Verdolaga stands as the largest showcase in Colombia and enjoys international admiration for its storied success.
The King of Cups is a nickname earned by the National Athletics team, a club long accustomed to competing at the highest level and earning fans around the world through its numerous trophies. Across more than seven decades, Verdolaga has accumulated 31 major titles, a testament to its enduring legacy in Colombian football.
COLOMBIAN FIRST DIVISION
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The club has won 17 Colombian league titles, a record equaled by few and unmatched by many. From the league’s inception in 1954, when Fernando Paternoster helped set the path for top-tier competition, Verdolaga established itself as a dominant force. Nacional’s domestic supremacy is showcased by multiple championship years, including memorable triumphs in 1973, 1976, 1981, 1991, 1994, and 1999. With two annual seasons in operation, the club also claimed league openings in years such as 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2022, along with opening or final victories in 2007, 2013, and 2015, reinforcing its status as a perpetual title contender.
COLOMBIAN CUP
The Medellín-based squad has captured 5 Colombian Cup titles, underscoring its consistency in knockout formats. In 2012, Verdolaga edged Deportivo Pasto in a final that finished 0-0 in regulation and 2-0 after extra play. The following year, the club defeated Millonarios (2-2 and 1-0); in 2016, it overcame Junior (2-1 and 1-0); in 2018, it beat Once Caldas (1-1 and 2-1); and in 2021 it faced Deportivo Pereira, sealing the championship with a 5-0 and 0-1 scoreline over two legs. These runs reflect Verdolaga’s aptitude in clutch situations and its ability to rise to the occasion in cup competition.
COLOMBIAN SUPERLEAGUE
The club has two Superleague titles. Its first win came in a format where the champions of the Apertura and Finalización confronted each other, a system introduced in 2012. Verdolaga defeated Junior 3-0 away and 3-1 at home to claim the crown. In 2016, under coach Reinaldo Rueda, the team repeated the feat with a 2-0 away victory and a 3-0 home triumph against Deportivo Cali. In 2023, the club aimed for a third title, continuing its pursuit of supremacy in the modern era of Colombian football.
LIBERTADORES CUP
Verdolaga has won the Copa Libertadores twice. In 1989, the club became the first Colombian team to lift South America’s premier club trophy, guided by Francisco Maturana, with a memorable final against Paraguay’s Olimpia decided by penalties and highlighted by René Higuita’s heroics in goal. In 2016, after a long wait since the club’s first Libertadores triumph, Verdolaga reached the final again under Reinaldo Rueda and defeated Independiente del Valle to reaffirm its continental strength, a victory that followed the program’s brave run against two Argentine giants, Boca Juniors and River Plate, in prior years.
INTER AMERICAN CUP
The club captured the Inter-American Cup twice. In 1990, following its Libertadores success, Nacional played in a competition that pitted the Libertadores champions against the CONCACAF champions. Verdolaga defeated Pumas UNAM of Mexico with a 6-1 aggregate score (2-0 at home and 4-1 away). In 1997, when Brazil’s Grêmio could not participate, Nacional received an invitation as runners-up and defeated Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica 3-2 in a single-match final, cementing its status across the Americas.
MERCONORTE CUP
Verdolaga claimed two Merconorte Cups. In the four editions held between 1998 and 2001, the Medellín club secured the title twice. In 1998, the tournament’s inaugural year, it defeated Deportivo Cali with an aggregate score of 4-1 (3-1 and 1-0). In 2000, Verdolaga triumphed over a fierce rival, Millonarios de Bogotá, finishing 0-0 and 2-1 across the two legs, showcasing its regional dominance during that era.
SOUTH AMERICAN WINNER’S CUP
The club earned one South American Cup. In 2017, as Libertadores champions, Verdolaga faced Chapecoense in a final with heightened emotional resonance following the tragedy in 2016. Chapecoense won the first leg 2-1 at home, and Verdolaga responded with a 4-1 victory at Atanasio Girardot to clinch the title. This triumph added another chapter to the club’s storied continental narrative.
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Verdolaga remains a symbol of Colombian football’s tradition and ambition, a club whose trophies map a journey through decades of rivalries, breakthroughs, and memorable nights on the pitch. Its ability to translate domestic triumphs into historic continental performances underlines why it is considered one of the most celebrated teams in South American football today.