Primera División Argentina 2008-09
Encyclopedia
The 2008-09 Primera División
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...

 season
was the 80th season of top-flight professional football in Argentina and the nineteenth season in which the Apertura and Clausura
Apertura and Clausura in Argentine football
The Apertura and Clausura system is the format currently used by the Primera División Argentina. It was introduced for the 1990-1991 season.-Format:...

 system is used.

Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

 won the Apertura championship for their 23rd national title after a three team playoff with Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...

 and San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....

. The Clausura championship was won by Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...

 for their 7th national title. Gimnasia de Jujuy and San Martin de Tucuman were relegated to the Primera B Nacional.

Format

The format for the 2008-09 season remained unchanged. The season is split into two tournaments called Apertura and Clausura. Each tournament is contested by the same 20 teams in a single round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...

 format. The champion of each tournament is determined by points. Should the tops teams be tied at points at the end of each tournament, a playoff is held at a neutral site. Relegation is determined at the end of the season.

Club information

Club City Stadium Capacity
Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

Diego Armando Maradona
Estadio Diego Armando Maradona
Estadio Diego Armando Maradona is a football venue in the La Paternal neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the home of Argentinos Juniors football club....

24,800
Arsenal
Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....

Sarandí
Sarandí
Sarandí is a city of the Avellaneda Partido in the Gran Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Argentina. Sarandí is located to the south of the Capital Federal district....

Julio H. Grondona
Estadio Julio H. Grondona
Estadio Julio H. Grondona is a multi-use stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is currently used primarily for football matches and is the home stadium of Arsenal de Sarandí ....

16,300
Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...

Banfield
Banfield
- People :* Ashleigh Banfield , Canadian-born TV journalist* Drew Banfield , Australian Rules footballer with the West Coast Eagles* Edmund James Banfield , Australian newspaper proprietor, writer and naturalist...

Florencio Solá
Estadio Florencio Solá
Estadio Florencio Sola is a multi-use stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is currently used primarily for football matches, and it is the home of Banfield of the Argentine Primera División...

40,500
Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

Alberto J. Armando
Estadio Alberto J. Armando
The Estadio Alberto J. Armando is a stadium located in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires. Widely known as La Bombonera due to its shape, with a "flat" stand on one side of the pitch and three steep stands round the rest of the stadium...

49,000
Colón
Colón de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Colón, commonly referred to as Colón de Santa Fe, is a football team from Santa Fe, Argentina. As of Primera División Argentina 1946 the football squad plays in the highest division of Argentine football, and has done so continuously since 1995-96...

Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...

Brigadier General Estanislao López 32,500
Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....

La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....

Jorge Luis Hirschi
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi
Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi is a football stadium in La Plata, Argentina. It is the home field of Estudiantes de La Plata.The stadium, named after Jorge Luis Hirschi, who served as Estudiantes' president between 1927 and 1932, is located on 1st Avenue between 55th and 57th Streets, and thus is also...

23,000
Gimnasia (Jujuy)
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
Club Atlético Gimnasia y Esgrima is an Argentine sports club based in San Salvador, Jujuy Province...

San Salvador de Jujuy
San Salvador de Jujuy
San Salvador de Jujuy , commonly known as Jujuy and locally often referred to as San Salvador, is the capital city of Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina. It lies near the southern end of the Humahuaca Canyon where wooded hills meet the lowlands....

23 de Agosto
Estadio 23 de Agosto
Estadio 23 de Agosto, also known as the Estadio La Tacita de Plata, is a multi-use stadium in San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina. It is currently used primarily for football matches and is the home stadium of Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy. It is named after the day of the 1812 Jujuy Exodus. The...

24,000
Gimnasia (La Plata)
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...

La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....

Juan Carlos Zerillo 24,544
Godoy Cruz
Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba
Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba, known simply as Godoy Cruz, is a sports club from Godoy Cruz, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The club is best known for their football team, that plays in the Primera División, the top level of the Argentine football league system.-History:The club was founded...

