Club Universidad de Chile facts for kids
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| Full name | Club Universidad de Chile | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Azules (The Blues) La U (The U) El Romántico Viajero (Wanderlust) El Bulla (The Noise) El Chuncho (The Owl) León (Lion) La Chile (The Chile) Ballet Azul (Blue Ballet) |
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| Founded | May 24, 1927 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos | |||
| Capacity | 48,665 | |||
| Chairman | Michael Clark | |||
| Manager | Gustavo Álvarez | |||
| League | Primera División | |||
| 2024 | Primera División, 2nd of 16 | |||
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Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club. It is based in Santiago, Chile. The team plays in the top Chilean league, called the Primera División.
The club was started on May 24, 1927. Universidad de Chile is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile. They have won the league title 18 times. In the last 10 years, they won the championship six times. This includes their amazing undefeated win of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana title.
The team has always used the color blue. Blue is also on their logo, which was made official in 1943. The club has big rivalries with Colo-Colo and Universidad Católica. Their games against these teams are known as Superclásicos (Super Classics).
Universidad de Chile does not own its own stadium. They usually rent and play their home games at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos. This stadium is in Ñuñoa, a part of Santiago.
Universidad de Chile won the Copa Sudamericana in 2011. They played incredibly well in this tournament. They did not lose any games and won all their matches in Chile. Their player Eduardo Vargas was the top scorer in the tournament's history. Universidad de Chile has also reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores four times. This happened in 1970, 1996, 2010, and 2012.
Contents
Club History
The club was founded on May 24, 1927. It was created by joining two smaller clubs: Internado FC and Club Universitario de Deportes. At first, the club was made up of students from the Universidad de Chile. It was the university's sports team until 1980. At that time, the university's leader decided to separate the club from the university. A new group, CORFUCH, was created to manage the football team.
This change was a big challenge for the club. It was left with only its loyal fans. After this, the team's performance on the field got worse. They also lost support from different parts of the economy. Other big clubs in Chile received help from powerful groups. In 1988, the team's poor results led to them being moved down to the second division. The university even threatened to close the club if they did not return to the first division within a year. But in 1989, Universidad de Chile won the second division championship. This brought them back to the first division, where they have been ever since.
Financial Challenges and New Management
In 2006, the club faced serious financial problems. A new group was put in charge to manage the club. This new management made some big changes. They wanted to turn the club into a private company. Many fans did not like this idea. The team had a very tough year, with their worst performance ever.
In 2007, the club was given to a private group called Azul Azul. In 2008, the university's new leader agreed to a deal with this private club. The club could still use the university's name and symbols. In return, the university would get a payment and could choose two people to be on the club's board of directors.
Team Colors and Logo
Home and Away Kits
From 1943 to 1958, the team's home uniform was a blue jersey, white shorts, and blue socks. In 1959, the home kit changed to all royal blue. In 1992, a darker blue was used. In 1996, a red stripe was added to the sleeves. The biggest change to the home kit happened in 2001–02. Red sleeves were added to the jersey, but the shorts and socks stayed blue. In 2006, the team went back to the all-blue uniform from 1959. They have kept it that way since then. The current home kit has the classic red letter U with a white outline on the front.
From 1934 until 2001–02, Universidad de Chile's away uniform was a white jersey, shorts, and socks. Sometimes, they used blue shorts in the 1990s. In 2001–02, the club used a red kit for the first time. This kit had a red jersey with dark blue sleeves, red shorts, and red socks. In 2005, they introduced a new all-red away kit. This one had red sleeves instead of blue. The current away kit also has the red letter U on the front, just like the home kit. For a game in 2010, Universidad de Chile wore a royal blue jersey, white shorts, and royal blue socks. At the end of 2010, the classic all-white uniform returned as the club's third kit.
Shirt Sponsors and Manufacturers
| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1974–78 | New Leader | — |
| 1979 | Haddad | |
| 1980–85 | Adidas | |
| 1986 | Ñandu | |
| 1987 | Umbro | |
| 1988–89 | Adidas | |
| 1990 | Scania | |
| 1991 | Pony International | Fiat |
| 1991 | Chilectra | |
| 1992–95 | Avia | |
| 1996 | Diadora | |
| 1997–98 | Reebok | |
| 1998 | — | |
| 1998 | AdeS | |
| 1999–00 | Adidas | |
| 2001–03 | LG | |
| 2004–07 | Cristal (Beer) | |
| 2008–10 | Telmex | |
| 2010–16 | Claro/Tramontina | |
| 2017–2018 | Chevrolet/Movistar/Loto | |
| 2019 | Petrobras/Movistar | |
| 2020–2021 | Petrobras/Directv | |
| 2022 | Betano/DirecTV |
The Chuncho Owl Logo
The team's logo is a red and white chuncho, which is an Austral pygmy owl. This logo came from an older club called Club Náutico Universitario. They gave their emblem to the Club Universitario de Deportes (CUD) when it started in 1927. The owl was chosen because it represents wisdom, knowledge, and balance of body and mind.
The chuncho logo is not always on the team's uniform. Often, a red letter U with a white border is used instead. The chuncho logo was not on the team's jersey from 1979, but it came back during the 1996–97 season. Since 2006–07, a small chuncho logo has been on the jersey along with the red U.
Team Achievements
Universidad de Chile won its first title in 1940. This was just three years after they became a professional team. Between 1959 and 1969, the team won six titles (1959, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969). During this time, they became known as the Blue Ballet. This name came from the beautiful way they played football. Nine players from that team were part of the Chilean national team. That national team finished 3rd in the 1962 FIFA World Cup. This is still Chile's best result ever in a World Cup.
In 1995, Universidad de Chile won the cup again. They won it at home in front of almost 78,000 people at the Estadio Nacional. The team then won titles back-to-back in 1999 and 2000.
More recently, Universidad de Chile won the Apertura tournament in 2004, 2009, 2011, and 2014/2015. They also won the Clausura tournament in 2011 and 2016/2017. In 2011, they won the title against Universidad Católica. They had lost the first game of the final 2–0. But they needed to win by three goals in the second game. They managed to win the second game 4–1, taking the title.
On the international stage, Universidad de Chile has done well in the Copa Libertadores. They reached the semi-finals in 1970, 1996, 2010, and 2012.
On December 14, 2011, they beat Liga De Quito from Ecuador 3–0 (4–0 overall). This win made them champions of the Copa Sudamericana. They became the third Chilean team to win a South American tournament. The club played perfectly in the tournament. They were undefeated and won all their matches in Chile. Because of this, they were called "South America's FC Barcelona".
The team was also named the most successful Chilean club of the 2010s. They won a total of 9 titles during that decade. This included 5 Primera División titles, 2 Copa Chile titles, the 2015 Supercopa, and the 2011 Copa Sudamericana.
Club Records
- Biggest Primera División win — 9–1 against Magallanes (1962)
- Biggest Primera División loss — 0–6 against Colo-Colo (1938)
- Biggest Copa Chile win — 10-0 against Chimbarongo FC (2023)
- Most goals scored in Primera División — 184 by Carlos Campos (1956–69)
- Most Primera División games played — 386 by Leonel Sánchez (1953–69)
- Most games played overall — 539 by Luis Musrri (1988–04)
- Longest Unbeaten Run in Primera Division (National Record) — 33 games (1999)
- Most Straight Wins in Primera Division (National Record) — 16 games (1963–64)
- Best Start in Primera Division (National Record) 9 straight wins (2011)
- Highest attendance in Primera Division (National Record) — 85,268 against Universidad Catolica (December 29, 1962)
Club Honors
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | Primera División | 18 | 1940, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004-A, 2009-A, 2011-A, 2011-C, 2012-A, 2014-A, 2017-C |
| Segunda División | 1 | 1989 | |
| Copa Chile | 6 | 1979, 1998, 2000, 2012–13, 2015, 2024 | |
| Supercopa de Chile | 1 | 2015 | |
| Copa Francisco Candelori | 1S | 1969 | |
| International | Copa Sudamericana | 1 | 2011 |
- record
- S shared record
Regional Titles
- Copa Unión de la Primera División de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (1): 1923
- Copa Chile de la Primera División de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (3): 1918, 1921, 1923
- Sección Uruguay de la Copa Chile de la Primera División de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (1): 1923
- Serie B de la Copa Unión de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (2): 1916, 1917
- Copa Independencia de la Segunda División de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (2): Serie B 1916, Serie B 1917
- Copa El Diario Ilustrado del Campeonato Atlético de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (1): 1916
- División de Honor de la Sección Amateur de la Asociación de Football de Santiago
- Winners (1): 1934
- Torneo Metropolitano de Chile
- Winners (2): 1968, 1969
Fans and Rivalries
Universidad de Chile has the second-largest fan base in Chile. About 21% of all Chilean football fans support them. This was shown in studies from 2018.
