn from left to right and from bottom to top, bearing in red the initials C. N. de F. In turn, the club’s shield is formed with exactly the same arrangement of colors and initials.
The statute of Nacional establishes that the sports uniforms of all the club’s teams must be composed, like the flag ofJosé Gervasio Artigas, of the colors blue, white, and red.
The first jersey, used from the club’s founding in 1899 until 1902, was red, with a blue collar and sleeves. The players also wore a red cap with a blue tassel.
In March 1902, the team changed its shirt at the request of theAUF, to avoid the similarity of colors with Albion, and also because the red shirt faded and no better-quality replacement could be obtained.
The new uniform was a white shirt with a pocket, which gave rise to the nicknamesbolsilludos andbolsos, blue shorts, and a red sash. In addition, the crest with the initials C. N. de F. was added over the shirt pocket.
Later, in 1909, a red belt began to be used, but this was discontinued at the end of the 1920s. By the late 1950s, both the red sash and the pocket were abandoned, giving way to the current uniform: a white jersey with blue and red details, blue shorts and socks with white and red trim, although white shorts and socks can also be used.
Apart from these changes, Nacional’s primary uniform has practically not varied throughout history.
In the modern era of international competition, beginning in the 1960s, the uniform with white shorts and socks became predominant, complemented by red and blue, representing the three colors, a tradition that lasted several decades, especially for night matches.
In May 2018, Nacional made the news when a jersey from 1904 was found, the oldest unrestored football shirt in the world. It was valued at fifteen thousand dollars and was set to be auctioned, but a Uruguayan businessman paid the amount so that the auction would not take place, allowing the world’s oldest shirt to remain in the club’s possession.
For several years, Nacional has used the inscription“Decano” on its official uniforms. In recent seasons, it also added the threeIntercontinental Cups above the crest, except during the2014-15 season, when the traditional crest was replaced by the mythical“bolsillo.” For the2013–14 season, the back of the jersey featured the logo“Rey de copas,” ("King of Cups") alluding to its 21 international titles.
On the2010-11 uniforms, there was a logo with a sun and the number 21, in honor of Diego “Oreja” Rodríguez, a club player who died in a car accident. For the2011–12 season, the club’s uniforms carried the logo of the Bicentennial of theInstrucciones del Año XIII.
As for the sky-blue jersey, which Nacional has worn since 2011 during the month of September, most editions usually feature some commemorative inscription or institutional logo that varies each year. The 2013 jersey carried the motto“Somos Uruguay,” while the 2014 edition displayed a logo with the phrase“Primer club criollo de América,” recalling that Nacional is the first Latin American club founded by natives of the same country as the club itself.
Located in theMontevideo neighborhood ofLa Blanqueada, theEstadio Gran Parque Central, renovated in early 2005, is the home ground of Club Nacional de Football. The Gran Parque Central is considered a historic venue. Built in 1900, it is the oldest stadium in the Americas and the fifteenth oldest in the world. The Parque also hosted theUruguay national team, both in football and other sports. From its creation until 1930, it was Uruguay’s main sporting venue, so until the inauguration of theEstadio Centenario, the national football team played its home matches at the Gran Parque Central.
The complex covers a total of 43,324 square meters. It includes the stadium itself, with a total capacity of 38,000 spectators, and complete facilities for two training camps, two gyms, two paddle courts, two basketball courts, a weight room, medical services, laundry, meeting rooms, dormitories, bathrooms, dining hall, kitchen, storage areas, and more.
Among Nacional supporters, the Gran Parque Central is commonly referred to as thefirst World Cup stadium. In this regard, theTemplo Tricolor has received several recognitions, most notably a plaque placed byFIFA in 2005 commemorating the first match in World Cup history, played in this stadium. On that occasion, a FIFA delegation visited the works, headed by its president Joseph Blatter and accompanied by Eugenio Figueredo, Nicolás Leoz, Ricardo Teixeira, and Julio Grondona.
