Club Deportivo Universidad Católica

Team of Universidad Católica in 1939

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.[2] In time, the idea of creating a professional club emerged, and on 21 April 1937,[3] the club officially and legally began. It made its professional debut, in the second division, against the Universidad de Chile. Universidad Católica won its first League title in the 1949 season.[4]

Universidad Católica in 1949

In December 1956, Universidad Católica was placed at the bottom of the league table and relegated to Segunda División for the first time in its history.[5] On 10 November 1956, Universidad Católica won the Segunda División title after defeating Deportes La Serena by 3–2 and gained promotion straight back up to the top division, with captain Sergio Livingstone and Raimundo Infante claiming the top scorer award.[6] In the 1970s, Universidad Católica was facing an institutional, the team ended the 1973 Primera División tournament at the bottom of the table,[7] Universidad Católica was relegated to Segunda División for the second time in its history.[8] In 1975, Universidad Católica won the title and therefore returned to Primera División to play the 1976 season.[9][10]

In 1993, Universidad Católica reached their first ever Copa Libertadores final.[11] The team had previously eliminated clubs Atlético Nacional (2–0, 1–2 in round of 16), Barcelona (3–1, 1–1 in  quarterfinals) and América de Cali (1-0, 2–2 in semifinals).[12] In the finals, between the two legs after a heavy defeat away la Catolica won the second leg but lost São Paulo the title on aggregate 5–3.[13] With Manuel Pellegrini as manager, on 1 November 1994, after beating Saprissa 5–1 at San Carlos de Apoquindo with goals by Andrés Romero, Alberto Acosta, Juvenal Olmos, Miguel Ardiman and Rodrigo Barrera, Universidad Católica became the second Chilean team to win a Copa Interamericana,[14] they also achieved the 1995 Copa Chile title.[15]

In 1997 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a friendly tournament where they beat Ajax Amsterdam 3–2 in the Copa 60º Aniversario de Universidad Católica.[16]

Universidad Católica won the title 2002 Primera División (Apertura) after beating Rangers de Talca 4–0 in final at San Carlos de Apoquindo, with Juvenal Olmos as manager.[17] In 2005 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.[18] On 22 December, Universidad Católica won their nine Chilean Primera División (Clausura) title, after beating Universidad de Chile's in a penalty shootout at Estadio Nacional.[19] In 2006 the team made a good presentation in the Copa Libertadores, but was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres UANL of Mexico and failed to advance beyond the group stage.[20]

Católica again played 2008 Copa Libertadores with no luck, being eliminated in the group stage by goal difference by River Plate and América.[21] In 2010 Copa Libertadores, their performance was no better, finishing third in group stage behind Universidad de Chile and Flamengo.[22] In the 2010 season a 3–2 defeat to Colo Colo in October gave Colo Colo a seven-point lead in the league with seven match of the season remaining.[23] A victory over Cobreloa 3–2 at Estadio Municipal de Calama, put them one point away from their first title since 2005.[24] In the last match, Universidad Católica defeated Everton 5–0 to secure the club's ten Chilean Primera Division title and end a five-year trophy drought.[25]

In the 2011 season they finished in second place in Chilean Primera División.[26] They also reached the 2011 Copa Chile final where they faced Deportes Magallanes.[27] Universidad Católica won 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1.[27] In 2011 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished first on the group stage, and then advanced to the quarter-finals, knocking out Grêmio of Brazil on the best 16 round,[28] and falling to Peñarol of Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo and winning their home match 2–1, which was not enough to advance.[29] In 2012 the club again played Copa Libertadores, under coach and former player Mario Lepe, finished last on the group stage, winning only 1 home game and losing on their away games in Colombia and Bolivia.[30] In Copa Sudamericana 2012, Universidad Católica advancing to the semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful São Paulo from Brazil,[31] who would go on to win the tournament.[32]

On April 30, 2016, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Clausura title in 2016 for the first time in six years.[33] Universidad Católica won the title on the last matchday after beating Audax Italiano 2–1.[34] On 15 September 2016, the club won the Supercopa de Chile for a first time defeating Universidad de Chile 2–1 in the final.[35] After, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Apertura, the title was won on 8 December, where Universidad Católica faced Deportes Temuco at Germán Becker. Two goals in the last half-hour secured Universidad Católica a 2–0,[36] with Mario Salas leading the team towards its first Bicampeonato for winning two national titles in a row.[37]

José Pedro Fuenzalida is the most decorated player in Universidad Católica history.[38]

