Primera C
Founded1900; 124 years ago (1900) [1]
Country Argentina
ConfederationCONMEBOL
Number of teams19 (2022)
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toPrimera B Metropolitana
Relegation toPrimera D
Domestic cup(s)Copa Argentina
Current championsExcursionistas
(2023)
Most championshipsColegiales (7 titles)
TV partnersDirecTV Sports
DeporTV
Websiteafa.com.ar/primera-c
Current: 2023

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).

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]

Year Level Promotion to Relegation 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]

Current teams (2024 season)

Club City Province Stadium
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. Season Champion Runner-up
1 1900 English High School III (1) [note 3]
2 1901 Alumni III (2) [note 3]
3 1902 Lomas Juniors (1) [note 3] Colegio Nacional del Sud
4 1903 Estudiantes (BA) III (1) [note 3] Lomas Juniors [note 3]
5 1904 Estudiantes (BA) IV (2) [note 3] Alumni III [note 3]
6 1905 Alumni II (3) [note 3] Tiro Federal Argentino (San Fernando)
7 1906 Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) (1) Gath & Chavez II
8 1907 Atlanta (1) Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) II [note 3]
9 1908 Banfield (1) Independiente II [note 3]
10 1909 Ferro Carril Oeste II (1) [note 3]
11 1910 Instituto Americano (Adrogué) (1)
12 1911 Racing (1) [note 3]
13 1912 Boca Juniors (1) [note 3]
1912 FAF [note 4] Gimnasia y Esgrima (BA) [note 3]
14 1913 Libertarios Unidos (1) [note 3]
1913 FAF Solís
15 1914 Libertarios Unidos (2) [note 3]
1914 FAF Vélez Sársfield [note 3]
16 1915 Boca Juniors (2) [note 3]
17 1916 Porteño (1) [note 3]
18 1917 San Lorenzo (2) [note 3]
19 1918 Independiente (1) [note 3]
20 1919 Almagro (1) [note 3]
1919 AAm [6] Racing (3) [note 3]
21 1920 Huracán [note 3]
1920 AAm Estudiantil Porteño [note 3]
22 1921 Nueva Chicago [note 3]
1921 AAm Almagro [note 3]
23 1922 Sportivo Monserrat
1922 AAm Vélez Sársfield [note 3]
24 1923 Boca Juniors (3) [note 3]
1923 AAm Platense [note 3]
25 1924 Dock Sud [note 3]
1924 AAm Platense
26 1925 Palermo
1925 AAm Sportivo Alsina [note 3]
27 1926 Los Andes [note 3]
1926 AAm Platense [note 3]
28 1927 Independiente [note 3]
29 1928 Liberal Argentino [note 3]
30 1929 Racing [note 3]
31 1930 Almagro [note 3]
32 1931 Excursionistas
1931 LAF [note 5] 25 de Mayo
33 1932 Sportivo Alsina (1) [note 3]
1932 LAF
(Not held)
34 1933 Sportivo Alsina III (2) [note 3] Excursionistas III [note 3]
1933 LAF
(Not held)
35 1934 Excursionistas III [note 3] Almagro III B [note 3]
1934 LAF
(Not held)
36 1935 Progresista 25 de Mayo
37 1936 Sportivo Alsina (3) Boulogne
38 1937 Acassuso (1) Los Andes
39 1938 Los Andes Sportivo Palermo
40 1939 Boulogne Nueva Chicago
41 1940 Nueva Chicago Sportivo Alsina
42 1941 Sportivo Alsina (4) J. J. de Urquiza
43 1942 Estudiantes (BA) (3) Liniers
44 1943 El Porvenir (1) Sportivo Alsina
45 1944 Barracas Central (1) Argentino (Q)
46 1945 Argentino (Quilmes) (1) Colegiales
47 1946 All Boys 1 Colegiales
48 1947 Colegiales (3) Barracas Central
49 1948 Barracas Central (2) Acassuso
50 1949 San Telmo (1) J. J. de Urquiza
51 1950 All Boys 1 Tiro Federal
52 1951 Tiro Federal Central Córdoba (R)
53 1952 Central Córdoba (R) (1) Colegiales
54 1953 Defensores de Belgrano (1) Flandria
55 1954 El Porvenir (2) Colegiales
56 1955 Colegiales (4) Tiro Federal
