Olimpia

Olimpia is the most glorious soccer (football) club in Paraguay. Since soccer is the most popular sport in Paraguay, this is very important. Olimpia is the only Paraguayan soccer club to ever win international titles. Thus, Olimpia has brought honor and respect to Paraguayan soccer.

Dutch physical fitness instructor William Paats was who introduced soccer to Paraguay in 1888. He was also the one who founded Club Olimpia in July 25, 1902. Since then Olimpia has won 38 Paraguayan championships, 3 Copa Libertadores (1979, 1990, 2002), 1 Intercontinental Club Cup (1979) (which was a match between the winner of the South American Libertadores Cup and the European Champions League), 2 South-American Recopas (1991, 2003), 1 'Joao Havelange' Supercup (Supercopa Libertadores) (1990), 1 InterAmerican Cup (1980).

After having won the 2002 Copa Libertadores against Sao Caetano from Brazil, Olimpia played European giants Real Madrid for the Intercontinental Club Cup (which is held in Tokyo). In an intense game, Olimpia was defeated 2 - 0.

Olimpia has been on a dry spell with its last national title having been in 2000 and is last international title having been in 2003. With a new board of directors, it is hoped that Olimpia will be able to get out of its slump and start winning titles once again. Even through this dry spell, Olimpia is the soccer team that still draws the most people to the stadium in Paraguay.

Some of Olimpia's great players include: Raul Vicente Amarilla, Gustavo Benitez, Luis Monzon, Hugo Talavera, Miguel Angel Benitez, Hugo Almeida, Luis Alberto Cubilla, Julio Caceres, Roque Santacruz and Carlos Paredes.

More sources:

Official site for Club Olimpia