Club Sporting Cristal S.A. is a Peruvian sports club located in the city of Lima, best known for its football team. It was founded on 13 December 1955 in the Rímac district by engineer Richard Bentín Mujica and his wife Esther Grande de Bentín, stockholders of the Peruvian brewery Backus and Johnston.[2][3] The club and the brewery have been closely linked since its inception, and it is for this reason that it is popularly known as los Cerveceros ("the brewers").
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| Full name | Club Sporting Cristal [1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Los Cerveceros Los Rimenses Los Celestes La Fuerza Vencedora La Máquina Celeste | ||
| Founded | 13 December 1955 | ||
| Ground | Estadio Alberto Gallardo | ||
| Capacity | 11,600 | ||
| Owner | Innova Sports | ||
| President | Joel Raffo | ||
| Manager | Enderson Moreira | ||
| League | Liga 1 | ||
| 2023 | Liga 1, 3rd of 19 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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The team has played in the Primera División since 1956, where it obtained the title that year. Due to this achievement, Cristal is often referred to as "El club que nació campeón".[4] Since their first participation, they have won the league title 19 times and are one of the few teams in Peru to have never been relegated from the top division. Sporting Cristal is also the first Peruvian team to have been crowned tricampeóns, successively winning the 1994, 1995, and 1996 seasons.[5][6] In 1997, they were runners-up of the Copa Libertadores, losing the final to Brazilian side Cruzeiro. Cristal holds the longest undefeated streak in the tournament; 17 games without suffering a loss.[7]
Cristal has a heated rivalry with Club Universitario de Deportes. One of the main reasons for the enmity between the two sides is the series of transfers of Universitario's star players to los Celestes. The club also has rivalries with Alianza Lima, Deportivo Municipal, and Sport Boys.
Sporting Cristal plays its home games at the Estadio Alberto Gallardo. They play at the Estadio Nacional for international competitions such as the Libertadores or Sudamericana. The Estadio Nacional is also the venue for matches against Universitario and Alianza Lima.
In addition to football, the club has teams specializing in futsal, women's football (3 Peruvian Primera División Femenina titles), and volleyball.[8][9]
History edit
Ricardo Bentín Mujica, with the support of his wife, co-owners of Backus and Johnston brewery, was the man who is credited with achieving the company's goal. A club from Rímac ward, known as Sporting Tabaco founded in 1926 and originally belonging to the tobacco growers' union, was already playing in the professional Peruvian First Division. Never having won a national championship, the club was in dire economic straits. Bentín decided to buy the club and search for a playing ground, so that the club could develop and be able to play better at the professional level. The club found a lot in the neighborhood of La Florida of 137,000 m2.
1926–1955
On December 13, 1955 the club was founded as Sporting Cristal , after Backus' best-known beer brand, Cristal. The new club from the Rímac ward debuted in 1956 in the professional Primera Division and won their first national title that same year. Journalists thus called them the club born a champion (nació campeon). The team managed to win more titles over the years and was known as one of the best football clubs in Peru after Universitario and Alianza Lima. A few years later, the club eliminated the word Backus from their name to demonstrate their economic independence.
During the 1962 edition until the 1969 edition of the Copa Libertadores, Sporting Cristal went on a 17-game undefeated streak,[10] the longest unbeaten streak in the Copa Libertadores, winning 8 games, and tying 9.
Sporting Cristal changed its shirt color from blue to light blue. They are known as "Los Celestes". During a brief period between 1978 and 1981, they again used blue shirts. In 1982 they returned to light blue as the color of the club.
The 1990s were the most successful decade as they claimed 4 national titles (including 3 in a row) with coach Juan Carlos Oblitas. Under Oblitas, Cristal won 1991, 1994 and 1995 domestic league. Then, guided by Sergio Markarián head coach they won 1996 league. By 1997, the team, led by Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarián, reached the finals of the Copa Libertadores, where they faced the Brazilian club Cruzeiro. The first leg was a home game, in which they ended in a scoreless draw; in the second leg, they lost 1–0. This is the closest Team Peru has come to the Copa Libertadores Final since 1972, when Universitario had a similar fate playing against Independiente.
