In footballing terms, the team is nicknamedLa Academia (The Academy) because it was the most successful side during theamateur era, known for acreole style of play that set the standard and taught its rivals how the game should be played.[6] It is also known asEl Primer Grande (The First 'Big'), as it was the first of theBig Five to win a league title, a national cup, and an international trophy. Moreover, it was the first Argentine club to win theWorld Championship (Intercontinental Cup), achieving this historic milestone in 1967.[7][8]
First seal of the club with the legend "Foot Ball Racing Club - Barracas al Sud" (1903)Arturo Artola was Racing’s first president.
Racing dates back to 1898, when a group of workers from the oldBuenos Aires Great Southern Railway in the municipality of Barracas al Sud—todayAvellaneda Partido—founded theArgentinos Excelsior Club. This early team played friendly matches against other local sides, many of which had been formed by British immigrants, and was based on a basic and undeveloped plot of land atAlsina y Colón (Alsina and Colón) streets, near the local livestock market. The site, owned by the railway company, had originally been granted by the local municipality and was later requested by the employees themselves to be used for playing football, a sport that was rapidly gainingpopularity in Argentina at the time.
Despite the formation of this early football team, it eventually dissolved and gave way to the emergence of other local entities, notablyArgentinos Unidos,American Club, andSud América Football Clubde Barracas al Sud. The latter was officially founded on 12 May 1901 by a group of alumni from the prestigiousColegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. What set Barracas al Sud apart was the distinctive nature of its founding membership, composed entirely ofcriollos—Argentine-born individuals of European descent—making it the first football club in the country to be established exclusively by native citizens, rather than byimmigrants or foreign communities.
The founding members were: Arturo and Zenón Artola, Germán Vidaillac, Leandro Boloque, Pedro Viazzi, Pedro Werner, Alfredo and Raimundo Lamoure, Ignacio Oyarzábal, Ricardo Martín, Ernesto Martín, Salvador Sorhondo, Julio Planisi, Francisco Balestrieri, Bernardo Etcheverry, brothers Evaristo and Alfredo Paz, Enrique Poujade, Elías Camels, José Güimil, Juan Sepich, José Paz, Antonio Capurro, and Alejandro Carbone.[10][11][12]
Barracas al Sud quickly found local success in its early football matches. However, internal disagreements among its members led to a significant split: on 16 March 1902, a large group broke away to establish a new institution, theClub Atlético Colorados Unidos del Sud. The venture ultimately proved unsuccessful, and as a result, Barracas al Sud itself failed to achieve the momentum it had originally aspired to.
In the wake of these setbacks, members from both clubs began to gather informally in the waiting room of the Barracas Iglesia railway station. It was there that a spirit of reconciliation took root, and they adopted the motto“United until death” as a symbol of their renewed unity and shared purpose. Thus, on 25 March 1903,FootBall Racing Club was officially founded. The club’s name was inspired by a French magazine read by Germán Vidaillac—one of the founders, of French descent—which featured the word“Racing” prominently. Although the club had already begun operating, itsofficial charter was formalised on 7 February 1904, during a meeting held at the Lamour brothers’ estate, where the founding act was drafted and recorded.
Racing in 1910, when the squad promoted to Primera División
Initially, the club began by wearing a plain white shirt in order to reduce costs. However, on 23 July 1904, it formally adopted a black and yellow vertically striped jersey, similar to that of theCentral Uruguay Railway Cricket Club. Due to the resemblance, the decision was reversed just a week later, and a new kit—featuring a chequered pattern in light blue and pink—was introduced at the behest of Alejandro Carbone.
In 1908, Racing reached the final of the Second Division but was defeated 2–1 byRiver Plate. However, the match was annulled due to a pitch invasion by River’s supporters. A replay was held on 27 December, in which Racing suffered a surprising and controversial 0–7 defeat. That same year, the club changed its kit once again, this time adopting a blue shirt with a white horizontal stripe across the chest.
