The Strongest

Early years

The Strongest was founded on 8 April 1908 by a group of 12 students who named the team, "The Strongest Football Club", or El Club Mas Fuerte in Spanish. Its first President and founder was José León López Villamil. Its first championship was in 1911, well before any of the current Bolivian teams had even been created.

In 1930, The Strongest became the first and only Bolivian team to win a League championship with no goals scored against them. The same year, The Strongest inaugurated the Estadio Hernando Siles, with a 4–1 victory against its classical rival (at the time), Universitario.

It is the only football team in the world to have a battle named after it. In the Chaco War (1932–1935) the players, staff and members of the club, which numbered around 600, enlisted in the Bolivian Army. A division largely composed of these "Stronguistas" played a vital part in the Bolivian Army's most important victory. As a result of that, the battle is named "Batalla de Cañada Strongest" in Bolivian history books.

The club was one of the founding members of the first professional Bolivia league in 1950, with all 9 clubs being from La Paz. With the 1952 Torneo Interdepartamental, the club won its first professional league championship.

The Strongest won the 1964 Copa Simon Bolívar, which gave it qualification for its first ever continental competition; the 1965 Copa Libertadores, at a time when only national champions entered the tournament. The club achieved Bolivia's first victory outside of the country on a club level, defeating Ecuador's Deportivo Quito. The team finished 2nd in its group that year, behind Argentina's Boca Juniors.

1967–1981: Rafael Mendoza era

One of the greatest presidents in The Strongest's history, Rafael Mendoza was in charge of the club from 1967 to 1980. In that time, he dealt with the Viloco Tragedy and with many economic hardships.

Deeply affected by the Viloco Tragedy, Mendoza began to think into the future and wanted the club to have its own stadium. Under his command, the stadium was built from 1974 to 1986. Along with this, the complex was finished, which included tennis, racquetball, volleyball, and basketball courts. It also has a swimming pool and dining facilities.

"Don Rafo" is best remembered for his hard work in the Achumani Sports Complex and the club's stadium. Also, in this time, The Strongest achieved great national and international success. Some events to remember in his presidency are the visit by Pelé's Santos team in 1971, a game against Boca Juniors led by Antonio Roma and Silvio Marzolini, and many national championships including the formation of the Bolivian Professional Football League.

1969: The Viloco tragedy

On 24 September 1969, a local holiday, the team was invited to participate in an exhibition game in Santa Cruz organized by Santa Cruz's football association; the team had played its last official match on 14 September, and the friendly game was part of a break from their local competition.

On 26 September, the day the team was due to return from Santa Cruz by plane, it was announced that the aircraft, a Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano DC-6, had disappeared carrying sixteen of the team's players, one player on loan, the coach and two other staff members. A day later, there was news that the plane had crashed near Viloco, a rural area between the Tres Cruces Peaks. All 69 passengers and five crew members died. The investigation could not determine a specific cause. Players Luis Gini, Marco Antonio Velasco, and Rolando Vargas were not on board the plane.

Members of the team who died in the crash were:

1977: Inaugural league champion

In 1977, the club was one of the founding members of the Bolivian Professional Football League, and won the first edition.

From 1979 to 1981, the club finished as runner-ups three consecutive times.

1982–2009: More titles and international campaigns

In 1986, the club won their fifth league title, same year in which their stadium opened. In 1989, they won the league title, and earned the right to play in the Copa Libertadores the following year: the 1990 Copa Libertadores, where the club was eliminated in the second round by Universidad Católica.

In 2003 the club won both tournaments of the year: Apertura and Clausura, becoming the first "Bicampeon" (two-time champion) of the new league format under Argentine manager Néstor Clausen. In that year's Copa Sudamericana, the club produced an upset by beating defending champions San Lorenzo, but were knocked out in the following round by São Paulo after a 7-2 aggregate loss.

In 2004 the club added another league title. In the 2005 Copa Sudamericana, with Eduardo Villegas as head coach, the club eliminated its classic rivals Bolívar 4–2 on aggregate. Later, the team went on to defeat Ecuador's LDU Quito – including a 3–0 victory in Quito. The Strongest was eliminated by Mexican side Pumas UNAM in the third round (round of 16) 4–3 on aggregate, who later went on to become runners-up to cup winners Boca Juniors.

2010–present: Tricampeonato and Recent history

The club became the first "Tricampeon" (three-time champion) of Bolivian football following its 2013 Apertura league title under Bolivian manager Eduardo Villegas. Tigre had previously won the 2012 Apertura and Clausura tournaments.

In the 2014 Copa Libertadores, the club had a good campaign. They finished second in their group behind Athletico Paranaense to qualify for the round of 16, where they were narrowly eliminated after a penalty shootout by Defensor Sporting.

In the 2016 Copa Libertadores, The Strongest made its debut in the competition by historically beating São Paulo at Pacaembu Stadium 1–0 with a goal from Matías Alonso, earning their first Copa Libertadores away win in 34 years. Their last away win in the competition was a 3–2 victory against Técnico Universitario in April 1981. The club eventually placed third in the group with 8 points and 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses.