Primera C Metropolitana

Last updated
Primera C
Founded1900;125 years ago (1900) [1]
CountryFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Confederation CONMEBOL
Number of clubsVarious
Level on pyramid4
Promotion to Primera B Metropolitana
Relegation to Torneo Promocional Amateur
Domestic cup(s) Copa Argentina
Current champions Real Pilar
(2024)
Most championships Colegiales (7 titles)
TV partners DirecTV Sports
DeporTV
Website afa.com.ar/primera-c
Current: 2024

The Primera C Metropolitana is one of the two professional leagues that form the fourth level of the Argentine football league system. Primera C Metropolitana is made up of 20 clubs, mainly from the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area (Greater Buenos Aires).

Contents

The other league at level four is the Torneo Federal B, where teams from regional leagues take part.

Format

Primera C is currently organised into two league tournaments, the Apertura (opening) and the Clausura (closing). Each team plays every other team once in the Apertura, and then once again at the reverse venue in the Clausura.

The winners of the two league titles are recognised as champions. However, the overall championship is decided with an end of season playoff. The overall champion is promoted to Primera B Metropolitana. The teams finishing 2nd to 8th enter a playoff series to determine which team will play in a promotion/relegation playoff against the 2nd lowest finishing team from Primera B Metropolitana.

The team that finishes with the worst aggregate points total is automatically relegated to Primera D. The team with the 2nd worst aggregate points total plays a promotion/relegation playoff with the winner of the Primera D playoff series. And the winner then competes in Primera C Metropolitana the following season.

History

Originally named "Tercera División" (second level), the first championship was held in 1900, being won by Alumni (still under the "English High School" name). [1] With the creation of División Intermedia in 1911, the division became the fourth level behind Segunda División. [2] It lasted until 1932 when the Intermedia was suppressed and Tercera División became the 3rd. division/level again since the 1933 season.

In 1944 its name changed to "Primera Amateur", which lasted to 1962, when the tournament was renamed "Primera C", [3] Since the new restructuring of the league system in 1985, the division has become the fourth category of Argentine football (lower than Primera División, Primera B Nacional and Primera B Metropolitana).

Division levels

Since its inception in 1899 as "Tercera División", the Primera C has changed levels (between 3 and 4) and names several times. The table below shows them in details: [1] [2] [4] [5]

YearLevelPromotion toRelegation to
1900–1910
3
Segunda División (None) [note 1]
1911–1932
4
Segunda División (1911–26)
Intermedia (1927–32)
(None) [note 1]
1933–1985
3
Primera B (None) (1933–49) [note 1]
Primera D (1950–85)
1986–2022
4
Primera B Metro Primera D
2023
4
Primera B Metro (None) [note 2]
2024
4
Primera B Metro Disaffiliation for one season
2025
4
Primera B Metro Torneo Promocional Amateur

Current teams (2024 season)

ClubCityArea / regionStadium
Argentino Rosario Santa Fe Province José María Olaeta
Atlas General Rodríguez Buenos Aires Ricardo Puga
Berazategui Berazategui Buenos Aires Norman Lee
Central Ballester José L. Suárez Greater Buenos Aires Predio Cacique
Central Córdoba Rosario Santa Fe Gabino Sosa
Centro Español Villa Sarmiento Greater Buenos Aires (none)
Claypole Claypole Buenos Aires Rodolfo Capocasa
Defensores de Cambaceres Ensenada Buenos Aires Province Defensores de Cambaceres
Deportivo Español Buenos Aires City Buenos Aires Nueva España
Deportivo Paraguayo Constitución Buenos Aires City (none)
El Porvenir Gerli Greater Buenos Aires Estadio Gildo Francisco Ghersinich
General Lamadrid Buenos Aires City Buenos Aires Enrique Sexto
Justo José de Urquiza El Libertador Buenos Aires Ramón Roque Martín
Juventud Unida Muñiz Greater Buenos Aires Ciudad de San Miguel
Leandro N. Alem General Rodríguez Buenos Aires Leandro N. Alem
Lugano Tapiales Greater Buenos Aires José María Moraños
Luján Luján Buenos Aires Municipal de Luján
Mercedes Mercedes Buenos Aires Province Liga Mercedina,
Muñiz Muñiz Greater Buenos Aires (none)
Puerto Nuevo Campana Buenos Aires Rubén Vallejos
Real Pilar Pilar Buenos Aires Carlos Barraza
Sportivo Barracas Barracas, Buenos Aires Buenos Aires City (none)
Victoriano Arenas Valentin Alsina Buenos Aires Saturnino Moure
Yupanqui Buenos Aires City Buenos Aires Ciudad Evita

List of champions

Sources: [4] [5]

