Real Pilar

Real Pilar Futbol Club is a football club located in Pilar, a city of Buenos Aires Province. The squad currently plays in Primera D, the fifth division of the Argentine football league system, having debuted in the 2017–18 season.

The team plays its home venues at Municipal Stadium Carlos Barraza of Pilar.

History

The club was established by entrepreneur Cesar Mansilla, that had previously worked for Mauricio Macri, Chief of Government of Buenos Aires by those times. Mansilla was also a personal friend of Boca Juniors (and then Argentine Football Association –AFA vice-president) Daniel Angelici.

Despite not having football players and manager, Real Pilar affiliated to the AFA to play in Primera D, through an Association's rules exemption that allowed the club to be registered as provisional member. The decision was heavily criticized by some journalists that stated the club had been favoured because of Mansilla's ties with the political power represented by Macri and Angelici. Nevertheless, Mansilla denied that his relation with Macri had favoured Real Pilar to get a place in AFA domestic league. Real Pilar was also the first club which request was accepted by the Association within 40 years (the last clubs to be registered to AFA had been Defensa y Justicia, Argentino de Merlo, Laferrere, San Miguel and Claypole, all in 1977).

Real Pilar's official debut was on September 3, 2017, against Victoriano Arenas. Managed by Roberto Romano, the line-up was: Juan Pablo Ghiglione; Axel Bordon, Diego Carabajal, Gonzalo Pulido, Damian Achucarro; Miguel Almada, Rodrigo Diaz, Rodrigo Santillan, Alejandro Acuna; Carlos Perrone, Alejo Binaghi. The squad lost to Victoriano Arenas 3–1. In October 2017, the Association Assembly ratified Real Pilar's affiliation to the body.