The club stayed on the top spots of the national tournament during most of the 2000s and gained qualification to the Copa Libertadores eight years in a row from 2000 to 2007. It would only win two titles during the decade which were obtain in 2002 and 2005 with many notable players as Sergio Leal, Jorge Soto and Luis Alberto Bonnet. However, during the 2007, Cristal would come four points away from relegation. It would make a comeback during the 2008 season and qualify to the Copa Libertadores once again.
In 2009, the Primera División Peruana would change the tournament structured which caused Sporting Cristal to have mediocre results for the next few years into the new decade. After a seven-year dry spell it would become the national champion once more during the 2012 season when it defeated Real Garcilaso in the finals. They qualified to the 2013 Copa Libertadores where they did not pass the tournament's group stage. In the 2013 season, they played on the same liguilla as Real Garcilaso and fought for a place in the final up to the last match of the season in which they finished third and qualified for the 2014 Copa Libertadores once more.
In the 2018 season, they conquered another historical feat, they became the best Team Peru in the Historic Table during the Professional Era (1966 - 2018). As of 2018, they surpassed Universitario for the first spot, 3264 points to Universitario's 3236 points.[11]
In the 2020 season, Roberto Mosquera returned as coach after 7 years.[12][13]
Rivalries edit
Sporting Cristal has had longstanding rivalries with Universitario, Alianza Lima, Deportivo Municipal, and Sport Boys.
Supporters edit
Cristal has three ultra or barra bravas known as Extremo Celeste, Fverza Oriente Gvardia Xtrema. Fverza Oriente was the first ultra of Cristal, founded in 1975. They are located on eastern grandstand of the stadiums. Extremo Celeste was formed in 1991 when a group of young fans from Fuerza Oriente decided to form a new group for young energetic supporters. Extremo Celeste has become one of the biggest barras bravas in Peru. And in 2007 a smaller third ultra was created in the western grandstand to support the team. Sporting Cristal had supporters on every grandstand on Estadio Alberto Gallardo.
Honours edit
Senior titles edit
- Keys
- Record
- (s) Shared record
| Type | Competition | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Primera División | 20 | 1956, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 |
| Half-year / Short tournament (League) |
Torneo Apertura/Fase 1 | 4 | |
| Torneo Clausura | 6 | ||
| Torneo de Verano | 1 | ||
| Liguilla Pre-Libertadores | 2 | ||
| Torneo Apertura | 1 | ||
| Torneo Regional | 3 | ||
| Torneo Descentralizado | 1 | ||
| National (Cups) |
Copa Bicentenario | 1 |
Under-20 team edit
| Type | Competition | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Torneo de Promoción y Reserva | 4 | 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023 |
| National (Cups) |
Copa Modelo Centenario | 1 | 2016 |
| Copa Generación | 1 | 2021 |
Women’s football edit
| Type | Competition | Titles | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (League) |
Liga Femenina | 2 | 1998, 1999 |
Performance in CONMEBOL competitions edit
- Copa Libertadores: 39 appearances
- Copa Sudamericana: 4 appearances
- Copa CONMEBOL: 1 appearance
- 1994: Quarter-finals
- Copa Merconorte: 4 appearances
- 1998: First Round
- 1999: First Round
- 2000: First Round
- 2001: First Round
- U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2 appearances
- 2012: Group Stage
- 2024:
Women's volleyball edit
- Runner-up (1): 2013–14
Players edit
Current squad edit
- As of February, 2024.[14]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Presidential history edit
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Records edit
Year-by-year edit
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by Sporting Cristal. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Sporting Cristal seasons.