That monument was placed at the tunnel exit connecting the locker rooms to the pitch, and in 2011 it was relocated, along with other tributes, to the new sector known asQuinta de la Paraguaya, located at the entrances to the main stand. This square was inaugurated to commemorate two hundred years sinceJosé Artigas was namedChief of the Orientals, on the land where the Parque Central now stands.
It has also received recognition from specialized outlets. In 2014, the siteImpedimento.org created a list of 33 unmissable stadiums in South America and ranked the Gran Parque Central in first place, stating that “there are few stadiums as heavy in terms of history,” as the tricolor venue.
In 2013, expansion works were completed on theHéctor Scarone stand (second tier) and the “corner” linking theAbdón Porte andAtilio García stands, significantly increasing the Parque’s capacity. Since late 2012, Nacional has been promoting the inclusion of the Gran Parque Central as the second stadium in Montevideo for the joint Uruguay-Argentina bid to host the2030 World Cup. The argument presented for FIFA to approve the request is the historic significance of the venue as the first World Cup stadium. Nacional’s idea is for the Parque to once again host the opening match of the tournament, as it did in 1930 along with the now-defunctEstadio Pocitos.
Hosting the 1923 Copa América
A plaque commemorating the 1930 world championship of fútbol
Located on a block adjacent to theGran Parque Central, and also known as the“Palacio de Cristal”, the social headquarters was inaugurated on April 25, 1957, under the presidency of José Añón, and is a notable modern architecture building designed by architect Ildefonso Aroztegui. The main entrance is on Avenida 8 de Octubre, in theLa Blanqueada neighborhood, at the geographical center of Montevideo. There, in its showcases, all the trophies the club has won throughout its history are displayed.
The original headquarters measured 3,475 square meters, but after initiatives started in 2018 by former president Eduardo Ache and continued by president José Decurnex, on June 1, 2021, the facility was inaugurated for use as a social club, offering sports activities for members. Currently, the club’s headquarters covers 4,371 square meters, and when construction is complete, it will total 7,975 square meters, allowing for up to 10,000 members. This expansion also includes the construction of two swimming pools and eight gyms, and there are plans for the headquarters (located one block from Nacional’s stadium) to be directly connected to the Gran Parque Central.
The social club currently has 4 tennis courts, 2 synthetic grass fields, an outdoor pool, a multipurpose gym, a training room for competitive squads, an outdoor multi-sport area, weight rooms, a spinning room, 3 fitness gyms, locker rooms, a multi-sport rooftop, fitness halls, a multipurpose gym, and a children’s play gym. Additionally, on August 15, 2022, two indoor pools were inaugurated: one measuring 10 x 12.5 meters, and another semi-Olympic 25 meters long with 6 lanes, both with a depth of 1.30 meters, marking the completion of phase two of the social club project.
At the end of 2010, an initiative by Nacional supporters aimed for the tricolor to have a huge banner, similar to what had been done eleven years earlier with theCentenary Flag. After raising 55,000 U.S. dollars among fans through organized contributions, and being made entirely inUruguay, on April 4, 2013, theWorld’s Largest Flag was unveiled, earning a spot in theGuinness World Records. It was inaugurated during the penultimate match of Group 1 of the2013 Copa Libertadores againstToluca, before 50,000 spectators, in which Nacional won 4-0 and secured qualification to the round of 16.
The giant banner measures 600 meters long by 50 meters high, totaling 30,000 square meters, and covered three of the four stands of the historicEstadio Centenario, the Colombes Stand, the Olímpica Stand, and the Ámsterdam Stand.
The tricolor flag was displayed twice, before the start of both halves. Its debut had previously been postponed twice due to rain forecasts, once againstDeportes Iquique and once againstLiga de Loja in the2012 Copa Sudamericana.
Panorama of the "biggest flag in the world", as seen at theEstadio Centenario in March 2013.
The flag weighs approximately 5,000 kilograms and required 400 supporters to transport it. It features the club’s colours, with a red stripe on top, a blue stripe on the bottom, and a wide white stripe in the center. On the white stripe are illustrated the club’s crest, theFlag of Uruguay, theFlag of Artigas, the international titles won, theGran Parque Central, and the legendaryAbdón Porte, along with the names of more than 5,000 people who contributed to the $55,000 cost.