With Beñat San José as manager, Universidad Católica won the title 2018 on the last matchday after beating Deportes Temuco 2–1.[39] In 2019, with Gustavo Quinteros Universidad Católica won their 2th Supercopa de Chile[40] and won a second consecutive Primera División title.[41] Due to the 2019 Chilean protests, the competition was suspended since mid-October with six matchdays still left.[42] On 29 November 2019, ANFP's Council of Presidents voted to conclude the season.[43][44] The title was the 14th official league in the club's history.[45] In the 2010s, Universidad Católica won five league championships, a Copa Chile and two Chilean Supercups.[46]

On 14 February 2020, with Ariel Holan Universidad Católica secured their third consecutive Primera División title,[47] they also achieved the semi-finals of Copa Chile.[48] Days after winning the title, Holan announced his resignation as Universidad Católica[49] and in March, Gustavo Poyet was appointed coach, signing a two-year contract,[50] and Universidad Católica won their 3rd Supercopa de Chile.[51] In 2021 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished second on the group stage,[52] and then advanced to the round of 16, before being knocked out by the Palmeiras from Brazil,[53] who would go on to win the tournament.[54] On 30 August 2021, Gustavo Poyet was sacked from his managerial position,[55] one day after Cristian Paulucci was announced as the new coach.[56] On 20 January 2021, Universidad Católica won their four Supercopa de Chile title, after beating Ñublense's in a penalty shootout.[57] On 4 December 2021, Universidad Católica were confirmed 2021 Primera División champions, reaching four consecutive league titles.[58][59]

The first crest had a design consisting of an interlacing of two initials of the club, "UC", in dark blue on a white shirt.

There is often a rivalry between the two clubs from academic roots, where the game between Universidad Católica and Universidad 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.[3] 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".[2]

This clásico has been recognized by FIFA as the most traditional of Chile.[81] They met for the first time on 13 June 1937 in matchday three of the first Serie B at the Estadio Militar.[2] These two teams have played twenty championship definitions against each other, Universidad Católica has won fourteen and Universidad de Chile six.[82]

As of 7 September 2023[83]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  CHI Vicente Bernedo 3 DF  CHI Eugenio Mena 5 DF  CHI Daniel González 6 DF  ARG Guillermo Burdisso 7 FW  ARG Franco Di Santo 8 MF  CHI Ignacio Saavedra 9 FW  ARG Fernando Zampedri 10 MF  CHI César Pinares 11 MF  ECU Juan Francisco Rossel 12 GK  CHI Thomas Gillier 13 FW  CHI Axel Cerda 14 FW  CHI Luis Hernández 15 DF  CHI Cristián Cuevas

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  COL Brayan Rovira (on loan from Atlético Nacional) 17 DF  CHI Branco Ampuero 18 FW  CHI Alexander Aravena 19 MF  CHI Bryan González 20 FW  CHI Gonzalo Tapia 21 MF  CHI Diego Corral 22 GK  ARG Nicolás Peranic 23 DF  CHI Byron Nieto (on loan from Deportes Antofagasta) 24 DF  CHI Alfonso Parot 26 FW  CHI Diego Ossa 27 FW  CHI Jorge Ortiz 35 FW  CHI Clemente Montes 55 DF  URU Gary Kagelmacher

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 30 MF  CHI Sebastian Espinoza 31 FW  CHI Milan Tudor

No. Pos. Nation Player 32 DF  CHI Carlos Arancibia 33 DF  CHI Pablo Pinto

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  CHI Sebastián Pérez (at Unión Española) — DF  CHI Tomás Asta-Buruaga (at Unión La Calera) — DF  CHI Aaron Astudillo (at Deportes Recoleta) — DF  CHI Cristóbal Finch (at Barnechea)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  CHI Carlos Salomón (at Deportes Santa Cruz) — DF  CHI Ian Toro (at Deportes Copiapó) — MF  CHI Juan Leiva (at Ñublense) — FW  CHI César Munder (at Cobresal) — FW  CHI Nicolas Sepulveda (at Barnechea)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 35 FW  CHI Clemente Montes (back from Celta Vigo B)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ARG Matías Dituro (to Fatih Karagümrük)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  CHI Mauricio Isla (to Independiente)

Since the establishment of the club in 1937, 19 players have been club captain of Universidad Católica.[84]

Name Period Nelson Sanhueza  ? Ignacio Prieto 1977-1979 Santiago Oñate 1980 Juan Ubilla 1981 Miguel Ángel Neira 1983-1987 Osvaldo Hurtado 1988 Pablo Yoma 1989 Marco Cornez 1990 Patricio Toledo 1991-1992 Mario Lepe 1993-2000 Miguel Ramírez 2001-2003

Name Period Nelson Parraguez 2004 Cristián Álvarez 2004-2005 Eduardo Rubio 2005-2006 Francisco Arrué 2006 José María Buljubasich 2007-2008 Milovan Mirošević 2009-2014 Cristián Álvarez 2015-2018 José Pedro Fuenzalida 2019-2022 Matías Dituro 2023 Fernando Zampedri 2023-