| Full name | Club Deportivo Universidad Católica | |||
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| Nickname(s) | UC Cato La Católica (The Catholic) Los Cruzados (The Crossed) Caballeros Cruzados (The Crusaders) |
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| Founded | April 21, 1937 | |||
| Ground | Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo Santiago (Capacity: 20,000) |
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| Chairman | Jaime Estévez | |||
| Manager | Mario Lepe | |||
| League | Primera División | |||
| 2011 Apertura | 2nd place | |||
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Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.
Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the four "big teams".
Its traditional rival is Universidad de Chile. They contest the "Clásico Universitario".
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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 on 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.
The Universidad Católica has attained fame as a favorite 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 10 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 recent years, the club has been reemerged in international competition, advancing to the 2005 Copa Sudamericana semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful Boca Juniors from Argentina, who would go on to win the tournament. In 2006 the team made a good presentation in the Copa Libertadores, but was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres de la UANL of Mexico and failed to advance beyond the group stage. Universidad Católica did not qualify for the 2007 Copa Libertadores.
Católica played again Copa Libertadores in 2008 with no luck, being eliminated in group stage by goal difference by River Plate and América. In 2010, their performance was no better, finishing third in group stage behind Universidad de Chile and Flamengo.
27th 2000,[16] 27th 2006,[17] 28th 1999,[18] 29th 2011[19]
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 six foreign players.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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