View source for Club Nacional de Football

{{short description|Uruguayan association football club}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Nacional
| image = Club Nacional de Football.png
| image_size = 180px
| fullname = Club Nacional de Football
| nickname = ''Albos''<br /> ''Bolso'' (The Pocket) <br /> ''Bolsilludos'' (The Pockets) <br /> ''Rey de Copas'' (King of Trophies)<br /> ''Tricolor''
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1899|5|14}}
| ground = [[Estadio Gran Parque Central|Gran Parque Central]]
| capacity = 38,000<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Deportes/Clasico-Unos-38-mil-hinchas-tricolores-dijeron-presente-en-el-Gran-Parque-Central-uc870907|title=Clásico: Unos 38 mil hinchas tricolores dijeron presente en el Gran Parque Central (spanish)|date=13 November 2023|publisher=Futbol.uy|access-date=17 November 2023|archive-date=13 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113134137/https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Deportes/Clasico-Unos-38-mil-hinchas-tricolores-dijeron-presente-en-el-Gran-Parque-Central-uc870907|url-status=live}}</ref>
| chairman = Ricardo Vairo
| manager = [[Jadson Viera]]
| league = [[Liga AUF Uruguaya]]
| season = [[2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya|2025]]
| current = 2025 Club Nacional de Football season
| position = Liga AUF Uruguaya, 1st of 16 (champions)
| website = {{URL|https://nacional.uy/}}
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'''Club Nacional de Football''' ({{IPA|es|ˈkluβ nasjoˈnal de ˈfuðβol}}, ''National Football Club'') is a Uruguayan professional [[sports club]] based [[La Blanqueada]], a neighborhood in the capital city of [[Montevideo]]. The club currently competes in the [[Uruguayan Primera División]], the highest tier in [[Football in Uruguay|Uruguayan football.]]

Nacional was established on 14 May 1899 following the merger of [[Uruguay Athletic Club]] and [[:es:Historia_del_Club_Nacional_de_Football|Montevideo Football Club]] at the initiative of young students of the time who aimed to create a football club for Uruguayan-born players in response to the dominance of foreign clubs and players, thus making it one of the first clubs on the American continent founded by locals. Although the club's main focus is primarily on [[association football]], the club hosts many other activities, including [[basketball]], [[futsal]], [[tennis]], [[cycle sport|cycling]], [[volleyball]], and [[chess]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/urufound.html |title=Uruguay&nbsp;– Foundation Dates of Clubs |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927200205/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/urufound.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2013, Nacional reached 60,000 associates.<ref>{{cite web |title=La pasión no para: 4.000 nuevos socios |url=http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/130224/futnac-698059/futbol-nacional/la-pasion-no-para-4000-nuevos-socios |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421232326/http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/130224/futnac-698059/futbol-nacional/la-pasion-no-para-4000-nuevos-socios |archive-date=21 April 2013 |access-date=25 February 2013 |publisher=Ovación}}</ref>

Nacional are associated with the white, blue, and red colors, which are inspired by the [[Artigas flag|flag of José Gervasio Artigas]]. While the club occasionally hosts matches at [[Estadio Centenario]], it plays the majority of its home games at the [[Estadio Gran Parque Central]]; the stadium is one of the three venues selected for the [[1930 FIFA World Cup|inaugural FIFA World Cup]] in 1930. On 13 July 1930, it hosted one of the opening games between [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[United States men's national soccer team|the United States]], and it was also the site where teams like [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] made their World Cup debut.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nacional entró con la bandera de Artigas&nbsp;– Diario EL PAIS&nbsp;– Montevideo&nbsp;– Uruguay |url=http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/111009/futnac-598697/futbol-nacional/nacional-entro-con-la-bandera-de-artigas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913172111/http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/111009/futnac-598697/futbol-nacional/nacional-entro-con-la-bandera-de-artigas |archive-date=13 September 2012 |access-date=31 March 2012 |publisher=Ovaciondigital.com.uy}}</ref> Gran Parque Central was also the only venue in the [[1923 South American Championship|1923]] and [[1924 South American Championship|1924]] editions of the [[Copa América]].<ref>{{cite web |title=000webhost.com&nbsp;– free web hosting provider |url=http://www.parquecentral.com.uy/parquecentral/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619033637/http://www.parquecentral.com.uy/parquecentral/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=27 |archive-date=19 June 2010 |access-date=31 March 2012 |publisher=Parquecentral.com.uy}}</ref>

Nacional is considered one of the [[List of football clubs by competitive honours won|most prestigious football clubs]] in the sport. In domestic tournaments, Nacional has won the [[Uruguayan Primera Division|Primera División]] title 49 times, most recently in the [[2022 Uruguayan Primera División season|2022 season]], and historically the [[Copa de Competencia (Uruguay)|Copa de Competencia]] (8 times) and the [[Copa de Honor (Uruguay)|Copa de Honor]] (7 times), among others. At international level, Nacional has won 9 titles recognized by [[FIFA]] and [[CONMEBOL]],<ref name=":0">[http://conmebol.com/es/19082015-1742/las-competiciones-oficiales-de-la-conmebol Las competiciones oficiales de la CONMEBOL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822193022/http://conmebol.com/es/19082015-1742/las-competiciones-oficiales-de-la-conmebol |date=22 August 2015 }} on Conmebol website, 19 Ago 2015</ref> including three [[Copa Libertadores de América|Copa Libertadores]] ([[1971 Copa Libertadores|1971]], [[1980 Copa Libertadores|1980]], [[1988 Copa Libertadores|1988]]); Nacional is the [[Historical Table of the Copa Libertadores|2nd best all-time performing club]] of the tournament with 618 points.<ref>{{cite web |title= All-time league table |url= http://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_table/copa-libertadores/ |access-date= 24 December 2016 |archive-date= 17 January 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170117020811/http://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_table/copa-libertadores/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Nacional has also won all three [[Copa Intercontinental]] it has competed in ([[1971 Intercontinental Cup|1971]], [[1980 Intercontinental Cup|1980]], [[1988 Intercontinental Cup|1988]]). In addition, Nacional is the only Uruguayan team to have won the [[Copa Interamericana]] (two times)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intam.html |title=Copa Interamericana |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202091334/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intam.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Recopa Sudamericana]], having won the inaugural edition in [[1989 Recopa Sudamericana|1989]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/recopa.html |title=Recopa |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=29 February 2012 |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=7 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407141844/http://www.rsssf.com/sacups/recopa.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Naiconal have also won a record of four [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/arguruhonor.html Honor Cup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017101216/http://www.rsssf.com/sacups/arguruhonor.html |date=17 October 2012 }} on RSSSF</ref> three [[Copa Aldao]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/aldao.html |title=Copa Aldao – Campeonato Rioplatense overview |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=3 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903024805/http://rsssf.com/sacups/aldao.html |url-status=live }}</ref> two [[Tie Cup]]s,<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/argurucuptie.html Cup Tie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017100940/http://www.rsssf.com/sacups/argurucuptie.html |date=17 October 2012 }} on RSSSF</ref> and one [[Copa Escobar-Gerona]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/escobargerona.html Copa de Confraternidad Escobar&nbsp;– Gerona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208172047/http://www.rsssf.com/sacups/escobargerona.html |date=8 February 2011 }} on RSSSF</ref> all of them organized jointly by the [[Argentine Football Association|Argentine]] and [[Uruguayan Football Association|Uruguayan]] Associations. The club has [[List of unrelegated association football clubs|never been relegated]] and has many long-standing rivalries, most notably [[Uruguayan Clásico|''El Clásico Uruguayo'']] with [[Peñarol]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/classicderby/news/newsid=1060659.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528132746/http://es.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/classicderby/news/newsid=1060659.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2009 |title=FIFA.com&nbsp;– Peñarol&nbsp;– Nacional, una rivalidad única |publisher=FIFA |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> According to CONMEBOL, Nacional was the Uruguayan team with the best international performance in the 2007–2012 period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conmebol.com/pages/Ranking.html |title=Conmebol |publisher=Conmebol |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219091512/http://www.conmebol.com/pages/Ranking.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[IFFHS]] named it as the best Uruguayan team of the 2001–2010 period and the seventh best team in South America.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iffhs.de/iffhs-history-south-americas-club-of-the-first-decade-2001-2010/ |title=IFFHS HISTORY : SOUTH AMERICA'S CLUB OF THE FIRST DECADE (2001-2010) |publisher=IFFHS |access-date=4 July 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==History==