In 1910, Racing once again reached the final of the Second Division, this time facingBoca Juniors. Racing emerged victorious with a 2–1 win, thus securing the long-awaited promotion to the top tier.[14] That same year, as Argentina celebrated the centenary of theMay Revolution, founding member Pedro Werner proposed a change to the club’s kit to reflect the national colours of theflag of Argentina. The proposal was approved, and a new design was created—featuring light blue and white. However, the iconic strip made its official debut only on 8 June 1913, in a match againstUnión, which Racing won emphatically by 8–1.[15]
The 1911 team, wearing their original kit, which defeated the mightyAlumni 2–1The 1913 team that won four titles in a year, including its first Primera División championshipThe 1915 team achieved an outstanding mark of 95 goals in 24 matchesThe 1915 team, on the very afternoon they visited River Plate and the supporters nicknamed themLa Academia
Racing made itsPrimera División debut on7 May 1911, drawing 1–1 againstSan Isidro. In that same tournament, the club finished in an impressive fourth place.[16]
In 1913, alongside the introduction of the now-iconic sky blue and white kit, Racing enjoyed a landmark season, securing four titles. The first was theCopa de Honor MCBA, earned with a 5–1 victory overEstudiantes (BA). The second was theCopa de Honor Cousenier, in which Racing defeated Uruguay’sNacional 4–3 on aggregate, claiming its first international trophy. The crowning achievement, however, came in theArgentine Primera División, where Racing triumphed 2–0 over San Isidro in the final—securing the club’s first top-flight league title.[18]
The year 1914 began with Racing being crowned champions of the1913 Copa Ibarguren, secured with a 3–1 victory over Newell’s Old Boys. Despite this title corresponding to the previous season, the 1914 campaign also brought further silverware. Racing won the leaguechampionship once again, defeating Ferro Carril Oeste by 2–0, with Estudiantes (BA) finishing as runners-up. The team delivered a dominant performance throughout the season, scoring 42 goals and conceding only 7 in just 12 matches. In addition, Racing claimed another Copa Ibarguren title, edgingRosario Central 1–0 in the final.[19]
From 1915 onwards, the team began to be nicknamedLa Academia (The Academy), a reflection of its elegantcreole style football, which was seen as setting the standard in the Argentine game. The moniker is said to have taken hold following a memorable 3–0 away victory overRiver Plate. After the match, Racing supporters made their jubilant return to Avellaneda chanting:“La Academia, la Academia!”.[20] That season marked Racing’s third leaguechampionship, secured with a 1–0 victory over San Isidro in a play-off and finishing unbeaten, with 22 games won and 2 drawn.[21] Racing also added to its growing trophy cabinet by winning theCopa de Honor MCBA, defeatingTiro Federal 2–1 in the final.
In1916, Racing clinched the leaguetitle for the fourth consecutive year, once again defeating Ferro Carril Oeste by a 2–0 scoreline, withPlatense finishing as runners-up. The club also secured theCopa Ibarguren, delivering a commanding 6–0 victory over Rosario Central in the final. Around this time, theAvellaneda derby began to take shape.Independiente, historically associated withsocialist ideals, had recently established itself in theAvellaneda Partido.[22] Its ideological stance stood in sharp contrast to Racing’s leadership, which was aligned with the conservativeNational Autonomist Party.[23]
In the 1917 season, Racing once again secured aquadruple, although three of them would be officially awarded the following year. The first was the leaguechampionship, their fifth consecutive title, clinched after a victory overGimnasia y Esgrima (LP), with River Plate finishing as runners-up. The other three trophies were theCopa de Honor MCBA, won after a 3–2 over River Plate;Copa Ibarguren, won after a 3–2 triumph over Rosario Central, and theCopa Aldao, Racing’s second international title, earned by defeating Uruguay’s Nacional 4–3 on aggregate.
In 1918, Racing achieved atreble, with one of the titles officially awarded the following year. The first was the leaguechampionship, which they won undefeated, crowned after a 4–1 victory over Platense, with River Plate once again finishing second. They also claimed theCopa Ibarguren, defeating Newell’s Old Boys 4–0 in the final. Later came theCopa Aldao, marking the club’s third and final Río de la Plata trophy, secured with a 2–1 win overPeñarol.
