Club Atlético Los Andes, eternally known as "El Milrayitas", is one of the most traditional and socially representative institutions in the football scene of the Southern Zone of Greater Buenos Aires. Currently competing in the Primera B Metropolitana (the third division of Argentine football for clubs directly affiliated with the AFA), the Lomas de Zamora club is experiencing a moment of institutional and sporting reconstruction, fueled by a fervent fanbase and the recent conquest of the 2024 Apertura Tournament, which has renewed hopes for a swift return to the Primera Nacional.
Club History: Origins and Foundation (1917)
The genesis of Club Atlético Los Andes dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, in an Argentina that was buzzing with the consolidation of football as the great mass sport. On January 1, 1917, a group of young enthusiasts from Lomas de Zamora gathered with the purpose of founding a new sports and social institution that would represent the spirit of their neighborhood.
The name chosen for the association carries a strong patriotic and historical weight: Los Andes. The choice was a direct tribute to the historic crossing of the Andes Mountains carried out by General José de San Martín's liberating army, whose centenary was being celebrated exactly in that year of 1917. Simultaneously, the feat of aeronauts Eduardo Bradley and Ángel María Zuloaga, who in 1916 crossed the Andes aboard the balloon "Eduardo Newbery," also served as inspiration to name the nascent club.
Among the most prominent founders, names such as Adolfo Lope, Marcos Panizzi and, fundamentally, Eduardo Gallardón stand out. The latter was not only one of the pioneers in the foundation but became the great administrative, social, and spiritual engine of the club over the decades, which is why the club's stadium today rightfully bears his name.
The club's original colors underwent transformations. In the early years, the jersey featured sky blue and white vertical stripes. However, for affiliation reasons and to avoid similarities with other teams of the time, in 1922 the iconic and unique kit that has accompanied the club to this day was adopted: a white shirt with very thin red vertical stripes. This aesthetic peculiarity earned the club its most famous and affectionate nickname: "Milrayitas" (Thousand Stripes).
The Temple of Lomas: Estadio Eduardo Gallardón
Inaugurated on September 28, 1940, the Estadio Eduardo Gallardón is the beating heart of the club on Avenida Santa Fe. With a current capacity for approximately 35,000 spectators, it is one of the largest and most imposing stadiums in the Argentine lower divisions.
The inaugural match took place against Temperley, establishing from the very first day of the sports venue's life the centrality of the club's greatest rivalry. The construction of the stadium was a true community epic, led by Gallardón, where members and neighbors donated materials, resources, and hours of manual labor to erect the concrete stands that dominate the landscape of Lomas de Zamora today.
Golden Eras and Historic Campaigns
The sporting trajectory of Los Andes in the elite of Argentine football, although intermittent, is full of moments of immense technical brilliance and feats against the country's greatest powers.
The 1960 Rise: The Elite Debut
The first major milestone for Los Andes football occurred in the 1960 season. Under the technical direction of Héctor D'Angelo, the club won the Primera B (second division) championship by defeating Talleres de Remedios de Escalada in the final round, securing the historic promotion to the Primera División for the first time. The team featured legendary figures such as goalkeeper León Goldbaum and striker Ángel Reynoso.
The "Equipo de los Sueños" of 1968
The high point of the club's football history occurred during the 1968 Metropolitano Championship. Managed by the legendary coach Ángel Tulio Zof, Los Andes assembled a team that played attractive, offensive football with refined individual technique. That squad became known nationally as "El Equipo de los Sueños" (The Dream Team).
In that historic campaign, Los Andes finished in a surprising 6th place in Zone A (ahead of giants like Boca Juniors). The peak of that campaign was the historic 3-1 victory against River Plate at the Monumental de Núñez, as well as a categorical 2-1 triumph over San Lorenzo de Almagro (who would go on to be the undefeated champion of that tournament, known as "Los Matadores"). The backbone of that squad featured Abel Da Graca, Alberto Cardacci, Marcos Conigliaro, and the brilliant Alfredo "Mono" Obberti, who became the championship's top scorer with 13 goals.
The 2000 Return: The Epic under Jorge Ginarte
After decades of transit through the lower divisions, Los Andes touched the sky again in the 1999/2000 season. Under the tactical and emotional leadership of Jorge Ginarte, one of the greatest idols in the club's history, "Milrayitas" had a memorable campaign in the Primera B Nacional. In the "Reduzido" (play-offs) for the second promotion spot, they eliminated interior powerhouses and faced Quilmes in the final. With a heroic 1-1 draw in the second leg at Quilmes' stadium (goal by Fabio Pieters), Los Andes sealed their return to the elite division of Argentine football, triggering one of the greatest popular celebrations in the history of Lomas de Zamora.