===Foundation and first years===
[[File:Club Nacional Football 1905.jpg|thumb|left|Nacional in 1905. That squad won the [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]] defeating legendary Argentine team [[Alumni Athletic Club|Alumni]]]]
Nacional is a result of the fusion between Montevideo Football Club and Uruguay Athletic Club, 14 May 1899. It was decided there that the club's flag should include the three colours (red, blue and white) historically connected to [[José Artigas|José Gervasio Artigas]], Uruguay's national hero. The club's uniform was mostly red and blue. In 1900 Nacional included the Club Defensa and its players, and started playing at the [[Estadio Gran Parque Central]]. That same year four clubs governed by foreigners ([[Albion Football Club|Albion F.C.]], [[CURCC]], [[Uruguay Athletic Club]] and [[Deutscher Fussball Klub|Deutscher F.K.]]) founded the "[[Uruguayan Football Association|Uruguay Association League]]". Nacional's petition to be included was dismissed on the thought that ''criollo'' clubs and their players lacked category. However, the League's clubs had to admit Nacional in 1901, after the club was invited to join the Argentinean League, due to their impressive performances in a number of friendly matches. In [[Primera División Uruguaya 1902|1902]] Nacional won their first [[Uruguayan Primera División]] title. The red jersey was substituted by the white jersey in 1902.

In September 1903 Nacional fully represented the [[Uruguay national football team]] and beat [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] 3–2, winning the first international match ever (between national teams) in the history of [[football in Uruguay|Uruguayan football]] (the first international club match ever, was won by Albion over Argentine team Retiro A.C. 3–1 in 1896 in [[Buenos Aires]]). In 1905 Nacional won its first international title, the [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]].

In a general assembly which took place in 1911, the populist majority led by club president [[José María Delgado]] obtained a victory over the elitist minority which resulted in an institutional transformation: the club opened its doors to players from lower classes, such as [[Abdón Porte]], who would eventually become one of the club's biggest symbols, playing in Nacional until his premature death in 1918.<ref>[https://www.tycsports.com/al-angulo/abdon-porte-emblema-nacional-suicidio-campo-gran-parque-central-id308338.html Abdón Porte, el emblema de Nacional que no soportó ser suplente y se suicidó en la cancha] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321091605/https://www.tycsports.com/al-angulo/abdon-porte-emblema-nacional-suicidio-campo-gran-parque-central-id308338.html |date=21 March 2022 }} by Joaquín Grasso on TyC Sports, 10 Dec 2020</ref>

[[File:Nacional urug 1915.jpg|thumb|Nacional in 1915, posing with the three trophies won that year: [[Tie Cup]], [[Uruguayan Primera División|Primera División]] and [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]]]]
Nacional's players started developing already around 1900 a new playing style that introduced a less physical and more imaginative game, made out of fast combinations and frequent dribbles. Magariños says: "The action of these teams [the British-Uruguayan teams, that is] was conducted according to the purest and standardized virtues of British sport: positional play, long passes, furious shots, and strong physical play. The body was used as a weapon, both offensively and defensively. (...) Nacional, formed mainly by smaller and faster players (...) abandoned the physical confrontation that was allowed back then, and chose to play according to their own possibilities. They chose to perform dribbling's, fast and short passing, very fast sprints, and a hectic activity in the pitch."[<ref>3 Magariños Pittaluga, "Del fútbol heroico", Montevideo, 1943, p. 74 ss.</ref>]

After winning the [[1912 Uruguayan Primera División|1912 championship]], they won the 1915 ''Triple Crown'' (tri-championship), which included the three major domestic and international tournaments of that time: [[Uruguayan Primera División|Primera División]], [[Tie Cup]], and [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]]. Nacional would go on to win the first ''Copa Uruguaya en propiedad'' (meaning they were the first club to win three championships in a row), by winning both the [[1916 Uruguayan Primera División|1916]] and [[1917 Uruguayan Primera División|1917]] league championships, also winning the [[1919 Uruguayan Primera División|1919]], [[1920 Uruguayan Primera División|1920]], [[1922 Uruguayan Primera División|1922]], [[1923 Uruguayan Primera División of AUF|1923]] and [[1924 Uruguayan Primera División of AUF|1924]] league titles.

At international level, Nacional won three [[Copa Aldao]] ([[1916 Copa Aldao|1916]], [[1919 Copa Aldao|1919]], [[1920 Copa Aldao|1920]]), three consecutive [[Copa de Honor Cousenier]] ([[1915 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1915]], [[1916 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1916]], [[1917 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1917]]), and two [[Tie Cup]] ([[1913 Tie Cup Final|1913]], [[1915 Tie Cup Final|1915]]).

===International tours and success===
[[File:GiraBolso1925-Paris.JPG|thumb|Nacional saluting the crowd in Paris, during their 1925 European tour]]

After two very successful initial decades in the national league of Uruguay and at the regional level, Nacional became the foundation of Uruguay's first international success at the world level. In 1924, Nacional contributed players ([[Andres Mazali|Mazzali]], [[Santos Urdinarán|Urdinarán]], [[Hector Scarone|Scarone]], [[Angel Romano|Romano]], [[Alfredo Zibechi|Zibechi]] and Pascual Somma) for Uruguayan national representative that won the Summer Olympics in Paris. Nacional made also a substantial contribution to the Uruguayan teams of 1928 and 1930, Olympic and World champions respectively. Nacional is the only Uruguayan club that contributed players to every Uruguay national team that has won international tournaments.

In 1925, due to the success of [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and players from Nacional in the [[football at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Summer Olympics]], Nacional was invited to make an extensive European tour, playing 38 matches over six months. During that tour, Nacional played against both national squads and professional club teams from 9 European countries. Nacional won 26 matches, tied 7, and lost 5, scoring 130 goals and allowing 30.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nacional-trip25.html European trip of Club Nacional de Football 1925] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404055609/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nacional-trip25.html |date=4 April 2023 }} by Juan Da Silva on the RSSSF</ref> An estimate of 800,000 tickets were sold during that tour, where Nacional played friendlies in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Giovannini|first=Eduardo|title=''La Gira de Nacional por Europa en 1925''|year=2003|publisher=Nacional Digital|location=Montevideo|isbn=9974-39-500-3}}</ref> which is considered the largest tour in the history of world football.<ref>[https://www.elpais.com.uy/ovacion/futbol/anos-nacional-iniciaba-gira-increible-europa.html Hace 95 años Nacional iniciaba una gira increíble por Europa] by Luis Prats on ''El País'', 8 March 2020</ref>

In 1927, Nacional made a [[Club Nacional de Football 1927 tour of North America|North America tour]], with similar results to the ones obtained in the European adventure made two years before, with 16 wins, 2 ties and 1 loss.

