America de Cali

Officially founded in 1927, the foundation was initially in 1918. The team has many rivalries with teams in Colombia, like Deportivo Cali. The matches between these two teams are known as the “Clasico vallecaucano”. Other than Deportivo Cali, other rival clubs are Millonarios and Atletico Nacional. The home matches are played at Estadio Pascual Guerrero, which has a seating capacity of 45, 625 seats. The Chairman of the club is Carlos H. Andrade and Eduardo Lara is the manager of the team.

The roots of the team can be traced back to 1918, when some students from Colegio Santa Librada formed their own team, namely “America F.C” for competing with other schools. This team won the Copa Centenario Batalla de Boyaca in 1919. During this time, the uniform of the team was light blue with white vertical stripes, light blue shorts and socks having horizontal stripes in the white and light blue color. By 2006, the team used a black color uniform with the emblems of some sponsors, like the Playboy, although it was used only in some matches. Presently, this is the second alternative uniform.

Major Highlights

With right to international matches, America de Cali won the Club World Ranking and was in position 2 in 1996. In 1999, they won the Copa Merconorte title as well.

With right to National football level, the team of America de Cali won the Primera A series 13 times, the South America’s Club of the Century nine times and was named as the best Colombian team in the Copa Libertadores history. Moreover, the team was in 37th position and was known as the best team in the history of Colombia as per the IFFHS.

Regionally, the team won the Copa Centenario Batalla de Boyaca once, in 1919. They even won the Campeonato Departamental Amateur four times.

Other than the above titles, the club won friendly matches as well. These include the Copa Cafam in 2008 and in 2011; the Copa Sky in 2001; Copa Ciudad Vina del Mar in 2000 other than the Copa Osvaldo Zubeldia in 1982. In 1976, they won the Copa Simon Bolivar and in 1979, they won the Copa Ciudad de Cali title.