Club Guaraní is a Paraguayan professional football club, based in the neighbourhood of Pinozá in outer Asunción.

Guaraní
Full nameClub Guaraní
Nickname(s)El Cacique
El Legendario
El Aborigen
Founded12 October 1903; 121 years ago (1903-10-12)
GroundEstadio Rogelio Livieres
Capacity8,000
ChairmanEmilio Daher
ManagerFrancisco Arce
LeaguePrimera División
2024Primera División, 4th of 12
Websiteclubguarani.com.py
Current season

Founded in 1903, it is one of the oldest and one of the most successful in the country, with eleven Primera División titles, and has never been relegated to a lower division.

History

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Club Guaraní is the second oldest Paraguayan football club. It was founded on 12 October 1903 under the name of "Football Club Guaraní" and its first president was Juan Patri. The name of the club derives from the Guaraní people, a big part of Paraguayan culture and history. The colours of the club, black and yellow, were proposed by the Melina brothers (also among the founders of the club) in reference to the colours of Uruguayan club Peñarol, where the Melina brothers played for a few years. The mentioned colors were also used by English privateer Francis Drake in his emblem and shield, which is another reason why they were chosen to represent the club.[1]

 
The club's stadium

Guaraní is one of the traditional teams from the Paraguayan football league and during their history they have won a total of ten championships and were runners-up in fourteen occasions. The most successful era in their history was in the 1960s, where they had an excellent team that won three titles. This era is known as the "golden decade" by the Guaraní fans.[citation needed]

Along with Olimpia, they play the "clásico añejo" (the oldest derby) because they are the two oldest teams from Paraguay. Also, Guaraní, Cerro Porteño and Olimpia are the only teams that have never played in the second division of the Paraguayan league.

In late May 2010, Guaraní became champions after 26 years after defeating Olimpia 2–1 to clinch the 2010 Apertura title.[2] The club won its 11th championship in the Clausura 2016 tournmanent.

The club had a good campaign in the 2015 Copa Libertadores, qualifying to the semi-finals after beating Corinthians 3-0 on aggregate in the round of 16,[3] and Racing Club 1-0 on aggregate.[4] In the semi-finals, Guarani was eliminated by champions River Plate 3-1 on aggregate.[5]

In 2018, the club won the inaugural edition of the Copa Paraguay, defeating their classic rival Olimpia on penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.[6]

The club had good seasons in 2020 and 2021, finishing runner-up to Olimpia and Cerro Porteño respectively.

Youth

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One of the club's youth teams played at the 2008 Torneo di Viareggio,[7] the 2010 Torneo di Viareggio,[8] the 2012 Torneo di Viareggio[9] and the 2014 Torneo di Viareggio. The team is also the best-positioned Paraguayan team at the U-20 Copa Libertadores reaching the third place in the 2022 edition.

Honours

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National

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Players

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First-team squad

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As of 1 March 2025

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   PAR Alcides Benítez
3 DF   PAR Alcides Barbotte
4 DF   PAR Wilson Ibarrola
5 DF   PAR Mario López
6 MF   PAR Gustavo Marecos
7 MF   PLE Agustín Manzur
8 MF   PAR Aldo Maiz (on loan from Defensa y Justicia)
10 MF   PAR William Mendieta
11 MF   ARG Nicolás Barrientos
12 GK   URU Martín Rodríguez
14 DF   PAR Gustavo Vargas
15 MF   PAR Thiago Servín
16 FW   PAR Victor Cespedes
17 FW   PAR Richard Torales
18 FW   PAR César Miño
19 FW   PAR Alan Romero (on loan from Cerro Porteño)
20 DF   PAR Alexandro Maidana
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF   URU Bruno Piñatares
22 FW   PAR Rodrigo Amarilla
23 GK   ARG Gaspar Servio
24 DF   PAR Juan Patiño
25 FW   PAR Antonio Marín
26 MF   PAR Diego Fernández (on loan from Olimpia)
27 DF   PAR Fernando Román
28 MF   PAR Anderson Legüizamón
30 GK   PAR Marcos Giménez
32 DF   PAR Alexis Cantero
34 FW   PAR Leonardo Rolón
35 FW   PAR Alan Pereira
36 MF   PAR Luis Martínez
37 DF   PAR Daniel Pérez
39 FW   PAR Jesús Alvarenga
40 FW   PAR Fernando Fernández

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   PAR Aldo Pérez (at Ameliano until 31 December 2025)
DF   PAR César Ramírez (at Rubio Ñu until 31 December 2024)
DF   PAR Paul Riveros (at Banfield until 31 December 2025)
DF   ARG Felipe Salomoni (at Al Ain until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   PAR Brahian Fernández (at 2 de Mayo until 31 December 2025)
MF   PAR Víctor Rivarola (at Independiente CG until 31 December 2025)
FW   PAR Milciades Adorno (at Pastoreo until 31 December 2025)
FW   PAR Bruno Díaz (at Guaraní de Fram until 31 December 2025)

Notable players

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To appear in this section a player must have either:
  • Played at least 125 games for the club.
  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club.
  • Been part of a national team at any time.
  • Played in the first division of any other football association (outside of Paraguay).
  • Played in a continental and/or intercontinental competition.

1980s

2000s

2010s

Non-CONMEBOL players

Average attendance

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Year Average
2009 Clausura 1.228
2010 Apertura 2.038
2010 Clausura 1.247
2011 Apertura 1.240
2011 Clausura 1.838
2012 Apertura 2.046
2012 Clausura 1.487
2013 Apertura 1.043
2013 Clausura 1.146
2014 Apertura 1.078
2014 Clausura 794
2015 Apertura 1.184

Managerial information

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Championship winning managers

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Name Season Nationality
Salvador Melián 1906  
Manuel Bella 1907  
Idelfonso López 1921  
Idelfonso López 1923  
Fulgencio Romaro 1949  
Ondino Viera 1964  
José María Rodríguez 1967  
José María Rodríguez 1969  
Cayetano Ré 1984  
Félix Darío León 2010  
Daniel Garnero 2016  

References

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  1. ^ Al añejo Cacique (in Spanish)
  2. ^ "Guaraní grita ¡Campeón! luego de 26 años". Última Hora (in Spanish). 26 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Corinthians x Guaraní-PAR - Taça Libertadores 2015". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  4. ^ Vázquez, Andrés (29 May 2015). "Fin de la ilusión: Racing no pudo con Guaraní y quedó eliminado de la Libertadores". LA NACION (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  5. ^ "River Plate 1-1 Guarani (Jul 21, 2015) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Fútbol: Guaraní se consagra campeón de la primera edición de la Copa Paraguay| Spanish.xinhuanet.com". spanish.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Coppa Carnevale - Torneo Internazionale Giovanile di Viareggio". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Coppa Carnevale - Torneo Internazionale Giovanile di Viareggio". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Coppa Carnevale - Torneo Internazionale Giovanile di Viareggio". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Colombia - C. Caicedo - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Yuki Tamura". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
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