===The show team: 1932–43===
[[File:1934-nacional.jpg|thumb|left|Nacional in 1934, when winning the Torneo Competencia]]
In 1932, football became professional in Uruguay and Nacional formed a team that would be nicknamed ''La Máquina Blanca'' (The White Machine). The team scored 28 goals in the first four games of the 1932 season. In [[1933 Uruguayan Primera División|1933]] Nacional won its 12th. first division title, repeating the [[1934 Uruguayan Primera División|next year]]. The 1933 championship is remembered as the longest ever, since it ended in November 1934, after a series of final games against Peñarol, the last won by Nacional by 3–1 with 3 goals by [[Héctor Castro]].

In 1938, Argentine footballer [[Atilio García]] came to the club. That same year Nacional won the [[Torneo Internacional Nocturno Rioplatense]], an international friendly championship. Between 1939 and 1943, coached by former player [[Héctor Castro]], Nacional won the ''Quinquenio de Oro'' (five consecutive championships from [[1939 Uruguayan Primera División|1939]] to [[1943 Uruguayan Primera División|1943]]). Some highlights of those times was the 5–1 victory over Peñarol, with 4 goals by Atilio García. Nacional also made an outstanding campaign in the [[1941 Uruguayan Primera División|1941 season]], winning all the games disputed (20/20). In those five years the team played 96 ''Copa Uruguaya'' games, won 77, tied 9 and only lost 10, made 318 goals and allowed 108.<ref name=obse>[https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/una-epoca-que-emociona-a-nacional-el-quinquenio-y-la-maxima-goleada-clasica-2020429124648 Este artículo lo puede ver en este link: https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/una-epoca-que-emociona-a-nacional-el-quinquenio-y-la-maxima-goleada-clasica-2020429124648] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321090315/https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/una-epoca-que-emociona-a-nacional-el-quinquenio-y-la-maxima-goleada-clasica-2020429124648 |date=21 March 2022 }} on ''El Observador'', 29 Apr 2020</ref>

[[File:DelanteraQuinquenioNacional.JPG|thumb|One forward line of the ''Quinquenio'' (1939–43)]]
Nacional's superiority over Peñarol during this era is best exemplified by some particular feats:
* Between 1938 and 1943 there were 23 ''[[Uruguayan Clásico|clásicos]]'', with 18 victories for Nacional and only 4 for their rivals.
* On 14 December 1941 Nacional obtained the largest win in the history of [[Uruguayan Clásico]], defeating Peñarol 6&nbsp;– 0. (That year, Nacional won all 20 games of the championship.)
* On 23 November 1943 Nacional won their tenth [[Uruguayan Primera División|Campeonato uruguayo]] ''clásico'' in a row.<ref name=obse/>

Notable players of that period include [[Atilio García]] (all-time Nacional's top scorer, also [[Uruguayan Clásico]] all-time top scorer with 34 goals, eight times Uruguayan Champion, eight times league's highest scorer); [[Aníbal Paz]] (nine times Uruguayan champion and World Champion defending Uruguay in 1950); [[Schubert Gambetta]] (nine times Uruguayan Champion and World Champion in 1950); [[Luis Ernesto Castro]] (seven times Uruguayan Champion); [[Aníbal Ciocca]] (eight times Uruguayan Champion), Eugenio ''Pato'' Galvalisi (seven times Uruguayan Champion), [[Roberto Porta]] (six times Uruguayan Champion), [[Bibiano Zapirain]] (six times Uruguayan Champion).<ref name=obse/>

===International achievements===
Nacional's international reputation relied on the tournaments played during the first half of the 20th century in the [[Río de la Plata]] region, where the most important international tournaments in America were played before the [[Copa Libertadores]] was created. Historical rivalries with longtime enemy [[C.A. Peñarol|Peñarol]] and famous Argentinian teams like [[Boca Juniors|Boca]], [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]], [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing]], [[Club Atlético Independiente|Independiente]], [[Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro|San Lorenzo]], [[Rosario Central]] and [[Newell's Old Boys]], among others, were established in those championships.

Nacional participated in the Libertadores for the first time in [[1962 Copa Libertadores|1962]], when they were defeated in the semi-finals by Peñarol. They got to the Finals in [[1964 Copa Libertadores|1964]], but lost to Independiente, and in [[1967 Copa Libertadores|1967]] to Racing.

With President Miguel Restuccia, Nacional formed the basis of a team that would eventually achieve its goal, with players such as [[Luis Ubiña|Ubiña]], [[Juan Martín Mujica|Mujica]], [[Julio Montero Castillo|Montero Castillo]], [[Víctor Espárrago|Espárrago]], [[Julio Morales (Uruguayan footballer)|''Cascarilla'' Morales]], Brazilian goalkeeper [[Manga (footballer, born 1937)|Manga]], [[Luis Cubilla|Cubilla]] and the great Argentinean striker [[Luis Artime|Artime]]. In the [[1969 Copa Libertadores|1969 Libertadores]], after defeating Peñarol in semi-finals, Nacional lost its third Finals, this time against Estudiantes de La Plata.

In [[1971 Copa Libertadores|1971]], coached by [[Washington Etchamendi]], Nacional finally won its first Copa Libertadores, beating [[Estudiantes de La Plata]] in [[Lima]], [[Peru]]. That year, Nacional won its first World Club title, the [[1971 Intercontinental Cup]], in memorable matches against [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] from Greece, with goals from striker [[Luis Artime]]. [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] played because the reigning European champion, [[AFC Ajax]], refused to play due to the violent conduct common among top South American teams during this period. The following year, Nacional won its first [[1972 Copa Interamericana|Copa Interamericana]], defeating [[Cruz Azul]] from [[Mexico]].

During this period, Nacional also regained supremacy in the domestic field, obtaining four Uruguayan Championships in a row ([[1969 Uruguayan Primera División|1969]], [[1970 Uruguayan Primera División|70]], [[1971 Uruguayan Primera División|71]] and [[1972 Uruguayan Primera División|72]]), keeping an unbeaten match record against classic rivals Peñarol: between 2 March 1971 and 31 January 1974, Nacional remained undefeated in 16 games.

[[File:Club Nacional de Football del año 1981.jpg|thumb|The 1980 team that repeated the achievement winning [[1980 Copa Libertadores|Copa Libertadores]] and the first [[1980 Intercontinental Cup|Copa Intercontinental]] held in Tokyo]]

Nacional repeated its achievement in the [[1980 Copa Libertadores]], beating [[Sport Club Internacional|Internacional]] from Brazil in the finals. After becoming South American champions, Nacional won the [[1980 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]] for the second time, defeating European champions [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] from England 1–0, with goal by forward [[Waldemar Victorino]]. That year Nacional also won the [[1980 Uruguayan Primera División|Uruguayan championship]].

Nacional won its third copa Libertadores in [[1988 Copa Libertadores|1988]], beating Argentine side [[Newell's Old Boys]] 3–0 in the Estadio Centenario, with goals from [[Ernesto Vargas]], [[Santiago Ostolaza]] and [[Hugo De León]]. That same year, Nacional would contest its third [[1988 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]]. In a breath-taking final against Dutch side [[PSV Eindhoven]] coached by [[Guus Hiddink]], Nacional would win in the penalty shootout after the game ended 2–2 with two goals by Ostolaza (the second one scored at the last minute of overtime). The next year, Nacional won its second [[1989 Copa Interamericana|Copa Interamericana]], this time beating [[C.D. Olimpia]] from [[Honduras]], and the [[1989 Recopa Sudamericana|Recopa Sudamericana]], defeating [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing]] from Argentina.

