Caldas primed for Porto test
Thursday 9 December 2004
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By Tim Vickery
The 20th team to have its name on the Copa Libertadores, CD Once Caldas were one of the least likely winners.
Unlikely success
Only one Colombian club had previously won the competition, and Caldas - from a provincial city, Manizales, with a population of just 300,000 - could hardly claim to be one of the heavyweights of their country's football.
Club merger
Their triumph is a story of sound administration and tactical organisation. Once Caldas ('eleven from the province of Caldas') were founded in 1961 as the result of a merger between two local teams, Once Deportivo and Deportes Caldas. The latter had won the Colombian title in 1950, but it was to be over half a century until Manizales had another triumph to celebrate.
Congo cash
The team made their Copa Libertadores debut in 1999, and were knocked out in the group stage, but it was a key moment in their recent rise. Powerful striker Edwin Congo caught the eye. Real Madrid CF were impressed. They took him to Spain, and the transfer fee, wisely invested in training facilities, brought Caldas to another level.
Montoya magic
Historically the club had a reputation for playing attacking, adventurous football. Coach Luis Fernando Montoya did things differently. A quiet, calm figure whose appearance belies an inner strength and fierce will to win, Montoya based his philosophy on maintaining a clean sheet. First he would stop his opponents from scoring, and only then would he think about attack.
Title success
In 2003 Montoya led Caldas to the Colombian title (the 'Apertura', the first of two separate championships the country stages per year). Back they went into the Libertadores. Montoya commented later: "In truth I didn't expect us to get so far. However, we went one step at a time, kept growing and increasing our self-belief with every task we accomplished. That was the key to our success."
Good luck
Caldas undoubtedly enjoyed some good fortune. The luck of the draw meant that in the knock-out stages they were always at home in the second leg. It fitted in perfectly with their aim of grinding out a draw away and snatching a win at home. Twice they won by a single goal, and twice they won on penalties.
Remarkable run
Nevertheless, they were worthy champions. In 14 games their only defeat came in the group stage, away to Argentina's CA Vélez Sársfield and they came across Brazilian sides Santos FC and São Paulo FC, before defeating defending champions CA Boca Juniors of Argentina in the final.
Vital Valentierra
All were frustrated by Caldas' deep defence and packed midfield. On the ball the key man was talented left-footed playmaker Arnulfo Valentierra. Time after time Caldas sucked their opponents forward and Valentierra would slip a pass to the open space on the flanks, either to the right where the rangy Jhon Viáfara would burst through, or to the left for the silky skills of Elkin Soto. With five goals in the campaign, Valentierra was the team's top scorer.
No change
Winning the Libertadores did nothing to change the club's administrative philosophy. A big offer came in for Valentierra from the United Arab Emirates, and Caldas let their best player go. Nobody is irreplaceable. During the group phase of the Libertadores they sold their long-time goalscorer Sergio Galván to the United States, and still went on to win the title.
Primed for Porto
Since Valentierra left some re-enforcements have arrived, but nothing too drastic, and coach Montoya is preparing to meet FC Porto on 12 December with the same calm, safety-first approach that has served him well.
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