Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
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| Full name | Club Deportivo Universidad Católica | ||
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| Nickname(s) | La Católica (The Catholic) Los Cruzados (The Crossed) Cato UC' |
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| Founded | April 21, 1937 | ||
| Ground | Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo Santiago (Capacity: 20,000) |
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| Chairman |  Jorge O'Ryan |
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| Manager | Marco Antonio Figueroa |
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| League | Primera División | ||
| 2009 Apertura | 5th, Qualified for Play-Offs Eliminated in Play-Offs Semifinals |
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Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is one of Chile's most popular football clubs, based in the country's capital, Santiago. It is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams". Apart from having a team on the first division, the club has a third division team, called Universidad Católica "B" team in which under-20 players compete. Católica won the last Chilean football's international cup: Interamerican Cup 1994.
Its traditional rival is Universidad de Chile. They contest the "Clásico Universitario".
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[edit] Overview
While the club was born as one of the many sport branches of the Universidad Católica de Chile, officially founded in 1937, it began, strictly speaking, around 1910, when students of the University would reunite to play football matches, frequently facing historical rival Universidad de Chile. In time, the idea of creating a professional club emerged, and in April 21, 1937, the club officially and legally began existing. It made its professional debut, in the second division, against the Universidad de Chile. Rivalry, both in sports and in academic issues, made these matches between the Universities become more and more important, eventually reaching the national status of "Universities' Derby". The rivalry maintains itself until today, with each match between these teams being considered a must-see for every football fan in the country.
Although football is a very popular sport, and most teams have a multi-class fan base, the Universidad Católica has attained fame as a favourite of the higher classes, because of many factors, which range from the location of the club's Stadium (in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of the capital) and Headquarters, although there are "UC" fans all around the country, including popular regions or towns. For this reason, is planned to build a new stadium in a more popular place of Santiago.
The club has reached notoriety, both in a national and South American level, as owner of one of the best infrastructures and training centers in the continent. As such, it is a good source of young talents, which occasionally rise to stardom in the club.
The club has won 9 national tournaments, and one international cup: Inter-American cup. Also, in 1993, Universidad Católica was the runner-up in the most important international tournament in South America: the Copa Libertadores de América, losing in the finals against the powerful Brazilian team, São Paulo.
In the last years, the club has been reinserted in the international camp, acceding to Copa Sudamericana semi-final and losing it against the powerful Argentinian team Boca Juniors on 2005, year in which the team won the League. In 2006 the team made a good presentation in Copa Libertadores, but was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres of Mexico.
Universidad Católica didn't qualify for 2007 season of the Copa Libertadores.
Católica played the 2008 edition of Copa Libertadores again with no luck, being eliminate in the group stage by goal difference by River Plate and América.
[edit] Club information
- Seasons on 1º Division : 66
- Seasons on 2º Division: 3
- Best Position on 1º Division: 1º
- Worst Position on 1º Division: 18º
- Best IFFHS Position: 18º
- Maximum amount of games won in 1 league season: 27 (1999)
- Maximum amount of games won in short tournaments: 18 (Clausura 2005)
- Maximum amount of goals scored in 1 league season: 102 (1999)
- Maximum amount of goals scored in short tournaments: 56 (Apertura 2002)
- Less beaten Goalkeeper: José María Buljubasich 1352 minutes (4º on IFFHS Ranking)
- Most matches played for Copa Libertadores de América: Mario Lepe (76 matches)
[edit] Honours
[edit] National honours
- Liga Chilena de Fútbol: Primera División
- Winners (9): 1949, 1954, 1961, 1966, 1984, 1987, 1997 (Apertura), 2002 (Apertura), 2005 (Clausura)
- Copa Chile
- Winners (4): 1983 (Copa Polla Gol), 1983 (Copa República), 1991, 1995
- Liguilla Pre-Libertadores (Chile)
- Winners (8): 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
- Liguilla Pre-Sudamericana (Chile)
- Winners (1): 2003
- Liga Chilena de Fútbol: Segunda División
- Winners (2): 1956, 1975
[edit] International honours
- Copa Libertadores de América
- Runners-up (1): 1993
- Copa Interamericana (See Note)
- Winners (1): 1994[1]
[edit] Unofficial titles
Torneo Internacional de Pascua: 1950.- Trofeo Ciutat de Palma: 1984.
- Trofeo Ciudad de Alicante: 1985.
- Trofeo Teide: 1993.
Miami Cup: 1997.
[edit] Players
The Chilean Football Federation rules allow a maximum of seven foreign players per team , but only five can be on the pitch at any one time. Currently Católica has four foreign players.
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Squad changes for Clausura 2009
In:
Rodrigo Mannara Transferred from Cobreloa- Leonel Mena Transferred from Universidad de Concepción
In on Loan:
- David Henríquez Loaned from
Dorados de Sinaloa - Roberto Gutiérrez Loaned from Tecos UAG
- Damián Díaz Loaned from Boca Juniors
- Juan José Morales Loaned from San Martín de Tucumán
Out:
- Luis Núñez Transferred to Palestino
- Iván Vásquez Transferred to O'Higgins
Jaison Ibarrola Transferred to Cerro Porteño- Jeremías Caggiano Transferred to Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
- Gilberto Palacios Transferred to Guaraní
- Damián Luna Transferred to
São Caetano - Ángel Martínez Released
- Eros Pérez End of Contract
Out on Loan:
- Gary Medel Loaned to Boca Juniors
[edit] Individual honours
[edit] 1º Division top scorers
- Victor Mancilla: 17 goals (1943)
- Osvaldo "Arica" Hurtado: 21 goals (1987)
- Alberto Acosta : 33 goals (1994)
- David Bisconti : 15 goals (Apertura 1997)
[edit] International cups top scorers
- Juan Carlos Almada: 9 (Libertadores 1993)
- Alberto Acosta: 11 (Libertadores 1997)
- Jorge Quinteros: 5 (Libertadores 2006)
[edit] America's Ideal Team
- Patricio Toledo 1991
- José Guillermo del Solar 1991
[edit] Notable players
[edit] Notable coaches
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Copa Libertadores champion of 1993, São Paulo FC, declined to play the Copa Interamericana final so Universidad Católica gained the right to play the final as runner-up of the Copa Libertadores of the same year.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Official site
- CDUCatolica.com
- Los Cruzados
- Ceatolei
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