Main Idols and Coaches Who Marked an Era
- Alfredo "Mono" Obberti: Considered by many to be the player with the greatest technical refinement to wear the red and white shirt. An implacable scorer and masterful playmaker, he was the star of the 1968 team before shining at Newell's Old Boys and Grêmio (Brazil).
- Jorge Ginarte: Affectionately known as "El Gordo," Ginarte is the personification of the Los Andes sentiment. He was a player for the club and, as a coach, led the team in multiple spells, being the architect of the historic promotion to the first division in the year 2000.
- Gilmar Villagrán: A Uruguayan left-winger with disconcerting skill and surgical free-kicks. He played for the club in the 1980s and early 1990s, becoming one of the greatest foreign scorers of the institution and a cult idol for the fans.
- Abel Da Graca: A symbol of grit, leadership, and loyalty to the club. He played hundreds of matches for Los Andes during the 1960s and 1970s, being a key piece in both the defensive sector and the midfield.
- Orlando Romero: "Chango" was one of the most talented players to emerge from the club's youth divisions, shining in the 1970s with short dribbles and memorable assists.
The Greatest Rivalries: The Hot Blood of the Southern Zone
Los Andes is located in one of the regions with the highest football density on the planet, which fosters local rivalries of extremely high social and sporting combustion.
The Lomas de Zamora Derby: Los Andes vs. Temperley
The true and most fervent rival of Los Andes is Club Atlético Temperley. This clash is known as the "Clásico de Lomas de Zamora" or "Clásico de la Zona Sur". The rivalry is strictly based on geographical proximity and common social roots: the social headquarters and stadiums of both clubs are separated by very few kilometers along the historic Avenida Hipólito Yrigoyen.
The first official match took place in 1923, and since then, every match between them is lived as a true battle of local identity. Both sets of fans fiercely dispute the territorial supremacy of the region, dividing neighborhoods, schools, and families in Lomas de Zamora.
The Rivalry with Banfield
Another historic rival of enormous relevance is Club Atlético Banfield. Although Banfield's historic derby is Lanús, the proximity to Los Andes (whose headquarters belong to the same administrative district of Lomas de Zamora) makes the duels between "Taladro" and "Milrayitas" carry an enormous load of tension and local passion, often called the "Clásico del Partido de Lomas".
Current Moment: Struggles, Overcoming, and the Search for a Return
In recent decades, Los Andes has faced serious financial and institutional difficulties, which have reflected in sporting relegations. The club currently plays in the Primera B Metropolitana, the third division of Argentine football.
However, the year 2024 brought a breath of hope and renewal for the immense mass of fans. Under the technical direction of Fernando Ruiz, Los Andes had a solid campaign and won the 2024 Apertura Tournament of the Primera B Metropolitana after a dramatic 3-2 victory against Cañuelas. This achievement secured the club a spot in the grand final for direct promotion to the Primera Nacional (second division), reigniting popular passion in Lomas de Zamora and demonstrating the resilience of an institution that refuses to lose its historical prominence.
Institutionally, the club is also undergoing a process of cleaning up its finances and strengthening its social role, offering dozens of sports and educational activities for the community's youth, functioning as a true social refuge in the south of Greater Buenos Aires.
Gallery of Titles and Notable Achievements
| Competition | Level | Titles / Achievements | Seasons / Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primera B (Second Division) | National Second Division | 3 (Champion) | 1960, 1999/2000 (Reduzido), 2014 (Zone B) |
| Torneo Apertura - Primera B Metropolitana | Third Division | 1 (Champion) | 2024 |
| Primera C | Third Division (Amateur/Transition Era) | 3 (Champion) | 1926, 1938, 1957 |
| Promotion to Primera División | Category Promotion | 3 (Promotions) | 1960, 1967 (Reclasificatorio), 2000 (Reduzido) |
Researched Sources
- AFA (Argentine Football Association): Historical records of tournaments and official lists of affiliates.
- Club Atlético Los Andes - Official Website: History Department and Museum of Club Atlético Los Andes.
- Diario Olé and Clarín (Sports): Journalistic coverage of Los Andes' recent campaigns in the Primera B Metropolitana (2023-2024).
- El Gráfico Magazine: Historical archives from the 1960s, 1970s, and 2000s detailing the "Equipo de los Sueños" campaigns and the promotion under Jorge Ginarte.
- "Lomas de Zamora y su historia" - Monographs by local historians detailing the club's social impact on the urban development of the Southern Zone of Buenos Aires.
