In Bolivia At 4.150 Meters, They Are “Always Ready”
Nearly six months had passed since the outbreak of the Chaco War when the club we’re focusing on today was founded—a conflict between Paraguay and Bolivia. While this war might not be widely known in Europe, it was a brutal clash between two impoverished nations, both believing that the Chaco region and its oil reserves would change their fate. Although the war lasted nearly three years, from 1932 to 1935, and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, the region (which mostly ended up under Paraguayan control after they emerged victorious) remained undeveloped for decades. It was in April 1933, in the midst of this war, that the uniquely named club, Always Ready F.C., was formed.
It all started with students from La Salle College who would gather to play football. Inspired by these informal games, they decided to establish a formal team, inviting other young people to join them. And so, on April 13, 1933, they gathered under the statue of Christopher Columbus in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, to create their club. The 13 co-founders declared themselves “always ready,” but because “Siempre Listos” didn’t sound quite as appealing and English was trendy at the time, they opted for the English name, Always Ready. It’s worth noting that Bolivia is known for its uniquely quirky team names, as it is also home to a club named “The Strongest.”
Although El Alto is right next to La Paz, it is built on a plateau 400 meters higher. Getting there is a bit tricky; the traffic is intense, and the roads are full of twists and turns. However, for the brave, there is the Teleférico cable car.
Always Ready chose white and red with a diagonal stripe as their primary colors, reminiscent of Argentina’s River Plate’s badge and kit. Due to this similarity, and since the initials C.A.R. are reminiscent of C.A.R.P. (Club Atlético River Plate), the nickname they later adopted was “Millonarios,” just like River Plate. Although Always Ready was founded in the heart of the Bolivian capital, La Paz, it became the team of the neighboring city, El Alto. For those who don’t speak Spanish, “El Alto” means “the high place,” and you can probably guess where this is going. El Alto is adjacent to La Paz, forming a large metropolitan area, but it’s a distinct and rapidly growing city that sits even higher than La Paz. The city’s elevation reaches up to 4,150 meters. For a quick comparison, the peak of Mount Olympus doesn’t even reach 3,000 meters.
Always Ready never became a powerhouse in Bolivian football. It never reached the heights of the country’s top three teams, Bolívar, The Strongest, and Jorge Wilstermann, nor even some of the other smaller teams. The club’s best period was in the 1950s when it won the La Paz championship twice, which was the most important competition in the country at the time but is not considered a precursor to the national championship. Therefore, these two titles are recognized but are not considered equivalent to the national league that started in 1960. Throughout its history until 2021, Always Ready managed to qualify for the Copa Libertadores only once, way back in 1968.
The Estadio Municipal de El Alto (or Estadio de Villa Ingenio, as it is more commonly known) serves as the home ground for Always Ready. Opened in 2017, it is the highest stadium in the country, sitting at an altitude of 4,083 meters
While the club has not made a significant impact internationally in South America, it did make a splash in… Europe. Yes, you heard that right. In 1961, Always Ready decided to go on a tour of Europe. A Brazilian agent living in Europe suggested the idea to the club’s management, and they accepted. And we’re not talking about just 1-2 matches here. We’re talking about a tour that would be the envy of any modern music band. The tour lasted 103 days (!!) across 10 countries with 27 games. Always Ready traveled to Europe with reinforcements, borrowing players from other teams in Bolivia. On August 1, 1961, the Bolivians boarded a plane from La Paz to Asunción, Paraguay, and then on to Buenos Aires. From there, they flew to São Paulo and then to Rio de Janeiro, which was their final destination in South America. They then flew to Lisbon, from there to Paris, then Frankfurt, and finally reached Berlin. And if you think that was the tour, you’re mistaken—that was just the journey to start the tour, which kicked off on August 5 against Hertha.
The Bolivians used planes, trains (for 105 hours), buses (91 hours), and even ships (50 hours) to travel from northern Europe, reaching Denmark, to as far south as Seville and as far east as Romania. The 10 countries they toured were Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, Spain, France, England, Romania, and, of course, Greece. To make it clear who they were, the team often played under the name CAR-Bolivia. In Greece, they played AEK Athens on August 30 and drew 1-1, then lost 5-0 to Panathinaikos two days later, but finally managed to defeat Olympiacos 2-1. Despite some heavy losses, they achieved positive results, such as draws against Aberdeen and Anderlecht and victories over Gent and Olympiacos. The win against Olympiacos was particularly celebrated, especially considering that Olympiacos had recently defeated Pele’s Santos (as the song goes). While the European tour consisted of friendly matches, it remains a remarkable chapter in the club’s history, still considered a great achievement by its fans. And you can’t really downplay the significance of this marathon journey.
After that, the team from El Alto didn’t experience much success, and it wasn’t until 2020 that they finally won the Bolivian league title for the first time. This was a championship like no other, heavily impacted by COVID-19 in a country that also suffered a high death toll (over 20,000). The league was completely suspended from March 2020 until November—the longest suspension of any league in the continent. Eventually, the teams decided to resume play, with no relegation but with a legitimate champion. They set a deadline of December 31 and squeezed in the remaining 98 matches over 32 days. What better challenge for a club that had once gone on a 103-day tour of Europe half a century earlier? On New Year’s Eve 2021, Always Ready managed to defeat Nacional Potosí and lift the trophy, under the guidance of Argentine coach Omar “El Turco” Asad (nicknamed “El Turco” due to his Arab heritage, a common practice in Argentina for those of Arab descent). Has any team ever rung in the New Year in a better way? Absolutely not. “What did Santa bring you, little Juanito?” “Why, the cup, Mom!”
With that, Always Ready made a return to the Copa Libertadores in 2021 and even managed to defeat Corinthians in 2022! A remarkable achievement for a small club that isn’t a traditional powerhouse in an already weak footballing nation.