It also bears the phrases:“Padre y decano del Fútbol Uruguayo”,“El primer club criollo de América”,“Al bolso lo hace grande su gente”,“La Banda del Parque nunca abandona”,“El verdadero Rey de Copas”, and“Más títulos oficiales internacionales y locales”.
Albo: Because of its white jersey (alba = white), the club quickly adopted this nickname in the early years of Uruguayan football.
Tricolor: Also known in short form asEl Trico, ortricolores in plural when referring to the fans. Over the years, the Tricolor identity of the club became more emphasized, recalling the importance given to its three colours since its founding.
Bolsilludo: The club began to be nicknamed this way because of the pocket on its jersey. Over time, especially in the late 20th century, the termBolsilludo was shortened toBolso, which became the most well-known nickname for both the club and its supporters.
Bolso: This nickname is simply a diminutive ofBolsilludo.
Decano: A term used to refer to the club’s origins. Although there is no official resolution on the matter, and it is rarely mentioned in the national press or documentation due to its controversial nature, internationally the club is unquestionably nicknamedDecano. Some call itEl Decano orEl Decano del Fútbol Uruguayo. The club itself uses the term as a motto. The most important fan publications are namedDecano, such as the website Decano.com or the magazineDecano. Even though Nacional is nicknamedDecano, the use of this term is part of the debate on the Decanato (the first official club to exist in Uruguayan football). Recently,CONMEBOL has congratulated Nacional on sporting triumphs or anniversaries by calling it the “Decano of Uruguayan football,” only to later retract such greetings because of negative reactions from fans of its traditional rival,Peñarol, who claim to have been founded earlier.
La Blanca: Popularized in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, this nickname once again refers to the color of the jersey. Unlike the other nicknames, this one only refers to the jersey or the team, not to the fans.
Parquenses: Referring to the club’s stadium, theGran Parque Central, fans are also known aslos del Parque (“those of the Park”).
Rey de Copas: Literally “King of Cups,” used in reference to its national and international trophies, or its 167 official titles.
El Equipo Criollo: In the club’s early days, it was common to highlight the defining characteristic from its foundation: forming a club for Uruguayans in a football world dominated by British teams at the end of the 19th century. Because of this, Nacional is known asEl Primer Equipo Criollo de América (“The First Creole Team of America”).
El club de los Céspedes: Occasionally used to refer to theCéspedes brothers, three footballers from the early 20th century and the first years of the club’s existence. They were the main driving forces behind Nacional winning its first Uruguayan championships in 1902 and 1903. Their strong connection with the club earned Nacional this nickname, which is still used.
La Cantera Inagotable: A term used to refer to the club’s youth academy and player development system.
Additionally, the nicknameLa Máquina orLa Máquina Blanca (“The White Machine”) was used to refer to the star-studded team of1933, which preceded theSouth American Championship in Lima in 1935.
Regarding confrontations withPeñarol, the Tricolores’ archrival, Nacional holds several noteworthy records. One example is going sixteen clásicos unbeaten between 1971 and 1974. Likewise, it holds the record of winning ten consecutive clásicos in theUruguayan Championship between1939 and1942. Among those ten clásicos is the largest victory ever recorded in Nacional–Peñarol history: on December 14, 1941, Nacional defeated Peñarol 6-0, on a day remembered as theDía del 10 a 0, because in addition to the six goals in the First Division match, Nacional also beat Peñarol 4–0 in the Reserve match.
Nacional also has the all-time leading goalscorer in the clásico: the ArgentineAtilio García, with 34 goals. It is also the team that has won the most clásico finals, and the one that has won the most clásicos after coming from behind.
