Atletico Bucaramanga

Full Name: Club Atlético Bucaramanga
City: Bucaramanga
League: Categoría Primera B
Founded: 1948
Stadium: Estadio Alfonso López (28,000)
Colors: Yellow, White, Green
Previous Name: Atlético Bucaramanga (1948-52), Deportivo Bucaramanga (1952)
Nicknames: Leopardos, Canarios, Búcaros
Rival: Cúcuta Deportivo

Description:

Club Atlético Bucaramanga (Bucaramanga Athletic Club) were founded in 1948 by Rafael Chaberman, a Lebanese immigrant. The Leopards entered almost straightaway into Colombia's top division - the Dimayor - and have spent only one season outside the top since, and that a half-season in 1995 when the Colombian calendar was shifted. Pride in this record of consistency is surely dampened by the fact that Atlético Bucaramanga have never won a league title, have only once finished second (1997) and only once qualified for the Copa Libertadores (1998). Does being consistently average beat being a yo-yo team?

After all those years of consistency, Bucaramanga were relegated after the 2008 season and begin their 2009 bid to bounce back at the first attempt from the second-tier Categoría Primera B, also known as the Copa Premier.

Atlético Bucaramanga's yellow and green club colors (and the colors of their emblem) are taken from the city of Bucaramanga's municipal flag while the nickname Canarios reflects the yellow shirts they traditionally wear. The emblem also features a white leopard in front of green and yellow halves and the Búcaros nickname is one used for anyone from the city of Bucaramanga. Located in the far west of Colombia, their derby with arch-rival Cúcuta Deportivo is known as the Clásico del Oriente - The Classic of the West.

Estadio Alfonso López: