Defensa y Justicia

Club from Greater Buenos Aires that became one of the most surprising stories in recent Argentine football, winning the 2020 Copa Sudamericana and the 2021 Recopa Sudamericana. It is known for offensive football and the emergence of coaches and players.

History

Defensa y Justicia was founded on June 20, 1935 in Florencio Varela, on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires. For decades, the club circulated through the lower divisions of Argentine football, building its identity with green and yellow colors and the nickname 'El Halcón' (The Falcon). The historic turnaround came in 2014, when the club reached the Primera División for the first time. In just a few years, Defensa stopped being a mere supporting player: with bold game projects and coaches like Sebastián Beccacece and Hernán Crespo, it began competing for the top positions in the Argentine championship and participating in international competitions. The peak came in January 2021, when the team led by Crespo thrashed Lanús 3-0 in the final and won the 2020 Copa Sudamericana, the first major title in its history. Months later, already under Beccacece, the club defeated Palmeiras on penalties and also lifted the 2021 Recopa Sudamericana, consolidating itself as one of the most respected projects in Argentine football.