Santa Tecla Fútbol Club is a Salvadoran multi-sport club based in Santa Tecla since being formed in 2007.[1] Although they compete in a number of different sports, Santa Tecla is mostly known for its professional association football team.[2]The club has competed in Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador, the nation's top tier, since being promoted there for Apertura 2012.[3][4][5]Santa Tecla was founded in 2007, and currently plays its home games at the 10,000 capacity soccer-specific Estadio Las Delicias.[6]
Santa Tecla Fútbol Club was formed in 2007 as a means for the "Tecleños" citizens to support a local team. It had been almost 40 years since the demise of former league champions Quequeisque.[7]
They took over the Telecom FC licence and made their debut in professional football in the 2007–08 season.[8] During their first competitive season, the team managed to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Santa Tecla won their first title in 2012, winning the 2012 Apertura second division title by defeating Brasilia 2–1. A week later Santa Tecla defeated Titán (the champion of the 2011 Clausura title) 2–1 with goals by William Maldonado and Roberto González, allowing for Santa Tecla to be promoted to the Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador (La Primera) for the first time in club history.[9]
In 2015, the club had its most successful period in its history under the guidance of Argentinian Osvaldo Escudero. The club were able to win their first championship (the Clausura 2015) in club history. Santa Tecla won on a penalty shootout 3–1 after the match finished 1–1; William Maldonado was the lone goal-scorer for Santa Tecla in the final.[10]
Santa Tecla finished in third place in the regular season, advancing to the 2016 Apertura Playoffs, where they met Isidro Metapan in the first round. They drew the first leg 2–2, but Santa Tecla won the second leg at TBD, to win 3–2 on aggregate. Santa Tecla faced the Aguila in the semi-final, winning 4–3 on aggregate to advance to La Primera's championship game. Santa Tecla faced the Alianza F.C. for the championship. Santa Tecla won 3–2 on a game-winning brace by Sebastian Abreu in the second half, with Gerson Mayen scoring the other goal in the first half, thus winning their second title in La Primera.
Santa Tecla finished in third place in the regular season, advancing to the 2017 Clausura Playoffs, where they met C.D. FAS in the first round. They drew the first leg 0–0, but Santa Tecla won the second leg at Estadio Las Delicias 1–0, to win 1–0 on aggregate. Santa Tecla faced the Aguila in the semi-final, winning 5–2 on aggregate to advance to the championship game. Santa Tecla faced the Alianza F.C. for the championship for the second straight tournament. Santa Tecla once again won La Primera's championship title with a comprehensive 4–0 victory, with Marlon Cornejo, Gerson Mayen William Canales and Carlos Bueno.
Following their third La Primera championship, the team made two consecutive finals (Apertura 2017 and Clausura 2018) against Alianza F.C., losing 4–1 and 1–0 respectively. During that period they were coached by Argentinian Ernesto Corti and Uruguayan Ruben da Silva. On 16 December 2018, Santa tecla won their fourth La Primera championship, defeating their rival Alianza F.C. 2–1 thanks to a double from Wilma Torres. The title end their recent losses and dominance by Alianza in the finals. [1]
The club's finances were heavily impacted by the death of the club president José Vidal Hernández and the COVID pandemic. As an ongoing consequence, the club were restricted in their spending focusing on selling their experienced players and focusing on their youth players. The club went from being title contenders to fighting for survival.
Juan Ramon Sanchez left the club on February 2024 via mutual consent, with ten games remaining and the team in the relegation zone. Francisco Medrano was appointed as his replacement until the end of the season On 28 April, 2024, Santa Tecla F.C.C were relegated as a consequence of their 2-1 loss against C.D. Luis Angel Firpo's. [2] This ended the club's Twelve-year stint in the Primera Division, making them only the fifth former Primera Division champions to be relegated from the league since it began in Apertura-Clausura, following C.D. Vista Hermosa, Once Municipal, C.D. Dragon, C.D. Luis Angel Firpo and Atletico Marte.
Santa Tecla Fútbol Club has forged its entire history, from 2007 to the present, in the Estadio Las Delicias, but during stadium renovations they played their matches in the Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González and Estadio Universitario UES.
