Llaneros F.C.

For the Venezuelan club, see Llaneros de Guanare.
Llaneros F.C.
Full nameLlaneros Fútbol Club S.A.
Nickname(s)El equipo de la Media Colombia
Los Nuevos Centauros
Los Indomables
Los Metenses
El Blanco Y Negro
Los Villavicenses
Las Arpas de Oro
Vendaval Llanero
Los Caballos
Los de la Orinoquía
Los Baquianos
Founded20 April 2012; 12 years ago (2012-04-20)
GroundEstadio Bello Horizonte
Capacity15,000
ChairmanJuan Carlos Trujillo
ManagerJaime de la Pava
LeagueCategoría Primera A
2024Primera B, 1st of 16 (promoted)
Websitehttp://www.llanerosfc.com.co

Llaneros Fútbol Club S.A. is a professional Colombian football team based in Villavicencio, that currently plays in the Categoría Primera A. They play their home games at the Bello Horizonte stadium.[1]

History

First years

Llaneros F.C. was founded on 20 April 2012, after the then Governor of Meta Department Alan Jara and Mayor of Villavicencio Juan Guillermo Zuluaga with the backing of oil company Pacific Rubiales Energy bought the participation rights (ficha) of Categoría Primera B club Academia, based in Bogotá.[2] The General Assembly of Academia approved the sale of the club on 22 March 2012, with DIMAYOR giving its approval on 27 March 2012 and announcing that Llaneros would enter the competition for the second half of the 2012 season.[3][4] The club played its first game on 22 July 2012, losing to Alianza Petrolera by a 1–0 score at Academia's former home stadium Estadio Compensar in Bogotá.[5]

By 2015, the club went through an economic crisis accentuated by the problems of its main sponsor Pacific Rubiales, which led the owners to consider offers to sell and move the club to another area of the country.[6] However, at the start of 2016 Llaneros signed an alliance with Categoría Primera A club Santa Fe, in which Santa Fe sent several of its young players to Llaneros on loan as well as a coaching staff led by Germán González, while being responsible for the payment of their wages.[7]

Llaneros' best performance in Primera B until then came in the 2017 season, in which the team managed by Jairo Patiño reached the finals of the Torneo Finalización but were beaten by Leones by a 4–1 aggregate score, missing the chance to play an additional final series for promotion to the top flight.[8]

2021 controversy

On 4 December 2021, the last matchday of the semi-final Group B of the second tournament of the 2021 Primera B season, Llaneros were beaten by Unión Magdalena by a 2–1 score with a couple of goals in quick succession in stoppage time. This result helped Unión Magdalena earn promotion to Categoría Primera A at the expense of Fortaleza, who were clinching promotion despite losing their final match to Bogotá at the same time since Llaneros were leading against Unión Magdalena. However, video footage of Unión Magdalena's winning goal appeared to show the Llaneros players backing off and failing to make an effort to prevent their rivals from scoring.[9] The events sparked outrage both within the country and abroad, with Colombian internationals Juan Cuadrado and Mateus Uribe expressing their displeasure, calling them "a lack of respect" and "an embarrassment for Colombian football", whilst President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez stated it was a "national disgrace".[10][11][12]

In response to the growing backlash, as well as calls from Fortaleza to get the match annulled and Unión Magdalena's promotion reversed,[13] DIMAYOR chairman Fernando Jaramillo ordered the opening of an inquiry on the match events while also requesting the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia to investigate whether any criminal offenses had been committed,[14][15] but on 7 December 2021, Jaramillo stated that the tournament would not be paused and Unión Magdalena's promotion would not be overturned while due process was completed.[16]

On 30 December 2021 DIMAYOR's Disciplinary Commission closed the investigation on Unión Magdalena as it found no evidence implying that members of the aforementioned club had been responsible for the events that occurred in the match, but sources within the governing body of Colombian professional football stated that the investigation on Llaneros would remain open.[17] Five months later, it was announced that four Llaneros players who were involved in that match had been fined and suspended from all sporting and administrative activities for "committing acts against sporting dignity and decorum".[18]

