1- A football fan president
https://twitter.com/mauriciomacri
In Argentina, football is a state affair. On his Twitter profile, the newly elected president of the republic Mauricio Macri defines himself as a Boca Juniors supporter. Indeed, he is perhaps all the more committed a supporter given that he was president of the country’s most popular club (between 1995 and 2008), with which he scooped no less than 17 titles, a record for a club president. Mauricio Macri is not the first Argentine president to confess his weakness for a team, however. Nestor Kirchner (2003 – 2007), to name but one other, never hid the fact that he was a “hincha” (fan) of Racing d’Avellaneda.
2- Maradona, an all-terrain supporter
Since hanging up his boots back in 1997, Diego Maradona has become the number one fan of the national team, or Albiceleste (as well as becoming coach at one stage, but that’s another story!). When he is in the terraces he becomes hysterical. Indeed, it is not rare to see him in one of the boxes of the Stade Monumental (where Argentina play their home games) or following the national team during major tournaments (namely the Copa America and the World Cup). Maradona also rarely hesitates when it comes to supporting other national teams. In September, he made the long trip from Dubai (where he now lives) to support the Pumas during the Rugby World Cup. He also made himself stand out in rather boisterous fashion during some Davis Cup matches.
3- The Pope, an unconditional San Lorenzo fan
The Argentine Pope Francis is an unconditional supporter of San Lorenzo, a fact that he has never sought to hide stating that for him “San Lorenzo is the best Argentine club”. But where does this passion come from? “The club was founded by father Lorenzo Massa on April 1 1908 in an attempt to help young drug addicts and prevent them from committing suicide or falling into depression” the Pope has stated. “Since then, the club has grown and won several titles (including 15 championships and one Copa Libertadores). Finally, the club plays in the same colours as the Virgin Mary (red and blue)”. Some might say that it is a coincidence that San Lorenzo won its first and only Copa Libertadores only a few months after Jorge Bergoglio (aka Pope Francis) became the 266th Pope!
4- The Boca Juniors cemetery
Boca Juniors, the most popular club in the country, has offered its most loyal fans the possibility of resting in peace in blue and gold. In 2006 the club opened a cemetery, located around thirty kilometres from Buenos Aires. It covers an area of one hectare and offers 3,000 graves, a number which should rise in the years to come due to high demand. The club also offers supporters coffins sporting Boca Junior’s club colours. In short, it can be said that supporting a football team in Argentina is an eternal experience that is stronger than death.
5- Rodrigo sings Maradona’s praises
Rodrigo is the Maradona of Cuarteto (an Argentinian music genre). For many Argentines he is a legend, one who passed away suddenly in 2000 following a car accident. Like all legends, however, Rodrigo is immortal. Among his hits, one song still has Argentines dancing: “La Mano de Dios” (The Hand of God), written in 2000, which pays tribute to his friend Diego Maradona. In just over four minutes, Rodrigo tells the story of Maradona set to a fast paced rhythm, the story of a boy born in a slum who becomes a footballing superstar.
6- The banderazo, in honour of the clásico
In Argentina, football fans never do things by half measures in the run-up to a “clásico” (derby), and the oldest of all clásicos in Argentina is the one between Rosario and Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario Central. The first encounter between the two teams took place in 1905 and on each occasion the town is split in two and the atmosphere becomes stifling. On the eve of a clásico, tradition dictates that fans have to make their voices heard. This event is called a “banderazo”, an untranslatable term which is derived from the word “bandera” (flag). In simple terms, this is a moment for celebrating the club colours, a veritable spectacle consisting of chants and fireworks. The photo shows the Newell’s supporters’ “banderazo” on the eve of September’s clásico. The club was not on form at that moment yet the fans organised a veritable party for their players. Incidentally, the following day, the two teams played out a 0-0 draw.
7- The Papelitos
The “papelitos” (the small papers) are a classic tradition in Argentine football. During big matches, when teams come out onto the field, a cloud of small pieces of paper rain down from the sky before landing on the pitch below. Legend has it that this tradition originated in Quilmes (a suburb of Buenos Aires), an area known for its beer. In 1961, the year when the local team was promoted to the first division, the “small papers” (the labels from “Quilmes” beer bottles) were thrown from the terraces around the teams’ entrance onto the pitch. In 1978, during the World Cup hosted by Argentina, the rest of the planet discovered this tradition. Throwing small bits of paper onto the pitch even became a symbolic act, one of rebellion, because the Argentine dictator had banned this practice during the tournament. Today, the “papelitos” form part football folklore in Argentina.
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