From the stands to the pitch, Marcelo Ramirez reflects on why Chile’s biggest club is more than just a game — it’s culture, community, and identity.
Everyone is United
What makes Colo-Colo unique is that it’s not only about football — the name says it all: Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo. It’s such a great institution that it goes beyond sport, providing scholarships to outstanding athletes so they can represent the club, offering education to its members, instilling values, and shaping you into a better person. For me, Colo-Colo is much more than just football.
I’ve lived it in both ways — as a fan in the stands and also on the pitch as a photographer — and it has become the best part of my life. The atmosphere is pure madness; the fans go to enjoy themselves because it’s a moment where you can truly be happy. Social class or profession doesn’t matter — everyone is united, singing together at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.
Living the Clásico
The clásico is a match of its own. You start living it weeks in advance, with the banter from the fans and the players’ comments in press conferences. That folklore is essential — it gives life to football and adds something special to every match.
The rivalry began because Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile are the two most successful teams in the country. Back in the 1960s, the gap in trophies was much smaller, and that’s when the battle started over who would become the biggest club in Chile. Years later, there’s no debate — it’s Colo-Colo. Everyone knows it. In fact, it’s the most unbalanced clásico in the world when it comes to results.
The Colo-Colo Mentality
Take the Supercopa, for example. To me, it’s not such an important trophy. The real issue is that nobody wants to lose against that particular rival. But the mentality that Colo-Colo brings to these kinds of matches is unique. That’s why they are always special games. Sadly, sometimes they have to be played without fans, because the authorities can’t handle the organisation, worrying about the possibility of clashes.
Football in the Neighbourhood
In Chile, football culture lives in every neighbourhood. You see the streetlight poles painted black and white for Colo-Colo, murals of the club, flags, and different signs that represent your colours in the place where you live. But that has to be earned — not just anyone can say they have an entire neighbourhood painted in their colours. In the days leading up to the clásico, you’ll see kids everywhere in their shirts, proud to be Colo-Colo fans.
Football here is more than just a sport. It’s the most played game in the country, and it’s the one thing that can take you out of poverty. Many of the best players come from the barrios, growing up on dirt pitches, waiting for their chance to escape hardship and lift their families forward.
More Than Just a Club
Colo-Colo is culture, identity, and pride. It represents community, opportunity, and the possibility of a better life. For me, and for millions of others, Colo-Colo is much more than just football.
