Seemingly, Uruguay climbed back to the top of the world in 1981, thanks to winning Mundialito and the international success of Nacional. But at home 1981 was messy and mysterious season, consequently difficult to untangle. There are various problems: promotion-relegation mess, determining how and why Copa Libertadores participants were decided, and even pictorial mix of seasons. The last problem exists perhaps because of overlapping South American seasons, making it difficult to distinguish team photos. Plus different transfer and laxer transfer rules than those in Europe. Even today one and the same photo can be found dated 1980 and 1981. Sometimes establishing the real date is impossible. As for the other problems… the Uruguayan top division often changed its size for unknown reasons. 15 teams participated in the 1981 championship, but there were 14 in 1980 and again in 1982. Two teams were promoted in 1980 – Liverpool and Rampla Juniors. However, none in 1981… Relegation was also complicated – for some years relegation was determined by cumulative record of points earned in 4-5 seasons. Newcomers usually were in disadvantage, for they played fewer seasons than others, thus automatically having fewer total points. Some of this was evident at the end of 1981 season – Rampla Juniors, 10th in the final table, and Liverpool, 11th , played a relegation play-off. After three matches and penalty shoot-out Rampla Juniors prevailed. Liverpool was… not relegated. They were allowed to stay in first division – why a relegation play-off was staged then? Yet, there was a relegated team – the last in the final table, as normally happens around the world. Finally, a Liguilla tournament was played to determine Copa Libertadores representatives for the 1982 edition of the tournament – such mini-tournaments were typical for South America and they included teams finishing from 2nd to 5th place in the final table. However, Uruguay seemingly allowed Penarol, the champions of 1981, to play in it, for they finished 2nd in the Liquilla. Why? As champions, they had the right to represent Uruguay in Copa Libertadores… yet, they had to participate in the last qualification tournament – and by finishing 2nd there apparently earned the right to play in Copa Libertadores. Did they qualified twice? Or just because they qualified from the Liguilla? If so, what was the purpose of the championship? If not, why the champions played qualification tournament for no purpose at all? The mystery remains. It was easier in the lower levels of Uruguayan football, which was practically concentrated in Montevideo.
Platense won the Third Division. Seemingly promoted to Second Division.
El Tanque Sisley won the Second Division. So far, so good – second division champions move up, right? Well… not this year. El Tanque Sisley was not promoted – who knows why. The previous year 2 teams were promoted from Second Division, but none in 1981. Go figure.
Of course, what really mattered was the First Divison championship. 15 teams. Perhaps at the beginning of the season everything was clear, but after the end things changed…
Fenix finished last with 16 points, obviously weaker than the rest of the league – the 14th placed team, Sud America, ended with 20 points. Last finishers usually are relegated – and Fenix was, so nothing strange there. Yet, a relegation play-off took place between higher finishers than Sud America and later even the loser of this play-off was permitted to stay in the league. Sum total: Fenix was relegated, El Tanque Sisley was not promoted, the league was reduced to 14 teams for the 1982 season.
Up the table – nothing really unusual: the massive traditional dominance of Nacional and Penarol determined everything. All other clubs had one or two relatively strong years, that was all. The only problem with the final table concerned Liquilla – there was a play-off for the last participant in it. It was played because 2 teams finished with equal points – Defensor, 6th, and Miramar Misiones, 7th. This makes the Liguilla mystery bigger: how many teams played in it? Four or six? If four, who was excluded and why? Penarol played… did Nacional too? Never mind for the moment.
Defensor won the play-off with Miramar Misiones 2-1 and qualified to compete in the Liguilla. Their picture is interesting one – standing first from right is Pablo Forlan, who returned to play for Defensor after years in Brazil. He carries in his hands Diego Forlan – an early photo of one the best players in the world at the beginning of 21st century. The father was at the end of his long illustrious career, but the son was still a small child and there was no way envisioning him becoming bigger star than his famous father. Defensor will be mentioned again soon.
River Plate finished 5th. Not bad… and that was all. Standing from left: Nelson Agresta, C.Carusini, D. ‘Pecho’ Sanchez, Julio C. Rodriguez (capitan), Julio A. Rodriguez, Mario Menchaca.
First row: Carlos ‘Patito’ Aguilera, Javier Ponce, W. Villar, Leo Moura, Daniel Torres.
Bella Vista had a strong season too – they finished 4th. The text under the picture is interestingly confusing – yes, they played in the 1981 edition of Copa Libertadores, apparently earning the privilege in 1980.
Wanderers finished with bronze medals. Wonderful! But the text at the right top calls them ‘vice-champions’ – that they were in 1980. The photo may be from 1980… may be not… anyway, one thing is important: their solid play was due to a bright emerging star. Pablo Forlan was stepping down, Diego Forlan was still a small kid, but Enzo Francescoli was rapidly establishing himself as world-class midfielder.
The battle for the title was familiar – Penarol vs Nacional. As good as Frencescoli and Wanderers were, they were not contenders, but left in the dust distant bronze medalists. Nacional was at the top of the world – they just won the 1980 Copa Libertadores and at the beginning of 1981 – the Intercontinental Cup, adding the Mundialito too, for the clubs provided perhaps half of the national team, but Penarol was stronger in the championship.
With 41 points, Nacional finished 2nd. They left Wanderers 6 points behind, but… second. As for the photo… may be 1981, may be not… Hugo de Leon is missing – he left Nacional at the end of 1980 to play in Brazil, so 1981 seems right. Waldemar Victorino was the name at this time – not Pablo Forlan, not Diego Forlan, not Enzo Francescoli. But he arhc-enemy had another ace in his hands.
Penarol won the title, leaving Nacional 3 points behind. Typical champions – best attack, best defence, most win, least losses. Superior in everything.
Familiar title under the boys, but such clubs and their fans are never tired of winning. Very sweet victory too, for they bested the best team in the world! The squad was really something – Walter Olivera, Diogo, Saralegui, less known, but still stars – Clavijo and Morales, and two huge stars, coming home from playing abroad – Roberto Morena returned from Spain and Ladislao Mazurkiewicz from Chile. Born winners both – and Penarol added one more title right away. Nacional was strong, but Penarol was stronger and make no mistake about it – their success was not to be just at home.
That was all… Not quite: there was still the Liquilla. How many teams and exactly which ones remains unknown, but Penaro played and did not win the mini-league.
But Defensor won the Liguilla – Pablo Forlan bested Morena, Mazurkiewicz, Esparago, Morales, Francescoli. Diego learned by example. Defensor won its spot in Copa Libertadores… but for which season? Bella Vista played in the 1981 edition -so Defensor would play in 1982. Along with Nacional as current cup holders and Penarol as 1981 Uruguayan champions. Clear enough… and pity Wanderers and Francescoli – their strong 1980 and 1981 seasons brought them no international football.
But let’s take one more look at the champions – 37th title, no kidding. Excellent, but the mysteries continue – the photo comes from official book, made by the Uruguayan Football Federation. Note the year: Uruguayan champions, aye, but for ‘del Mundo’ Penarol had to wait until 1982. Jair was eventually added sometime during 1981 – the Brazilian, three times champion of his country with Inter (Porto Alegre) was exchanged for the Uruguayan young star Ruben Paz. Mazurkiewicz was also taking secondary position to Gustavo Fernandez. What a wealth – Penarol had perhaps more first-rate players than Nacional, but more importantly, the champions had younger stars. And, as a final touch, take a good look at their kits – on both pictures here, they use mixed shirts. Mazurkiewicz does not wear Adidas at all.