===Recent history===
[[File:Copa EuroAmericana - Nacional vs. Atlético Madrid 004.png|thumb|Nacional supporters at Nacional v [[Club Atlético de Madrid|Atlético de Madrid]] match, [[2013 Copa EuroAmericana]]]]
In most of the 90s the club suffered a financial crisis and obtained few sportive results. It won the [[1992 Uruguayan Primera División|1992 Championship]] with great performances by [[Julio Dely Valdés|Julio César Dely Valdés]] and Antonio Vidal González. After Peñarol's second Quinquenio (1993–97) Nacional's Directive board changed: returning President Dante Iocco brought back club's idol [[Hugo de León]] as coach to prevent Peñarol from obtaining the hypothetical ''Sexenio''. That year Nacional won the [[1998 Uruguayan Primera División|1998 Campeonato Uruguayo]] by winning both short tournaments ''Apertura'' and ''Clausura''. This was the first time any club achieved this feat since that system was implemented in 1994, having been repeated only by [[Danubio F.C.|Danubio]] in 2006–07 season.

Maintaining the basis of its squad, Nacional dominated the national ambitus for three consecutive years ([[2000 Uruguayan Primera División|2000]], [[2001 Uruguayan Primera División|2001]] and [[2002 Uruguayan Primera División|2002]].)

In 2005 Nacional decided to restore its stadium, the [[Estadio Gran Parque Central]], where the team has returned to host most of their games instead of state-owned [[Estadio Centenario]].

Nacional is the most successful team since the beginning of the century, having won also the [[2005 Uruguayan Primera División|2005]], [[2005–06 Uruguayan Primera División|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Uruguayan Primera División season|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Uruguayan Primera División season|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Uruguayan Primera División season|2011–12]], [[2014–15 Uruguayan Primera División season|2014–15]] and [[2016 Uruguayan Primera División|2016]] championships.

2016 was the 46th Uruguayan Championship won by Nacional. It was a one-round tournament, which marked the return of the domestic calendar to fit the [[calendar year]] instead of the European calendar.

Nacional qualified for the [[2018 Copa Libertadores]]. It was the club's 45th appearance in the tournament, and the twenty second consecutive (a new record in the cup's history).

After [[Martín Lasarte]]'s resignation, the club's board appointed former star and reserve team coach [[Alexander Medina]] as the principal team's new coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/futbol/apenas-resta-paso.html |title=Apenas resta un paso |date=8 December 2017 |publisher=Ovación |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171728/http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/futbol/apenas-resta-paso.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Team image==

=== Kits and crest ===
{{Commons|Nacional Kits and Crests}}
Nacional's crest features a shield with a white slash with the following "C.N de F." written on it. The crest was inspired by the [[Artigas flag]].<ref>[https://www.conmebol.com/banners/nacional-de-montevideo-tiene-una-historia-inmensa-y-muchas-hazanas/ Nacional de Montevideo: tiene una historia inmensa y muchas hazañas] on Conmebol.com, 13 May 2013</ref><ref>[https://museodefutbol.com/porque-el-club-nacional-lleva-esos-colores/ Porqué el Club Nacional lleva esos Colores] on ''Museo del Fútbol''</ref>

The first home kit, used from the founding of the club in 1899 until 1902, utilized a red shirt, with blue sleeves and a blue collar.<ref name=cami/> In March 1902, the team changed its jersey at the request of the AUF, avoiding the similarity of colours with the [[Albion F.C.|Albion]] club and also because the red shirt faded and another of better quality could not be obtained.<ref>[https://www.20minutos.es/deportes/blogs/quefuede/camisetas-para-historia-nacional-montevideo-5597630/ Camisetas para la historia. Nacional de Montevideo] by Edu Casado on 20minutos.es, 9 Apr 2022</ref> The new uniform would be a white shirt with a front pocket (which coined the nickname "Los Bolsos" which translates to pocket in Spanish), blue pants and a red sash. In addition, the crest with the initials 'C. N de F.' was added above the shirt pocket.<ref name=cami>[https://nacional.uy/es/club/historia/camiseta/ Historia de la camiseta] on CNdeF</ref>

In 1995, when [[Umbro]] was the kit supplier, three different uniforms were implemented, the red shirt becoming the third kit, with the official away being a new blue shirt with an almost vertical red stripe. The blue tone will last a few more years, and in 2000 a new kit was presented with light blue and dark blue tones, which imitated the format of the [[Pepsi]] brand, then the club's main sponsor. In 2002, the red kit was established as the official away kit, and since then, Nacional has two alternatives, the red one being the away, and the blue being the third.

=== Stadium ===
{{Main|Estadio Gran Parque Central}}

Nacional plays most home games at its own stadium, the Montevideo-based 38,000 (and growing) capacity Gran Parque Central (soon to be 40,089), first built in 1900.
It is located in "Quinta de la Paraguaya" a historic place where an Oriental revolutionary leader [[José Gervasio Artigas]] was named "Jefe de los Orientales" in 1811.<ref>{{cite web|title=La quinta de La Paraguaya, cuando Artigas fue nombrado Jefe de los Orientales|date=10 October 2004|url=http://www.larepublica.com.uy/editorial/156453-la-quinta-de-la-paraguaya-cuando-artigas-fue-nombrado-jefe-de-los-orientales|publisher=Diario La Republica|access-date=14 April 2011|archive-date=29 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529065805/http://www.larepublica.com.uy/editorial/156453-la-quinta-de-la-paraguaya-cuando-artigas-fue-nombrado-jefe-de-los-orientales|url-status=live}}</ref>
In recent decades the stadium had not been used very often because Nacional played at the national stadium [[Estadio Centenario]], sharing it with [[Peñarol]], but in 2005 Nacional decided to the return to the Gran Parque Central. Since then, its ongoing renovation has allowed Nacional to play most of its home domestic matches there, as well as many international matches. High-risk matches and derbies are still played at the Centenario.

The four stands of the stadium are named in memory of four symbolic figures:
* the official stand, which includes press and VIP boxes is called [[José María Delgado]], after one of the club's most important Presidents.
* the largest stand, opposed to the Delgado, is the [[Atilio García]], after Nacional's all-time top scorer.
* the [[Abdón Porte]], after one of Nacional's biggest symbols: a player who after being relegated from the team shot himself dead in the center of the field. This is the stand where the organized supporter group attends.
* the [[Héctor Scarone]], after another historical striker, nicknamed ''el Mago'' (the Wizard).

After the completion of the second tire of the Atilio García, Abdón Porte and Héctor Scarone stands, the current work involves the construction of a corner structure joining the Atilio García and Porte stands. Future additions include a third tire on the three aforementioned stands.

