Torneos de Verano (Argentina)

Torneos de Verano
Organising body Liga Marplatense
Torneos
Founded 1968
Region Argentina
Most successful club(s) Boca Juniors (48)
Television broadcasters

Torneos de Verano (Spanish for "Summer Tournaments") are a series of short friendly football pre-season tournaments held during the southern summer in Argentina every year, usually in January and February. They serve as preparation for the teams for the season coming; however, as the years went by the competitiveness in the tournaments increased, and they are now considered as important competitions. This is clearly reflected in the high crowd attendance for the games.

Since the first edition in 1968, the Torneos de Verano have been uninterruptedly played, then being expanded to other cities of Argentina such as Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario and Tandil among others.

History

Alberto J. Armando, president of Boca Juniors, was the main promoter of the creation of a summer tournament in Mar del Plata

The first competition was established by then Boca Juniors president Alberto Armando, who had showed his interest in moving the main Primera División teams to the city of Mar del Plata, the biggest seaside beach resort in Argentina. As a result, two competitions were held in the city in 1968, with the games played at General San Martín Stadium, the main venue of the city by then. The first of them, "Copa Libertad" was held in January 1968, with San Lorenzo as winner of a tournament also contested by Boca Juniors, Rosario Central and Uruguayan side Peñarol.

Another competition, "Copa Ciudad de Mar del Plata", was held in February. The Hungarian team Vasas – which the de facto government led by Juan Carlos Onganía did not want to allow to enter the country due to Hungary being under communist rule – was the winner after beating favorites Racing Club de Avellaneda (current Intercontinental champion) and River Plate (3–0 in the final).

Hungarian team Vasas SC, the first non-Argentine team to win a summer competition in 1968

In 1969 the "Copa de Oro" had its inaugural season as a friendly tournament between Argentine and foreign clubs. In its first edition, Brazilian Palmeiras, Austrian SK Rapid Wien, Hungarian MTK Budapest and Czechoslovakian Slovan Bratislava participated of the tournament, together with Boca Juniors, Estudiantes L.P., and the Mar del Plata XI team. Later editions only had Brazilian, Uruguayan or Paraguayan teams, with occasional European clubs or national teams, mainly Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Since the 1980s it has only 3 to 5 Argentine teams, which varied from year to year, but included the Big Five (Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing, River Plate and San Lorenzo) and sometimes Estudiantes and Vélez Sársfield. Even though they coexisted for several years, the "Copa Ciudad de Mar del Plata" eventually replaced the Copa de Oro as the most important summer tournament. The "Torneo Pentagonal de Verano" (previously "Copa de Verano"), in which the Big Five participate, was the most important tournament and usually took place in Mar del Plata until 2009. Copa de Oro is the longest competition, with 40 editions held between 1969 and 2017.

When Estadio José María Minella was built for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, summer competitions moved to that venue since 1979, leaving General San Martín Stadium for regional competitions only, until it was demolished in 1996.

In January 1995, Maradona made his debut as manager of Racing in a Torneo de Verano match v arch-rival Independiente. Maradona was still banned by FIFA and he had arrived in Racing Club to coach the team until the term of the ban expired so he could resume his career as player in the club. Nevertheless, the tenure of Maradona on Racing did not last so long (only 11 matches) before leaving the club.

The "Copa Desafío" and Copa Revancha" are currently one-match cups disputed only between Boca Juniors and River Plate. Other cups are organized by cities or sponsors, but their continuity is more irregular. Some are organized without any of the Big Five. For instance, the "Ciudad de Córdoba" includes clubs from the Córdoba Province, and occasionally some from Santa Fe Province; and the "Copa Ciudad de Tandil" or "Copa del Sur" includes teams from the southern area of the Gran Buenos Aires: Arsenal, Quilmes, Lanús, Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP), and occasionally a guest like Rosario Central.

After several years of being host in San Juan, in 2022 the seat of summer tournaments moved to La Plata, with only one competition held, being named simply "Torneo de Verano". It was contested by six teams, four from Argentina and two from Chile.

