Atlético Junior

{{Short description|Association football club in Colombia}} {{Other uses|Junior (disambiguation)}} {{use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Junior | image = Junior Barranquilla logo.svg | image_size = 215px | alt = | caption = | fullname = Club Deportivo Popular Junior Fútbol Club S.A. | nickname = {{plainlist| *''Los Tiburones'' (The Sharks) *''El Equipo Tiburón'' (The Shark Team) *''Los Rojiblancos'' (The Red-and-Whites) *''Los Quilleros'' (The Quilleros) *''Los Reyes de la Costa'' (The Kings of the Coast) *''Los Curramberos'' (The Curramberos) *''Tu Papá'' (Your Dad) }} | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1924|08|07}} (as ''Juventud Infantil'') | dissolved = | American = | ground = Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez | capacity = 46,692 | coordinates = | owntitle =  | owner = Fuad Char | chrtitle = President | chairman = Antonio Char | mgrtitle =  | manager = Alfredo Arias | league = {{Colombian football updater|Junior}} | season = {{Colombian football updater|Junior2}} | position = {{Colombian football updater|Junior3}} | website = {{official URL}} | pattern_la1 = _junior26h | pattern_b1 = _junior26h | pattern_ra1 = _junior26h | pattern_sh1 = _junior26h | pattern_so1 = _3_stripes_navy | leftarm1 = FFFFFF | body1 = FFFFFF | rightarm1 = FFFFFF | shorts1 = 000066 | socks1 = FFFFFF | pattern_la2 = _junior26a | pattern_b2 = _junior26a | pattern_ra2 = _junior26a | pattern_sh2 = _junior26a | pattern_so2 = _3_stripes_red | leftarm2 = 5e627d | body2 = 5e627d | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = 000040 | pattern_la3 = _junior25t | pattern_b3 = _junior25t | pattern_ra3 = _junior25t | pattern_sh3 = _junior25t | pattern_so3 = _socks | leftarm3 = FFFFFF | body3 = FFFFFF | rightarm3 = FFFFFF | shorts3 = FFFFFF | socks3 = E01331 | current = }} '''Club Deportivo Popular Junior F.C. S.A.'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dimayor.com/equipos/junior.html |title=DIMAYOR Official Website |access-date=2013-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218130834/http://dimayor.com/equipos/junior.html |archive-date=2013-02-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ({{IPA|es-419|ˈʝunjoɾ|lang}}), commonly known as '''Junior de Barranquilla''', by its old name '''Atlético Junior''' or simply as '''Junior''', is a Colombian professional football team based in Barranquilla, capital of the department of Atlantico, that currently plays in the Categoría Primera A. Junior is the main Caribbean team in the top flight of Colombian football. In 2026, they were ranked #34 in the CONMEBOL annual club rankings. {{citation needed|date=May 2022}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://cdn.conmebol.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ranking-de-Clubes-CONMEBOL-2026.pdf |archive-url=https://cdn.conmebol.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ranking-de-Clubes-CONMEBOL-2026.pdf |archive-date=2026-01-23 |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=cdn.conmebol.com}}</ref>

The club was founded on August 7,1924. Known as ''Los Tiburones'' (The Sharks), or ''El Equipo Tiburón'' (The Shark Team). Junior have won the Colombian professional football championship eleven times (1977, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2004 Finalización, 2010 Apertura, 2011 Finalización, 2018 Finalización, 2019 Apertura, 2023 Finalización, and 2025 Finalización). Some of the most notable players that have played for the club include Heleno de Freitas, Garrincha, Dida, Juan Ramón Verón, Efraín Sánchez, Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama, Iván Valenciano, Teófilo Gutiérrez, Carlos Bacca, Julio César Uribe, Giovanni Hernández, Sebastián Viera and Luis Díaz.

==History== In the early 1920s a team named Juventus came into being at the Colegio Salesiano in the San Roque neighborhood of Barranquilla, made up primarily of Italian immigrants. Soon after its launch the name was changed to the Spanish Juventud, though both translate the same in English: youth. In August 1924 some of the younger members of Juventud along with other young men from San Roque created an offshoot of Juventud: Juventud Infantil.

Around the 1940s (and the club's name was shortened to simply Junior) they became known as one of the country's best clubs. In 1945 the players of Junior were selected to represent Colombia at the South American Championship (now known as the Copa América), finishing a respectable fifth (though losing 7–0 to Uruguay and 9–1 to Argentina along the way). In 1949 they were again selected to represent Colombia (finishing last place) but this time their decision to play would have its consequences.