| Season | League | Position | National Cups | Continental / Other | Tournament Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Play-offs[a] | Name(s) | Goals | |||||
| 2016 | Torneo Descentralizado | 44 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 70 | 48 | 77 [b] | 1st | 1st | — | — | Copa Libertadores | GS | — | — |
| 2017 | Torneo de Verano | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 16 | 22 | 3rd | DNQ | — | — | Copa Libertadores | GS |  Irven Ávila
|
22 |
| Torneo Apertura | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 7th | ||||||||
| Torneo Clausura | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 19 [c] | 9th | ||||||||
| 2018 | Torneo de Verano | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 15 | 33 | 1st | 1st [d] | DNQ | — | Copa Sudamericana | R1 |  Emanuel Herrera
|
40 |
| Torneo Apertura | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 7 | 32 | 1st | 1st | |||||||
| Torneo Clausura | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 14 | 24 | 5th | ||||||||
| 2019 | Torneo Apertura | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 13 | 32 | 2nd | 3rd | Copa Bicentenario | QF | Copa Libertadores Copa Sudamericana |
GS Ro16 |
 Cristian Palacios
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13 |
| Torneo Clausura | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 20 | 31 | 3rd | ||||||||
| 2020 | Torneo Apertura | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 23 | 33 | 3rd | 1st [e] | Copa Bicentenario | —[f] | Copa Libertadores | R2 | Emanuel Herrera
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20 |
| Torneo Clausura | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 23 | 2nd[g] | ||||||||
Managerial history edit
List of Sporting Cristal managers through club history.[15]
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Notes edit
- ^ Since 1966, play-off games have been used as a tie breaker between teams tie on points for promotion or relegation or as a post-season stage to decide the national championship. Whenever they have occurred, the club's position on that stage is shown in this column.
- ^ Sporting Cristal were awarded 2 point for 2016 Torneo de Promoción y Reserva success.
- ^ Sporting Cristal were awarded 1 point for 2017 Torneo de Promoción y Reserva success.
- ^ Sporting Cristal defeated Sport Huancayo in the Torneo de Verano finals.
- ^ Sporting Cristal defeated Universitario in the play-off finals.
- ^ The Copa Bicentenario was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ Sporting Cristal lost the Clausura playoff to Ayacucho.
References edit
- ^ "Club Sporting Cristal S.A conocida como Club Sporting Cristal con RUC 20510014279 en RIMAC".
- ^ "La grandeza de la Familia Bentín" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Pasión 'Cervecera': Sepa cómo se fundó el Sporting Cristal" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "El club que nació campeón" (in Spanish). FIFA. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Sporting Cristal superó en títulos a Universitario en torneos Descentralizados" (in Spanish). La República. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ José Luis Pierrend, Carlos Manuel Nieto Tarazona (2013). rsssf.org (ed.). "Peru - List of final tables". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ José Luis Pierrend (2007). ElArea.com (ed.). "Libertadores: Curiosidades y datos accesorios". Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ internetsceleste.com, ed. (1998). "Equipo Femenino de Fútbol del Sporting Cristal". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ^ elcristalconquetemiro.com, ed. (2013). "2013: Los Balances. Parte VI: Voley". Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ Canales, Jostein. "Conmebol rememoró el histórico récord que ostenta Sporting Cristal en la Libertadores". www.msn.com/. La Republica. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Tabla Acumulada 1966-2018". www.dechalaca.com. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ Lerner, Dan. "Roberto Mosquera es el nuevo técnico de Sporting Cristal". Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "¡Oficial! Roberto Mosquera es el nuevo técnico de Sporting Cristal tras la salida de Manuel Barreto". Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "PLANTEL PROFESIONAL". Club Sporting Cristal. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Sporting Cristal". Sporting Cristal. Retrieved Aug 29, 2019.
- ^ Tassara, Carlos. "Luis Tirado: De raza sureña". Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ ""Claudio Vivas vuelve a casa": Sporting Cristal fichó al técnico argentino por dos temporadas". RPP. Feb 9, 2019.
- ^ "Claudio Vivas: Sporting Cristal anunció la salida del técnico argentino". El Bocón. Sep 10, 2019.
- ^ "Manuel Barreto fue presentado oficialmente como nuevo director técnico de Sporting Cristal". RPP. Sep 12, 2019.
- ^ "Sporting Cristal anuncia el despido de Manuel Barreto". AS Perú. Feb 20, 2020.
- ^ "Sporting Cristal confirma a Roberto Mosquera como DT". Andina. Retrieved Feb 17, 2020.
- ^ "Roberto Mosquera deja el Sporting Cristal tras perder la semifinal en Perú". Swissinfo.ch. Retrieved Nov 8, 2022.
- ^ "Tiago Nunes es el nuevo director técnico de Sporting Cristal para el 2023". Líbero. Retrieved Nov 9, 2022.
