Asociación Mutual Social y Deportiva Atlético de Rafaela, known simply as Atlético de Rafaela, is an Argentine sports club based in the city of Rafaela, in Santa Fe Province. The club is mostly known for its professional football team, that competes in Primera Nacional, the second division of Argentine football league system. It is popularly known in Argentina and other South American countries for its nickname "La Crema".
The club owns the Autódromo Ciudad de Rafaela. Apart from football, the other sports and activities practised at the institution are basketball, chess, field hockey, artistic gymnastics, paddle tennis, roller skating, skeet shooting, swimming, tennis and volleyball.[2]
Under the name "Club Atlético Argentino de Rafaela", the club was founded in the city of Rafaela, Santa Fe Province in 1907. In 1915 the name was changed to "Club Atlético de Rafaela". The Monumental de Barrio Alberdi concrete stadium was erected in 1951.
The club was turned into a non-profit organization in 1988, and renamed Asociación Mutual Social y Deportiva Atlético de Rafaela ("Social and Sport Association Rafaela Athletic"). Only a year later Rafaela reached the second division after defeating Atlético Ledesma by 3–0 with goals scored by López (20', 30') and Poelman (35').[3]
Atlético de Rafaela played in the second division for 14 years until the team won the Apertura 2002 and the Clausura 2003 to finally reach the first division. After losing the promoción against Huracán de Tres Arroyos, Atlético de Rafaela was relegated to the second division again.
The following season Atlético lost its chance to return to the first division, after losing the promoción, against Argentinos Juniors.
In 2009 Rafaela earned another chance to return to the Primera División via a playoff against Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata. After winning the first final 3–0, Rafaela lost the second match by the same score (0–3) and had to stay in the second division once again.
Atlético de Rafaela fans are referred to as Cremosos or Celestes, and the people that follows the team everywhere are known as La Barra de los Trapos .
The club also has an important car racing circuit since 1919, which hosts many competitions including the Turismo Carretera (since 1941) and the TC 2000 (since 1983).
On the 21st of May 2011, after defeating Atlético Tucumán 2–0 with goals scored by Carniello and Aldana, they earned a place back in the first division for the 2011–12 season.[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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.
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To appear in this section a player must have either played at least 50 games for the club, set a club record or played for their national team.
Gustavo Alfaro (1988–92) Gabriel Schürrer (1989–90) Gustavo Semino (1996–97), (1998–99), (2000–01), (2004–05), (2007) Gonzalo del Bono (1997–99), (2000–06), (2007–08)[a] Raúl "Speedy" González (1997–00) Federico García (1997–04), (2005–06), (2009) Lucas Bovaglio (1998–00), (2001–04), (2006), (2009–11), (2012–14)
Carlos Bonet (1998–02)[b]
Carlos Goyen (1992–95)[c] Hugo Barrientos (2000–04) Franco Mendoza (2000–05)
Ibrahim Sekagya (2001–02)[d] Darío Gandín (2001–04), (2011–13) Iván Juárez (2001–04), (2005–11), (2011–13)[e] Ezequiel Medrán (2001–04) Carlos Araujo (2002–04) Marcelo Barovero (2002–07) Leonardo Di Lorenzo (2003–04)[f] Sergio Marclay (2004–05), (2006–07), (2009–10) Lucas Aveldaño (2005–08) Claudio Bieler (2006–07) Martín del Campo (2006–07)[g] Alejandro Faurlín (2007) Cesar Carignano (2010–11), (2012–13)[h] Rodrigo Depetris (2009–2015)[i] Mário Imbelloni (1970) Horacio Bongiovanni (Dec 21, 1988–??)[9][citation needed] Francisco Calabrese (1992–??)[9][10][11] [citation needed] Roberto Rogel (1993–94)[12] Ángel Bargas (19??)[10] [citation needed] Carlos Biasutto (19??)[10] [citation needed] Gustavo Alfaro (1992–95), (1998–00)[13] Jorge Ghiso (Nov 12, 1997–98), (2001–02), (2006–07)[14] Oscar Blanco (2002 – Nov 4, 2003)[15][16] Alejandro Zurbriggen (interim) (Nov 9, 2003)[17] Osvaldo Piazza (Nov 11, 2003 – July 4, 2004)[18] Omar Labruna (interim) (Aug 16, 2004)[19] José Luis Brown (2004–05)[20] Jorge Ginarte (April 21, 2005 – Oct 18, 2005)[21][22] Óscar Garré (2005–06)[23] Juan Amador Sánchez (June 14, 2007–08)[24] Carlos Marcelo Fuentes (June 23, 2008 – June 30, 2009)[25] Carlos Trullet (2009 – March 12, 2012)[26] Rúben Darío Forestello (March 13, 2012 – Nov 18, 2012)[27][28] Victor Bottaniz (interim) (Oct 6, 2012 – Dec 3, 2012) Jorge Burruchaga (Dec 3, 2012 – May 26, 2014), (Jan 4, 2016 – March 24, 2016)[29][30][31] Roberto Sensini (June 10, 2014 – April 4, 2015)[32][33] Leonardo Astrada (April 14, 2015 – Nov 8, 2015)[34][35] Juan Manuel Llop (March 28, 2016 – June 25, 2017)[36][37] Lucas Bovaglio (July 10, 2017 – current)[38]Executive Board 2017[39]
