C.D. Cobreloa facts for kids
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| Full name | Club de Deportes Cobreloa S.A.D.P. | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Zorros del desierto (desert foxes) Loínos Mineros (Miners) Naranjas (Oranges) |
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| Founded | January 7, 1977, as Club de Deportes Cobreloa | ||
| Stadium | Estadio Zorros del Desierto Calama, Chile |
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| Capacity | 12,102 | ||
| Coordinates | 22°27′36″S 68°55′14″W / 22.46000°S 68.92056°W | ||
| President |  Harry Robledo |
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| Head coach | César Bravo |
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| League | Primera B | ||
| 2024 | Primera División, 15th of 16 (relegated) | ||
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Club de Deportes Cobreloa S.A.D.P. is a professional football club from Calama, Chile. People usually call them Cobreloa. They play in the Primera B, which is a Chilean football league. Their home stadium is the Estadio Zorros del Desierto. The team's coach is César Bravo.
Cobreloa was started on January 7, 1977. It was created by local groups and a Chilean mining company called CODELCO. The club quickly became professional. They joined the Segunda División (Second Division) in 1977 and were promoted to the Primera División (First Division) in the same year!
Cobreloa has won the Primera División title 8 times. They also won the 1986 Copa Polla Lan Chile and the 2023 Primera B de Chile. They have big rivalries with teams like Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo (called the Clásico Albo-Loíno), Club de Deportes Cobresal (the Clasico del Cobre), and Deportes Antofagasta (the Clasico de la región de Antofagasta).
In 2019, a group called Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation ranked Cobreloa as the 71st best club in the world historically.
Contents
Club History
The idea for Cobreloa started with an older club called 'Club Social Deportivo Deportes El Loa', founded in Calama in 1948. This club was the first official football team in Calama. Over the years, the team changed its name and played in amateur tournaments.
In 1959, the Calama Amateur team won a big national championship. This made people in Calama want a professional football team even more. In the 1960s, the 'Sport Cóndor' team tried to join professional football but was not allowed.
Many people in Calama wanted a professional team. In 1971, 'Sport Cóndor' (also known as Deportes El Loa) tried again to join. They had a lot of support from workers and had many members. But their request was turned down again.
Finally, in 1976, a group of local leaders, businesses, and mining company officials formed a committee. Their goal was to get 'Deportes El Loa' into professional football. They worked hard and were accepted into the Segunda División on October 14, 1976.
On January 7, 1977, it was officially announced that 'Deportes El Loa' would join professional football. Everyone in Calama celebrated! The club's leaders decided to change the name. They chose "Cobreloa" because it combined "Cobre" (copper, important for the region) and "Loa" (from the El Loa province). This new name represented everyone in the area.
The first head coach for Cobreloa was Andrés Prieto. He signed with the club on January 15, 1977. The team quickly brought in new players, including some from Uruguay and other parts of Chile.
Cobreloa played its first official match on February 6, 1977, against Regional Antofagasta in the Copa Chile. They won 2-0! The team quickly became strong. They earned promotion to Chile's top league in their very first season.
Just four years after starting, Cobreloa reached the finals of the Copa Libertadores de América in 1981. This is a huge international tournament for South American clubs. They lost to a Brazilian team, Flamengo. The next year, in 1982, Cobreloa reached the Copa Libertadores final again, but lost to Peñarol from Uruguay. They also made it to the semi-finals in 1987.
Cobreloa has played in the Copa Libertadores 13 times. They have also played in the Copa Sudamericana and Copa CONMEBOL. With 8 Primera División titles and 1 Copa Chile title, Cobreloa is one of the most successful clubs outside of Santiago.
League Performance Over the Years
This chart shows how Cobreloa has performed in the Chilean leagues since 1977.
Notes
- In 1977, the team moved up to Chile's First Division.
- In 2015, the team was moved down to Primera B.
- In 2023, Cobreloa was promoted back to Chile's First Division.
- In 2024, they moved down to Primera B again.
Fan Support
You can become a member of the club by visiting their office in Calama or signing up online. You need an ID and a photo. The oldest official member is Rodolfo Yáñez Rojas, who has been a member since the club started.
The first official fan group, called Barra Oficial de Cobreloa, was created in 1977 by workers from the El Loa province. In 1982, 35 CODELCO workers started another fan group called Barra Chuquicamata. Another group, Huracan Naranja, was formed in 1994 by fans in Santiago.
A survey in Chile showed Cobreloa is one of the most popular teams. In 2015, they were the 5th most popular club in the country. Fans of Cobreloa, especially CODELCO workers, are known for their strong support. They even donated a day of their salary once to help pay for a player, Mario Soto.
Team Colors, Badge, and Symbols
The first badge was designed by Enrique Escala. It was inspired by the logo of the Corporation del Cobre, a Chilean mining company. This company managed the club in its early years. The badge featured a football and the club's name in orange.