In 1948 Junior were founder members of División Mayor del Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (commonly known as the Dimayor). Their debut match as a professional outfit came at home on 15 August 1948, against Deportivo Cali, which ended in a 2–0 victory for the home side. Early the following year they were again chosen to play as the de facto Colombia national team. Because of ongoing strife between Adefutbol (the original amateur Colombian football association) and the Dimayor, Junior were threatened with expulsion from the Dimayor if they participated. They went ahead and did so and were initially given a two-year suspension from the league. This was later reduced to one year and they returned to the Dimayor for the 1950 season.

This was the golden age of Colombian football commonly referred to as El Dorado, a time when the Dimayor was a "rebel league" unaffiliated with FIFA and many high-profile players from around the world broke their contracts and came to play. Junior were no exception, picking up players from Brazil, Argentina, Hungary and the Czech Republic in these years. But El Dorado eventually came to an end for Colombian football.

A way ahead surfaced in the mid-1960s when a rift had again developed in Colombian football, this time between Adefutbol and the newly created Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, an organization devoted to developing professional football in the country. Adefutbol was still the official body in the eyes of FIFA and organized the national team in this period and additionally Colombian clubs did not enter the Copa Libertadores. Peace was finally made and the bulk of the amateur team that had attempted to qualify for the England World Cup signed up for Junior, who returned to the Dimayor in 1966. Junior have remained in the top level ever since.

In 1977 Junior won their first Colombian championship, finishing first place in the Apertura. They won further championships in 1980, 1993, 1995, the 2004-II (Finalización), the 2010-I (Apertura), the 2011-II (Finalizacion), the 2018-II (Finalización), the 2019-I (Apertura) and the 2023-II (Finalización). They also won Copa Colombia in 2015 and 2017. Junior have appeared in the Copa Libertadores eighteen times (reaching the semi-finals in 1994), the Copa Sudamericana 8 times (reaching the final in 2018), and the Copa CONMEBOL 1 time.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==Symbols== {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 380

| image1 = Junior Barranquilla logo.svg | alt1 = Badge | caption1 = Current badge with 11 stars

| image2 = Bandera de Atlético Junior.svg | alt2 = Flag | caption2 = Flag of Atlético Junior (2011–2018) }} ===Badge=== The team's badge has a Swiss shaped; proportionally 6 wide by 8 tall, divided into two horizontal stripes. The inferior stripe is divided into nine alternating vertical red and white stripes. The superior part is an horizontal dark blue stripe where the stars are placed. Each of the five-pointed stars represents a league championships the team has won. Superimposed on the vertical bars of red and white, is a horizontal white stripe that reads JUNIOR.

===Flag=== Junior's flag is composed of nine horizontal stripes, five red and four white ones which alternate, the superior and the inferior ones are red. Overlapped on top of the strips there is a blue triangle. This triangle occupies all the wide of the flag on its vertical side. The white five-pointed stars are superimposed on the triangle, symbolizing the Colombian championships won.

==Honours== ===Domestic=== * '''Categoría Primera A''' ** '''Winners (11):''' 1977, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2004–II, 2010–I, 2011–II, 2018–II, 2019–I, 2023–II, 2025–II * '''Copa Colombia''' ** '''Winners (2):''' 2015, 2017 * '''Superliga Colombiana''' ** '''Winners (2):''' 2019, 2020

===Continental=== * '''Copa Sudamericana''' ** Runners-up (1): 2018

==Performance in CONMEBOL competitions== * '''Copa Libertadores: 18 appearances''' {{col-begin}} {{col-break|width=50%}} ::1971: Group stage ::1978: Group stage ::1981: Group stage ::1984: Group stage ::1994: Semifinals ::1996: Quarterfinals ::2000: Round of 16 ::2001: Round of 16 ::2005: Round of 16 {{col-break|width=50%}} ::2010: Preliminary round ::2011: Round of 16 ::2012: Group stage ::2017: Third stage ::2018: Group stage ::2019: Group stage ::2020: Group stage ::2021: Group stage ::2024: Round of 16 {{col-end}}

* '''Copa Sudamericana: 10 appearances''' {{col-begin}} {{col-break|width=50%}} ::2004: Quarterfinals ::2015: Second stage ::2016: Quarterfinals ::2017: Semi-finals ::2018: Runners-up {{col-break|width=50%}} ::2020: Quarterfinals ::2021: Round of 16 ::2022: Group stage ::2023: First stage ::2025: Preliminary round {{col-end}}

