The “Other” River Plate

They may share the same name, but the difference between them is as wide as the body of water that separates them.

Uruguay’s Club Atlético River Plate are becoming this year’s success story in the Primera División Uruguaya, storming their way to the top of the league table, and ahead of the nation’s traditional powerhouses, Nacional and Peñarol. Though the team shares the same name as that other River Plate that resides across the Rio de la Plata estuary which divides Argentina and Uruguay, their histories could not be more different.

Founded in Montevideo in 1932, the club began as a merger between two teams, Olimpia F.C. and Club Atlético Capurro, who chose the name Club Atlético River Plate in honor of a club which folded in 1929 yet won several titles during the amateur era. Until now they have not enjoyed much success; they have yet to win a professional title, and have bounced back and forth between the second and first division.

Now, 7 fixtures into this season, River now find themselves atop La Primera table, recording some huge wins along the way, including a 4-1 drubbing to Club Atlético Cerro, a 5-0 victory over Tacuarembó, a 5-1 against Danubio, and a whopping 7-0 over Rampla Juniors. Though there are still 8 games left to play in a league that has only been won by 7 clubs since 1932, hopes are running high that the “other” River can attain their first ever silverware.

By the way, though they have no direct link to the more renowned River from Argentina, there just happens to be one change this season that could have something to do with their current run of form. Head coach Juan Ramón Carrasco just so happened to play for los millonarios from 1979-1980.

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Category: South America