Ed.SeasonChampionRunner-up
11900 English High School III (1) [note 3]
21901 Alumni III (2) [note 3]
31902 Lomas Juniors (1) [note 3] Colegio Nacional del Sud
41903 Estudiantes (BA) III (1) [note 3] Lomas Juniors [note 3]
51904 Estudiantes (BA) IV (2) [note 3] Alumni III [note 3]
61905 Alumni II (3) [note 3] Tiro Federal Argentino (San Fernando)
71906 Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) (1)Gath & Chavez II
81907 Atlanta (1) Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) II [note 3]
91908 Banfield (1) Independiente II [note 3]
101909 Ferro Carril Oeste II (1) [note 3]
111910Instituto Americano (Adrogué) (1)
121911 Racing (1) [note 3]
131912 Boca Juniors (1) [note 3]
1912 FAF [note 4] Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) [note 3]
141913 Libertarios Unidos (1) [note 3]
1913 FAF Solís
151914 Libertarios Unidos (2) [note 3]
1914 FAF Vélez Sársfield [note 3]
161915 Boca Juniors (2) [note 3]
171916 Porteño (1) [note 3]
181917 San Lorenzo (2) [note 3]
191918 Independiente (1) [note 3]
201919 Almagro (1) [note 3]
1919 AAm [6] Racing (3) [note 3]
211920 Huracán [note 3]
1920 AAm Estudiantil Porteño [note 3]
221921 Nueva Chicago [note 3]
1921 AAm Almagro [note 3]
231922Sportivo Monserrat
1922 AAm Vélez Sársfield [note 3]
241923 Boca Juniors (3) [note 3]
1923 AAm Platense [note 3]
251924 Dock Sud [note 3]
1924 AAm Platense
261925 Palermo
1925 AAm Sportivo Alsina [note 3]
271926 Los Andes [note 3]
1926 AAm Platense [note 3]
281927 Independiente [note 3]
291928 Liberal Argentino [note 3]
301929 Racing [note 3]
311930 Almagro [note 3]
321931 Excursionistas
1931 LAF [note 5] 25 de Mayo
331932 Sportivo Alsina (1) [note 3]
1932 LAF
(Not held)
341933 Sportivo Alsina III (2) [note 3] Excursionistas III [note 3]
1933 LAF
(Not held)
351934 Excursionistas III [note 3] Almagro III B [note 3]
1934 LAF
(Not held)
361935 Progresista 25 de Mayo
371936 Sportivo Alsina (3)Boulogne
381937 Acassuso (1) Los Andes
391938 Los Andes Sportivo Palermo
401939Boulogne Nueva Chicago
411940 Nueva Chicago Sportivo Alsina
421941 Sportivo Alsina (4) J. J. de Urquiza
431942 Estudiantes (BA) (3) Liniers
441943 El Porvenir (1) Sportivo Alsina
451944 Barracas Central (1) Argentino (Q)
461945 Argentino (Quilmes) (1) Colegiales
471946 All Boys 1 Colegiales
481947 Colegiales (3) Barracas Central
491948 Barracas Central (2) Acassuso
501949 San Telmo (1) J. J. de Urquiza
511950 All Boys 1 Tiro Federal
521951 Tiro Federal Central Córdoba (R)
531952 Central Córdoba (R) (1) Colegiales
541953 Defensores de Belgrano (1) Flandria
551954 El Porvenir (2) Colegiales
561955 Colegiales (4) Tiro Federal
571956 San Telmo (2) Los Andes
581957 Los Andes Defensores de Belgrano
591958 Defensores de Belgrano (2) Argentino (Q)
601959 Deportivo Morón (1) Argentino (Q)
611960 Deportivo Español 1 Almirante Brown
621961 San Telmo (3) Colón
631962 Sportivo Italiano (1) Villa Dálmine
641963 Villa Dálmine (1) All Boys
651964 Arsenal Cambaceres
661965 Almirante Brown Estudiantes (BA)
671966 Estudiantes (BA) (4)General Mitre
681967 [note 6] [note 6]
691968 Comunicaciones (1) J. J. de Urquiza
701969 Comunicaciones (2) Central Córdoba (R)
711970 Talleres (RE) (1) Argentino (Q)
721971 Almagro Tigre
731972 Defensores de Belgrano (3) Flandria
741973 Central Córdoba (2) Dock Sud
751974 Sportivo Italiano (2) Sarmiento (J)
761975 Villa Dálmine (2) El Porvenir
771976 Deportivo Armenio Argentino (Q)
781977 Sarmiento (J) Deportivo Español
791978 Talleres (RE) (2) Deportivo Morón
801979 Deportivo Español 2 Deportivo Morón
811980 Deportivo Morón (2) Central Córdoba (R)
821981 Lanús Chacarita Juniors
831982 Villa Dálmine (3) Defensores Unidos
841983 Argentino (R) Almagro
851984 San Miguel Almagro
861985 Defensa y Justicia Tristán Suárez
871986–87 Deportivo Laferrere (1) San Telmo
881987–88 Central Córdoba (R) (3) Excursionistas
891988–89 Argentino (Quilmes) (2) Ituzaingó
901989–90 Berazategui (1) Sarmiento (J)
911990–91 Cambaceres 1 Comunicaciones
921991–92 Defensores de Belgrano (4) Argentino (Q)
931992–93 Colegiales (5) Argentino (Q)
941993–94 Defensores Unidos San Telmo
951994–95 Temperley Tristán Suárez
961995–96 Atl. Campana (4) Leandro N. Alem
971996–97 Berazategui (2) Brown
981997–98 Flandria Ituzaingó
991998–99 Cambaceres 2 Atl. Campana
1001999–00 Deportivo Merlo (1) Dock Sud
1012000–01 Ituzaingó Deportivo Laferrere
1022001–02 Deportivo Laferrere (2) Colegiales
1032002–03 Colegiales (6) Villa Dálmine
1042003–04 Argentino (R) Barracas Central
1052004–05 Comunicaciones (3) Colegiales
1062005–06 Deportivo Merlo (2) Luján
1072006–07 Acassuso J. J. de Urquiza
1082007–08 Colegiales (7) Fénix
1092008–09 Villa San Carlos Berazategui
1102009–10 Barracas Central (3) Excursionistas
111 2010–11 General Lamadrid Argentino (M)
112 2011–12 Villa Dálmine (5) UAI Urquiza
113 2012–13 UAI Urquiza (1) Deportivo Laferrere
1142013–14 Sportivo Italiano (3) Cambaceres
1152015 San Telmo (4) Talleres (RE)
116 2016 Excursionistas (1) Sportivo Italiano
1172016–17 Sacachispas (1) Defensores Unidos
1182017–18 Defensores Unidos (1) Central Córdoba (R)
1192018–19 Argentino (Q) (3) Deportivo Armenio
1202019–20
(Abandoned because of Covid-19 pandemic) [note 7]
1212020 Cañuelas (1) Deportivo Merlo
1222021 Dock Sud (1) Ituzaingó
1232022 Argentino (M) Ferrocarril Midland
1242023 Excursionistas (2) San Martín (B)
125 2024 Real Pilar (1) General Lamadrid

Titles by club

ClubTitlesYears won
Colegiales
7
1913, 1914, [note 8] 1947, 1955, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2007–08
Villa Dálmine
5
1963, 1975, 1982, 1995–96, [note 9] 2011–12
Estudiantes (BA)
4
1903, 1904, [note 3] 1942, 1966
Sportivo Alsina
4
1932, 1933, 1936, 1941
Defensores de Belgrano
4
1953, 1958, 1972, 1991–92
San Telmo
4
1949, 1956, 1961, 2015
Alumni
3
1900, 1901, 1905 [note 3]
Racing
3
1911, 1919 AAm, 1929
Boca Juniors
3
1912, 1915, 1923 [note 3]
Argentino (Q)
3
1945, 1988–89, 2018–19
Barracas Central
3
1944, 1948, 2009–10
Comunicaciones
3
1968, 1969, 2004–05
Central Córdoba
3
1952, 1973, 1987–88
El Porvenir
2
1943, 1954
Sportivo Italiano
2
1962, 1974, 2013–14
All Boys
2
1946, 1950
Berazategui
2
1989-90, 1996–97
Deportivo Español
2
1960, 1979
Cambaceres
2
1990-91, 1998–99
Laferrere
2
1986-87, 2001–02
Deportivo Merlo
2
1999-00, 2005–06
Deportivo Morón
2
1959, 1980
Excursionistas
2
2016, 2023
Talleres (RE)
2
1970, 1978
Banfield
1
1908
Ferro Carril Oeste
1
1909
UAI Urquiza
1
2012–13
Sacachispas
1
2016–17
Defensores Unidos
1
2017–18
Cañuelas
1
2020
Dock Sud
1
2021
Argentino (M)
1
2022
Real Pilar
1
2024

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 No fourth division or level existing then.
  2. No relegation because the category was unified with the Primera D in a single tournament.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 As the senior squad was competing in Primera División by then, the club participated with reserve teams.
  4. The Federación Argentina de Football (FAF) was a dissident association that organized its own championships from 1912 to 1914.
  5. The Liga Argentina de Football (LAF) was a dissident professional association that organized its own championships from 1931 to 1934, when it merged with official body, Asocación Argentina de Football.
  6. 1 2 No champion crowned. The winners of Zona A (Liniers) and Zona B (Comunicaciones) qualified to "Reclasificatorio de Primera B". [7]
  7. On 28 April 2020, AFA decided to abandon the competition and declare the season finished. All official competitions had been suspended on 17 March. [8]
  8. The club's name was "Libertarios Unidos".
  9. The club had renamed to "Atlético Campana" during those years, switching to its original name in 2000.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tercera División - Campeones on AFA website (Archived 13 Ago 2013)
  2. 1 2 Cuarta División - Campeones on AFA (archived, 13 Aug 2013)
  3. Historia y Fútbol, 1963 by José Carluccio
  4. 1 2 Argentina - Third Level Champions by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
  5. 1 2 Argentina - Fourth Level Champions by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
  6. The Asociación Amateurs de Football (AAm) was a dissident association that organized its own championships from 1919 to 1926.
  7. "Argentina: 1ra. "C" AFA 1967 Zona "A"" by José Carluccio, 14 Oct 2009
  8. Oficial: suspendido el fútbol argentino por el coronavirus by Fede González on As, 17 Mar 2020