Category Archives: 2011_2020

This period began very well for Club Deportivo Palestino: In general it has kept within the first places within the league of first division. In 2014 a great controversy occurred when they placed the map of Historical Palestine replacing it by the number ‘1’ on the back of the shirt, causing claims from the Zionist lobby, but at the same time the equipment and the T-shirt gained quite worldwide popularity. Then when Pablo Guede took over as coach, it causes a real revolution in the team with a very aggressive way of playing, leading the team to qualify for a Copa Libertadores after 36 years. Also, the team has had very positive results, classifying 2 times to Copa Sudamericana of the hand of Nicolás Cordova as coach.

The mysterious Mr Stefanovic

Note: Article N°8 of the historical research about Club Deportivo Palestino for the project ‘4 Colores’

Historical Context

Club Deportivo Palestino, from its professional history, has only obtained the Chilean league championship twice: In 1955 and 1978.

For a contemporary thing, a whole generation has engraved in their minds the revolutionary coach Caupolicán Peña and ‘Don Elias’ Figueroa in defense. But it is difficult to find fans who have lived through the 1950s era. When Palestino won the 1955 championship in an overwhelming way, winning by more than 10 points difference (when 2 points were added per game won). Several players stood out from that team, one of them was the great Roberto ‘Muñeco’ Coll, a legend of the team that played until the age of 43 before retiring, and who is the best foreign player who has played for the Chilean league. Apparently, nobody says anything about the coach. This is the reason, why we took on the mission to research more about this enigmatic figure.

Continue reading The mysterious Mr Stefanovic

Christmas-season Present: Chilean Soccer Club Deportivo Palestino Visits the West Bank (Haaretz)

‘The main purpose of this visit is to reconnect the team to our origins in Palestine,’ said team general manager Christian Elben Nazal.

For over a week, Palestinian soccer fans have been enjoying a special Christmas-season present: the first visit by Chilean soccer club Deportivo Palestino to the West Bank.

Continue reading Christmas-season Present: Chilean Soccer Club Deportivo Palestino Visits the West Bank (Haaretz)

Chile’s Gaza sympathisers rally behind Palestinian football colours (The Guardian)

Club Deportivo Palestino has become a focal point for tensions between Santiago’s sizeable Arab and Jewish communities

In Patronato, a poor quarter of Santiago, the Palestinian community meets at the Beit Jala cafe. It’s just a step away from San Jorge, Chile’s oldest orthodox church founded by the first Palestinian migrants in 1917. Here the elders sip their coffee and savour oriental pastries. The walls are covered with photographs of Beit Jala, the village from where most of the Palestinians in Chile originated.

Continue reading Chile’s Gaza sympathisers rally behind Palestinian football colours (The Guardian)