{{gallery
|Parque central 1923.jpg|Hosting the 1923 Copa América
|Reconocimiento GPC-1.jpg|A plaque commemorating the 1930 world championship of fútbol
|GPC por dentro 2021.jpg|In 2022
|Estadio Gran Parque Central - clima de copa.jpg|In 2023
|}}

==Supporters==

===The First "Hincha"===
{| style="float:center; background:transparent; padding:10px; margin:20px;"
| [[File:Nacional 2-0 Fluminense.jpg|197px]]
| [[File:Nacional 1 Peñarol 0 - 007.jpg|263px]]
| [[File:Infierno tricolor.jpg|215px]]
| [[File:LBDP despedida Luis Suárez.png|227px]]
|}

The Spanish word to describe football fans is "{{ill|hincha|es|hinchada|vertical-align=sup}}", and it was coined by Nacional fans. An employee of Nacional of the early 20th century, Prudencio Miguel Reyes, was famous for his continuous support to the team. The other fans that attended the games started to call him by one of his duties: pumping air to the balls (in Spanish: "inflar" the balls, in Uruguay: "hinchar" the balls). Within a few games, Reyes was known as the "hincha" of Nacional. This is the origin of a word that is frequently used by Spanish speakers worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |author=Amando de Miguel |url=http://www.libertaddigital.com/index.php?action=desaopi&cpn=36985 |title=Amando de Miguel&nbsp;– El incierto origen de las palabras |date=19 April 2007 |publisher=Libertad Digital |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=11 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511034403/http://www.libertaddigital.com/index.php?action=desaopi&cpn=36985 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==="The biggest flag in the world"===
In June 2013, Nacional supporters displayed for the first time ''the biggest flag in the world'' as they called the emblem during a match vs. [[Deportivo Toluca]] played for the [[2013 Copa Libertadores]]. The flag cost US$50,000, previously collected amongst the supporters La Banda Del Parque<ref>[http://america.infobae.com/notas/69254-Nacional-goleo-a-Toluca-y-se-clasifico-junto-a-Boca "Nacional goleó a Toluca y se clasificó"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408043956/http://america.infobae.com/notas/69254-Nacional-goleo-a-Toluca-y-se-clasifico-junto-a-Boca |date=8 April 2013 }}, Infobae</ref> The flag, 600 meters in length and 50 meters in height,<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/deportes/Nacional-desplego-bandera-grande-mundo_0_968903410.html "Nacional desplegó la bandera más grande del mundo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626150053/http://www.clarin.com/deportes/Nacional-desplego-bandera-grande-mundo_0_968903410.html |date=26 June 2015 }}, ''Clarín'', 5 Ago 2013</ref> entered the [[Guinness World Records]] as "the biggest flag ever seen in a football match".<ref>[http://www.foxsportsla.com/noticias/94987-la-bandera-mas-grande-del-mundo-al-record-guinness-en-el-nacional-vs-toluca "Nacional vs Toluca al récord Guinness"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219162939/http://www.foxsportsla.com/noticias/94987-la-bandera-mas-grande-del-mundo-al-record-guinness-en-el-nacional-vs-toluca |date=19 February 2015 }}, Fox Sports, 4 April 2013</ref>

The flag also weighed 5,000&nbsp;kg, with 400 people being needed to move it.<ref>[http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/232780/nacional-estrena-bandera-gigante/ "Nacional estrena bandera gigante"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124173826/http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/232780/nacional-estrena-bandera-gigante/ |date=24 November 2012 }}, ''El Observador'', 23 December 2012.</ref>
La Banda Del Parque

{{wide image|Bandera más grande del mundo Panorámica 1.png|1120px|Panorama of the "biggest flag in the world", as seen at the [[Estadio Centenario]] in March 2013.|alt=Panorama of the "biggest flag in the world", as seen at the [[Estadio Centenario]] in March 2013.}}

==Nicknames==
Nacional is nicknamed "tricolores" ("three colours"), "albos" ("whites") and "bolsilludos", later shortened to "bolsos" ("bolsillo" being the Spanish word for pocket&nbsp;– Nacional used to play with a jersey that had a pocket on the chest). "La blanca" (another reference to the white jersey) is less common.

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|1 January 2026}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|pos=GK|nat=PAN|name=[[Luis Mejía]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 2|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=[[Hayen Palacios]]|other=<small>on loan from [[Club Athletico Paranaense|Athletico-PR]]</small>}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Sebastián Coates]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[Luciano Boggio]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Nicolás López (footballer, born 1993)|Nicolás López]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[Christian Oliva]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Maxi Gómez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[Mauricio Pereyra]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=VEN|name=[[Rómulo Otero]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Emiliano Ancheta]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[Nicolás Lodeiro]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[:es:Paolo Calione|Paolo Calione]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=Lucas Villalba}}
{{Fs player|no=17|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Matías de los Santos (footballer, born 1992)|Matías de los Santos]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=FW|nat=NGA|name=Christian Ebere}}
{{Fs player|no=19|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Juan Cruz de los Santos]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Gonzalo Carneiro]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[:es:Lucas Rodríguez Trezza|Lucas Rodríguez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Exequiel Mereles]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|pos=GK|nat=URU|name=[[Ignacio Suárez (footballer)|Ignacio Suárez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=26|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[:es:Bruno Arady|Bruno Arady]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[:es:Diego Romero Lanz|Diego Romero]]|other=<small>on loan from [[Deportivo Maldonado]]</small>}}
{{Fs player|no=29|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=[[:es:Julián Millán|Julián Millán]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=Juan Pablo Patiño}}
{{Fs player|no=40|pos=GK|nat=URU|name=Diego Capdevila}}
{{Fs player|no=77|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Nicolás Rodríguez (footballer, born 1991)|Nicolás Rodríguez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=URU|pos=MF|name=[[Baltasar Barcia]]}}
{{Fs end}}

=== Out on loan ===
{{fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Lucas Morales (footballer, born November 1999)|Lucas Morales]]|other=at [[Club Olimpia|Olimpia]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|pos=MF|nat=URU|name=[[Yonathan Rodríguez]]|other=at [[Racing Club de Montevideo]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=21|pos=FW|nat=URU|name=[[Renzo Sánchez]]|other=at [[Juventud de Las Piedras|Juventud]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{fs end}}

===Records===
*'''Most appearances''': {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Emilio Álvarez (Uruguayan footballer)|Emilio Álvarez]] ''(511 matches played)''
*'''Most years with the club''': {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Scarone]] ''(21 years), (1917 to 1939)''
*'''All-time greatest goalscorer''': {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Atilio García]] ''(465 goals)''
*'''Longest time without conceding a goal''': {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Sergio Rochet]] ''(1064 minutes)''

====World Champion players====

In 1924, Nacional was the club that contributed more players to Uruguay's team that won the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[gold medal]] in [[football at the 1924 Summer Olympics|football of that year]]. It happened again with Uruguay's teams of [[football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928]] and [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]], Olympic and world champions respectively, in which Nacional contributed the majority of players. Nacional is the only Uruguayan club that contributed players to every Uruguay national team that went on to win international tournaments.<ref name="note3">{{cite web |url=http://www.nacionaldigital.com/historia/Hechos/nacionalylaselecion.htm |title=1904 |publisher=Nacionaldigital.com |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=10 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310234614/http://www.nacionaldigital.com/historia/Hechos/nacionalylaselecion.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Below, the list of Nacional players that were part of Uruguay's Olympic and world champions teams.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=25%}}
'''[[football at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Olympic champions]]'''
*[[Andrés Mazali]]
*[[Ángel Romano]]
*[[Héctor Scarone]]
*[[Pascual Somma]]
*[[Santos Urdinarán]]
*[[Alfredo Zibechi]]
{{col-break|width=25%}}
'''[[football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympic champions]]'''
*[[José Leandro Andrade]]
*[[Héctor Castro]]
*[[Pedro Cea]]
*[[Andrés Mazali]]
*[[Pedro Petrone]]
*[[Juan Píriz]]
*[[Héctor Scarone]]
*[[Santos Urdinarán]]
{{col-break|width=25%}}
'''[[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930 FIFA World Cup champions]]'''
*[[José Leandro Andrade]]
*[[Héctor Castro]]
*[[Pedro Cea]]
*[[Pedro Petrone]]
*[[Conduelo Píriz]]
*[[Emilio Recoba]]
*[[Zoilo Saldombide]]
*[[Héctor Scarone]]
*[[Santos Urdinarán]]
{{col-break|width=25%}}
'''[[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950 FIFA World Cup champions]]'''
*[[Schubert Gambetta]]
*[[Aníbal Paz]]
*[[Julio Pérez (footballer, born 1926)|Julio Pérez]]
*[[Rodolfo Pini]]
*[[Eusebio Tejera]]
{{col-end}}

