Platense make history

Minnows win their first-ever major trophy in Argentina's Apertura

- JOEL RICHARDS

Argentina's 2025 Apertura ended in celebrations that were 120 years in the making. The perennial underdogs Platense won their first-ever major trophy, thanks to a brilliant goal from Guido Mainero in the final against Huracan.

Boasting less than 10,000 members, Platense are nicknamed El Calamar (The Squid); the pitch they used to play their games on would regularly flood, leading a journalist to say the players manoeuvred through the mud "like squid in their ink"

In a country where many clubs pride themselves on developing world-class talent, Platense's biggest claim is perhaps to have handed future world and European champion David Trezeguet his professional debut at the age of 16. Not that the connection was long-lasting - after just five games, the Franco-Argentine centre-forward moved to France in the mid-1990s to embark on his successful career, starting with Monaco.

Trezeguet's glittering career contrasted to Platense's fortunes. The club spent over two decades in the lower divisions before finally returning to the top flight in 2021.

Other than a run to the final of the 2023 Copa de la Liga, when they lost to Rosario Central, there has been little to cheer for the Calamar's long-suffering supporters. That was until this year, when they emerged as giant-killers and champions.