In 1919, Racing joined the breakaway league, theAsociación Amateurs de Football, where it won the leaguechampionship for the seventh consecutive time, defeatingTigre 2–1, withVélez Sarsfield as runners-up. It was also their third unbeaten title, sealing the legendaryheptacampeonato (seven-time consecutive champion), making Racing the first club in the world to win seven league titles in a row.[24] The streak ended in1920, with Racing finishing as runners-up, but the team reclaimed the crown in1921 with a 3–0 victory over River Plate, the same side that had halted their run the year before. Racing’s final amateur title came in the1925 season, after a 1–1 draw againstExcursionistas, a result that deniedSan Lorenzo the league title.[25]
The 1945 team that beat Boca Juniors by 4–1 in 1945
The professional era of Argentine football began in 1931, with Racing joining the breakawayLiga Argentina de Football, which was later recognized by theArgentine Football Association in 1934. Racing played its first professional match on 4 June 1931, defeatingPlatense 5–1.
In 1933, Racing won two titles. The first was the1932 Copa Beccar Varela, which—though corresponding to the previous season—was secured with a 3–0 victory overBoca Juniors, in a final group that also includedTigre. The second was theCopa de Competencia (LAF), claimed after a 4–0 win overSan Lorenzo in the final.
On 5 August 1937, the Argentine Football Association introduced proportional voting in its decision-making process. Five clubs were granted three votes each:Boca Juniors,Independiente, Racing,River Plate, andSan Lorenzo. From that point on, both the public and the sports media began referring to them collectively as theBig Five.[26]
In 1945, Racing won theCopa de Competencia Británica after defeating Boca Juniors 4–1 in the final.[27] Despite securing three domestic titles during this early professional era, the period was largely marked by a lack of league championships, with the team often finishing in mid-table positions.
During these years, the club expanded its membership base despite its title drought. A journalist—reportedly Américo Barrios—nicknamed the club’s supportersLa Guardia Imperial (The Imperial Guard) in recognition of their loyalty during this period without championships.
The 1951 team that secured three consecutive league titles
In 1949, Racing returned to glory by clinching the leaguechampionship after a 2–1 victory overBoca Juniors, endingRiver Plate’s hopes of catching them.[28] During this period, the club’s dominance on the pitch made it widely disliked by rival supporters, some of whom claimed Racing was benefiting from political favoritism—particularly fromJuan Perón's Finance Minister Ramón Cereijo.[29][30]
In 1950, Racing won the leaguetitle once again. Despite a 3–0 loss toBanfield, the result eliminated Boca Juniors from title contention.
In 1951, Racing finished theleague tied for first place with Banfield, prompting a playoff final. After a 0–0 draw in the first match, a second final was held, where Racing secured a 1–0 victory to claim its third consecutive championship.[31] This made Racing the first team to win three consecutive professional championships,[32] despite playing the decisive match atSan Lorenzo’sstadium with most of the crowd against them,[33] withGuillermo Stábile as head coach and an exceptional attacking line featuringNorberto Méndez,Rubén Bravo,Llamil Simes,Mario Boyé andEzra Sued.[34] The following year, they finishedrunners-up to River Plate.[35]
In 1960, despite finishing fourth in theleague, Racing recorded the biggest official win in its history with an 11–3 victory overRosario Central.[40]
In 1961, under the management ofSaúl Ongaro, Racing won the league title after defeating San Lorenzo 3–2, with the latter finishing as runners-up.[41] This was the first time since its inauguration that the championship-deciding match was played at El Cilindro, rather than away or on neutral ground.[42] The team stood out for its collective style of play and reliance on Argentine players—except for two Uruguayans—at a time when many clubs sought foreign signings to promote so-calledFútbol Espectáculo (Show Football) in Argentina.[43] They qualified for the1962 Copa Libertadores but were eliminated in the group stage, sharing the group withNacional of Uruguay andSporting Cristal of Peru.[44]
The José Team that won the Argentine Primera División, the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental CupThe 1967 team, newly crowned world champions
