Club Cerro Porteño is a professional Paraguayan football club, based in the neighbourhood of Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1912, Cerro has won 34 Primera División titles and is one of the most popular football clubs in Paraguay. Its president is Raúl Zapag and the manager is Víctor Bernay. Its main rival is Club Olimpia. They play their home games at the 45,000 seat General Pablo Rojas Stadium, also known as La Nueva Olla (The New Boiler).
History
Cerro Porteño was founded on 1 October 1912 by Susana Núñez and a group of young people looking to create a new football club. At the time of Cerro's foundation the situation in Paraguay was tense with instability in the government caused by the fervent rivalries between the two leading political parties, the Partido Colorado (Crimson Party) and the Partido Liberal (Liberal Party).
Because of the tensions, the founders of the club decided to use the colours of both parties, red (Colorados) and blue (Liberals), as the club's colours as a symbol of unity and friendship between Paraguayans. Later, white was used on the shorts to complete the colours of the Paraguayan flag.
The club owes its name to the battle fought between the forces of Buenos Aires, Argentina (The Porteños) and the Paraguayan army, in the neighbourhood of the Cerro Mbaé (Mbaé Hill) – named after that battle as the Cerro Porteño (Porteño Hill) – on 19 January 1811. During that battle, the troops of Paraguay (at that time a Spanish colony) were abandoned by the Spanish governor but continued to be led by the Paraguayan officials, who led them to a great victory against the Porteño's troops. That battle is known as the "Battle of Cerro Porteño" and is a highlight of Paraguayan military history.
Over the years the club has won a significant number of national championships. However, to date, it has not won any international tournaments despite a few good runs in the Copa Libertadores including semi-final appearances in 1973, 1978, 1993, 1998, 1999 and 2011.
Osvaldo Ardiles joined the club as manager in May 2008, but was sacked in August of the same year after a string of poor results and was replaced by Pedro Troglio.
In 2014, Cerro Porteño president Juan José Zapag spoke in reference to the corruption in Paraguayan football that various persons had complained to him about not buying games and that if his club were to win then they would not do it by buying and doping players to become champions.
Stadium
Cerro Porteño's stadium, Estadio General Pablo Rojas, also known as "La Nueva Olla", is located in Asunción's Obrero neighborhood. It has a seating capacity of 45,000, making it the biggest in Paraguay.
International record
Copa Libertadores: 43 appearances
Semi-finals (6): 1973, 1978, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2011
Copa Sudamericana: 11 appearances
Semi-finals (2): 2009, 2016
Honours
Segunda División (1): 1912
Primera División (34): 1913, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1950, 1954, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 Apertura, 2012 Apertura, 2013 Clausura, 2015 Apertura, 2017 Clausura, 2020 Apertura, 2021 Clausura Torneo República (3): 1989, 1991, 1995
Ranking
World Club Ranking
South America Club Ranking
Players
First team
Out on loan
Notable players
To appear in this section a player must have either: Played at least 125 games for the club. Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club. Been part of a national team squad at any time. Played in the first division of any other football association (outside of Paraguay). Played in a continental and/or intercontinental competition.
1970's
Secundino Aifuch (1976–78), (1982)
1980's
Justo Jacquet (1981–88), (1990), (1992-1993)
1990's
Francisco Arce (1991–94) Carlos Gamarra (1991–92), (1993–95) Faryd Mondragon (1993) Julio César Yegros (1994) Jorge Núñez (1996–99), (2002–03), (2007–08) Ricardo Bitancort (1997) Paulo da Silva (1998) Delio Toledo (1998–99) Fabián Caballero (1998–99) Diego Gavilán (1998–99)
2000's
Julio dos Santos (2001–05), (2009–2014), (2019–) Édgar Barreto (2002–03) Diego Barreto (2002–07), (2008), (2009–15) Dante López (2003) Diego Cabrera (2003) Glacinei Martins (2003–2005) Juan Cardozo (2005–06) Lorgio Álvarez (2005), (2007–08) Roberto Ovelar (2006–07) Marcelo Estigarribia (2006–08)(2016) Pablo Escobar (2006) Celso Ortiz (2007–10) Rodrigo Burgos (2007–12) Iván Piris (2008–11) Roberto Nanni (2009–13)