Club Nacional

{{Short description|Paraguayan professional football club}} {{for-multi|the Uruguayan team|Club Nacional de Football|other clubs named Nacional|Nacional (disambiguation)}} {{use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Club Nacional | image = Club Nacional de Paraguay.png | image_size = 205px | alt = Nacional emblem | fullname = Club Nacional | nickname = ''El Tricolor'' ''La Academia'' ''Albos'' | founded = {{Start date and age|1904|06|05|df=y}} | ground = Estadio Arsenio Erico | capacity = 7,500 | chairman = Juan Carlos Galeano | manager = Pedro Sarabia | league = División de Honor | season = 2025 | position = División de Honor, 5th of 12 | pattern_la1 = _nacionalpar25h | pattern_b1 = _nacionalpar25h | pattern_ra1 = _nacionalpar25h | pattern_sh1 = _shorts | pattern_so1 = _socks | leftarm1 = | body1 = | rightarm1 = | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = FFFFFF | pattern_la2 = _nacionalpar24A | pattern_b2 = _nacionalpar24A | pattern_ra2 = _nacionalpar24A | pattern_sh2 = _nacionalpar24A | pattern_so2 = _socks | leftarm2 = | body2 = | rightarm2 = | shorts2 = FF0000 | socks2 = 000000 | pattern_la3 = _nacionalpar24a | pattern_b3 = _nacionalpar24a | pattern_ra3 = _nacionalpar24a | pattern_sh3 = _nacionalpar24a | pattern_so3 = _socks | leftarm3 = | body3 = | rightarm3 = | shorts3 = FF0000 | socks3 = FF0000 | current = 2025 Paraguayan Primera División season }} '''Club Nacional''' is a Paraguayan professional football club based in the neighbourhood of Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1904, the club currently plays in the Paraguayan Primera División, and holds its home games at Estadio Arsenio Erico.

Internationally, the club is referred to as '''Nacional Asunción''', in order to distinguish itself from Uruguay's Nacional and Colombia's Atlético Nacional.<ref name="soccerway.com">{{cite web|title=Paraguay - Club Nacional|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/paraguay/club-nacional/1627/|url-status=live|access-date=26 August 2018|website=Soccerway.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304025945/http://int.soccerway.com:80/teams/paraguay/club-nacional/1627/ |archive-date=2013-03-04 }}</ref>

==History== The club was founded on 5 June 1904, by a group of alumni of the Colegio Nacional de la Capital, one of the oldest public schools in Asunción. The club was originally named '''Nacional Football Club''', taking the name from "Club Nacional de Football" the Uruguayan club, whose shield and three colors were taken to associate the national origin. It is also referred as related to the school the founders attended. Its first president was Víctor Paredes Gómez and white was selected as the team color because that was the color of the Nacional de la Capital School uniform. For the emblem of the club, the colors of the Paraguayan flag were chosen.{{fact|date=June 2025}}

Nacional is one of the traditional teams in the Paraguayan league and they have won a total of nine championships so far. Their nickname "La Academia" ({{lit|the academy}}) was given to them because of their excellent youth system that produced great players such as Arsenio Erico, who is considered as the best Paraguayan footballer of all time.{{fact|date=June 2025}}

In 2009 Nacional won their first league title in 63 years.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 December 2009|title=¡Nacional campeón del Clausura!|trans-title=Nacional Clausura champion!|url=https://www.ultimahora.com/nacional-campeon-del-clausura-n282210.html|url-status=live|access-date=|website=ultimahora.com|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117131140/https://www.ultimahora.com/nacional-campeon-del-clausura-n282210.html |archive-date=2021-01-17 }}</ref>