The main fan group is called Los de Abajo. It was started on March 24, 1988. This group sits in the south part of the Estadio Nacional during home games. Their name means "The Ones from Below." This is because the younger fans used to sit in the lower section. Los de Abajo is known as "La Número Uno" (Number One) in Chile. They are also well-known in Latin America. They have rivalries with other fan groups. The most famous ones are Garra Blanca from Colo-Colo and Los Cruzados from Universidad Católica.
The Chilean Superclásico
Universidad de Chile's biggest rival is Colo-Colo. Their games are called the Chilean Classic or Chilean Superclásico. The first game between them was in 1935. But the rivalry really grew in the 1940s and 1950s. A very important match was on November 11, 1959. Universidad de Chile won that game 2-1. This was the first of many good results for "Los Azules" against Colo-Colo. This, along with Universidad de Chile winning many national championships, made the rivalry even stronger. In recent years, Colo-Colo has often won against Universidad de Chile. Because of this, some people call it the "most unequal rivalry in the world."
The University Classic
There is also a rivalry between the two clubs that came from universities. The game between Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica is known as the "Clásico Universitario" (University Classic). This is the oldest rivalry between two university-based clubs. Their first game was in 1909. The rivalry grew in both sports and academic areas. These matches became more and more important. They are now known as the "Universities' Derby" across the country.
FIFA has recognized this classic game as the most traditional in Chile. They first played each other on June 13, 1937. This was during the first Serie B at the Estadio Militar. These two teams have played 21 final matches against each other. Universidad Católica has won 14 of them, and Universidad de Chile has won 7.
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Player Records and Awards
Top Scorers in Different Competitions
Víctor Alonso: 20 goals (1940 Primera Division)
Ubaldo Cruche: 17 goals (1945 Primera Division), 25 goals (1946 Primera Division)- Carlos Campos: 24 goals (1961 Primera Division), 34 goals (1962 Primera Division), 21 goals (1966 Primera Division)
Eladio Zárate: 25 goals (1971 Primera Division)- Richart Báez: 10 goals (Clausura 1997 Primera Division)
- Pedro González: 23 goals (1998 Primera Division), 26 goals (2000 Primera Division)
- Felipe Mora: 13 goals (Clausura 2017 Primera Division)
Luis Alberto Ramos: 12 goals (1979 Copa Chile)- Marcelo Salas: 12 goals (1994 Copa Chile)
- Eduardo Vargas: 11 goals (2011 Copa Sudamericana)
Chilean Footballer of the Year Awards
- Sergio Navarro: 1961
- Pedro Araya: 1966
- Alberto Quintano: 1967
- Adolfo Nef: 1969
- Héctor Hoffens: 1989
- Patricio Mardones: 1994
- Pedro González: 1999
- Sergio Vargas: 2000
- Eduardo Vargas: 2011
- Charles Aránguiz: 2012
Primera División Footballer of the Year Awards
- Juan Rodríguez: 1969
- Cristian Traverso: 1995
- Pedro González: 1999
- Sergio Vargas: 2000
- Miguel Pinto: 2009
- Eduardo Vargas: 2011
- José Rojas: 2012
America's Ideal Team Selections
- Marcelo Salas: 1996
- Miguel Pinto: 2009
