Colombia Turns Professional

OTD E0288 — 15 Aug 1948: Rafael Serna scores the first goal in Colombian professional football as Atlético Municipal beat Universidad 2–0 on the opening day of the new Dimayor league. We trace Colombian football before professionalism, the regional struggle between Barranquilla, Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, Alfonso Senior and Humberto Salcedo, the Bogotazo and La Violencia, the first 1948 championship, Santa Fe’s title, and how Dimayor opened the door to El Dorado, Di Stéfano, Atlético Nacional and the extraordinary relationship between Colombian football, money and politics.Ideas: [email protected]