Godoy Cruz Malvinas Argentinas
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
The Estadio Malvinas Argentinas is a stadium, in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, at General San Martín Park.It was built in 1976 in preparation for the 1978 World Cup...

40,268
Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

Tomás Adolfo Ducó
Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó
Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó is a stadium in Argentina. It is located in the Parque Patricios neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Argentine football club Huracán owns this stadium, which was built thanks to the support of the Argentinian Army, especially due to the efforts of Tomás Ducó....

48,314
Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....

Avellaneda
Avellaneda
Avellaneda is a port city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the seat of the Avellaneda Partido, whose population was 328,980 as per the ....

Libertadores de América
Estadio Libertadores de América
The Estadio Libertadores de América is a stadium located in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province.It is home to the Argentine football club Independiente...

52,823
Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a sports club from Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Founded on 3 January 1915, the club's main sports are football and basketball. In both sports, Lanús plays in Argentina's top divisions: Primera División and Liga Nacional de Básquet...

Lanús
Lanús
Lanús is the capital of Lanús Partido, Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. It lies just south of the capital city Buenos Aires, in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area. The city has a population of 212,152 , and the Partido de Lanús has a total population of 453,500.A major industrial centre,...

Ciudad de Lanús - Néstor Díaz Pérez 46,619
Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys
Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football...

Rosario Newell's Old Boys
Estadio Newell's Old Boys
Estadio Marcelo Bielsa is Newell's Old Boys' multi-use stadium in Rosario, Argentina. It didn't have any official name until December 22, 2009, when it was named after the former manager of the club Marcelo Bielsa. Until then it was simply called El Coloso del Parque , and this remained as the...

38,095
Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...

Avellaneda
Avellaneda
Avellaneda is a port city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the seat of the Avellaneda Partido, whose population was 328,980 as per the ....

Presidente Juan Domingo Perón
Estadio Juan Domingo Perón
The Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón is a stadium located in Avellaneda, Argentina, a suburb of Buenos Aires. It is situated on the streets of Corbatta Mozart adjoining with Italy and Columbus.Racing Club owns the stadium and plays its home matches there...

51,000
River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

Monumental Antonio V. Liberti 65,645
Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....

Rosario Dr. Lisandro de la Torre
Estadio Gigante de Arroyito
The Estadio Gigante de Arroyito is a stadium in the Lisandro de la Torre barrio of the city of Rosario, Argentina...

41,824
San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

Pedro Bidegain
Estadio Pedro Bidegain
The Estadio Pedro Bidegain, nicknamed el Nuevo Gasómetro , is the home stadium of San Lorenzo football club in the Nueva Pompeya neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is a multi use stadium but mostly used for football matches. Capacity is 43,494 and inauguration was in 1993...

43,494
San Martín (Tucumán) Tucumán La Cuidadela
Estadio La Ciudadela
Estadio La Ciudadela is a multi-use stadium in Tucumán, Argentina. It is primarily used for football and is currently the home ground for San Martín de Tucumán. The stadium holds 25,500 people....

35,000
Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...

Victoria
Victoria, Buenos Aires
Victoria is a city in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, located in the San Fernando Partido.The city gradually built up around a station on the Central Argentino railway named after Queen Victoria of England....

Monumental de Victoria
Estadio Monumental de Victoria
Estadio José Dellagiovanna is a multi-use stadium in Victoria, Argentina. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 26,282 people and was built in 1936....

26,282
Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

José Amalfitani
Estadio José Amalfitani
The Estadio José Amalfitani is a stadium located in the Liniers neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The venue is mainly used for football matches and is the home of the Argentine Primera División club Vélez Sársfield. The stadium is nicknamed El Fortín or El Fortín de Liniers...

