Atlético de Madrid acquires 50% stake in Ecuadorian club
Atletico Madrid has acquired 50 % of the shareholding of Atletico Football Club de Guayaquil, a club that was promoted in October to Ecuador's Serie A, adding this stake to its franchises in Mexico (Atletico de San Luis) and Canada (Atletico Ottawa) with this move.
New shareholding participation
In a statement issued this Friday, Atletico Madrid explained: “In this way, our club becomes a shareholder of the Ecuadorian entity, in which the Guayaquil Board of Charity also participates.”
The board of directors of Atletico Football Club will be composed of six members, three representatives of the Board of Charity and three from Atletico Madrid.
That body will hold its first meeting next week, will elect its president at the proposal of Atletico Madrid and will appoint a general manager of Atletico FC.
Social project and expansion
The social and training project, launched in 2023 together with the Board of Charity of Guayaquil, aims to create an academy and implement the Spanish club's sports and educational model in the region.
The team achieved promotion to Serie A in October under the guidance of the academy coach, Carlos Santamarina.
In its first season in the top tier, Atletico FC amassed 56 points in 32 matches, with 14 wins, 14 draws, four losses, 39 goals for and 22 against, giving it a +17 goal difference.
Over three years, the project has expanded to 30 sites in ten cities —Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta, Machala, Buena Fe, Milagro, Montecristi, Salinas, Ambato and Quinindé— where more than 15 000 young people receive sports training.
On November 14, 2024, the Cuenca facilities were inaugurated, an event attended by King Felipe VI, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and Atletico's president, Enrique Cerezo.
Two years later, Atletico makes the definitive leap from talent development to direct management in the Ecuadorian professional elite.
Forward Walter Zimmermann, who could miss the “Cholo” until December 13, and Alex Baena are on a “Superstar” plan, according to the club.