In1993, Universidad Católica was the runner-up in the most important international tournament in South America: theCopa Libertadores de América, losing in the finals against the defending Libertadores' ChampionSão Paulo. Universidad Católica has reached the semi-finals in theCopa Libertadores four times (years1962,1966,1969 and1984).
While the club was born as one of the many sport branches of theUniversidad 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 rivalUniversidad de Chile.[6] In time, the idea of creating a professional club emerged, and on 21 April 1937,[7] the club officially and legally began. It made its professional debut, in the second division, against theUniversidad de Chile. Universidad Católica won its first League title in the 1949 season.[8]
Universidad Católica in 1949
In December 1956, Universidad Católica was placed at the bottom of theleague table and relegated to Segunda División for the first time in its history.[9] On 10 November 1956, Universidad Católica won theSegunda División title after defeatingDeportes La Serena by 3–2 and gained promotion straight back up to the top division, with captainSergio Livingstone andRaimundo Infante claiming the top scorer award.[10] In the 1970s, Universidad Católica was facing an institutional, the team ended the1973 Primera División tournament at the bottom of the table,[11] Universidad Católica was relegated toSegunda División for the second time in its history.[12] In 1975, Universidad Católica won thetitle and therefore returned to Primera División to play the 1976 season.[13][14]
In 1997 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a friendly tournament where they beatAjax Amsterdam 3–2 in the Copa 60º Aniversario de Universidad Católica.[20]
In the 2011 season they finished in second place inChilean Primera División.[30] They also reached the2011 Copa Chile final where they facedDeportes Magallanes.[31] Universidad Católica won 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1.[31] In2011 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished first on the group stage, and then advanced to the quarter-finals, knocking outGrêmio of Brazil on the best 16 round,[32] and falling toPeñarol of Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo and winning their home match 2–1, which was not enough to advance.[33] In 2012 the club again playedCopa Libertadores, under coach and former playerMario Lepe, finished last on the group stage, winning only 1 home game and losing on their away games in Colombia and Bolivia.[34] InCopa Sudamericana 2012, Universidad Católica advancing to the semifinal before being knocked out by the powerfulSão Paulo from Brazil,[35] who would go on to win the tournament.[36]
On April 30, 2016, Universidad Católica won thePrimera Division Clausura title in 2016 for the first time in six years.[37] Universidad Católica won the title on the last matchday after beatingAudax Italiano 2–1.[38] On 15 September 2016, the club won theSupercopa de Chile for a first time defeatingUniversidad de Chile 2–1 in the final.[39] After, Universidad Católica won thePrimera Division Apertura, the title was won on 8 December, where Universidad Católica facedDeportes Temuco atGermán Becker. Two goals in the last half-hour secured Universidad Católica a 2–0,[40] withMario Salas leading the team towards its first Bicampeonato for winning two national titles in a row.[41]
José Pedro Fuenzalida is the most decorated player in Universidad Católica history.[42]Celebrations of players and fans of Universidad Católica after winning the 2018–2021 four-time championship.
