Fútbol Club Santa Coloma was founded in 1986 through the efforts of a group of football enthusiasts who represented the village of the same name that belongs to Andorra la Vella in the National Football Tournament (the former amateur league of Andorra).[1] Later on FC Santa Coloma became one of the founder members ofPrimera Divisió in 1995.[2] Since 2001 the club has enjoyed a great success in all Andorran competitions standing with all the records in the Premier Andorran League (13)[2] and Andorran Cup (10).[3]
At the end of 2017, the SpanishLa LigaVillarreal CF team announced a collaboration agreement with the Andorran club at grassroots football level.[4]
In July 2022, Gold Star Sports Management Group, led by Ukrainian-American entrepreneur,Daniel Milstein, completed the acquisition of the club. With Milstein as chairman, he announced Alex Lubyansky as CEO and Annabel Llevot as the General Manager.[5] FC Santa Coloma andGold Star FC Detroit are both under the Gold Star Football Club group of clubs.[6]
FC Santa Coloma has two unique achievements for an Andorran team in European competitions: it was both the first team from Andorra to win a match in any European competition and the first team from Andorra that did not concede a goal in a match in a European competition.
Against Banants, they lost the second leg away in Armenia 3–2, however the game finished 3–3 on aggregate and FC Santa Coloma won by the away goals rule, thanks to a last minute goal by goalkeeper Eloy Casals.[7] It was the second time an Andorran club won a two-legged tie in Europe afterSant Julià.
The 2023–24 season saw FC Santa Coloma claim another first - becoming the first Andorran team to navigate two European two-legged ties in the same season. Entering at the first qualifying round of the2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League, they eliminated Welsh clubPenybont F.C., then Montenegrin clubFK Sutjeska Nikšić, to reach the third qualifying round against Dutch clubAZ.
FC Santa Coloma dressed in all white since the creation of the Andorran Premier League, alternating the home kit with red or blue. Traditionally, the away kit has been all blue and third kit all red. However the original first kit at the beginning of the foundation of the club was blue and gives the nickname ofBlues. In the club crest feature the colours of Andorra and theHoly Dove that gives the name of theSanta Coloma d'Andorra town[8] and therefore the name of the club.
The main rival of FC Santa Coloma inPrimera Divisió has been alwaysSant Julià playing in a derby calledEl Clàssic. Both teams are strong in the Andorran Premier League and since the creation of the championship the clubs have been competing for being the champion of the top flight.[9][10][11]
The local rival of FC Santa Coloma is actually their neighbour's hometown football teamUE Santa Coloma. The rivalry between these two teams has increased since the 2009/10 season when those teams were competing for winning thePremier Andorran League.[12]
In 2014, Santa Coloma advanced for the first time in a knock-out round after beating FC Banants on the away goals rule. The deciding goal was scored by Coloma's goalkeeper in the 4th minute of added time.[13]
Match originally postponed due to bad pitch conditions caused by heavy rain. FC Santa Coloma suggested an alternative on 30 June, but UEFA awarded Birkirkara a 3–0 away win on 1 July.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.