Old Boys reached 123 years on Nov. 3, and the celebration began at the stroke of midnight, when thousands of supporters gathered at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa in Rosario’s Parque Independencia and set off fireworks, Rosario3 reported. The club’s official social media accounts opened the day with a message and an institutional video that quickly spread among the red-and-black faithful, while pyrotechnics also lit up other parts of the city and, according to 11 Noticias, the nearby towns of San Lorenzo and Fray Luis Beltrán.
The post on the club’s official X account read: “¿Cómo se explica lo que no tiene explicación? Simplemente no se puede. ¡Felices 123 años, querido y viejo Newell’s!” — “How do you explain what has no explanation? You simply can’t. Happy 123 years, dear old Newell’s!” A second message added: “¡Una promesa de corazón! Siempre con vos” — “A promise from the heart! Always with you.”
How the club began on Nov. 3, 1903
Víctor Heitz was chosen as the first president, and the first jersey adopted red and black, taken from the old crest of the school. The name Old Boys refers to the school's former pupils.
The video that gathered Bielsa, Martino, Griffa, Rodríguez and Maradona
The institutional video published on the club’s social platforms weaves together memories of figures who left a mark on the club and on Argentine and international football: tactical icons Marcelo Bielsa and Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the legendary youth-team coach Jorge Griffa, contemporary idol Maxi Rodríguez, and Diego Armando Maradona wearing the Parque Independencia shirt, Rosario3 reported. Rosario Nuestro noted that the footage also features memorable moments and gives a central role to the supporters themselves.
Among flags, family memories and a sense of belonging, the red-and-black family came together once more to celebrate more than a century of uninterrupted passion in the heart of Rosario, the club’s message said.
Fireworks beyond Rosario: San Lorenzo and Fray Luis Beltrán
The celebration reached beyond the city limits. In the first minutes of Nov. 3, loud bangs were heard in San Lorenzo and Fray Luis Beltrán, where supporters organized pyrotechnics over the Campo de la Gloria and the local walkway, 11 Noticias reported. Some residents initially speculated about gunshots or motorcycles before videos on social media revealed the true reason. The report noted that Newell’s maintains a strong presence in the industrial corridor south of Santa Fe province, where supporter branches help organize club activities.
Six league titles and two Copa Libertadores finals
Over its 123 years, Newell’s built a standout record in Argentine football, Infocielo reported. Its league championships came in 1974, 1987/88, 1990/91, 1991/92, 2004 and 2013, and the club reached two Copa Libertadores finals, in 1988 and 1992. Among the greats who passed through its ranks are Lionel Messi, who developed part of his football education at the club, and Maradona, who wore the red-and-black shirt during his spell in Rosario in 1993.
The Nov. 15 anniversary marathon closes the celebrations
The sporting side of the anniversary arrives on Nov. 15, when Newell’s will hold a new edition of its traditional anniversary marathon, Infocielo reported. The race will offer 2K, 5K and 10K distances plus a category for children, with the route crossing different parts of Parque Independencia and finishing inside the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
At 123 years from its founding, Newell’s is celebrating far more than a date: a history built on titles, idols and generations of supporters who keep the passion for red and black alive.
Worth a look