- Mauricio Victorino: 2010
- Eduardo Vargas, Johnny Herrera & Marcos González: 2011
- Matías Rodríguez & Charles Aránguiz: 2012
Most Appearances for the Club
| # | Name | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Musrri |
539 |
| 2 | Johnny Herrera |
497 |
| 3 | José Rojas |
471 |
| 4 | Vladimir Bigorra |
468 |
| 5 | Héctor Hoffens |
451 |
| 6 | Manuel Pellegrini |
435 |
| 7 | Jorge Socías |
429 |
| 8 | Sergio Vargas |
428 |
| 9 | Leonel Sánchez |
412 |
| 10 | Braulio Musso |
390 |
Top Scorers for the Club
| # | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Campos |
199 |
| 2 | Leonel Sánchez |
167 |
| 3 | Pedro González |
121 |
| 4 | Marcelo Salas |
113 |
| 5 | Rubén Marcos |
110 |
| 6 | Jorge Socías |
102 |
| 7 | Diego Rivarola |
101 |
| 8 | Pedro Araya |
90 |
| 9 | Braulio Musso |
83 |
| 10 | Ernesto Álvarez |
83 |
Team Managers
Current Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Sebastián Miranda |
| Assistant Manager | Nilton Sepúlveda |
| Fitness Coach | Ignacio Fabres |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Carlos Arias |
List of Managers
- Luis Tirado (1938-1941)
- Alejandro Scopelli (1941-1945)
- Luis Tirado (1946-1949)
- Salvador Nocetti (1950)
- Alejandro Scopelli (1950-1952)
- Miguel Busquets (1952)
Jorge Ormos (1953-1954)- Luis Álamos (1954)
- Luis Tirado (1955)
- Luis Álamos (1956-1966)
- Washington Urrutia (1966)
- Alejandro Scopelli (1967-1968)
- Washington Urrutia (1968)
- Ulises Ramos (1969-1974)
- Braulio Musso (1974)
- Hugo Tassara (1975)
- Luis Ibarra (1975-1977)
- Nelson Oyarzún (1978)
- Ulises Ramos (1978)
- Fernando Riera (1978-1980)
- Manuel Rodríguez Vega (1981)
- Ulises Ramos (1981)
- Fernando Riera (1981-1982)
- Luis Santibáñez (1983)
- Ulises Ramos (1983-1984)
- Hernán Carrasco (1984)
- Luis Ibarra (1985)
- Leonel Sánchez (1985-1986)
- Fernando Riera (1987)
- Leonel Sánchez (1987)
- Alberto Quintano (1987)
- Manuel Pellegrini (1988-1989)
- Luis Ibarra (1989)
- Manuel Rodríguez Vega (1990)
- Pedro Morales (1990-1991)
- Alberto Quintano (1991)
- Arturo Salah (1992-1994)
- Jorge Socias (1994-1995)
- Miguel Ángel Russo (1996)
- Roberto Hernández (1997-1998)
- César Vaccia (1999-2001)
- Víctor Hugo Castañeda (2002-2003)
- Héctor Pinto (2004-2005)
- Gustavo Huerta (2006)
- Salvador Capitano (2007)
- Jorge Socias (2007)
- Arturo Salah (2007-2008)
- Sergio Markarián (2009)
- José Basualdo (2009)
- Gerardo Pelusso (2010)
- Jorge Sampaoli (2011-2012)
- Darío Franco (2013)
- Marco Antonio Figueroa (2013-2014)
- Cristián Romero (2014)
- Martín Lasarte (2014-2015)
- Sebastian Beccacece (2016)
- Víctor Hugo Castañeda & Luis Mussri (2016)
- Ángel Guillermo Hoyos (2017-2018)
- Esteban Valencia (2018)
- Frank Darío Kudelka (2018-2019)
- Alfredo Arias (2019)
- Hernán Caputto (2019-2020)
- Marcelo Jara (2020)
Rafael Dudamel (2020-2021)- Esteban Valencia (2021)
- Cristián Romero (2021)
Santiago Escobar (2022)- Sebastián Miranda (2022)
- Diego López (2022)
- Sebastián Miranda (2022)
- Mauricio Pellegrino (2023)
- Gustavo Álvarez (2024-
Average Home Game Attendance
- 2016–17 Clausura: 33,466 fans
- 2016–17 Apertura: 30,041 fans
- 2015–16 Clausura: 19,641 fans
- 2015–16 Apertura: 12,901 fans
See also
In Spanish: Club Universidad de Chile para niños
- Universidad de Chile
- Los de Abajo
- Ballet Azul