Consolidation and promotion

In spite of the incident in the 2021 Primera B semi-finals, Llaneros kept consistent performances in subsequent seasons. In 2022, Llaneros advanced to the semi-final stage of both of the tournaments played in the season but failed to reach the finals of either tournament, placing third in their Torneo I group and second in their Torneo II one, with Boyacá Chicó advancing to the finals both times.[19][20] In the following season Llaneros reached a tournament final for the second time, losing the Torneo I final to Patriotas,[21] but failed to advance to the Torneo II finals and subsequently missed out on promotion after placing second in the season's aggregate table.

In 2024, Llaneros advanced to the Torneo I semi-finals after placing third in the first stage and subsequently won Group B after edging past Unión Magdalena on goal difference.[22] There they faced Orsomarso, winning on penalty kicks after a 2–2 draw on aggregate.[23] Although manager Martín Cardetti was replaced halfway into Llaneros's Torneo II campaign by Venezuelan manager Pedro Depablos, the team's campaign in the last tournament of the season remained consistent, advancing to the semi-finals in second place, which granted it a tiebreaking advantage for the following round of the competition. Eventually, Llaneros made use of that advantage to reach the finals of the tournament, defeating Deportes Quindío on the final matchday to win their group ahead of Real Cartagena with whom they ended tied at 12 points.[24] Having won the 2024–I tournament, Llaneros had the chance to clinch the Primera B championship as well as automatic promotion if they also won the Torneo II, but they ended up losing the finals to Unión Magdalena by a 5–1 aggregate score.[25] In the season's grand final, which once again had Llaneros facing Unión Magdalena, both teams won their respective home matches 1–0, forcing a penalty shootout to decide the 2024 Primera B champion which was eventually won by Unión Magdalena who promoted to Categoría Primera A as Primera B champions. However, since Llaneros ended the season as the best team in the aggregate table of the season, they were able to avoid playing a play-off series for the final promotion spot and promoted to the top flight for the first time ever.[26]

Stadium

Further information: Estadio Bello Horizonte

Current squad

As of 19 February 2024[27]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Colombia COL Kevin Armesto
2 DF Colombia COL Jhonatan Muñoz
4 DF Colombia COL Cristian Mina
6 MF Colombia COL Marlon Sierra
7 MF Colombia COL Yadir Meneses
8 MF Colombia COL Andrés López
10 MF Colombia COL Bryan Urueña
11 FW Colombia COL Carlos Bogotá
16 DF Colombia COL Miller Mosquera
17 DF Colombia COL Jan Carlos Angulo
22 GK Colombia COL Roameth Romaña
26 MF Argentina ARG Agustín Verdugo
27 MF Colombia COL Duván Mosquera
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 FW Colombia COL Mario Álvarez
31 DF Colombia COL Geovan Montes
32 DF Colombia COL Federico Arbeláez
33 MF Colombia COL Jhildrey Lasso
39 FW Colombia COL Kevin Quejada
77 MF Colombia COL Dubán Ayala
— DF Colombia COL Sebastián González
— DF Venezuela VEN Diego Sarmiento
— MF Colombia COL Néider Ospina
— MF Colombia COL Eyder Restrepo
— FW Colombia COL Jheider López
— DF Colombia COL Cristian Valencia