In 1965, the club underwent a significant institutional crisis, prompting the appointment of the recently retiredJuan José Pizzuti as head coach. Pizzuti’s inauguralmatch in charge culminated in a 3–1 triumph overRiver Plate. He promptly committed to integrating the club’s promising youth prospects—namelyRoberto Perfumo,Alfio Basile,Agustín Cejas, andRubén Osvaldo Díaz—thereby laying the foundations of a formidable squad that would embark upon an extraordinary 39-match unbeaten run. This team rapidly endeared itself to the supporters, who immortalized it through a chant, dubbing itEquipo de José (José's Team). The unbeaten streak was ultimately halted in 1966 with a 2–0 away defeat to River Plate; however, this setback did not preclude the team from securing thechampionship title following a goalless draw againstGimnasia y Esgrima (LP). Notably, the sole loss was inflicted by the very club that would finish as runners-up that season.[45]
In 1967, Racing finished second in theTorneo Metropolitano after losing the final 3–0 toEstudiantes (LP) at San Lorenzo.[46] At the same time, they competed in theCopa Libertadores, placed in a group with River Plate,Bolívar and31 de Octubre from Bolivia, andSanta Fe andIndependiente Medellín from Colombia. A trip toMedellín nearly ended in tragedy, but the players arrived safely.[47] In the semifinals, Racing advanced from a group that included River Plate again,Colo-Colo from Chile, andUniversitario from Peru, which required a playoff to decide the standings. Thefinals against UruguayanNacional ended with two 0–0 draws, and Racing won the title after a playoff held atSantiago.Norberto Raffo was the top scorer with 13 goals.[48]
Between October and November, Racing contested theIntercontinental Cup againstCeltic of Scotland. Following a 1–0 loss inGlasgow and a 2–1 win in Avellaneda, the tie was decided in a playoff held inMontevideo, where Racing secured a 1–0 victory. With that result, Racing were crowned champions of theWorld Club Championship, becoming the first Argentine to achieve the title.
Gustavo Costas leading the Racing team that played the first leg vs Atlanta to promote to Primera División, December 1985
After the world title victory, difficult years followed for Racing. The most notable achievement was finishing as runners-up in the1972 Metropolitano Championship, behind San Lorenzo. However, the 1970s were marked by battles to avoid relegation from the Primera División.[49]
In1983, due to the implementation of an average points system to determine which team would be relegated toPrimera División B, and after losing a match 4–3 againstRacing (C), Racing was relegated to theSecond Division.
In 1984, after finishing as runners-up toDeportivo Español, Racing contested the second promotion spot in an eight-team playoff. They reached the final againstGimnasia y Esgrima (LP), but lost 7–3 on aggregate.[50] Despite this, a year later Racing once again finished as runners-up, this time toRosario Central. In the subsequent eight-team playoff, they reached the final againstAtlanta, where they won 5–1 on aggregate and secured promotion to the Primera División.[51][52]
Due to a scheduling change in the AFA calendar, Racing went six months without playing until the start of the1986–87 season. During this period, the football team was loaned toAtlético Argentino fromMendoza Province, which participated in regional matches.[53]
Racing players with the 1988 Supercopa title in Belo Horizonte, the first international title for the club after 21 years
Racing won its third international competition in 1988, when the team won the first edition of the1988 Supercopa Libertadores, defeating Brazilian teamCruzeiro in the finals, with Alfio Basile still as coach. That same year Racing won the non-official Supercopa Interamericana beatingHerediano fromCosta Rica 3–0.[54] The following year, Racing played the inaugural edition of theRecopa Sudamericana in1989 against the winners of the1988 Copa Libertadores,Club Nacional. Nacional won the first leg inMontevideo 1–0; Racing wasn't able to turn the score around in the second leg in Buenos Aires, and the Uruguayan club won the title.
In1992, Racing played theSupercopa Libertadores finals against Cruzeiro again. In the first match, Cruzeiro defeated them 4–0 inBelo Horizonte. Racing won the second match 1–0 but the cup was awarded to the Brazilian team with a 4–1 aggregate score.[55]
Racing came very close to winning the league title in the 90s; in the1993 Apertura they finished third, tied with Velez and just one point from the champion, River Plate. In the1995 Apertura they finished runner-ups.