==Notable coaches==
{|
|- valign=top
|
* {{Flagicon|}} [[Emilio Servetti Mitre]] (1927) <small>''(during the United States tour 1927)''</small>
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Ondino Viera]] (1930–33)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Carlos Scarone]] (1932–??)
* {{flagicon|Hungary|1949}} [[Américo Szigeti]] (1933–34)
* {{Flagicon|Scotland}} [[William Reaside]] (1938–39)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Castro]] (1939–43)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Enrique Fernández Viola|Enrique Fernández]] (1946)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Ricardo Faccio]] (1947)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Enrique Fernández Viola|Enrique Fernández]] (1950–52)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Castro]] (1952)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Scarone]] (1954)
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Adolfo Pedernera]] (1955)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Ondino Viera]] (1955–60)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Roberto Porta]] (1961)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Hugo Bagnulo]] (1962)
* {{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Zezé Moreira]] (1963)
* {{Flagicon|Chile}} [[Fernando Riera]] (1966)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Roberto Scarone]] (1966–67)
* {{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Zezé Moreira]] (1968–69)
|
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Washington Etchamendi]] (1970–72)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Juan Hohberg]] (1976)
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Pedro Dellacha]] (1977)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Juan Martín Mujica]] (1980–81)
* {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Alfio Basile]] (1982)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Juan Carlos Masnik|Juan Masnik]] (1982)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Víctor Espárrago]] (1983), (1985)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Sergio Markarián]] (1987)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Saul Lorenzo Rivero|Saul Rivero]] (1987–88)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Roberto Fleitas]] (1988)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Núñez]] (1989)
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Alfio Basile]] (1990–91)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Roberto Fleitas]] (1991–93)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Miguel Ángel Piazza]] (1993)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Salva]] ''(interim)'' (1993)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Eduardo Luján Manera]] (1994)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Hugo Fernández (footballer)|Hugo Fernández]] (1994–95)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Héctor Salva]] (1995–96)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Miguel Puppo]] (1996–97)
|
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Roberto Fleitas]] (1997)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Hugo De León]] (1998–01)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Daniel Carreño]] (2002–03)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Santiago Ostolaza]] (2004)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Hugo De León]] (2004)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Martín Lasarte]] (2005–06)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Daniel Carreño]] (1 January 2007 – 1 October 2007)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Gerardo Pelusso]] (9 October 2007 – 5 August 2009)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Luis González (Uruguayan footballer)|Luis González]] ''(interim)'' (2009)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Eduardo Mario Acevedo]] (1 August 2009 – 7 September 2010)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Luis González (Uruguayan footballer)|Luis González]] (2010)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Juan Ramón Carrasco]] (13 October 2010 – 17 June 2011)
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Marcelo Gallardo]] (1 July 2011 – 19 June 2012)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Gustavo Díaz]] (1 July 2012 – 4 March 2013)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Juan Carlos Blanco Peñalva|Juan Carlos Blanco]] ''(int.)'' (4 March 2013 – 6 April 2013)
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Rodolfo Arruabarrena]] (27 March 2013 – 16 December 2013)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Gerardo Pelusso]] (23 December 2013 – 28 April 2014)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Álvaro Gutiérrez (footballer)|Álvaro Gutiérrez]] ''(interim)'' (29 April 2014–15)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Gustavo Munúa]] (2015–2016)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Martín Lasarte]] (Jun. - Dec. 2016)
* {{Flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Álvaro Recoba|Álvaro "Chino" Recoba]] (2023–2024)
|}

==Honours==
=== Senior titles ===
{{small div|
;Keys
* {{legend|gold|outline=#999999|Record}}
* {{sup|(s)}} Shared record
}}
[[File:Sede del Club Nacional de Football.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the trophies exhibited in 2011]]
[[File:VitrinasCNdeF.jpg|thumb|Some of the trophies won by Nacional in its history, exhibited at the club]]