Honours

Managers

References

  1. ^ Record in Archived 2012-09-21 at the Wayback Machine DIMAYOR
  2. ^ "Llaneros FC el nuevo equipo del Meta en el fútbol colombiano" [Llaneros FC, Meta's new team in Colombian football] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Comunicado de la Asamblea General de Academia F.C." [Statement from the General Assembly of Academia F.C.] (in Spanish). Academia F.C. - Departamento de Prensa y Comunicaciones. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Academia jugará en Villavicencio y se llamará Llaneros Fútbol Club" [Academia will play in Villavicencio and will be named Llaneros Fútbol Club] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Llaneros perdió en su debut, cayó 0-1 con Alianza Petrolera" [Llaneros lost in their debut, they went 1–0 down against Alianza Petrolera] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 22 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Llaneros FC podría irse de Villavicencio en el 2016" [Llaneros FC might leave Villavicencio in 2016] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Llaneros, la sucursal de Santa Fe en la B" [Llaneros, Santa Fe's branch in the second tier] (in Spanish). El Espectador. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Leones asciende a la Liga Águila" [Leones promote to the Liga Águila] (in Spanish). AS Colombia. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Anger in Colombia after suspicious goal decides promotion". Sportstar. 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Juan Cuadrado slams suspicious goal that decided promotion in Colombia". ESPN. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Escándalo en FPC es noticia mundial: así hablan del ascenso de Unión" [Scandal at the FPC is world news: this is how they talk about Unión's promotion] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. ^ "How a suspicious soccer goal turned into a matter of state in Colombia". El País. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Carlos Barato, presidente de Fortaleza: "Solicitamos la nulidad de Unión Magdalena vs Llaneros"" [Carlos Barato, Fortaleza's chairman: "We request the nullity of Unión Magdalena vs Llaneros"] (in Spanish). Gol Caracol. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  14. ^ "COMUNICADO: PRESIDENTE DE LA DIMAYOR FRENTE A LO SUCEDIDO EN EL PARTIDO LLANEROS FC VS UNIÓN MAGDALENA" [STATEMENT: DIMAYOR'S CHAIRMAN REGARDING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LLANEROS FC VS UNIÓN MAGDALENA MATCH] (in Spanish). DIMAYOR. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Match-fixing inquiry ordered after bizarre Colombian match between Llaneros, Union Magdalena". ESPN. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Fernando Jaramillo: "El torneo sigue, con Unión Magdalena ascendido y se jugará la final"" [Fernando Jaramillo: "The tournament goes on, with Unión Magdalena promoted and the final will be played"] (in Spanish). Gol Caracol. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Archivan investigación contra Unión Magdalena por el juego contra Llaneros" [Investigation against Unión Magdalena for the game against Llaneros is filed] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 1 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Dimayor sanciona a jugadores de Llaneros por 'atentar al decoro deportivo'" [Dimayor punishes Llaneros players for 'breaching sporting decorum'] (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Boyacá Chicó y Deportes Quindío, a la final del Torneo BetPlay" [Boyacá Chicó and Deportes Quindío, to the Torneo BetPlay final] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Boyacá Chicó ganó, se benefició del empate de Llaneros y es el segundo finalista del torneo de ascenso en Colombia" [Boyacá Chicó won, benefited from Llaneros's draw and is the second finalist of Colombia's promotion tournament] (in Spanish). Infobae. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Patriotas, campeón del Torneo Betplay I-2023" [Patriotas, 2023-I Torneo Betplay champion] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Llaneros y Orsomarso, finalistas del Torneo BetPlay 2024-I" [Llaneros and Orsomarso, 2024–I Torneo BetPlay finalists] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Llaneros, campeón del Torneo I: venció a Orsomarso en final dramática" [Llaneros, Torneo I champions: they beat Orsomarso in dramatic final] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Llaneros FC es finalista del Torneo BetPlay DIMAYOR II-2024" [Llaneros FC are 2024–II Torneo BetPlay DIMAYOR finalists] (in Spanish). Dimayor. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Unión Magdalena es el campeón sin premio del Torneo BetPlay II-2024" [Unión Magdalena are the 2024–II Torneo BetPlay awardless champions] (in Spanish). Futbolred. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Unión Magdalena y Llaneros ascienden a la Liga BetPlay" [Unión Magdalena and Llaneros promote to the Liga BetPlay] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  27. ^ "LLANEROS FC". Dimayor.com.co. División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.