In 1953, the club changed its name to Atlético Quindío per decision made by the then Mayor of Armenia, and finished as runner-up in that year's league tournament, behind Millonarios. It followed up with another runner-up finish in 1954, a third place in the following season, and their first title in 1956 when they finished three points ahead of Millonarios. The team featured players such as Julio César Asciolo, Manuel Dante Pais, José Francisco Lombardo, Nelson "El Viejito" Vargas, Ricardo "El Pibe" Díaz, Álvaro Lahidalga; Alejandro Carrillo, Jaime "El Manco" Gutiérrez, Francisco Solano Patiño, Alejandrino Génes and Roberto "Benitín" Urruti, and also had the tournament's top scorer in Jaime Gutiérrez, who scored 21 goals. In 1956 they also won the Copa Cicrodeportes, in which they played against Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe, and Ecuadorian side Barcelona de Guayaquil. Deportes Quindío became the first Colombian champion hailing from a city other than a department capital, as well as the only Colombian champion unable to take part in the Copa Libertadores, which started to be played since 1960.