49,540

Promotion and relegation

Olimpo
Olimpo de Bahía Blanca
Club Olimpo, usually referred to as Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, is a sports club based in the city of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The club was founded on October 15, 1910, and their main activities are basketball and association football. The football team currently plays in the...

 and San Martín de San Juan were relegated at the end of the 2007–08 Primera División season. They were replaced by Godoy Cruz
Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba
Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba, known simply as Godoy Cruz, is a sports club from Godoy Cruz, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The club is best known for their football team, that plays in the Primera División, the top level of the Argentine football league system.-History:The club was founded...

 and San Martín de Tucumán, both of whom were promoted from the Primera B Nacional.

Gimnasia de Jujuy
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
Club Atlético Gimnasia y Esgrima is an Argentine sports club based in San Salvador, Jujuy Province...

 and Racing
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...

 played the relegation/promotion playoffs against Unión de Santa Fe
Unión de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Unión is a sports club from Santa Fe, the capital city of the province with the same name in Argentina. The club, founded in 1907, has a strong rivalry with Colón de Santa Fe....

 and Belgrano, respectively. Both Gimnasia de Jujuy and Racing won their playoff matches and retained their status in top-flight football.

Managerial changes

This is a list of the managerial changes in the Primera División
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...

 made during the season.
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure
Date of
vacancy
Replaced by Date of
appointment
Position
in table
  Claudio Ubeda
Claudio Ubeda
Claudio Úbeda is a former football player. He was a participant at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia....

Resigned Sep. 14, 2008   Héctor Martínez (interim) Sep. 15, 2008 20th (A)
  Roberto Sensini
Roberto Néstor Sensini
Roberto Néstor Sensini is an Argentine former association football player in the role of defender, and currently a manager.-Career:...

Resigned Sep. 17, 2008   Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Rubén Astrada is a retired Argentine football player, who went on to become a football manager. He currently manages Paraguayan team Cerro Porteño.-Playing career:...

Sep. 20, 2008 18th (A)
  Guillermo Sanguinetti
Guillermo Sanguinetti
Guillermo Óscar Sanguinetti Giordano is a retired football player and the current manager of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata...

Resigned Sep. 29, 2008   Leonardo Madelón
Leonardo Madelón
Leonardo Carol Madelón is an Argentine former footballer and current manager.-Career:Madelón played club football for San Lorenzo, Unión de Santa Fe and Rosario Central between 1982 and 1993.-Coaching career:...

Oct. 2, 2008 12th (A)
  Claudio Borghi
Claudio Borghi
Claudio Daniel Borghi Bidos, , nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former footballer and current football manager of Chile.-Club:Borghi started his career as an Attacking midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s...

Resigned Oct. 5, 2008   Miguel Santoro
Miguel Ángel Santoro
Miguel Ángel Santoro is a retired Argentine football goalkeeper. He played most of his career for Club Atlético Independiente and represented the Argentina national football team at the 1974 World Cup....

Oct. 6, 2008 15th (A)
  Pablo Sánchez
Pablo Sánchez
Pablo Andrés Sánchez is a retired Argentine footballer, who played as a midfielder. During his professional career, he was nicknamed Vitamina.-Playing career:...

Sacked Oct. 6, 2008   Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Julio Alfaro is a former Argentine footballer currently working as a football manager. Alfaro most recently managed Rosario Central, but left due to poor results in the beginning of the Clausura 2009 with Central in danger of relegation.Alfaro had a short career as a footballer, he was...

Oct. 10, 2008 19th (A)
  Daniel Oldrá Resigned Oct. 28, 2008   Diego Cocca
Diego Cocca
Diego Martín Cocca is a former Argentine footballer and the current manager of the Mexican Primera División club Santos Laguna. He played professional football for a number of clubs in Argentina, Spain and Mexico.-Club:...

