2009 Atlético Nacional season

The 2009 Atlético Nacional season was Atlético Nacional's 61st season in the Categoría Primera A. In this season, the club only participated in the league and cup, as they failed to qualify to CONMEBOL tournaments like the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana after a poor 2008 season.

For this season manager and club legend Luis Fernando Suárez was brought in, who won a league championship with Nacional in 1999, and won the Copa Libertadores with them as a player. However, he was sacked after only winning two of 16 matches in all competitions, being replaced by interim manager José Santa for the rest of the Apertura tournament. In June, Spanish manager Ramón Cabrero took over for the Finalizacion and the knockout stages of the Copa Colombia.

This was one of Nacional's most disappointing seasons: in the Apertura tournament they finished second-to-last in the table. The Finalizacion tournament was better, where they finished seventh in the regular season table and made the playoffs, but didn't qualify for the finals. They had a decent run in the cup, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Santa Fe.

Team kit
This year Atlético Nacional changed their kit manufacturer to Adidas as their one-year contract with marathon expired. Postobón was still their shirt sponsor though, making this year their tenth year sponsoring them.






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Squad
As of January 29, 2009

Transfers
In:
 * 🇨🇴 Andrés Orozco From 🇧🇷Sport Club Internacional
 * 🇧🇷 Baiano From 🇧🇷Vasco da Gama
 * 🇨🇴 Aldo Ramírez From 🇲🇽Monarcas Morelia
 * 🇵🇪 Juan Carlos Mariño From 🇵🇪 Cienciano (January)
 * 🇨🇴 Armando Carrillo from Deportivo Cali (June)
 * 🇨🇴 Jairo Patiño from San Luis (June)
 * 🇦🇷 Ezequiel Maggiolo from Indios de Ciudad Juárez (June)
 * 🇦🇷 Gastón Pezzuti from 🇦🇷 Gimnasia y Esgrima Jujuy (June)
 * Loan Return: 🇨🇴 Marlon Piedrahita from Envigado (June)
 * Loan Return: 🇨🇴 Yeison Devoz from Real Cartagena (June)

Out:
 * Loan: 🇨🇴 Marlon Piedrahita to Envigado (January)
 * Loan: 🇨🇴 Yeison Devoz to Real Cartagena (January)
 * Carlos Villagra To 🇨🇴Deportivo Pasto
 * 🇨🇴 Carlos Díaz To 🇨🇴Deportivo Pereira
 * 🇨🇴 Oscar Passo To 🇨🇴Real Cartagena
 * 🇨🇴 Carmelo Valencia To 🇨🇴Millonarios
 * Juan Carlos Mariño to Deportivo Cali (May)

Appearances and goals

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Disciplinary record
Includes all competitive matches. Players with 1 card or more included only.


 * Last updated on 19 April 2009.

* = 1 suspension withdrawn ** = 2 suspensions withdrawn

Friendly matches
This game was played by the alternate roster of Atlético Nacional since it was played the same day of the match of Copa Cafam. As for Envigado they also played with their alternative team.

Torneo Apertura
The first two games for Atlético Nacional were played behind closed doors, due to the disturbances made by the fans in the last season's final game against La Equidad. The organization were fined around $5,000. Atlético Nacional struggled and lost the first six games of the season, finally winning their first match against Millonarios. Nacional then went on a six-match winless run, until manager Luis Fernando Suárez resigned from the team a few days after losing to Deportivo Cali on 19 April, later on 22 April José Santa would take over.

Results

 * Actual 14th round match; moved because of a clash with Boyacá Chicó's schedule as they were playing in Copa Libertadores.

Copa Colombia
Despite Nacional's poor Apertura campaign, in the Copa Colombia they were undefeated for their first seven matches until losing El Clasico Paisa on 5 July. On 3 June, new manager Ramón Cabrero took over with his first match being a victory against Once Caldas. He led the team to the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Independiente Santa Fe.