In 2014, Club Nacional made history by reaching the Copa Libertadores final for the first time ever since its foundation, and by being only the second Paraguayan club to reach the final (after Olimpia).<ref>{{cite web|date=29 July 2014|title=Nacional cayó pero logró histórico paso a la final de la Libertadores|url=http://www.prensafutbol.cl/17393-defensor-vs-club-nacional-semi-copa-libertadores/|url-status=live|access-date=26 August 2018|website=Prensafutbol.cl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812132600/http://www.prensafutbol.cl/17393-defensor-vs-club-nacional-semi-copa-libertadores/ |archive-date=2014-08-12 }}</ref>

The club began the campaign with a runner-up finish in the group stage. In the knockout stages, they defeated Argentine clubs Vélez Sarsfield and Arsenal de Sarandí. In the semi-finals, they beat Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting 2–1 on aggregate to set up a final with San Lorenzo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=30 July 2014|title=Nacional de Paraguay clasifica por primera vez a la final de Copa Libertadores|url=https://www.eluniverso.com/deportes/2014/07/29/nota/3295176/nacional-paraguay-clasifica-primera-vez-final-copa-libertadores|url-status=live|access-date=7 December 2021|website=El Universo|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802164829/http://www.eluniverso.com:80/deportes/2014/07/29/nota/3295176/nacional-paraguay-clasifica-primera-vez-final-copa-libertadores |archive-date=2014-08-02 }}</ref> The first leg of the final was played in Asunción and ended 1-1. However, San Lorenzo won the second leg 1–0 at Estadio Pedro Bidegain and took the title with a 2-1 aggregate victory.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=14 August 2014|title=San Lorenzo defeats Nacional to win Copa Libertadores title|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2014/08/14/san-lorenzo-defeats-nacional-win-copa-libertadores|url-status=live|access-date=7 December 2021|magazine=Sports Illustrated|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714002658/https://www.si.com/soccer/2014/08/14/san-lorenzo-defeats-nacional-win-copa-libertadores |archive-date=2021-07-14 }}</ref>

==Youth== One of the club's youth teams played at the 2009 Torneo di Viareggio,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesv/viareggio-carnevale.html|title=Coppa Carnevale - Torneo Internazionale Giovanile di Viareggio|website=Rsssf.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> the 2010 Torneo di Viareggio,<ref name="auto"/> the 2011 Torneo di Viareggio,<ref name="auto"/> the 2012 Torneo di Viareggio<ref name="auto"/> and the 2013 Torneo di Viareggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viareggiocup.com/torneo.html|title=Torneo|website=Viareggiocup.com|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316100136/http://www.viareggiocup.com/torneo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Honours== ===National=== * '''Primera División''' ** '''Winners (9):''' 1909, 1911 ''(undefeated)'', 1924, 1926, 1942, 1946, 2009 Clausura, 2011 Apertura, 2013 Apertura * '''Plaqueta Millington Drake''' ** '''Winners (4):''' 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946 * '''División Intermedia''' ** '''Winners (3):''' 1979, 1989, 2003

==Current squad== {{updated|11 April, 2026}} {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat=Paraguay|name=Gerardo Ortiz|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no= 3|nat=Paraguay|name=Alexis Cañete|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat=Venezuela|name=Thomas Gutiérrez|pos=DF|other=on loan from Sportivo Ameliano}} {{Fs player|no= 5|nat=Paraguay|name=Gastón Benítez|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 6|nat=Paraguay|name=Silvio Torales|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat=Argentina|name=Ignacio Bailone|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 8|nat=Paraguay|name=Fabrizio Jara|pos=MF|other=on loan from Cerro Porteño}} {{Fs player|no= 9|nat=Paraguay|name=Hugo Adrián Benítez|pos=FW|other=on loan from Olimpia}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=Paraguay|name=Carlos Arrúa|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=Paraguay|name=Matías Almeida|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=Paraguay|name=Leandro Meza|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=Paraguay|name=Fernando Díaz|pos=DF|other=on loan from Unión Santa Fe}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=Paraguay|name=Líder Cáceres|pos=DF|other=on loan from Atlético Tembetary}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=Paraguay|name=Tobías Sanabria|pos=MF|other=on loan from Olimpia}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=Paraguay|name=Danilo Santacruz|pos=MF}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=Paraguay|name=Iván Valdez|pos=FW|other=on loan from Independiente Rivadavia}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=Paraguay|name=Lucas González|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=Paraguay|name=Rodolfo Argüello|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=Paraguay|name=Juan Feliú|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=Paraguay|name=Josué Colmán|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=Paraguay|name=Carlos Espínola|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat=Paraguay|name=Roque Santa Cruz|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=25|nat=Paraguay|name=Roberto Ramírez|pos=MF|other=on loan from Cerro Porteño}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=Paraguay|name=Richard Prieto|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=28|nat=Paraguay|name=Alejandro Samudio|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=29|nat=Paraguay|name=Sebastián Vargas|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=30|nat=Paraguay|name=Santiago Rojas|pos=GK|other=vice-captain}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat=Paraguay|name=Orlando Gaona|pos=FW|other=captain}} {{Fs player|no=36|nat=Argentina|name=Franco Pelozo|pos=MF}} {{Fs end}}

