Historical Crests The Strongest

Name: ​ The Strongest

Nickname(s): El Tigre (The Tiger), Aurinegros (The Gold and Blacks)

Founded: 1908

Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles

Capacity: ​41,143

The Strongest Crest History

The crest history of The Strongest reflects one of the most recognisable identities in Bolivian football, built around the club’s traditional black and yellow colours and, from the 1980s onward, the tiger that represents its famous nickname, El Tigre. Although the badge has undergone numerous redesigns, its striped identity has remained remarkably consistent.

The earliest crest shown, used from 1931 to 1950, was a simple shield containing alternating black and yellow vertical stripes. There was no lettering or additional symbolism. This minimalist design established the colour combination that would remain the foundation of The Strongest’s identity.

Between 1950 and 1982, the shield was redesigned with a rectangular upper section carrying the words “THE STRONGEST”. The vertical stripes continued below, although the yellow was presented in a softer golden tone. This was an important development because the club name became a permanent visual feature of many later crests.

A dramatic departure appeared between 1982 and 1990. The traditional striped shield disappeared completely and was replaced by a dark rounded square dominated by the head of a roaring tiger. The tiger directly represented the club’s El Tigre nickname and introduced the animal that would eventually become one of the most important symbols associated with The Strongest.

The 1990–1998 crest combined the two traditions for the first time. The black-and-yellow striped shield returned, the club name appeared prominently across the top, and a tiger’s head was positioned in the centre. This combination of stripes, name and tiger established the basic formula behind many subsequent versions.

Between 1998 and 2000, the same structure was retained but the tiger illustration became more detailed and colourful. The animal extended prominently across the striped background, while the broad upper panel continued to display “THE STRONGEST.”

For 2000–2003, the club temporarily removed the tiger. The crest returned to a highly simplified black-and-yellow striped shield with the club name across the top. The strong contrast and uncomplicated geometry recalled the earliest badges while retaining the identifying name panel introduced in the mid-twentieth century.

The tiger returned for 2003–2004. A large realistic tiger head occupied the centre of the striped shield, again combining the club’s traditional colours with its most famous sporting symbol.

The 2004–2005 version was almost identical but added the dates 1908 and 2004 beneath the shield. These details highlighted the club’s foundation year while marking the period in which the badge was used.

Between 2005 and 2006, the dates were removed and the crest returned to the familiar striped shield with a central tiger head. The 2008–2009 version followed essentially the same concept, with only small adjustments to the proportions and illustration.

For 2010–2014, The Strongest once again moved toward simplicity. The tiger disappeared and the crest consisted almost entirely of the traditional black-and-yellow vertical stripes, surrounded by a strong yellow border. The club name remained prominently displayed in the black panel across the top.

The 2014–2016 crest continued this minimalist approach but introduced two important historical elements. The year 1908 appeared beneath the shield, while a pair of green laurel branches framed the foundation date. The design emphasised the club’s history rather than its tiger identity.

In 2017, the tiger returned once more. The 2017–Present crest combines virtually all of the visual elements that have defined The Strongest over its history: the shield, the black-and-yellow stripes, the club name and the head of a roaring tiger. The outer border is predominantly yellow, while the tiger occupies the lower central part of the badge.

The Strongest Club History

The Strongest was founded on 8 April 1908 in La Paz, making it one of the oldest and most historically important football clubs in Bolivia. From its earliest years, the club adopted the distinctive black and yellow colours that would become inseparable from its identity. Over more than a century, The Strongest has developed into one of Bolivia’s most successful clubs and one of the traditional giants of the national game.

The club emerged during the formative years of organised football in La Paz and quickly established itself as a major force in the city. Its unusual English name reflected the influence of British terminology on South American football during the early twentieth century. The Strongest soon built a reputation for competitiveness and resilience, characteristics that later became associated with its famous nickname, El Tigre.

During the amateur era, The Strongest became one of the dominant clubs in La Paz football. One of the most remarkable achievements in its early history came in 1930, when the club completed a championship campaign without conceding a single goal. This celebrated team became known as El Tigre Invicto, strengthening the club’s growing reputation within Bolivian football.

The club’s history is also closely connected with the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay from 1932 to 1935. Players, members and supporters of The Strongest served during the conflict, and the club became strongly associated with the memory of the war. The Battle of Cañada Strongest, fought in 1934 and one of Bolivia’s most significant victories during the conflict, acquired particular symbolic importance for the institution.

When professional football developed in Bolivia during the 1950s, The Strongest remained among the country’s leading clubs. It successfully made the transition from the amateur game and continued accumulating championships while developing an increasingly intense rivalry with fellow La Paz giant Bolívar.

That rivalry became known as the Clásico Paceño and developed into one of the defining fixtures of Bolivian football. The contrast between The Strongest’s black and yellow and Bolívar’s sky blue divides much of the football support in La Paz. Matches between the two clubs regularly attract some of the largest crowds in the country and have frequently played an important role in deciding national championships.

The Strongest was also one of the founding members of the Liga del Fútbol Profesional Boliviano in 1977, when Bolivia established its nationwide professional league structure. The club immediately demonstrated its strength by becoming the first champion of the new league in 1977, adding another important milestone to its history.

Domestic success continued during the following decades. The Strongest regularly competed for national championships and became one of Bolivia’s most consistent representatives in international competition. Its ability to remain competitive across different generations helped establish El Tigre as one of the country's enduring football institutions.

A particularly successful period arrived in the early twenty-first century. In 2003, The Strongest won both the Apertura and Clausura, completing an outstanding domestic season. Further championships followed as the club strengthened its position among the dominant teams of the modern Bolivian game.

Another exceptional period came between 2011 and 2012, when The Strongest achieved an historic sequence of three consecutive league championships, winning the 2011 Apertura, 2012 Clausura and 2012 Apertura. The achievement reinforced the club's reputation for resilience and provided a modern expression of the competitive character traditionally associated with El Tigre.

Internationally, The Strongest has become one of Bolivia’s most regular participants in the Copa Libertadores. Its home matches in La Paz are particularly famous because of the extreme altitude of the city. Playing at the Estadio Hernando Siles, situated more than 3,600 metres above sea level, has helped create one of the most distinctive home environments in South American football.

Back to Historical Crests Bolivia