The Primera C Metropolitana is one of the two professional leagues that form the fourth level of the Argentine football league system. Primera C Metropolitana is made up of 20 clubs mainly from the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area (Greater Buenos Aires).
| Founded | 1900 [1] |
|---|---|
| Country |  Argentina |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL |
| Number of teams | 19 (2022) |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | Primera B Metropolitana |
| Relegation to | Disaffiliation (2024) Torneo Promocional Amateur (2025) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Copa Argentina |
| Current champions | Excursionistas (2023) |
| Most championships | Colegiales (7 titles) |
| TV partners | DirecTV Sports DeporTV |
| Website | afa.com.ar/primera-c |
| Current: 2024 | |
The other league at level four is the Torneo Federal B, where teams from regional leagues take part.
Format
editPrimera C is currently organised into two league tournaments, the Apertura (opening) and the Clausura (closing). Each team plays every other team once in the Apertura, and then once again at the reverse venue in the Clausura.
The winners of the two league titles are recognised as champions. However, the overall championship is decided with an end of season playoff. The overall champion is promoted to Primera B Metropolitana. The teams finishing 2nd to 8th enter a playoff series to determine which team will play in a promotion/relegation playoff against the 2nd lowest finishing team from Primera B Metropolitana.
The team that finishes with the worst aggregate points total is automatically relegated to Primera D. The team with the 2nd worst aggregate points total plays a promotion/relegation playoff with the winner of the Primera D playoff series. And the winner then competes in Primera C Metropolitana the following season.
History
editOriginally named "Tercera División" (second level), the first championship was held in 1900, being won by Alumni (still under the "English High School" name).[1] With the creation of División Intermedia in 1911, the division became the fourth level behind Segunda División.[2] It lasted until 1932 when the Intermedia was suppressed and Tercera División became the 3rd. division/level again since the 1933 season.
In 1944 its name changed to "Primera Amateur", which lasted to 1962, when the tournament was renamed "Primera C",[3] Since the new restructuring of the league system in 1985, the division has become the fourth category of Argentine football (lower than Primera División, Primera B Nacional and Primera B Metropolitana).
Division levels
editSince its inception in 1899 as "Tercera División", the Primera C has changed levels (between 3 and 4) and names several times. The table below shows them in details:[1][2][4][5]
| Year | Level | Promotion to | Relegation to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900–1910 | 3 |
Segunda División | (None) [note 1] |
| 1911–1932 | 4 |
Segunda División (1911–26) Intermedia (1927–32) |
(None) [note 1] |
| 1933–1985 | 3 |
Primera B | (None) (1933–49) [note 1] Primera D (1950–85) |
| 1986–2022 | 4 |
Primera B Metro | Primera D |
| 2023 | 4 |
Primera B Metro | (None) [note 2] |
| 2024 | 4 |
Primera B Metro | Disaffiliation for one season |
| 2025 | 4 |
Primera B Metro | Torneo Promocional Amateur |
Current teams (2024 season)
editList of champions
editTitles by club
edit| Club | Titles | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| Colegiales | 7 |
1913, 1914,[note 8] 1947, 1955, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2007–08 |
| Villa Dálmine | 5 |
1963, 1975, 1982, 1995–96,[note 9] 2011–12 |
| Estudiantes (BA) | 4 |
1903, 1904,[note 3] 1942, 1966 |
| Sportivo Alsina | 4 |
1932, 1933, 1936, 1941 |
| Defensores de Belgrano | 4 |
1953, 1958, 1972, 1991–92 |
| San Telmo | 4 |
1949, 1956, 1961, 2015 |
| Alumni | 3 |
1900, 1901, 1905 [note 3] |
| Racing | 3 |
1911, 1919 AAm, 1929 |
| Boca Juniors | 3 |
1912, 1915, 1923 [note 3] |
| Argentino (Q) | 3 |
1945, 1988–89, 2018–19 |
| Barracas Central | 3 |
1944, 1948, 2009–10 |
| Comunicaciones | 3 |
1968, 1969, 2004–05 |
| Central Córdoba | 3 |
1952, 1973, 1987–88 |
| El Porvenir | 2 |
1943, 1954 |
| Sportivo Italiano | 2 |
1962, 1974, 2013–14 |
| All Boys | 2 |
1946, 1950 |
| Berazategui | 2 |
1989-90, 1996–97 |
| Deportivo Español | 2 |
1960, 1979 |
| Cambaceres | 2 |
1990-91, 1998–99 |
| Laferrere | 2 |
1986-87, 2001–02 |
| Deportivo Merlo | 2 |
1999-00, 2005–06 |
| Deportivo Morón | 2 |
1959, 1980 |
| Excursionistas | 2 |
2016, 2023 |
| Talleres (RE) | 2 |
1970, 1978 |
| Banfield | 1 |
1908 |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | 1 |
1909 |
| UAI Urquiza | 1 |
2012–13 |
| Sacachispas | 1 |
2016–17 |
| Defensores Unidos | 1 |
2017–18 |
| Cañuelas | 1 |
2020 |
| Dock Sud | 1 |
2021 |
| Argentino (M) | 1 |
2022 |
Notes
edit- ^ a b c No fourth division or level existing then.
- ^ No relegation because the category was unified with the Primera D in a single tournament.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at As the senior squad was competing in Primera División by then, the club participated with reserve teams.
- ^ The Federación Argentina de Football (FAF) was a dissident association that organized its own championships from 1912 to 1914.
- ^ The Liga Argentina de Football (LAF) was a dissident professional association that organized its own championships from 1931 to 1934, when it merged with official body, Asocación Argentina de Football.
- ^ a b No champion crowned. The winners of Zona A (Liniers) and Zona B (Comunicaciones) qualified to "Reclasificatorio de Primera B".[7]
- ^ The club's name was "Libertarios Unidos".
- ^ The club had renamed to "Atlético Campana" during those years, switching to its original name in 2000.
References
edit- ^ a b c Tercera División - Campeones on AFA website (Archived 13 Ago 2013)
- ^ a b Cuarta División - Campeones on AFA (archived, 13 Aug 2013)
- ^ Historia y Fútbol, 1963 by José Carluccio
- ^ a b Argentina - Third Level Champions by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
- ^ a b Argentina - Fourth Level Champions by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
- ^ The Asociación Amateurs de Football (AAm) was a dissident association that organized its own championships from 1919 to 1926.
- ^ "Argentina: 1ra. "C" AFA 1967 Zona "A"" by José Carluccio, 14 Oct 2009
- ^ Oficial: suspendido el fútbol argentino por el coronavirus by Fede González on As, 17 Mar 2020