On 14 February 2020, withAriel Holan Universidad Católica secured their third consecutivePrimera División title,[51] they also achieved the semi-finals ofCopa Chile.[52] Days after winning the title, Holan announced his resignation as Universidad Católica[53] and in March, Gustavo Poyet was appointed coach, signing a two-year contract,[54] and Universidad Católica won their 3rdSupercopa de Chile.[55] In2021 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished second on the group stage,[56] and then advanced to the round of 16, before being knocked out by thePalmeiras from Brazil,[57] who would go on to win the tournament.[58] On 30 August 2021,Gustavo Poyet was sacked from his managerial position,[59] one day afterCristian Paulucci was announced as the new coach.[60] On 20 January 2021, Universidad Católica won their fourSupercopa de Chile title, after beatingÑublense's in a penalty shootout.[61] On 4 December 2021, Universidad Católica were confirmed2021 Primera División champions, reaching four consecutive league titles.[62][63]
After moving between grounds, the team moved to the Independencia Stadium in 1945, which remained its home ground for 26 years and which was demolished because of the financial problems of the club, and started to play atUnión Española Stadium, theSanta Laura. After that, Universidad Católica moved its home matches toSan Carlos de Apoquindo, which was inaugurated on 4 September 1988 with a match againstRiver Plate.[75][76]
Universidad Católica has won various trophies while playing home games at the San Carlos de Apoquindo, including theChilean Primera División in 2002 (Apertura tournament), 2010, 2016 (Clausura tournament), 2019 (Season where the team received the trophy at home without playing the last games due to thesocial outbreak of that year) and 2020.[77][78]
In 1994, Católica faced Saprissa of Costa Rica in the final of the1993 Copa Interamericana at the stadium, winning with an aggregate score of 6-4 (3–1 in favor of each team in the home and away games, and 2–0 in extra time of the tiebreaking game).[79]
Mario Lepe holds the record for most Universidad Católica appearances, having played 639 first-team matches (76 matches for Copa Libertadores de América) from 1982 to 2000. Andrés Romero comes second with 484 appearances. José María Buljubasich is Universidad Católica's all-least beaten goalkeeper, with 1352 minutes (4th on IFFHS ranking).[80]
Universidad Católica's all-time highest goalscorer in official competitions is Rodrigo Barrera with 118 goals,[81] surpassingRaimundo Infante's 113 goals in 2002.[82] Four other players have also scored over 100 goals for Universidad Católica:Alberto Fouillioux (1957–1975),[83]Néstor Isella (1963–1970),[83]Osvaldo Hurtado (1980-1988t)[83] and the previous goalscoring record-holderRaimundo Infante (1941–1956).[82]Infante being Universidad Católica's top goalscorer of all time in La Liga history with 103 goals.[citation needed]
TheIFFHS ranked the team in 8th place in 2012.[84] The club has reached notoriety, both in a national and South American level, as the 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. Its most recent youth academy produced player known worldwide isGary Medel, currently playing for Italian sideBologna FC, among other clubs such as Boca Juniors, Sevilla and Internazionale, as well as playing a big role in Chile's 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads.[citation needed]
Officially, the highest attendance figure for a Universidad Católica match is 77,890, which was for a Primera División match atEstadio Nacional on 11 January 1967. Universad Católica has also set records in Chilean football, most notably the most seasons won in a row (four, during 2018–2021).[85]
A part of the Universidad Católica fans who met on December 4, 2021 at the Sausalito Stadium in Viña del Mar. That day the team won its fourth consecutive national title (a total of sixteen to that date).
Universidad Católica is the third club with the largest following in Chile, with approximately 13% of the total Chilean football fans according to research published in 2006 by Fundación Futuro, according by Spanish newspaper agencyMarca in 2012 have approximately 9%[86] and according by Adimark in 2018, have a 7% of the total Chilean football fans.[87]
There is often a rivalry between the two clubs from academic roots, where the game between Universidad Católica andUniversidad de Chile is known as "Clásico Universitario". It is the oldest confrontation between two clubs from academic roots, as the first confrontation goes back to the University Classic of 1909.[7] 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".[6]
Thisclásico has been recognized by FIFA as the most traditional of Chile.[88] They met for the first time on 13 June 1937 in matchday three of the firstSerie B at the Estadio Militar.[6] These two teams have played twenty championship definitions against each other, Universidad Católica has won fourteen and Universidad de Chile six.[89]
TheChilean Football Federation rules allow a maximum of seven foreign players per team, but only five can be on thepitch at any one time. Currently, Católica has six foreign players.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Alex Harasic Durán Sebastián Arispe Karlezi Felipe Correa Rivera Martín del Río Arteaga Juan Pablo del Río Goudie Jaime Estévez Valencia Martín Cuthbert de Solminihac Luis Larraín Arroyo
Current season
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Tiago Nunes
Rodrigo Valenzuela
José María Buljubasich