Oct. 29, 2008 18th (A)
  Héctor Martínez (interim) End of contract Nov. 3, 2008   Ángel Cappa Nov. 4, 2008 15th (A)
  Diego Simeone Resigned Nov. 9, 2008   Gabriel Rodríguez
Gabriel Rodríguez
Gabriel Rodríguez is a Venezuelan sprint canoer. He competed in the late 2000s. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he was eliminated in the semifinals of both the K-2 500 m and the K-2 1000 m events....

 (interim)
Nov. 10, 2008 20th (A)
  Hugo Tocalli
Hugo Tocalli
Hugo Daniel Tocalli is a former Argentine football goalkeeper and coach. He played over 400 games in Argentine football and went on to coach a number of clubs and the Argentina U-20 side.-Playing career:...

Resigned Dec. 3, 2008   Pedro Larraquy
Pedro Larraquy
Pedro Omar Larraquy is a former Argentine footballer. He spent the majority of his playing career at Vélez Sársfield, where he set a record number of appearances with 455. In December 2008, he became interim manager of Vélez Sársfield to replace Hugo Tocalli.Larraquy started his professional...

 (interim)
Dec. 4, 2008 6th (A)
  Nestor Gorosito
Néstor Gorosito
Néstor Raúl Gorosito is a retired Argentine footballer.-Playing career:Néstor Pipo Gorosito began his playing career at River Plate, he had 3 spells at San Lorenzo where he scored 72 goals in 241 appearances...

Resigned Dec. 14, 2008   Claudio Vivas Dec. 27, 2008 11th (A)
  Pedro Larraquy
Pedro Larraquy
Pedro Omar Larraquy is a former Argentine footballer. He spent the majority of his playing career at Vélez Sársfield, where he set a record number of appearances with 455. In December 2008, he became interim manager of Vélez Sársfield to replace Hugo Tocalli.Larraquy started his professional...

 (interim)
End of contract Dec. 15, 2008   Ricardo Gareca
Ricardo Gareca
Ricardo Alberto Gareca, nicknamed el Tigre , is an Argentine football manager and former player. He currently manages Vélez Sársfield in the Argentine Primera División....

Dec. 16, 2008 9th (A)
  Gabriel Rodríguez
Gabriel Rodríguez
Gabriel Rodríguez is a Venezuelan sprint canoer. He competed in the late 2000s. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he was eliminated in the semifinals of both the K-2 500 m and the K-2 1000 m events....

 (interim)
End of contract Dec. 15, 2008   Nestor Gorosito
Néstor Gorosito
Néstor Raúl Gorosito is a retired Argentine footballer.-Playing career:Néstor Pipo Gorosito began his playing career at River Plate, he had 3 spells at San Lorenzo where he scored 72 goals in 241 appearances...

Dec. 23, 2008 20th (A)
  Juan Manuel Llop
Juan Manuel Llop
Juan Manuel Llop is a retired Argentine football player and manager.Before taking up management Llop had a 15 year career as a football player, he made appearances for several clubs, most notably for Newell's Old Boys under coaches José Yudica and Marcelo Bielsa during the clubs golden era ,...

Sacked Feb. 21, 2009   Ricardo Caruso Lombardi
Ricardo Caruso Lombardi
Ricardo Daniel Caruso Lombardi is a football coach. He is currently manager for the Argentine side Quilmes Atlético Club.-Playing career:Lombardi started his playing career with Argentinos Juniors in 1981...

Feb. 24, 2009 20th (C)
  Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Julio Alfaro is a former Argentine footballer currently working as a football manager. Alfaro most recently managed Rosario Central, but left due to poor results in the beginning of the Clausura 2009 with Central in danger of relegation.Alfaro had a short career as a footballer, he was...

Sacked Feb. 28, 2009   Reinaldo Merlo Mar. 2, 2009 18th (C)
  Omar Labruna
Omar Labruna
Omar Raul Labruna is a former Argentine footballer. He went on to become a football manager.-Biography:"Omarcito" Labruna started his playing career at River Plate in 1976 during his father Ángel's time as manager of the club...

