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Club Atlético Rosario Central is a football club in Rosario, Argentina.
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History
The Central Argentine Railway Atletic Club was founded in 1889 by English railway workers. The first president was Colin Calder, and all club activities were carried out in the English language.
The original jersey colors were red and white; later, the club would change to a checkered blue and white, and finally settle on the blue and gold vertical stripes design used to this day.
When the Central Argentine and Buenos Aires railway companies merged, the name of the club was formally changed to Club Atlético Rosario Central. The team played mostly in local leagues until it joined the Argentine league in 1939.
Rosario Central won the 1971 and 1973 Nacional championship titles; the latter was the first of many such achievements by coach Carlos Timoteo Griguol.
For the 1974 season, Central acquired striker Mario Kempes from Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba, where he had played alongside Osvaldo Ardiles; both would be stars of the 1978 World Cup.
With Kempes gone to Valencia CF and former player Angel Tulio Zof at the helm, Central won the 1980 National championship title.
In later years, the club was relegated, but it won the 1987 championship immediately upon returning from the second division.
The only major international title won by Central is the 1995 CONMEBOL Cup.
Stadium
Rosario Central plays in the Dr. Lisandro de la Torre Stadium in Boulevard Avellaneda, Arroyito neighborhood, Rosario.
The stadium is known as El Gigante (the Giant). The official capacity of the stadium is 41,654, but crowds of 45,000 have been accommodated.
The Gigante was a venue of the 1978 World Cup; all three second-round games of the Argentine squad were played in Rosario. Mario Kempes enjoyed the support of local fans and went on to became the top goalscorer of the tournment.
Nicknames
The most common nickname is canallas (the scoundrels; note that in Argentina this is a rather mild insult).
Famous Players
- Cesar Menotti
- Angel Tulio Zof
- Aldo Pedro Poy
- Angel Landucci
- Mario Killer
- Mario Kempes
- Edgardo Bauza
- Carlos Aimar
- Omar Palma
- Juan Antonio Pizzi
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