* '''Copa CONMEBOL: 1 appearance''' ::1992: Quarter-finals

==Players== ===Current squad=== {{updated|19 March 2026|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://juniorfc.co/equipo |title=Junior de Barranquilla squad |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-date=2022-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929172551/https://juniorfc.co/equipo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Junior|url=https://dimayor.com.co/index.php/team/junior-2/|publisher=Dimayor|access-date=21 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726234059/https://dimayor.com.co/index.php/team/junior-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.copalibertadores.com/es/equipo/junior/52pduyh1bfri4d8rv9qby5brp |title=Copa Libertadores |access-date=2020-09-23 |archive-date=2020-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209175803/https://www.copalibertadores.com/es/equipo/junior/52pduyh1bfri4d8rv9qby5brp |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|pos=GK|nat=URU|name=Mauro Silveira}} {{Fs player|no=3|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Edwin Herrera}} {{Fs player|no=5|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Daniel Rivera}} {{Fs player|no=6|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Dilan Villarreal}} {{Fs player|no=7|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Harold Rivera}} {{Fs player|no=8|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Yimmi Chará|other=captain}} {{Fs player|no=9|pos=FW|nat=PAR|name=Guillermo Paiva}} {{Fs player|no=10|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Luis Muriel}} {{Fs player|no=14|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Juan David Ríos}} {{Fs player|no=15|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Yeferson Moreno}} {{Fs player|no=16|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Carlos Pérez}} {{Fs player|no=18|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Kevin Pérez}} {{Fs player|no=20|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Jannenson Sarmiento}} {{Fs player|no=21|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Joel Canchimbo}} {{Fs player|no=22|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Jesús Rivas}} {{fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=24|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Jean Pestaña}} {{Fs player|no=26|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Yeison Suárez|other=on loan from Deportivo Pereira}} {{Fs player|no=27|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Jhon Navia}} {{Fs player|no=28|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Guillermo Celis}} {{Fs player|no=29|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Teófilo Gutiérrez}} {{Fs player|no=30|pos=GK|nat=COL|name=Jefersson Martínez}} {{Fs player|no=33|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=Lucas Monzón|other=on loan from Racing Montevideo}} {{Fs player|no=34|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Jhomier Guerrero}} {{Fs player|no=70|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Carlos Bacca}} {{Fs player|no=77|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Cristian Barrios}} {{Fs player|no=80|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Fabián Ángel}} {{Fs player|no=88|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Bryan Castrillón}} {{Fs player|no=98|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Jermein Peña}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Déiber Caicedo}} {{Fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Carlos Olmos|other=at Barranquilla}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Miguel Agámez|other=at Barranquilla}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Carlos Cantillo|other=at Barranquilla}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Diego Mendoza|other=at Deportivo Pereira}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=John Fredy Salazar|other=at Atlético Bucaramanga}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=COL|name=Jhon Vélez|other=at Inter Palmira}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Stiwart Acuña|other=at Envigado}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Jesús Díaz|other=at Independiente Yumbo}} {{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=Stiven Rodríguez|other=at Deportivo Cali}} {{fs end}}

===World Cup players=== The following players were chosen to represent their country at the FIFA World Cup while contracted to Junior de Barranquilla.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}} *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Hoyos (1990) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Alexis Mendoza (1994) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} José María Pazo (1994) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Luis Carlos Perea (1994) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Valderrama (1994) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Iván René Valenciano (1994) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Jorge Bolaño (1998) *{{flagicon|Peru}} Alberto Rodríguez (2018) {{div col end}}

===Club captains=== *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Hermenegildo Segrera (1966–1971) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Dulio Miranda (1972–1973) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Gabriel Berdugo (1974–1982) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Dulio Miranda (1983–1985) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Alexis Mendoza (1985–1990) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Gabriel Martínez (1990–1992) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Valderrama (1993–1995) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Jorge Bolaño (1996–1999) *{{flagicon|Brazil}} Marquinho (1999–2004) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Roberto Peñaloza (2004–2005) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Hayder Palacio (2005–2007) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Giovanni Hernández (2008–2012) *{{flagicon|Uruguay}} Sebastián Viera (2012–2014; 2015–2023) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Macnelly Torres (2015) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Bacca (2023–2025) *{{flagicon|Colombia}} Yimmi Chará (2025–present)

==Personnel==

===Technical staff=== {{Fb cs header}} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Manager |s={{flagicon|URU}} Alfredo Arias<ref name="Arias staff">{{cite web|url=https://www.elheraldo.co/deportes/rincon-juniorista/2025/06/23/junior-anuncia-oficialmente-la-llegada-de-alfredo-arias/|title=Junior anuncia oficialmente la llegada de Alfredo Arias|trans-title=Junior officially announce the arrival of Alfredo Arias|language=es|publisher=El Heraldo|date=23 June 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}}</ref>}} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant manager |s={{flagicon|ARG}} Juan Manuel López}}<ref name="Arias staff"/> {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Fitness coach |s={{flagicon|URU}} Ignacio Berriel}}<ref name="Arias staff"/> {{Fb cs footer|date=September 2018}}

==Notable players== ===Most appearances=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Rank !Player !Appearances |- |1. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|URU}} Sebastián Viera |627 |- |2. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Dulio Miranda |445 |- |3. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Hayder Palacio |432 |- |4. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Alexis Mendoza |417 |- |5. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} José María Pazo |392 |- |6. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Gabriel Berdugo |379 |- |7. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Víctor Pacheco |367 |- |8. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Jesús Rubio |363 |- |9. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Luis Grau |341 |- |10. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|BRA}} Othon Dacunha |333 |}

===Most goals=== {{Updated|19 December 2024}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Rank !Player !Goals |- |1. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Ivan Valenciano |180 |- |2. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} '''Carlos Bacca''' |131 |- |3. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} '''''Teófilo Gutiérrez''''' |94 |- |4. | style="text-align:left;" |{{flagicon|BRA}} Víctor Ephanor |86 |- |5. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|URU}} Nelson Silva Pacheco |81 |- |6. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Víctor Pacheco |78 |- |7. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Martín Arzuaga |70 |- |8. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} '''''Vladimir Hernández''''' |65 |- |9. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|COL}} Orlando Ballesteros |56 |- |10. |style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|BRA}} Marcos Cardoso |55 |}

==Historic players== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Carlos Babington * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Edgardo Bauza * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Juan Carlos Delménico * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Carlos Ischia * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Omar Pérez * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Walter Ribonetto * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Fabián Sambueza * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Juan Ramón Verón * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Paulo César Caju * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Cassiano * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Dida * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Garrincha * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Heleno de Freitas * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Quarentinha * {{flagicon|Brazil}} Víctor Ephanor * {{flagicon|Chile}} Cristián Montecinos * {{Flagicon|Colombia}} José Amaya * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Alfredo Arango * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Martín Arzuaga * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Bacca * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Orlando Ballesteros * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Gabriel Berdugo * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Jorge Bolaño * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Miguel Ángel Borja * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Déiber Caicedo * {{Flagicon|Colombia}} Víctor Campaz * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Víctor Cantillo * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Yimmi Chará * {{flagicon|Colombia}} José Luis Chunga * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Víctor Cortés * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Gustavo Cuéllar * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Luis Díaz * {{flagicon|Colombia}} José Enamorado * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Fernando Fiorillo * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Gabriel Fuentes * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Miguel Ángel Guerrero * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Teófilo Gutiérrez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Giovanni Hernández * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Vladimir Hernández * {{Flagicon|Colombia}} William Knight * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Homer Martínez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Roberto Meléndez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Alexis Mendoza * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Dulio Miranda * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Didier Moreno * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Luis Narváez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Víctor Pacheco * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Hayder Palacio * {{flagicon|Colombia}} José María Pazo * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Rafael Perez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Marlon Piedrahita * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Efraín "El Caimán" Sánchez * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Iván Valenciano * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Alex "Didi" Valderrama * {{flagicon|Hungary}} Béla Sárosi * {{flagicon|Panama}} Román Torres * {{flagicon|Peru}} Julio César Uribe * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Lorenzo Carrabs * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Julio Comesaña * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Santiago Mele * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Héctor Gerardo Méndez * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Nelson Silva Pacheco * {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Sebastián Viera * {{flagicon|Venezuela}} Luis Daniel "Cariaco" González {{div col end}}

==International players== The following players, despite not having been able to establish themselves as idols, had a stage as internationals with their national teams.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}} * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Daniel Carnevali * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Santiago Santamaría * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Luis Carlos Perea * {{flagicon|Colombia}} René Higuita * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Carlos Hoyos * {{flagicon|Colombia}} Juan Fernando Quintero * {{flagicon|Chile}} Matías Fernández * {{flagicon|Chile}} Nelson Tapia * {{flagicon|Panama}} Román Torres * {{flagicon|Peru}} Alberto Rodríguez {{div col end}}

==Managers== {{Main|List of Junior F.C. managers}}

==Affiliated clubs== * {{flagicon|COL}} Barranquilla<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.noticiascaracol.com/golcaracol/futbol-colombiano/cuantos-equipos-tienen-los-duenos-de-junior-de-barranquilla-en-el-futbol-colombiano-so35# |title=¿Cuántos equipos tienen los dueños de Junior de Barranquilla en el fútbol colombiano? |trans-title=How many teams do the owners of Junior de Barranquilla have in Colombian football? |publisher=Noticias Caracol |language=es |date=2 October 2024 |access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> - Currently competing in Categoría Primera B.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links==  * {{official website|http://www.juniorfc.co/}} * [https://dimayor.com.co/team/junior-2/ Junior] at Dimayor * [http://es.fifa.com/live-scores/clubs/club=colombia-junior-44216/index.html Junior] at FIFA

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atletico Junior}} Category:Atlético Junior Junior Category:Association football clubs established in 1924 Category:1924 establishments in Colombia Category:Categoría Primera A clubs Category:Sport in Barranquilla