The north is celebrating and from their trench, their fans shout excitedly "And give 'U' you will always listen to!" On this August 7, Universitario de Deportes celebrates 95 years of life and although institutionally it is not going through one of its best moments, it remains one of the biggest and most traditional teams in Peruvian soccer. Not in vain is the one with the most titles.
The merengue, that team founded on August 7, 1924 after a meeting between José Rubio Galindo, Luis Málaga Arenas, Mario de las Casas, Luis de Souza Ferreira, among others, and initially called Federación Universitaria, was born with the firm purpose of demonstrating that sports and university studies do go hand in hand. They set out to prove it, they achieved it, and they did not imagine the great legacy they would leave.
Ninety-five years later, Universitario de Deportes is the most successful club in Peruvian soccer with 26 championships under its belt, surpassing its archrival Alianza Lima (21) and Sporting Cristal (19). It is for this history and for the constant struggle of its fans that the crema institution still holds on despite the major problems that afflict it.
The history of this team that had great players like 'Lolo' Fernández, 'Toto' Terry, Oswaldo 'Cachito' Ramírez, Héctor Chumpitaz, Germán Leguía, Juan Carlos Oblitas, among others, is far from the present, amidst debts and administrations that fail to get them out of the hole they are in, these 95 years of a club that must return to greatness for the sake of its fans, and for the good of Peru, are celebrated.
The popular phrase "La 'U' is bigger than its problems" can never be more current than now. Because its fans continue to fight to find a solution for their club, for that traditional team that seeks to return to the path of triumph, to titles, to joys, and to international presence. No one in Peru can boast of so many things like them.
It is the birthday of Universitario de Deportes and it is time to celebrate, to remember the great history that precedes it, and how much good it did to Peruvian soccer with its great moments in history. It is no wonder that the names of their stars have a very good relationship with the good moments of the Peruvian national team.