57 1956 San Telmo (2) Los Andes
58 1957 Los Andes Defensores de Belgrano
59 1958 Defensores de Belgrano (2) Argentino (Q)
60 1959 Deportivo Morón (1) Argentino (Q)
61 1960 Deportivo Español 1 Almirante Brown
62 1961 San Telmo (3) Colón
63 1962 Sportivo Italiano (1) Villa Dálmine
64 1963 Villa Dálmine (1) All Boys
65 1964 Arsenal Cambaceres
66 1965 Almirante Brown Estudiantes (BA)
67 1966 Estudiantes (BA) (4) General Mitre
68 1967 – [note 6] – [note 6]
69 1968 Comunicaciones (1) J. J. de Urquiza
70 1969 Comunicaciones (2) Central Córdoba (R)
71 1970 Talleres (RE) (1) Argentino (Q)
72 1971 Almagro Tigre
73 1972 Defensores de Belgrano (3) Flandria
74 1973 Central Córdoba (2) Dock Sud
75 1974 Sportivo Italiano (2) Sarmiento (J)
76 1975 Villa Dálmine (2) El Porvenir
77 1976 Deportivo Armenio Argentino (Q)
78 1977 Sarmiento (J) Deportivo Español
79 1978 Talleres (RE) (2) Deportivo Morón
80 1979 Deportivo Español 2 Deportivo Morón
81 1980 Deportivo Morón (2) Central Córdoba (R)
82 1981 Lanús Chacarita Juniors
83 1982 Villa Dálmine (3) Defensores Unidos
84 1983 Argentino (R) Almagro
85 1984 San Miguel Almagro
86 1985 Defensa y Justicia Tristán Suárez
87 1986–87 Deportivo Laferrere (1) San Telmo
88 1987–88 Central Córdoba (R) (3) Excursionistas
89 1988–89 Argentino (Quilmes) (2) Ituzaingó
90 1989–90 Berazategui (1) Sarmiento (J)
91 1990–91 Cambaceres 1 Comunicaciones
92 1991–92 Defensores de Belgrano (4) Argentino (Q)
93 1992–93 Colegiales (5) Argentino (Q)
94 1993–94 Defensores Unidos San Telmo
95 1994–95 Temperley Tristán Suárez
96 1995–96 Atl. Campana (4) Leandro N. Alem
97 1996–97 Berazategui (2) Brown
98 1997–98 Flandria Ituzaingó
99 1998–99 Cambaceres 2 Atl. Campana
100 1999–00 Deportivo Merlo (1) Dock Sud
101 2000–01 Ituzaingó Deportivo Laferrere
102 2001–02 Deportivo Laferrere (2) Colegiales
103 2002–03 Colegiales (6) Villa Dálmine
104 2003–04 Argentino (R) Barracas Central
105 2004–05 Comunicaciones (3) Colegiales
106 2005–06 Deportivo Merlo (2) Luján
107 2006–07 Acassuso J. J. de Urquiza
108 2007–08 Colegiales (7) Fénix
109 2008–09 Villa San Carlos Berazategui
110 2009–10 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
114 2013–14 Sportivo Italiano (3) Cambaceres
115 2015 San Telmo (4) Talleres (RE)
116 2016 Excursionistas (1) Sportivo Italiano
117 2016–17 Sacachispas (1) Defensores Unidos
118 2017–18 Defensores Unidos (1) Central Córdoba (R)
119 2018–19 Argentino (Q) (3) Deportivo Armenio
120 2019–20
(Abandoned because of Covid-19 pandemic) [note 7]
121 2020 Cañuelas (1) Deportivo Merlo
122 2021 Dock Sud (1) Ituzaingó
123 2022 Argentino (M) Ferrocarril Midland
124 2023 Excursionistas (2) San Martín (B)

Titles by club

Club Titles Years 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

Notes

  1. ^ a b c No fourth division or level existing then.
  2. ^ No relegation because the category was unified with the Primera D in a single tournament.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c Tercera División - Campeones on AFA website (Archived 13 Ago 2013)
  2. ^ a b Cuarta División - Campeones on AFA (archived, 13 Aug 2013)
  3. ^ Historia y Fútbol, 1963 by José Carluccio
  4. ^ a b Argentina - Third Level Champions by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
  5. ^ a b 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

External links

Primera C
Football in Argentina
Categories