Famous matches

Enzo Francescoli makes a bicycle kick to score the winning goal v Poland, February 1986

The summer tournaments in Argentina have had some memorable matches during their more than 50 years of existence. The Hungarian team Vasas – which the de facto government led by Juan Carlos Onganía did not want to allow to enter the country due to Hungary being under communist rule – was the winner after beating favorites Racing Club de Avellaneda (current Intercontinental champion) and River Plate (3–0 in the final).

In 1979, River Plate beat Czechoslovakia national team (then European champions and touring on Argentina) 4–1. Two years later, Talleres de Córdoba defeated Hungary national team 3–0 in Mar del Plata. In 1986, River Plate beat Poland national team 4–2, scoring two goals in the last three minutes of the match. Enzo Francescoli scored three goals, the last of them with a bicycle kick.

The summer of 1999 saw how Boca Juniors easily beat River Plate 3–0 in the Copa Revancha match at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, with three goals scored by Martín Palermo. In 2000, Boca beat River 2–1, with a starting lineup that included ten players from the youth academy. That defeat caused manager Ramón Díaz resigned after that match.

In Copa Luis Nofal, held on January 31, 2015, in Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Boca Juniors thrashed River Plate 5–0, achieving the largest win in a friendly Superclàsico.

Non-Argentine teams

Fltr: Ramón Ponce, Norberto Madurga, and Nicolás Novello. Brazilian club Palmeiras visited Argentina in 1972 to play the "Copa del Atlántico" v Boca Juniors

Since the inception of Copa Libertad, the first summer tournament held in Mar del Plata, many South American and European (club and national teams) have participated in Torneos de Verano. 1968 Copa Libertad was contested by Uruguayan side Peñarol. For the 1969 Copa de Oro, Austrian Rapid Wien, Hungarians Slovan Bratislava and MTK Budapest and Brazilian Palmeiras arrived in Mar del Plata to compete.

European teams contesting the other tournament organised in 1968, "Copa Ciudad de Mar del Plata", were Hungarian club Vasas (which would be the winner) and the Czechoslovakia national team. A Mexican team, Necaxa, was invited for the 1970 "Copa de Oro", remaining as the only team from that country to have participated in Argentine summer competitions. The following editions would be contested only by Argentine clubs until 1975, when Paraguayan Olimpia took part.

Czechoslovakia returned to Argentina for the 1979 edition of Copa de Oro. The Czech combined, that had won the European Nations Cup in 1975, finished 2nd. to River Plate. Brazilian club Internacional was the other non-Argentine team that took part of the friendly competition. One year later, the Hungary B national team was invited to participate. The side finished 2nd. to Indpendiente.

Diego Maradona of Argentinos Juniors (in white kit) in the match v Hungary national team, 1981

Hungary also took part of the 1981 edition, playing with its main team, but the squad made a poor performance, with three loses and a draw, finishing last. Following the practise initiated, another East Europe side invited to summer tournaments was Poland in 1986. German side Köln participated in 1988, being the last participation of a European team to date.

Since 2009, South American teams have been often guests to summer tournaments. In 2009, Club Libertad (Paraguay), San Martín de Porres (Peru) and Defensor Sporting (Uruguay) took part of Copa Santa Fe, a regional competition in Santa Fe Province. In the inaugural season of Copa Ciudad de Rosario in 2011, Alianza Lima (Peru) and Universidad Católica (Chile) were the guest teams. The next edition, FBC Melgar from Peru was the only guest team.

It was not until 2020 when a non-Argentine team took part of summer tournaments again. In that year, several South American sides contested several friendly matches or competitions. Uruguayan club Nacional made its debut in Torneos de Verano winning the Copa Desafío, while Peruvian club Universitario and Club Athletico Paranaense (Brazil) participated in Copa San Juan (in the homonymous city). On the other side, Liverpool (Uruguay) took part of "Copa Wanora Romero" in Córdoba.

After a hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina in 2021, the summer tournaments came back in 2022 with a unique competition held in Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi of Estudiantes de La Plata. Chilean sides Universidad de Chile and Colo-Colo took part of the tournament along with local clubs Boca Juniors, Independiente, and San Lorenzo.

List of champions

As of January 2023

Year Tournament Champion Cities
1968 Copa Libertad San Lorenzo (1) Mar del Plata
1968 Ciudad de Mar del Plata Vasas SC (1) Mar del Plata
1969 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (1) Mar del Plata
1970 Copa de Oro Racing (1) Mar del Plata
1971 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (2) Mar del Plata
1972 Copa del Atlántico Palmeiras (1) Mar del Plata
1973 Copa de Oro San Lorenzo (2) Mar del Plata
1974 Copa de Oro (Abandoned) Mar del Plata
1975 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (3) Mar del Plata
1977 Copa de Oro Argentina national team (1) Mar del Plata
1978 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (4) Mar del Plata
1979 Torneo Mar del Plata River Plate (1) Mar del Plata
1980 Copa de Oro Independiente (1) Mar del Plata
1981 Copa de Oro Independiente (2) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro Talleres (C) (1) Córdoba
1982 Copa de Oro River Plate (2) Mar del Plata
1983 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (5) Mar del Plata
1984 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (6) Mar del Plata
1985 Copa de Oro Independiente (3) Mar del Plata
1986 Copa de Oro River Plate (3) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro II River Plate (4)
1987 Ciudad de Mar del Plata Boca Juniors (7) Mar del Plata
Munic. Gral. Pueyrredón River Plate (5)
Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (8)
1988 Ciudad Mar del Plata River Plate (6) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (9) Mar del Plata
1989 70º Aniv. El Gráfico Nacional (1) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro River Plate (7)
1990 Ciudad de Mar del Plata River Plate (8) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (10)
1991 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (11) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Boca Juniors (12) Mar del Plata
Racimo de Oro Newell's Old Boys (1) Mendoza
Ciudad de Córdoba Belgrano (1) Córdoba
Ciudad de Neuquén Lanús (1) Neuquén
1992 Copa de Oro San Lorenzo (2) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Boca Juniors (13)
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (14)
1993 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (15) Mar del Plata
Copa Desafío Boca Juniors (16)
Ciudad de Mar del Plata San Lorenzo (3)
Copa Revancha River Plate (9)
Ciudad de Córdoba Belgrano (2) Córdoba
Copa Desafío (Cba) Belgrano (3)
1994 Copa de Oro San Lorenzo (4) Mendoza
Copa Desafío Boca Juniors (17)
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (18)
Copa 90o. Aniv. Diario La Voz Belgrano (4) Córdoba
1995 Copa de Oro River Plate (10) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata San Lorenzo (5)
Copa Revancha River Plate (11)
Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (19) Mendoza
Copa Desafío River Plate (12)
Provincia de Mendoza Independiente (4)
1996 Copa de Oro Independiente (5) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Vélez Sarsfield
Copa Revancha River Plate (13)
Copa de Oro San Lorenzo (6) Mendoza
Copa Desafío River Plate (14)
Provincia de Mendoza Racing (3)
1997 Copa de Oro Independiente (6) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata San Lorenzo (7)
Copa Revancha River Plate (15)
Copa de Oro River Plate (16) Mendoza
Copa Desafío Boca Juniors (20)
Provincia de Mendoza Racing (4)
1998 Copa de Oro Racing (5) Mar del Plata
Copa Cdad. Mar del Plata San Lorenzo (8) Mar del Plata
