Recent History of Banfield

After seasons in which the team fought not for anything important, in 1995 under the leadership of Valentine Suarez the team was again in the First Division. This was also the period in which the team brought out players of international significance such as Mauro Navas, Julio Cruz and Pablo Paz.

In 1998, the present president of the club, Carlos Portell got the presidency. In his first term, Portell succeeded in reducing the debt by half and building up a team floating back to the First Division. In 2003 the club scored a significant place in International football something which was unprecedented in more than a hundred years of history; Banfield hosted international tournaments. The old Banfield participated in the Copa Sudamericana and the 2005 Copa Libertadores.

Some of the major International competitions of the team in this period are: in the 2003-04 season they finished third in the Torneo Apertura. In 2005, Banfield reached the quarter finals of the Copa Libertadores. In the Group stages, Banfield played in Group Six with UANL Tigres, Alianza Lima and Caracas FC. Banfield finished second in the group with 11 points having lost only once 3-0 at home to eventual group winners, UANL Tigres. In the second round Banfield played Independiente Medellín from Colombia winning 3-0 and 2-0 for a total aggregate score of 5-0. In the quarter final Banfield met River Plate losing 4-3 on aggregate. In 2005 Banfield also played in the Copa Sudamericana. However they were knocked out in the first round, defeated by Arsenal de Sarandí 3-2.

In 2006 Banfield were again knocked out in the first round of the Copa Sudamericana, this time 2-1 on aggregate to San Lorenzo. In the 2006-07 season, Banfield finished 15th in the Apertura and 16th in the Clausura. Banfield were knocked out in the group phase of Copa Libertadores 2007. Banfield played in group one against Club Libertad, Club América and Club Deportivo El Nacional, finishing third with 9 points.

In 2006, Bannfield celebrated its 110 years in Argentinean sports. The Drill is also now recognized by the International Football. Being an Argentinean club, although the key focus is on professional football, the club also promotes amateur and children divisions in football and encourages various games like car races, basketball, base ball, tennis and hockey. Today Banfield also earns the respect of the entire NASCAR.