Resigned Mar. 10, 2009   Héctor Arzubialde Mar. 11, 2009 19th (C)
  Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Rubén Astrada is a retired Argentine football player, who went on to become a football manager. He currently manages Paraguayan team Cerro Porteño.-Playing career:...

Resigned Mar. 11, 2009   Alejandro Sabella
Alejandro Sabella
Alejandro Sabella is an Argentine football manager and former player. He is currently the coach of the Argentina national football team.-Early career:...

Mar. 15, 2009 18th (C)
  Miguel Santoro
Miguel Ángel Santoro
Miguel Ángel Santoro is a retired Argentine football goalkeeper. He played most of his career for Club Atlético Independiente and represented the Argentina national football team at the 1974 World Cup....

Resigned Mar. 21, 2009   Américo Gallego
Américo Gallego
Américo Rubén "El Tolo" Gallego is an Argentine football coach and former player, he played 73 times for the Argentina national team during his playing career.-Playing career:...

Mar. 27, 2009 8th (C)
  Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Luis Burruchaga is a former Argentine professional football player, and last manager of Arsenal de Sarandí in the Primera División Argentina...

Resigned Mar. 22, 2009   Julio Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni is an Argentine football manager and former goalkeeper. He currently works as the manager of Boca Juniors in Argentina.-Club career:...

Mar. 23, 2009 9th (C)
  Miguel Ángel Russo
Miguel Ángel Russo
Miguel Ángel Russo is an Argentine football coach and former player, who now coaches Estudiantes.-Career:...

Resigned Apr. 9, 2009   Diego Simeone Apr. 16, 2009 10th (C)
  Reinaldo Merlo Resigned Apr. 14, 2009   Miguel Ángel Russo
Miguel Ángel Russo
Miguel Ángel Russo is an Argentine football coach and former player, who now coaches Estudiantes.-Career:...

Apr. 16, 2009 9th (C)
  Daniel Garnero
Daniel Garnero
Daniel Oscar Garnero is a retired Argentine football midfielder.- Career :Garnero played most of his career for Club Atlético Independiente...

Sacked Apr. 25, 2009   José Rizzo (interim) Apr. 26, 2009 16th (C)
  José Rizzo (interim) End of contract May 4, 2009   Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Burruchaga
Jorge Luis Burruchaga is a former Argentine professional football player, and last manager of Arsenal de Sarandí in the Primera División Argentina...

May 5, 2009 18th (C)
  Claudio Vivas Resigned May 23, 2009   Claudio Borghi
Claudio Borghi
Claudio Daniel Borghi Bidos, , nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former footballer and current football manager of Chile.-Club:Borghi started his career as an Attacking midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s...

Jun. 2, 2009 20th (C)
  Carlos Ischia
Carlos Ischia
Carlos Ischia is a former Argentine footballer. He is currently the head coach of Deportivo Quito.-Playing career:...

Resigned Jun. 16, 2009   Abel Alvez (interim) Jun. 17, 2009 15th (C)

Torneo Apertura

The Torneo Apertura (Opening Tournament) was played between August 6 to December 14, 2008. The champion earned a spot in the 2009 Copa Libertadores.

Standings

Results


















































































































































































































































































































































































































Championship playoff

Since San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....

, Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...

 and Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

 ended the tournament with the same number of points, a three-way playoff was played to determine the champion.

----

----

Top-ten goalscorers

Pos Player Team Goals
1   José Sand
José Sand
José Gustavo Sand , commonly known as José Sand and nicknamed Pepe, is an Argentine footballer Striker who currently plays for Club Tijuana in the Primera División Mexicana.-Early career:...

Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a sports club from Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Founded on 3 January 1915, the club's main sports are football and basketball. In both sports, Lanús plays in Argentina's top divisions: Primera División and Liga Nacional de Básquet...