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
! Type
! width=250px| Competition
! Titles
! Winning years
|-
| rowspan=1 |'''National'''<br />(League)
! scope=col|[[Uruguayan Primera División|Primera División]]
|'''49'''
| align="left"|[[1902 Uruguayan Primera División|1902]], [[1903 Uruguayan Primera División|1903]], [[1912 Uruguayan Primera División|1912]], [[1915 Uruguayan Primera División|1915]], [[1916 Uruguayan Primera División|1916]], [[1917 Uruguayan Primera División|1917]], [[1919 Uruguayan Primera División|1919]], [[1920 Uruguayan Primera División|1920]], [[1922 Uruguayan Primera División|1922]], [[1923 Uruguayan Primera División of AUF|1923]], [[1924 Uruguayan Primera División of AUF|1924]], [[1933 Uruguayan Primera División|1933]], [[1934 Uruguayan Primera División|1934]], [[1939 Uruguayan Primera División|1939]], [[1940 Uruguayan Primera División|1940]], [[1941 Uruguayan Primera División|1941]], [[1942 Uruguayan Primera División|1942]], [[1943 Uruguayan Primera División|1943]], [[1946 Uruguayan Primera División|1946]], [[1947 Uruguayan Primera División|1947]], [[1950 Uruguayan Primera División|1950]], [[1952 Uruguayan Primera División|1952]], [[1955 Uruguayan Primera División|1955]], [[1956 Uruguayan Primera División|1956]], [[1957 Uruguayan Primera División|1957]], [[1963 Uruguayan Primera División|1963]], [[1966 Uruguayan Primera División|1966]], [[1969 Uruguayan Primera División|1969]], [[1970 Uruguayan Primera División|1970]], [[1971 Uruguayan Primera División|1971]], [[1972 Uruguayan Primera División|1972]], [[1977 Uruguayan Primera División|1977]], [[1980 Uruguayan Primera División|1980]], [[1983 Uruguayan Primera División|1983]], [[1992 Uruguayan Primera División|1992]], [[1998 Uruguayan Primera División|1998]], [[2000 Uruguayan Primera División|2000]], [[2001 Uruguayan Primera División|2001]], [[2002 Uruguayan Primera División|2002]], [[2005 Uruguayan Primera División|2005]], [[2005–06 Uruguayan Primera División|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Uruguayan Primera División season|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Uruguayan Primera División season|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Uruguayan Primera División season|2011–12]], [[2014–15 Uruguayan Primera División season|2014–15]], [[2016 Uruguayan Primera División season|2016]], [[2019 Uruguayan Primera División season|2019]], [[2020 Uruguayan Primera División season|2020]], [[2022 Uruguayan Primera División season|2022]]
|-
| rowspan=3 | '''Half-year / Short<br>tournament'''<br />(League)
! scope=col|[[Uruguayan Primera División#Apertura and Clausura seasons|Torneo Apertura]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''12'''
| {{left|1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Uruguayan Primera División#Apertura and Clausura seasons|Torneo Clausura]]
| '''8'''
| {{left|1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2019, 2022}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Uruguayan Primera División#Torneo Intermedio|Torneo Intermedio]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''5'''
| {{left|[[2017 Uruguayan Primera División season#Torneo Intermedio|2017]], [[2019 Uruguayan Primera División season#Torneo Intermedio|2019]], [[2020 Uruguayan Primera División season#Torneo Intermedio|2020]], [[2022 Uruguayan Primera División season#Torneo Intermedio|2022]], [[2024 Uruguayan Primera División season#Torneo Intermedio|2024]] }}
|-
| rowspan="16" | '''National'''<br />(Cups)
! scope=col|[[Supercopa Uruguaya]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''3'''{{sup|(s)}}
| {{left|[[2019 Supercopa Uruguaya|2019]], [[2021 Supercopa Uruguaya|2021]], [[2025 Supercopa Uruguaya|2025]]}}
|-
! scope=col|Torneo de Honor
|bgcolor="gold"| '''15'''
| {{left|1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nacional.uy/es/club/trofeos/nacionales/ |title=Títulos del Club Nacional de Football |access-date=20 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317185249/https://nacional.uy/es/club/trofeos/nacionales/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
! scope=col|Torneo Competencia
| '''10'''
| {{left|1934, 1942, 1945, 1948, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1989}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Uruguayan Primera División#Liguilla Pre-Libertadores de América|Liguilla Pre-Libertadores]]
| '''8'''
| {{left|1982, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2008}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa de Competencia (Uruguay)|Copa Competencia]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''7'''
| {{left|1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1921, 1923}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa de Honor (Uruguay)|Copa de Honor]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''7'''
| {{left|1905, 1906, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Torneo Cuadrangular (Uruguay)|Torneo Cuadrangular]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''7'''
| {{left|1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Liga Mayor (Uruguay)|Liga Mayor]] 
|bgcolor="gold"| '''3'''
| {{left|1975, 1976, 1977}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa León Peyrou]] 
|bgcolor="gold"| '''3'''
| {{left|1920, 1921, 1922<ref>[https://nacional.uy/es/club/trofeos/nacionales/ Títulos del Club Nacional de Football]</ref>}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Campeonato Nacional General Artigas]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''2'''
| {{left|1961, 1962}}
|-
! scope=col|Campeonato Ingeniero José Serrato
|bgcolor="gold"| '''1'''
| {{left|1928}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Albion de Caridad]]
| '''1'''
| {{left|1919}}
|-
! scope=col|Torneo Fermín Garicoits
|bgcolor="gold"| '''1'''
| {{left|1965}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Torneo Ciudad de Montevideo]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''1'''
| {{left|1973}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Torneo Campeones Olímpicos]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''1'''
| {{left|1974}}
|-
! scope=col|Campeonato Estadio Centenario
|bgcolor="gold"| '''1'''
| {{left|1983}}
|-
| rowspan=8 | '''International'''<br />(Cups)
! scope=col|[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]
|bgcolor="gold"| '''3'''{{sup|(s)}}
| {{left|[[1971 Intercontinental Cup|1971]], [[1980 Intercontinental Cup|1980]], [[1988 Intercontinental Cup|1988]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Libertadores]]
| '''3'''
| {{left|[[1971 Copa Libertadores|1971]], [[1980 Copa Libertadores|1980]], [[1988 Copa Libertadores|1988]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Interamericana]]
| '''2'''
| {{left|[[1971 Copa Interamericana|1971]], [[1988 Copa Interamericana|1988]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Recopa Sudamericana]]
| '''1'''
| {{left|[[1989 Recopa Sudamericana|1989]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Aldao]]<ref name=official>Official titles but still not recognised by [[CONMEBOL]].&nbsp;– (source: [http://www.conmebol.com/es/content/torneos Torneos on CONMEBOL website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120193820/http://www.conmebol.com/es/content/torneos |date=20 January 2015 }}. Retrieved 11 December 2014</ref>
| '''3'''
| {{left|[[1916 Copa Aldao|1916]], [[1919 Copa Aldao|1919]], [[1920 Copa Aldao|1920]]<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/sacups/aldao.html Copa Aldao] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903024805/http://rsssf.com/sacups/aldao.html |date=3 September 2012 }} on [[RSSSF]]</ref>}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa de Honor Cousenier]]<ref name=official/>
|bgcolor="gold"| '''4'''
| {{left|[[1905 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1905]], [[1915 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1915]], [[1916 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1916]], [[1917 Copa de Honor Cousenier|1917]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Tie Cup]]<ref name=official/>
| '''2'''
| {{left|[[1913 Tie Cup Final|1913]], [[1915 Tie Cup Final|1915]]}}
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Escobar-Gerona|Copa de Confraternidad Escobar-Gerona]]<ref name=official/>
| '''1'''
| {{left|[[1945 Copa Escobar-Gerona|1945]]<ref>Title shared with [[Boca Juniors]]</ref>}}
|-
|}

====International friendlies====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
! Type
! width=250px| Competition
! Titles
! Winning years
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''International'''<br />(Cup)
! scope=col|Copa Ciudad de Montevideo<ref name=nacionalint/>
|'''5'''
| align="left"|1953, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1984<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/copamontevideo.html |title=Copa Montevideo 1953–1971 |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129221450/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/copamontevideo.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope=col|[[Torneo Internacional Nocturno Rioplatense]]
|'''1'''
| align="left"|1938 <ref name=nacionalint>[http://www.nacional.com.uy/mvdcms/uc_95_1.html Títulos internacionales] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602010836/http://www.nacional.com.uy/mvdcms/uc_95_1.html |date=2 June 2009 }} on Nacional website</ref>
|-
|}

===Youth tournaments===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
! Type
! width=250px| Competition
! Titles
! Winning years
|-
|  rowspan=2 |'''International'''<br />(Cup)
! scope=col|[[U-20 Copa Libertadores]]
|'''1'''
| align="left"|[[2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores|2018]]
|-
! scope=col|[[Copa Santiago de Futebol Juvenil]]
|'''2'''
| align="left"|1989, 1994
|}

==Other sports==

===Basketball===
{{Main article|Club Nacional de Football (basketball)}}

Nacional participates in the tournaments organised by the Uruguayan basketball federation [[Uruguayan Basketball Federation|Federación Uruguaya de Basketball]] (known as FUBB) since 1932. The club won the championships of 1935 and 1937. Nowadays, Nacional takes part in the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball, Uruguayan basketball first division.

* '''Campeonato Federal (2)''': 1935 y 1937.
* '''Liguilla (2)''': 1982 y 1983.

===Cycling===
Nacional participates in the championships organised by the Uruguayan Cycling Federation [[Federación Ciclista del Uruguay]] since its beginnings. The club won the most important competitions in several occasions: [[Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay]] and [[Rutas de América]], individually and by teams. Nowadays, Nacional cycling team has the presence of [[Milton Wynants]], winner of a silver medal for Uruguay in the [[2000 Summer Olympics]].