Copa Desafio Boca Juniors (21) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro Vélez Sarsfield Mendoza
Copa Pcia. Mendoza Boca Juniors (22) Mendoza
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (23) Mendoza
1999 Copa de Oro San Lorenzo (9) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Racing (6)
Copa Desafío Boca Juniors (24)
Copa de Oro Independiente (7) Mendoza
Provincia de Mendoza San Lorenzo (10)
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (25)
Ciudad de Córdoba Rosario Central (2) Córdoba
Prov. de Buenos Aires Huracán (1) La Plata
2000 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (26) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Boca Juniors (27)
Ciudad de Córdoba River Plate (17) Córdoba
2001 Copa Personal Boca Juniors (28) Mar del Plata
Boca Juniors (29) Mendoza
Ciudad de Córdoba Talleres (C) Córdoba
2002 Ciudad de Mar del Plata Racing (7) Mar del Plata
Copa Desafío River Plate (18) Mendoza
Copa Revancha River Plate (19) Mendoza
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (30) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Córdoba Belgrano (5) Córdoba
Torneo Neuquén/Salta Independiente (8) Neuquén, Salta
2003 Copa Desafío Boca Juniors (31) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano Boca Juniors (32) Salta
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (33) Mendoza
2004 Pentagonal de Verano San Lorenzo (11) Mar del Plata, Salta, Mendoza
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Independiente (9) Mar del Plata
Copa Revancha River Plate (20) Mendoza
2005 Pentagonal de Verano San Lorenzo (12) Mar del Plata, Salta, Mendoza
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (34) Mendoza
Ciudad de Salta Independiente (10) Salta
Ciudad de Tandil Arsenal Tandil
2006 Pentagonal de Verano Boca Juniors (35) Mar del Plata, Salta
Copa Desafío River Plate (21) Salta
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Estudiantes (LP) (1) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Tandil Arsenal Tandil
Copa Centenario Estudiantes (LP) (2) Mar del Plata
2007 Pentagonal de Verano River Plate (22) Mar del Plata, Salta
Copa Desafío River Plate (23) Mar del Plata
Copa Revancha River Plate (24) Mendoza
Ciudad de Tandil Banfield (2) Tandil
Ciudad de Córdoba Vélez Sarsfield Córdoba
2008 Pentagonal de Verano River Plate (25) Mar del Plata, Salta, Mendoza
Copa Revancha River Plate (26) Mendoza
Ciudad de Tandil Olimpo Tandil
Provincia de Salta Independiente (11) Salta
Ciudad de Buenos Aires Lanús (2) Buenos Aires
2009 Pentagonal de Verano Boca Juniors (36) Mar del Plata, Salta, Mendoza
Ciudad de Tandil Godoy Cruz (1) Tandil
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) (1) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Córdoba Lanús (3) Córdoba
Copa Revancha Boca Juniors (37) Mendoza
2010 Triangular de Mar del Plata Estudiantes (LP) (3) Mar del Plata
Triangular de Salta Independiente (12) Salta
Copa Desafío River Plate (27) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Racing (8) Mar del Plata
Copa Revancha River Plate (28) Mendoza
Ciudad de Rosario Newell's Old Boys (2) Rosario
2011 Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (38) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata Estudiantes (LP) (4) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mendoza San Lorenzo (13) Mendoza
Ciudad de Rosario Alianza Lima Rosario
Copa Luis Nofal Boca Juniors (39) Mar del Plata, Mendoza
Ciudad de Quilmes Quilmes Quilmes
2012 Copa de Oro Independiente (13) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mar del Plata River Plate (29) Mar del Plata
Ciudad de Mendoza Godoy Cruz (2) Mendoza
100° Aniversario La Gazeta Atlético Tucumán Tucumán
Ciudad de Rosario Atlético de Rafaela Rosario
Provincia de Buenos Aires Racing (9) Buenos Aires
Copa San Juan Fraterno San Martín (SJ) San Juan
Copa Luis Nofal Boca Juniors (40) Mendoza
Copa Banco Columbia Newell's Old Boys (3) Rosario
