Photo: Eric Bovetti
La Lepra’s Ladies became the first team outside Buenos Aires to win Argentina’s top league, defeating rivals Central to seal the Apertura title, marking a shift in the women’s football landscape.
By Jamie Ralph
With a gritty 1–0 win over Rosario Central in the Clásico Rosarino, Newell’s Old Boys Women have etched their name into the history books. For the first time ever, a team from outside Buenos Aires has won Argentina’s top women’s division, the Primera División. Even more remarkable, the title comes less than two years after Newell’s reached the top tier, and just seven years after forming their women’s team in 2018.
The win, sealed by a spectacular free-kick from Argentina international Mariana Larroquette (brought in on-loan from top NWSL team Orlando Pride) just before half-time, came in charged circumstances. The match wasn’t played at Rosario Central’s home stadium the Gigante de Arroyito, but at the club’s lesser-known Subsede Cristalería — a small club facility with a rough pitch, far from top-flight standards. Whether this approach was strategic and an attempt by Central to avoid witnessing their rivals celebrate a league title on sacred ground, remains to be seen.
Newell’s clinched the Apertura with two rounds to spare, finishing the 15th matchday on 40 points and leaving their nearest rivals, Belgrano, nine points adrift. With the Clausura tournament ahead and a first appearance in the Copa Libertadores Feminina secured, the task now is to build on this generational success.
A Meteoric Rise
Newell’s women’s team began their journey in 2018 in the regional Rosario league, quickly earning a reputation as a well-organised, competitive side. They joined AFA’s national pyramid in 2021 in the third tier (Primera C), and by 2024 had reached the top flight.
Here’s a brief look at their season-by-season rise:
- 2018–2020: Competed in the Liga Rosarina de Fútbol, laying the groundwork with dominant performances and community engagement.
- 2021: Joined AFA’s Primera C; showed immediate quality.
- 2022: Promoted to Primera B.
- 2024: Promotion to the Primera A.
- 2025: Copa Federal win over Boca on penalties & Apertura Champions.
From 2021 onwards, Newell’s have played just 134 matches across all official AFA competitions, including Primera C, B, A, and the Copa Federal. To go from the bottom to the top in such a short span is unprecedented.
Toti’s Vision
At the heart of this revolution is head coach Leandro “Toti” Iglesias. Aged 39, Iglesias spent 15 years at UAI Urquiza, formerly one of the titans of women’s football in Argentina, where he transitioned from youth coaching into the senior ranks. He arrived at Newell’s in July 2024, bringing with him experience, tactical clarity, and the trust of some of the league’s most accomplished players.
“When Newell’s came calling, I knew it was a project I couldn’t turn down,” Iglesias said in a previous interview on the club’s website. “I left everything behind to come to Rosario — because I believed in what we could build here.”
His impact was immediate. With an emphasis on structured possession play, defensive solidity, and set-piece execution, Iglesias moulded a cohesive squad that combined homegrown grit with elite experience.
Key Players and Recruitment
Crucial to Newell’s rise has been smart recruitment. Iglesias brought in seasoned internationals like Daiana Falfán, a World Cup participant and the Apertura’s standout, along with Marina Delgado, Agustina Vargas, Sofía Ramondegui, Aldana Narváez, and Laura Felipe. Most had experience at top Argentine clubs or in Europe.
At the same time, Iglesias maintained a strong core: Milagros Martín, Magalí Natta, Sofía Domínguez and Tata Vives, who recently celebrated her 100th appearance. Goalkeeper Micheel Rengifo also starred, with 11 clean sheets across the campaign.
The balance of youth and experience, forged under Iglesias’ demanding methods, gave Newell’s the edge in key clashes, including historic away wins over Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo.
“Newell’s can dream big”
I spoke to journalist Luli Montané, who recently wrote an academic thesis on the evolution of women’s football in Argentina. She highlighted the symbolic weight of Newell’s triumph.
“This win is an example to so many girls in Rosario,” she told me. “It shows that it’s possible to dream, and to reach the top. The biggest challenge now is to sustain it. This isn’t just a sporting issue, it’s economic too.”
Montané noted the significance of Newell’s beating Boca, the most decorated club in Argentine women’s football, both in the Copa Federal final and the Apertura season. “It shows Newell’s can dream big, even at a continental level,” she said, hinting at their potential to compete seriously in the Copa Libertadores.
Above all, she was struck by the team’s camaraderie. “The fusion between the historic players and the new signings has created something special. You see it in Larroquette’s joy, in Tata Vives’ leadership, in the way the team huddles before each match and screams together: ‘You have to give your soul and heart – you have to give everything for Newell’s Old Boys.’”
A New Era?
Newell’s title is a breakthrough, but also a challenge to the Buenos Aires monopoly in women’s football. For years, Boca, River, San Lorenzo and UAI Urquiza dominated the scene. Now, a club from the interior (outside the capital) has joined their ranks and become major players in such a short period of time after formation.
The Clásico Rosarino win may not have sealed Rosario Central’s relegation, which will be determined by the end-of-season annual table, but it symbolised a changing tide. With Iglesias at the helm, a growing interest in women’s football in Argentina, and structural investment in their women’s team, Newell’s may not just be champions. They may be the face of what’s next for women’s football in Argentina.