Among the many clásicos remembered throughout history is the1933 Uruguayan Championship final, played on May 27, 1934, remembered as theGol de la Valija (“Suitcase Goal”), because of a curious play in that match. At one point Peñarol attacked, and a low cross went out of bounds, rebounded off the suitcase of Juan Kirschberg, Nacional’s physio, and came back into play. Braulio Castro of Peñarol, just in case, pushed the ball into the net. Referee Telesforo Rodríguez made strange gestures that nobody understood, so they thought he had awarded the goal. A scuffle broke out, and Labraga andJosé Nasazzi, both from Nacional, were sent off.
The match was suspended because there was no more daylight. It was continued on August 25 and is remembered as theClásico de los Nueve contra Once (“Nine vs Eleven clásico”), since Nacional had to play with nine men for the remaining 84 minutes. The Hungarian coach Américo Szigueti devised a brilliant strategy to minimize the man disadvantage, and Nacional dominated tactically and mentally, even creating the best chances, finishing with a heroic 0-0 draw.
Finally, the tournament was decided on November 18. Peñarol led 2–0 at halftime and seemed certain to be champion. However, in the second half, three goals fromHéctor “Manco” Castro sealed a 3-2 comeback and an unforgettable vuelta olímpica (victory lap) for Nacional.
Taking into account the debate over the Decanato del fútbol uruguayo, where Nacional does not officially recognize the now-defunctCURCC as the predecessor ofClub Atlético Peñarol, the following statistics are recorded: 515 matches played, with 169 victories, 174 defeats, and 172 draws. Although Nacional currently does not lead the overall clásico head-to-head record, it maintained hegemony for most of history, from 1913 until the 1980s.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
In 1924, Nacional was the club that contributed more players to Uruguay's team that won theOlympicgold medal infootball of that year. It happened again with Uruguay's teams of1928 and1930, Olympic and world champions respectively, in which Nacional contributed the majority of players. Nacional is the only Uruguayan club that contributed players to every Uruguay national team that went on to win international tournaments.[2]
Below, the list of Nacional players that were part of Uruguay's Olympic and world champions teams.
Nacional is the club that has won the most official titles at the domestic level, with 144, which include 49Uruguayan Championships plus another 95 trophies also awarded by theUruguayan Football Association (AUF). The AUF has organized official championships since 1900, amateur tournaments until 1931, and professional tournaments since 1932.
The club also has 19 international titles. Nine of them correspond to tournaments organized byCONMEBOL andFIFA, and the remaining ten to tournaments jointly organized by theAFA (Argentine Football Association) and the AUF.
Nacional participates in the tournaments organised by the Uruguayan basketball federationFederación Uruguaya de Basketball (known as FUBB) since 1932. The club won the championships of 1935 and 1937. Nowadays, Nacional takes part in the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball, Uruguayan basketball first division.
In April 2019, Nacional had announced that they would form arugby union section[13] to compete in the2020 season of theSúper Liga Americana de Rugby.[14] Nevertheless, it never occurred soPeñarol remained as the only Uruguayan representative in the league.
Nacional has a lot of tennis courts in Parque Central, behind the stand Abdón Porte, in which several stages of the tournaments organised in Uruguay are disputed. In 2005, the club had the honour of holding various games played by Uruguay in the American Zone II ofDavis Cup.
Nacional has its volleyball court in Parque Central, in the gymnasium of Jaime Cibils street. In that stadium, the club plays its home games of the championships organised by the Uruguayan volleyball federationFederación Uruguaya de Vóleibol in every category.
Nacional was part of the tournaments organised by the Department of Feminine Football of the Uruguayan Football Association, since its establishment in 1996, winning the Campeonato Uruguayo in 1997 and 2000. The club disaffiliated in 2005 and returned to the league in 2009 ending third in the annual standings. They won the championship in 2010 and 2011–2012. Internationally, Nacional played in various South American championships.
Nacional participates in the championships organised by de Futsal Delegated Commission of the Uruguayan Football Association. The club won the Uruguayan league title in various occasions and is nowadays the Uruguayan champion. Internationally, Nacionals main achievement is the second place in the South American Futsal CupCopa Libertadores de América de Futsal in 2003.