2013 Centenario de la Liga Marplatense Racing (10) Mar del Plata
Provincia de Córdoba Belgrano (6) Córdoba
Copa Nuevo Banco de Santa Fe (Not held) Rosario
Copa Luis Nofal Boca Juniors (41) Mendoza
Copa BBVA River Plate (30) Córdoba
2014 Copa de Oro Estudiantes (LP) (5) Mar del Plata
Cdad. Mar del Plata Racing (11) Mar del Plata
Provincia de Córdoba Belgrano (7) Córdoba
Copa BBVA River Plate (31) Mendoza
Copa Luis Nofal River Plate (32) Mendoza
Amistad Cdad. La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) (2) La Plata
2015 Copa de Oro River Plate (33) Mar del Plata
Cdad. Mar del Plata Racing (12) Mar del Plata
Cdad. Avellaneda Racing (13) Mar del Plata
Cdad. La Plata Estudiantes (LP) (6) Mar del Plata
Julio H. Grondona Boca Juniors (42) Mar del Plata
Copa Luis Nofal Boca Juniors (43) Mendoza
2016 Cdad. Buenos Aires Huracán (2) Mar del Plata
Cdad. Mar del Plata Independiente (14) Mar del Plata
Copa de Oro Estudiantes (LP) (7) Mar del Plata
Cdad. Avellaneda Racing (14) Mar del Plata
Copa Luis Nofal River Plate (34) Mar del Plata, Mendoza
Cdad. La Plata Estudiantes (LP) (8) Mar del Plata
Copa Amistad Aldosivi (1) Mar del Plata
2017 Copa Clásico del Sur Banfield (1) Mar del Plata
Copa Desafío Talleres (C) Mar del Plata
Cdad. de Mar del Plata Aldosivi (2) Mar del Plata
Provincia de Salta Racing (15) Salta
Copa de Oro Boca Juniors (44) Mar del Plata
Copa Luis B. Nofal River Plate (35) Mar del Plata
Copa Revancha Racing (16) Mar del Plata
2018 Copa de Verano I San Lorenzo (14) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano II Huracán (3) Mar del Plata
Copa Ciudad de Salta Atlético Tucumán Rosario
Copa Orbis San Lorenzo (15) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano III Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) (3) Mar del Plata
Copa Ciudad de Santa Fe Rosario Central (1) Rosario
Copa Ciudad de Mendoza Godoy Cruz (3) Mendoza
Copa de Verano IV Aldosivi (3) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano V Temperley (1) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano VI Newell's Old Boys (4) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano VII Huracán (4) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano VIII Independiente (15) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano IX San Lorenzo (16) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano X River Plate (36) Mar del Plata
2019 Copa de Verano I Talleres (C) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano II Belgrano (8) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano III Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) (4) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano IV River Plate (37) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano V Unión Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano VI Independiente (16) Mar del Plata
Copa de Verano VII Racing (17) Mar del Plata
Copa Jorge Mignini Boca Juniors (45) Mar del Plata
Copa Ciudad de Cordoba Talleres (C) Córdoba
2020 Copa Desafío Nacional (2) Maldonado
Copa San Juan I Talleres (C) San Juan
Copa San Juan II Universitario (1) San Juan
Copa San Juan III Racing (18) San Juan
Copa San Juan IV Boca Juniors (46) San Juan
Copa Wanora Romero Talleres (C) Córdoba
Copa San Juan V Boca Juniors (47) San Juan
2021
(not held due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 Torneo de Verano Boca Juniors (48) La Plata
Cuadrangular de Salta Central Norte Salta
Copa Córdoba Talleres (C)
Racing (C)
Córdoba
2023 Torneo de Verano Independiente (17) San Juan
Cuadrangular de Salta Salta

Titles by team

Club Titles
Boca Juniors
48
River Plate
37
Racing
18
Independiente
17
San Lorenzo
16
Estudiantes (LP)
8
Talleres (C)
7
Vélez Sarsfield
7
Newell's Old Boys
4
Belgrano (C)
4
Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)
4
Huracán
4
Aldosivi
3
Lanús
3
Godoy Cruz
3
Nacional
2
Rosario Central
2
Vasas SC
1