15
2   Martín Morel
Martín Morel
Martín Gerardo Morel is an Argentine football midfielder currently playing for Universitario de Deportes.- Career :Morel was a late developer, not playing professionally until the age of 25...

Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...

13
3   Esteban Fuertes
Esteban Fuertes
Oscar Esteban "Bichi" Fuertes is an Argentine football striker who currently plays for Colón de Santa Fe- Club :...

Colón
Colón de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Colón, commonly referred to as Colón de Santa Fe, is a football team from Santa Fe, Argentina. As of Primera División Argentina 1946 the football squad plays in the highest division of Argentine football, and has done so continuously since 1995-96...

11
4   Alejandro Gómez Arsenal
Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....

8
  Mauro Boselli
Mauro Boselli
Mauro Boselli is an Argentine football forward who currently plays for Estudiantes on loan from Wigan Athletic.-Boca Juniors:...

Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....

6   Rubén Ramírez
Rubén Ramírez
Rubén Ramírez is an Argentine football striker who plays for Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba.-Career:...

Colón
Colón de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Colón, commonly referred to as Colón de Santa Fe, is a football team from Santa Fe, Argentina. As of Primera División Argentina 1946 the football squad plays in the highest division of Argentine football, and has done so continuously since 1995-96...

7
  Lucas Viatri
Lucas Viatri
Lucas Ezequiel Viatri is an Argentine football striker currently playing for Boca Juniors.-Career:Viatri started his playing career with loan spells with Emelec of Ecuador and Unión Atlético Maracaibo of Venezuela. He returned to Boca Juniors in 2008.On May 17, 2008 Viatri made his debut with Boca...

Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

  Pablo Barrientos
Pablo Barrientos
Pablo Cesar Barrientos is an Argentine footballer. He currently plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A.-San Lorenzo:...

San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....

  Leonel Núñez
Leonel Núñez
Leonel Núñez is an Argentine football striker who plays for Independiente.-Argentinos Juniors:From 2004 to 2007 Núñez played for Argentinos Juniors in the Argentine Primera División. He finished the 2006 Apertura tournament with 8 goals, and was in the top ten goalscorers...

Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....

  Carlos Luna
Carlos Luna
Carlos Ariel Luna is an Argentine footballer who plays for Club Atlético Tigre.-Career:Luna started his career in 2000 in the 3rd tier of Argentine football with Deportivo Español...

Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre
Club Atlético Tigre is a football club from Victoria, San Fernando Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the end of the 2006-2007 season the club was promoted to the Primera Division Argentina...


Updated as of games played on December 14, 2008.
Source: Scorer Stats

Torneo Clausura

The Torneo Clausura (Closing Tournament) began on February 6, 2009 and ended on July 5, 2009. The champion earned a spot in the 2010 Copa Libertadores
2010 Copa Libertadores
The 2010 Copa Libertadores de América was the 51st edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's premier international club tournament. The tournament began on January 26 and ended on August 18...

.

Standings

Results


















































































































































































































































































































































































































Top-ten goalscorers

Pos Player Team Goals
1   José Sand
José Sand
José Gustavo Sand , commonly known as José Sand and nicknamed Pepe, is an Argentine footballer Striker who currently plays for Club Tijuana in the Primera División Mexicana.-Early career:...

13
2   Daniel Montenegro
Daniel Montenegro
Daniel Gastón Montenegro is an Argentine footballer who mainly plays as an attacking midfielder. He currently plays for Club América, in the Mexican first division....

12
  Esteban Fuertes
Esteban Fuertes
Oscar Esteban "Bichi" Fuertes is an Argentine football striker who currently plays for Colón de Santa Fe- Club :...

4   Hernán López
Hernán Rodrigo López
Hernán Rodrigo López Mora is an Uruguayan football player who plays as a forward for Club Atlético Banfield of the Primera División Argentina.-Club:...