Over the years, the badge has changed a few times. In 2013, eight stars were added to the badge. These stars represent the eight national titles the club has won.
Cobreloa's main color is orange. According to former president José Gorrini, this color was chosen to honor the Netherlands National Football Team from the 1970s, which was very popular with players like Johan Cruyff. The color also helped the club get travel discounts with a national airline, Ladeco, which also used orange.
The very first Cobreloa uniform was a red shirt and white shorts. This was a temporary kit used in February 1977 for the Copa Chile. Since 1977, the team's classic uniform has been all orange. Sometimes they have white shorts or white socks. Their away kit is usually all white, but has also been black at times.
The first companies to make Cobreloa's uniforms were Chilean sports brands like 'Haddad' and 'MyS'. Later, in 1982, the club signed with the international sports brand Adidas.
The club has special commemorative shirts. In 2007, they had a special shirt to celebrate 30 years. In 2016, Macron made a shirt to celebrate 40 years, looking like the 1980s kits. In 2019, Cobreloa showed its first black third kit, chosen by the fans.
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Y en los triunfos y derrotas, gladiador tu frente noble
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The club's first anthem was written by Alejandro Álvarez Vargas. He won a contest for it.
One unique thing about Cobreloa is the siren that sounds when the team attacks the opponent's goal. This idea came from a CODELCO worker and his friends. They installed a siren in the stadium that sounded like the machinery at the Chuquicamata mine. It was like a "goal alarm"!
The club's first mascot was a real fox cub. A young boy named Gerónimo Dominguez raised it like a pet. He brought the fox to a game, and the team loved it! The fox became their mascot and would parade around the field. Sadly, the fox was later hit by a car and died. After this, a cartoon fox named "Loíto" was designed to be the new mascot.
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Stadiums
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The Orange Hell
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| Location | Matta Avenue, no Number, Calama, Chile |
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| Owner | Municipality of Calama |
| Operator | Municipality of Calama |
| Capacity | 12,346 seatings |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 3 February 2013 |
| Opened | 12 November 1952 |
| Renovated | 18 April 2015 |
| Construction cost | US$ 8.66 million |
| Architect | Gerardo Marambio Cortés Claudio Aceituno Husch Patricia Vidal Aguayo |
| Tenants | |
| Club de Deportes Cobreloa Deportes Iquique |
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Cobreloa's first home stadium was the Estadio Municipal de Calama. They played there from 1977 until 2013. For their two Copa Libertadores finals in 1981 and 1982, they played at the Estadio Nacional de Chile.
In 2013, the Estadio Municipal de Calama was renovated. So, the team had to play in other stadiums. They played in Antofagasta and Iquique. In June 2013, they started playing at the newly opened Estadio Luis Becerra Constanzo in Calama.
Since 2015, Cobreloa has played at the Estadio Zorros del Desierto in Calama. This is where they play their home games for national competitions.
Honors and Achievements
National Titles
- Primera División
- Winners (8): 1980, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 2003-A (Apertura), 2003-C (Clausura), 2004-C (Clausura)
- Copa Chile
- Winners (1): 1986
- Primera B de Chile
- Winners (1): 2023
International Achievements
- Copa Libertadores de América
- Runners-up (2): 1981, 1982
Club Records
Hector Puebla has played the most games for Cobreloa, with 663 appearances. He played for the team for 16 years (1980-1996). He also won the most titles with the club, including 5 league titles and 1 national cup.
Juan Covarrubias is the team's all-time top goalscorer, with 147 goals. He scored 105 goals in league matches. He won league titles with the team in 1988 and 1992.
Cobreloa holds the fifth-longest unbeaten streak at home in the world! They went 91 matches without losing in Calama from December 22, 1980, to September 22, 1985.
- Team Records
- Biggest victory: 10–0 against O'Higgins in the Copa Chile, 1979.
- Biggest Primera División victory: 9–0 against Regional Atacama in 1983.
- Heaviest Primera División defeat: 1–6 against Huachipato in 1998.
- Player Records
- Most league goals in one season: 42 by Patricio Galaz in 2004.
- Most league goals overall: 104 by Juan Covarrubias.
- Most goals overall: 144 by Juan Covarrubias.
- Most Primera División appearances: 446 by Héctor Puebla (1980-1996).
- Most appearances overall: 662 by Héctor Puebla (1980-1996).