Companies that Santa Tecla FC currently has sponsorship deals with for 2023–2024 includes:
As of July, 2024. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Roberto Llamas
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
As of April 4, 2024
Players that have played for Santa Tecla in their career and played in a World Cup:
Players that have played for Santa Tecla in their career and played in a Copa America:
Includes competitive appearances only. Current players in bold
Ricardinho (207 games, 80 goals)
Juan Barahona (190 games) Gerson Mayen (180 games) Marlon Cornejo (148 games) Bryan Tamacas (153 games)
Joel Almeida (139 games) Alexander Mendoza (130 games) Gilberto Baires (113 games)
Facundo Simioli (83 games) Rodrigo Rivera (74 games)Santa Tecla has had 20 permanent managers since it first appointed Armando Contreras Palma as coach in 2007. The longest serving manager was Osvaldo Escudero, who managed Santa Tecla for two years from May 2014 to May 2016. Edgar Henríquez "Kiko" won the club's first title, winning the Segunda División title in 2011, while Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi" won the club's first Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador (La Primera) title in 2015. This was followed by Ernesto Corti, who coached then to a second (2016) and third (2017) consecutive La Primera titles. Corti also won Copa El Salvador in 2017. Argentinian Christian Díaz made it four consecutive with the 2018 Apertura title. The current coach is Salvadorian Juan Ramón Sánchez.
The Mexican goalkepper Joel Almeida holds Santa Tecla overall appearance record having played in 223 matches over the course of 8 seasons from 2015 to 2020 and 2022 to 2023. Following him is former defeneder Juan Barahona who contested 222 matches over the course of 11 seasons from 1997 to 2008.
The club's all-time leading scorer is Brazilian Ricardo Ferreira, who scored 81 goals while at the club from 2013 to 2018 and 2019 to 2020. Ricardo Ferreira is also third behind Joel Almeida and Juan Barahona in all time appearances having played in TBD matches during his 8-year stint at the club. Brazilian Ricardo Ferreira hold the record for most goals scored during a league season for Santa Tecla, he notched 10 goals, which he attained in the TBD season.
Santa Tecla's biggest league victory is 8–0 which occurred during the 2016 season against Pasaquina. Santa Tecla biggest victory in the Copa El Salvador 6-1 Escuela de Fútbol de Guazapa in 2016-2017 edition of the competition. The club's biggest victory on the CONCACAF stage occurred during the 1995 season, where Santa Tecla defeated American-based club Seattle Sounders FC 2–1.
Argentinian Osvaldo Escudero had the longest reign as Santa Tecla coach, with two years and six months (two consecutive) in charge, while Argentinian Ernesto Corti is the most successful coach in Santa Tecla history with two Primera division wins (Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017) and one Copa El Salvador (2016-2017) title.
Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador (La Primera): (Apertura 2012 – Clausura 2024)
The reserve team serves mainly as the final stepping stone for promising young players under the age of 21 before being promoted to the main team. The second team is coached by [ Rodrigo Vanegas. the team played in the Primera División Reserves, their greatest successes were winning the Reserve championships in Clausura 2017, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2019 and Apertura 2021.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The youth team (under 17 and under 15) has produced some of El Salvador's top football players, including TBD and TBD. They are currently coached by Douglas Vidal Jiménez
The women's first team, which is led by head coach René David López, features several members of the El Salvador national ladies team including Damaris Quelez (who won golden boot 42 goals). Their greatest successes was winning the 2023 title. [4]
Santa Tecla has other departments for a variety of sports.
Santa Tecla Básquetbol Club was founded on 2015 and play Liga Mayor de Baloncesto (LMB) which is the highest level in El Salvador league tier. the club is led by head coach Ernesto “el Colocho” Rodríguez , the club features several key members including Puerto Rican Bryan Vásquez and TBD. Their greatest successes were winning the 2016 Clausura, 2018 Clausura, 2019 Apertura, Apertura 2023
Santa Tecla Béisbol Club was founded on 2016 and play Liga Nacional de Béisbol (LNB) which is the highest level in El Salvador league tier. the club is led by head coach Venezuelan Jesús Cartagena, the club features several key members including Puerto Rican Bryan Vásquez and TBD. Their greatest successes were reaching the TBD
Santa Tecla Voleibol Club was founded on 2016 and play Campeonaro Nacional which is the highest level in El Salvador league tier. the club is led by head coach TBD, the club features several key members including TBD and TBD. Their greatest successes were reaching the TBD
