Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica

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For other uses, see Club Deportivo Universidad Católica (disambiguation).

Universidad Católica

Full name

Club Deportivo Universidad Católica

Nickname(s)

La Católica (the Catholic)
Los Cruzados (the Crusaders)
La Cato
UC

Founded

April 21, 1937

Ground

Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo
Santiago
(Capacity: 20,000)

Chairman

Jorge O'Ryan

Manager

Mario Lepe

League

Primera División Chilena

2008 Apertura

2nd, Qualified for Play-Offs and for Copa Sudamericana 2008 Eliminated in 3rd round with internacional de puerto alegre
Eliminated in Play-Offs Quarterfinals




Home colours




Away colours

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.

1 Overview
- 1.1 Club information
2 Honours
- 2.1 National honours
- 2.2 International honours
3 Players
4 Notable coaches
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

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, this was on 2005 age in which the team will also win the League, in 2006 the team made a good presentation in Copa Libertadores, but it was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres of Mexico.

For 2007 season of Copa Libertadores, Universidad Católica didn't qualify.

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.

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)

Honours

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
Liga Chilena de Fútbol: Segunda División
- Winners (2): 1956, 1975

International honours

Copa Libertadores de América
- Runners-up (1): 1993
Copa Interamericana (See Note)
- Winners (1): 1994^[1]

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 five foreign players.

Current squad

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	José María Buljubasich (captain)
2	DF	Boris González
3	DF	Marcos González
4	DF	Alfonso Parot
5	DF	Eros Pérez
6	MF	Francisco Silva
7	MF	Rodrigo Valenzuela
8	MF	Jorge Ormeño
9	FW	Jaison Ibarrola
10	FW	Luis Núñez
11	MF	Rodrigo Toloza
12	GK	Carlos Arias
13	DF	Facundo Imboden
14	MF	Nicolás Gianni

No.	Position	Player
15	DF	Albert Acevedo
16	DF	Hans Martínez
17	MF	Gary Medel
18	DF	Milovan Mirosevic
19	FW	Julio Gutiérrez
20	FW	Sebastián Barrientos
21	MF	Iván Vásquez
22	FW	Jeremías Caggiano
23	GK	Cristopher Toselli
24	MF	Alexis Gutiérrez
25	FW	Matías Rubio
26	FW	Francisco Pizarro
27	DF	Diego Rosende

Coach: Mario Lepe (meantime coach)

Squad Changes for Clausura 2008

Nicolas Gianni on loan from Argentinos Juniors
Jaison Ibarrola on loan from Cerro Porteño
Milovan Mirosevic comes from Argentinos Juniors
Jeremías Caggiano comes from Albacete Balompié

Out

Héctor Tapia Retired
Roberto Gutiérrez Back to UAG Tecos
Nicolás Núñez Back to Albacete
Patricio Ormazábal Out to Huachipato
Mauricio Zenteno on loan to Huachipato
Aílton Back to San Luis FC
Braulio Brizuela on loan to Santiago Wanderers
Darío Bottinelli Out to Atlas
Gonzalo Sepulveda on loan to Kitchee SC
Luis Jara on loan to Curicó Unido
Pablo González on loan to Curicó Unido

Individual honours

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)

International cups top scorers

Juan Carlos Almada: 9 (Libertadores 1993)
Alberto Acosta: 11 (Libertadores 1997)
Jorge Quinteros: 5 (Libertadores 2006)

America's Ideal Team

Patricio Toledo 1991
José Guillermo del Solar 1991

Notable players

Argentina

Chile

Paraguay

Peru

José Guillermo del Solar

Notable coaches

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.