Top Scorers in Primera División
| Year | Player | Goals |
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| 1982 | Jorge Luis Siviero | 18 |
| 1983 | Washington Olivera | 29 |
| 1993 | Marco Antonio Figueroa | 18 |
| Apertura 2004 | Patricio Galaz | 23 |
| Clausura 2004 | Patricio Galaz | 19 |
Top Scorers in Copa Chile
| Year | Player | Goals |
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| 1982 | Jorge Luis Siviero | 8 |
| 1986 | Juan Carlos Letelier | 11 |
| 1990 | Adrián Czornomaz | 13 |
| 1994 | Alejandro Glaría | 12 |
Players
Current Squad
Current squad of Cobreloa as of 4 July 2022 ()
Sources: ANFP Official Web Site: http://www.anfp.cl/club/43/cobreloa
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Manager: Emiliano Astorga
New Players for 2025
Cobreloa has added several new players for the 2025 season. Some of these include:
- Leandro Barrera (Forward, from Deportes Santa Cruz)
- David Tapia (Defender, from Santiago Morning)
- Gabriel Rojas (Midfielder, from Provincial Osorno)
- Cristian Muga (Midfielder, from Santiago Morning)
- Gustavo Gotti (Forward, from Rangers de Talca)
- Rafael Arace (Forward, from Deportivo La Guaira)
- Álvaro Delgado (Forward, from Deportes La Serena)
- Álvaro Salazar (Goalkeeper, from Unión San Felipe)
- Walter Ponce (Forward, from Unión La Calera)
- Agustín Heredia (Defender, from Plaza Colonia)
Players Who Left for 2025
Some players have also left Cobreloa for the 2025 season, including:
- Nicolás Avellaneda (Goalkeeper, to Chacarita Juniors)
- Juan Leiva (Midfielder, to O'Higgins F.C.)
- Javier Parraguez (Forward, to Deportes Iquique)
- Mauro Brasil (Defender, back to Cerro Largo FC)
- Marco Borgnino (Midfielder, to Club Atlético Alvarado)
- Christian Bravo (Forward, to Deportes Antofagasta)
- Mario Sandoval (Midfielder, to Deportes Limache)
Mid-Season Changes (Winter 2025)
- New Players:
- Ronald Guzmán (Defender, from O'Higgins F.C.)
- Branco Provoste (Midfielder, from Deportes Limache)
- Aldrix Jara (Forward, from Deportes Limache)
- Players Who Left:
- Rafael Arace (Forward, contract ended)
Coaching and Support Staff
The team has a head coach, assistant coaches, a goalkeeping coach, and a head fitness coach. They also have medics, kinesiologists, a paramedic, and other support staff to help the players.
Club Management
Cobreloa is managed as a "Professional Sports Corporation" in Chile. This means they follow special laws that allow them to organize and participate in professional sports. The club has a board of directors that makes important decisions.
Board of Directors
| Office | Name |
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| President | Harry Robledo |
| Vice president | Ignacio Mehech |
| Secretary | Wladimir Tito |
| Treasurer | César Jiménez |
| Director | Claudio Paredes |
| Director | Chariff Moreno |
| Director | Alejandra Ramos |
Club Leadership
| Office | Name |
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| Directors President | Harry Robledo |
| Finance Manager | María Calderón Calderón |
| Sports Manager | Mauricio Pozo Quinteros |
Coaches of Cobreloa
Many coaches have led Cobreloa over the years. Here are some of them:
- Andrés Prieto (1977-1979, 1989-1990)
Vicente Cantatore (1980-1984)
Jorge Luis Siviero (1986-1988)- Fernando Cavallieri (1991-1992)
- José Sulantay (1992-1993, 2017)
- Carlos Rojas (1997-1998, 2000, 2016)
- Arturo Salah (1999-2000)
- Nelson Acosta (2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2011-2012)
- Luis Garisto (2003)
- Fernando Díaz (2004)
- Marco Antonio Figueroa (2008, 2013, 2015, 2020)
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Marcelo Trobbiani (2009, 2014) - Mario Soto (2010)
- César Bravo (2014, 2016, 2024-Present)
- Héctor Almandoz (2021)
- Emiliano Astorga (2022-2024)
- Dalcio Giovagnoli (2024)
Club Presidents
Here are the presidents who have led Cobreloa since it was founded in 1977:
- Francisco Núñez Venegas (1977)
- José Gorrini Sanguinetti (1978)
- Sergio Stoppel García (1978-1982, 1987-1988)
- Luis Gómez Araya (1983-1987)
- Pedro Cortés Navia (1989-1991)
- Sergio Jarpa Gibert (1993-1998)
- Heriberto Pinto García (1999-2003)
- Gerardo Mella Fernández (2003-2006, 2015-2017)
- Juan Jorge Jorge (2007-2010)
- Javier Maureira Alfaro (2010-2012)
- Mario Herrera Pinto (2012-2014)
- Augusto González Aguirre (2006-2007, 2014-2015)
- Walter Aguilera (2017-2021)
- Fernando Ramírez (2022-2023)
- Marcelo Pérez García (2023-2024)
- Harry Robledo Cortés (2024-Present)
See also
In Spanish: Club de Deportes Cobreloa para niños