Racing players celebrating the 2014 championship at theCasa Rosada (Pink House) with president Cristina Fernández
In July 1998, club presidentDaniel Lalín declaredbankruptcy, leaving many supporters outraged. Lalin had been accused as the main reason for the club's debt because he spent large amounts of money on players, instead of bringing them up from the youth academy.[56] In March 1999, a top member of the club said Racing "had officially ceased to exist". However, with the massive support of the fans, they convinced the club to implement theTrust law, saving it from liquidation. In December 2000, the club was taken over byBlanquiceleste SA and was managed by the company until 2008.[57][58]
They won theleague title in December 2001 for the first time in 35 years, and the title was celebrated atEstadio Jose Amalfitani,Vélez Sarsfield's home stadium, after the last fixture with them finished in a draw.[57]
In 2008, the club was almost relegated and had to play a promotion play-off againstBelgrano. This was due to poor performances in the last 3 seasons, including a last-place finish in the2008 Clausura. The first leg was played inCórdoba on 25 June and ended 1–1. In the second leg, Racing won 1–0 at home, and with a 2–1 aggregate score, was able to maintain its permanence in the top tier.[59]
The Racing Club team champion of the Superliga 2018-19
In June 2014,Diego Cocca was hired as head coach.[61] Two days after Cocca signed his contract, former player and fan favoriteDiego Milito leftInter Milan and returned to the club to play the2014 Torneo de Transición.[62][63] In December 2014, Racing won its17th Primera División title in the last fixture of the tournament. If Racing drew but River Plate won their match against Quilmes, then the title would've gone to River. However, the team defeatedGodoy Cruz 1–0 to secure the 1st place and be crowned champions for the first time in 13 years.[64][65]
In February 2023, Racing became champion of theSupercopa Internacional by beating rival Boca Juniors, 2-1.[73]
In May 2023, the international online casino companyBetsson was announced as Racing's shirt sponsor for the 2023-2024 season.[74][75]
In November 2024, Racing became champion of theCopa Sudamericana after 36 years since their last international cup, by beatingCruzeiro, 3-1.[76]
At the beginning of 2025Diego Milito becomes the new president of the club, in 27 February Racing became champion of theRecopa Sudamericana, beatingBotafogo, winning 2–0 in home and away matches for an 4–0 aggregate.[77]
Racing's stadium history reflects its growth and challenges over time. Around the early 1900s, the club relocated to a new pitch on Miguel O'Gorman Street (now 25 de Mayo). This ground featured a modest wooden structure affectionately known asLa Caseta Multifunción (The Multipurpose Booth), which served various practical roles during the club’s early years.
However, due to frequent flooding at this location, Racing returned in 1906 to its previous grounds atAlsina y Colón.[78] Following the1946 season, when the government ofJuan Perón, through Finance Minister Ramón Cereijo, granted a loan to build a more modern venue, the team left this stadium.
In 1950, Racing inaugurated its current home,Estadio Presidente Perón (President Perón Stadium) and popularly known asEl Cilindro (The Cylinder). Today, it stands as the second largest stadium in Argentina, behind onlyRiver Plate’sMonumental.[79][80]
Panoramic view of the Racing Club stadium, August 2019
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.
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.
^abAs the senior squad was competing in Primera División, Racing played with a reserve team.[85]
^The Copa Bullrich was an official football competition contested by clubs playing in the Second Division. TheAFA has not included this competition into thelist of national cups because only teams inPrimera División participated in those competitions.[86]
^El Gráfico, ed. (14 May 2018)."1958. Era pan comido, fue desastre" [1958. It was a piece of cake, it turned into a disaster] (in Spanish). Retrieved31 May 2025.
^Mancuso, Mariano (7 August 2017)."El día que el Equipo de José pudo morir" [The day José’s Team almost died].Revista Un Caño (in European Spanish). Retrieved31 May 2025.
^"Campeón, campeón, campeón".Racing Club - Sitio Oficial (in Spanish). 14 December 2019.Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved29 October 2021.
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