11
  Carlos Luna
Carlos Luna
Carlos Ariel Luna is an Argentine footballer who plays for Club Atlético Tigre.-Career:Luna started his career in 2000 in the 3rd tier of Argentine football with Deportivo Español...

6   Santiago Silva
Santiago Silva
Santiago Martín Silva Olivera is a Uruguayan football forward currently playing for Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A.-Career:...

9
7   Leandro Caruso
Leandro Caruso
Leandro Rubén Caruso is an Argentine football striker who plays for Godoy Cruz on loan from Udinese Calcio in the Italian Serie A.- Career :...

8
  Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao García Zárate , commonly known simply as Falcao, is a Colombian football striker who currently plays for Atlético Madrid....

  Gonzalo Bergessio
Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio
Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio is an Argentine footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in Serie A, as a striker.-Early career:Bergessio started his career in the lower leagues with Club Atlético Platense...

10   Javier Pastore
Javier Pastore
Javier Matías Pastore is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national football team as an attacking midfielder....

7
  Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo is a retired Argentine footballer who formerly played for Boca Juniors of Argentina, and the Argentina national team...


Updated as of games played on July 5, 2009.
Source: AFA

Relegation

Relegation from the Primera Division is determined on the basis of performance over the last three seasons. Every club has its points earned divided by the number of matches played and an average is determined. The clubs who finish in 17th and 18th play a relegation play-off against the 3rd and 4th placed clubs in Primera B Nacional. The clubs who finish in 19th and 20th are directly relegated to Primera B Nacional.

Team
Relegation
1 83 70 61 214 114 1.877
2 81 69 57 207 114 1.815
3 73 64 63 200 114 1.754
4 59 56 73 190 114 1.666
5 56 59 66 181 114 1.587
6 71 66 41 178 114 1.561
7 0 56 62 118 76 1.552
8 0 52 58 110 76 1.447
9 62 51 46 159 114 1.394
10 57 59 39 155 114 1.359
11 46 45 57 148 114 1.298
12 0 0 49 49 38 1.289
13 46 61 38 145 114 1.271
14 35 56 52 143 114 1.254
15 49 40 52 141 114 1.236
16 39 54 46 139 114 1.219
17 52 41 40 133 114 1.166 Relegation Playoff Matches
18 40 36 55 131 114 1.149
19 0 0 40 40 38 1.052 Relegated to the Primera B Nacional
20 43 35 38 116 114 1.017

Updated as of July 5, 2009; Source:AFA

Relegation/promotion playoffs

|-
!colspan="5"|Relegation/promotion playoff 1

|-
!colspan="5"|Relegation/promotion playoff 2

|}

Gimnasia (La Plata) remains in the Argentine First Division after a 3 - 3 aggregate tie by virtue of a "sports advantage". In case of a tie in goals, the team from the First Division gets to stay in it.
Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....

 wins 2-1 and stays in the Argentine First Division, while Belgrano does not get promoted and remains in Argentine Nacional B.

International qualification

Copa Libertadores

The Apertura champion qualifies to the 2009 Copa Libertadores and the Clausura champion qualifies to the 2010 Copa Libertadores
2010 Copa Libertadores
The 2010 Copa Libertadores de América was the 51st edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's premier international club tournament. The tournament began on January 26 and ended on August 18...

. The last two Argentina spots for the 2009 Copa Libertadores were determined by the sum of all points obtained in the past three tournaments.

|}

1. Boca Juniors qualified as the 2008 Apertura champion.
2. Lanus qualified as the 2007 Apertura champion.
3. River Plate qualified as the 2008 Clausura champion.

Copa Sudamericana

Qualification for the 2009 Copa Sudamericana
2009 Copa Sudamericana
The 2009 Copa Sudamericana de Clubes is the 8th edition of the CONMEBOL's secondary international club tournament. Internacional were the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season...

 is determined from an aggregate table of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. The top four teams in the aggregate table qualify; Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....

 and River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....

were invited every year till this season, regardless of their standings in the season.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK