Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata

Lore & Background

The club was founded on 3 June 1887 as a civil association, barely five years after the creation of the city of La Plata in 1882. Its first sports were gymnastics and fencing, as indicated by its Spanish name. The institution changed name several times: from April to December 1897 it was called 'Club de Esgrima' because fencing was the only activity; from July 1952 to 30 September 1955 it was named 'Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima de Eva Perón' after the city was renamed; the city and club later reverted to their previous names, with a legal correction on 7 August 1964.

Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after winning the División Intermedia in 1915. It won its first Primera División championship in 1929, and later won Primera B titles in 1944, 1947, and 1952, as well as the Copa Centenario de la AFA in 1994. The club has been a runner-up in the Primera División five times and has remained at the top level for 73 seasons, tying with Newell's Old Boys for the eighth longest participation at that level.

The Clásico Platense derby against Estudiantes de La Plata began on 27 August 1916, with Gimnasia winning 1–0. A notable derby occurred on 5 April 1992, when a goal by José Perdomo caused a seismic event registered by the local Astronomical Observatory, known as 'El gol del terremoto'.

Reader's Guide

Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata holds a significant place in Argentine sports history as the oldest surviving football club still competing in the Argentine league, despite disputes over being the oldest in the Americas. Its long tenure in the top division—73 seasons—places it among the most enduring clubs in the country. The club's identity is deeply tied to its city, La Plata, and its fierce rivalry with Estudiantes de La Plata, which has produced memorable moments such as the 'earthquake goal' of 1992. The brief but iconic management by Diego Maradona from 2019 until his death in 2020 brought global attention to the club. Beyond football, Gimnasia y Esgrima hosts a wide range of sports, reflecting its origins in gymnastics and fencing. Its facilities include a stadium, training campuses, schools, and a sports complex, supporting a broad community role. The club's history of name changes and its legal correction in 1964 illustrate its adaptation to political and social changes in Argentina.

Did You Know?

• The club was founded on 3 June 1887, making it the oldest surviving football club still participating in the Argentine league.
• From July 1952 to 30 September 1955, the club was named 'Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima de Eva Perón' after the city of La Plata was renamed Eva Perón.
• On 5 April 1992, a goal by José Perdomo in the Clásico Platense caused a seismic event registered by the local Astronomical Observatory, known as 'El gol del terremoto'.
• The club's first president, Saturnino Perdriel, died in 1888 after one year in office.