'''Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay (9)'''
* '''Teams (5)''': 1960, 1968, 1994, 1999, 2000<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.federacionciclistauruguaya.com/noticias/vuelta_historia.html |title=Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay – History at Uruguay Cycling Federation |access-date=14 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202165600/http://federacionciclistauruguaya.com/noticias/vuelta_historia.html |archive-date=2 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''Individual (3)'''
: ''Leandro Noli'': 1939
: ''Jorge Correa'': 1968
: ''[[Milton Wynants]]'': 1996
'''[[Rutas de América]] (6)'''
* '''Teams (5)''': 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000 y 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.federacionciclistauruguaya.com.uy/rutas2010/ganadores-rutas.html |title=Winners at Uruguay Cycling Federation |access-date=14 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321040601/http://www.federacionciclistauruguaya.com.uy/rutas2010/ganadores-rutas.html |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''General Individual (1)'''
: ''Gustavo Figueredo'': 2000
'''Mil Millas Orientales (1)'''
* '''General Individual (1)'''
: ''Tomás Correa'': 1960
'''Vuelta Ciclista del Paraguay (2)'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fpc.org.py/html/principal.php |title=Paraguayan Cycling Federation |access-date=14 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121050858/http://www.fpc.org.py/html/principal.php |archive-date=21 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''Teams (1)''': 1998
* '''Individual (1)'''
: ''Gustavo Figueredo'': 1998

===Rugby===
In April 2019, Nacional had announced that they would form a [[rugby union]] section<ref>[https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/el-rugby-profesional-de-penarol-y-nacional-comenzara-en-marzo-de-2020-2019428122412 El rugby profesional] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802012844/https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/el-rugby-profesional-de-penarol-y-nacional-comenzara-en-marzo-de-2020-2019428122412 |date=2 August 2023 }} on El Observador, 28 Apr 2019</ref> to compete in the [[2020 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season|2020]] season of the [[Super Rugby Americas|Súper Liga Americana de Rugby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/04/28/super-liga-sudamericana-to-begin-in-march-2020/|title = Súper Liga Sudamericana to Begin in March 2020|date = 28 April 2019|access-date = 1 May 2019|archive-date = 1 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190501155117/http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/04/28/super-liga-sudamericana-to-begin-in-march-2020/|url-status = live}}</ref> Nevertheless, it never occurred so [[Peñarol Rugby|Peñarol]] remained as the only Uruguayan representative in the league.

===Tennis===
Nacional has a lot of tennis courts in Parque Central, behind the stand Abdón Porte, in which several stages of the tournaments organised in Uruguay are disputed. In 2005, the club had the honour of holding various games played by Uruguay in the American Zone II of [[Davis Cup]].

===Volleyball===
Nacional has its volleyball court in Parque Central, in the gymnasium of Jaime Cibils street. In that stadium, the club plays its home games of the championships organised by the Uruguayan volleyball federation [[Federación Uruguaya de Vóleibol]] in every category.

====Men (9)====
* '''Campeonato Federal (1)''': 1954.
* '''Super Liga Uruguaya de Voleibol (3)''': 2008, 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uruvoley.org.uy/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=209&Itemid=1 |title=Página oficial de la FUV |publisher=Uruvoley.org.uy |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325171951/http://uruvoley.org.uy/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=209&Itemid=1 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2010.
* '''Campeonato Uruguayo Livosur (1)''': 2010.
* '''Torneo Apertura Livosur (2)''': 2009, 2010.
* '''Torneo Clausura Livosur (2)''': 2006, 2008.

====Women (4)====
* '''Campeonato Federal (3)''': 1955, 1960, 1961.
* '''Torneo Abierto ciudad de Minas''': 2011

===Women's football===
{{main|Club Nacional de Football (women)}}
Nacional was part of the tournaments organised by the Department of Feminine Football of the Uruguayan Football Association, since its establishment in 1996, winning the Campeonato Uruguayo in 1997 and 2000. The club disaffiliated in 2005 and returned to the league in 2009 ending third in the annual standings. They won the championship in 2010 and 2011–2012. Internationally, Nacional played in various South American championships.

===Official national tournaments (12)===
* '''[[Campeonato Uruguayo de Fútbol Femenino|Campeonato Uruguayo]] (4)''': 1997, 2000, 2010, 2011/2012.
* '''Torneo Apertura (4)''': 1997, 1999, 2000, 2011.
* '''Torneo Clausura (2)''': 2002, 2012.
* '''Torneo Preparación Joseph Blatter (2)''': 2010, 2011.

====Other national tournaments (3)====
* '''Triangular Día Internacional de la Mujer (ciudad de Minas, departamento de Lavalleja) (1)''': 2011
* '''Triangular Internacional Diego Rodríguez (Rivera) (1)''': 2011
* '''Triangular Triangular Confraternidad en Artigas (1)''': 2012

====International friendly tournaments (1)====
* '''Cuadrangular Internacional Ciudad de San Nicolás de los Arroyos (Argentina) (1)''': 2011

====Youth tournaments (3)====

* '''Torneo Apertura Sub 18 (1)''': 2004
* '''Torneo Preparación Bicentenario Sub 16 (1)''': 2011
* '''Triangular Internacional Diego Rodríguez Sub 16 (1)''': 2011

===Futsal===
Nacional participates in the championships organised by de Futsal Delegated Commission of the Uruguayan Football Association. The club won the Uruguayan league title in various occasions and is nowadays the Uruguayan champion. Internationally, Nacionals main achievement is the second place in the South American Futsal Cup [[Copa Libertadores de América de Futsal]] in 2003.

===Affiliate FIFUSA&nbsp;– AMF / FUdeFS===

====Official national tournaments (10)====
* '''Campeonato Metropolitano (8)''': 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 y 1997.
* '''Campeonato Nacional de Clubes Campeones (2)''': 1994, 1997.

====Official international tournaments(1)====
* '''Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes Campeones''': 1996.

===Affiliate FIFA / AUF===

====Official national tournaments (23)====
* '''Campeonato Uruguayo (7)''': 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008 y 2009.
* '''Campeonato Metropolitano (5)''': 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 y 2009.
* '''Copa de Honor (Liguilla Pre Libertadores) (3)''': 2006, 2010, 2011.
* '''Campeonato Apertura (5)''': 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008 y 2009.
* '''Campeonato Clausura (3)''': 1998, 2002 y 2009.

====Official international tournaments (1)====
* '''Ganador de la Zona Sur de la [[Copa Libertadores de Futsal]]''': 2003.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.conmebol.com/comunicados_ver.jsp?id=54306&slangab=S
|title = Futsal: Nacional de Uruguay ganador de la Zona Sur
|access-date = 9 July 2009
|author = Conmebol.com
|date = 2 July 2003
|archive-date = 27 October 2006
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061027081703/http://www.conmebol.com/comunicados_ver.jsp?id=54306&slangab=S
|url-status = live
}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Club Nacional de Football (women)]]
* [[Club Nacional de Football (basketball)]]
* [[List of world champion football clubs]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{official website|http://www.nacional.com.uy/}} {{in lang|es}}
* [http://es.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=1882531/index.html Nacional] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816104728/http://es.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=1882531/index.html}} at [[FIFA|FIFA.com]]

{{Club Nacional de Football}}
{{Navboxes
|titlestyle = background:#ffffff;color:#0c3b6f; border:2px solid #dc0329
|list=
{{Club Nacional de Football squad}}
{{Club Nacional de Football matches}}
{{Club Nacional de Football managers}}
{{Primera División de Uruguay}}
{{Intercontinental Cup winners}}
{{Copa Libertadores winners}}
{{Recopa Sudamericana winners}}
{{Copa Interamericana winners}}
{{U-20 Copa Libertadores winners|state=collapsed}}
{{Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nacional}}
[[Category:Club Nacional de Football| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1899]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Multi-sport clubs in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Unrelegated association football clubs]]
[[Category:La Blanqueada]]
[[Category:Copa Libertadores winning clubs]]
[[Category:Recopa Sudamericana winning clubs]]
[[Category:Intercontinental Cup winning clubs]]
[[Category:Copa Interamericana winning clubs]]