==Notable players== :'''To appear in this section a player must have either:''' * Been part of a national team at any time. * Played in the first division of any other football association (outside Paraguay). * Played in a continental and/or intercontinental competition.

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} 2000's * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Óscar Cardozo (2004–06) * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Cristian Bogado (2005–07) * {{Flagicon|Brazil}} Glacinei Martins (2005–2006, 2007–2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfa.com.ar/jugadores-GLAUCINEIS-MARTINS-DA-SILVA-INCA-33091.html|title=Ficha Estadistica de INCA -glaucineis martins da silva- (perfil, ficha, profile, stats)|website=Bdfa.com.ar|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Juan Cardozo (2008) 2010's * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Fredy Bareiro (2014) * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Julio Santa Cruz (2014–15) * {{Flagicon|Paraguay}} Brian Montenegro (2014) * {{Flagicon|Argentina}} Ignacio Fideleff (2016–)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/ignacio-fideleff/27283/|title=Argentina - I. Fideleff - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=Int.soccerway.com|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> * {{Flagicon|Argentina}} Roberto Nanni (2016–) Non-CONMEBOL players * {{Flagicon|Australia}} Christopher Cristaldo (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Abroad/2016-07.html|website=ozfootball.net|title=Football player list. 2007-2016|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> * {{Flagicon|Guinea_Bissau}} Zé Turbo (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/nacional-fichara-a-ze-turbo-1774715.html|title = Nacional fichará a Zé Turbo - Fútbol - ABC Color}}</ref> {{col-end}}

==Managers== *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Ever Hugo Almeida (1992) *{{flagicon|Switzerland}} Daniel Raschle (2008–2009) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Ever Hugo Almeida (2009–2010) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Juan Manuel Battaglia (2010–2011) *{{flagicon|Argentina}} Javier Torrente (2012) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Gustavo Morínigo (2012–2015) *{{flagicon|Argentina}} Ricardo Dabrowski (2015) *{{flagicon|Switzerland}} Daniel Raschle (2015–2016) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Ever Hugo Almeida (2016–2017) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Roberto Torres (2017) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Celso Ayala (2017–2018) *{{flagicon|Argentina}} Fernando Gamboa (2018–2019) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Hugo Caballero (2019) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Aldo Bobadilla (2019) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Francisco Arce (2019) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Roberto Torres (2020) *{{flagicon|Uruguay}} Hernán Rodrigo López (2020–2022) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Pedro Sarabia (2022–2023) *{{flagicon|Argentina}} Juan Pablo Pumpido (2023–2024) *{{flagicon|Argentina}} Víctor Bernay (2024–2025) *{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Pedro Sarabia (2025–)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.clubnacional.com.py}} *[http://www.nacionalquerido.com/ Club Nacional de Paraguay] – unofficial website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nacional}} Category:Club Nacional Category:Football clubs in Paraguay Category:Football clubs in Asunción Category:Association football clubs established in 1904 Category:1904 establishments in Paraguay