Cacique Diriangén Fútbol club is a Nicaraguan professional football club based in Diriamba which competes in Nicaraguan Premier Division (Primera Division). It is one of the oldest clubs in not only Nicaragua but also in Central America.
History Founded in 1917, Diriangén has won a total of 30 domestic titles, including at least one in every decade since the 1940s. They are also the only club in Nicaragua to have competed in every season of the league's top flight. As a result of this success, the club has become associated with the motto "Diriangén no tuvo infancia, porque nació grande" ("Diriangen never had a childhood because it was born big")'.
Diriangén's strongest era was in the 1940s, when they won six consecutive championships (1940–45). They won a seventh championship in 1949, and hoisted the crown three times in the 1950s (1953, 1956, and 1959). A long drought followed in the 1960s, but the club rebounded in the mid 60s with Roy Zuniga el "Portero Historico" with consecutive titles in 1969–70 and again in 1974.
The 1980s saw a return to the form of glory days past. It opened with a threepeat (1981, 1982, and 1983) and included other championships in 1987 and 1989. The 1990s were similar—a threepeat from 1994–97, followed by a title win in 1999–2000. However, the 2000s didn't go quite as well. Although Diriangén managed to win the championship in 2004–2005 and 2005–2006, the real power in Nicaragua had shifted to Real Esteli, winners of thirteen championships in 16 years.
Meanwhile, Diriangén struggled through a thirteen year title drought. That year was finally broken in Clausura 2018, when they knocked off Real Esteli 3–1 on aggregate.
The club celebrated its 100-year celebration in 2017
Current squad As of May 31, 2026
Players with dual citizenship Douglas Forvis
Out on loan
In
Out
Personnel
Current technical staff As of December 2025 Position NameManager Alexander VargasAssistant manager TBDReserve team coach Ricardo ArevaloAssistant Reserve team coach Alejandro MunozGoalkeeper coach Carlos MendietaGeneral sporting director Bernardo LaureiroFitness coach Francisco OlivaresUnder 19 coach Marcos MendezClub doctor Reynaldo CruzUtility César Tinoco
Management
PositionStaffPresident Diego JacirVice President Reynal MairenaLegal Representative Secretary of the Board Treasurer General administrator Diego Jacir
Honours Diriangén is historically the most successful team in Nicaraguan football, as they have won the most Primera División de Nicaragua with thirty-three (33) and won 3 Copa de Nicaragua.
Domestic honours League Primera División de Nicaragua and predecessors Champions (33): 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994−95, 1995−96, 1996−97, 1999−2000, 2004 Apertura, 2005 Clausura, 2005−06, Clausura 2018, 2021 Clausura, 2021 Apertura, Clausura 2022, 2023 Apertura, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024
Domestic Cups Copa de Nicaragua and predecessors Champions (5): 1996, 1997, 2020, 2024, 2025
International CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup: 2 appearances 1994 – Quarter-Finals 1997 – Qualifying Stage (Central Zone)
Record versus other clubs As of 2013-09-13 The Concacaf opponents below = Official tournament results: (Plus a sampling of other results) Opponent Last Meeting G W D L F A PTS +/- Águila CONCACAF 1976 2 0 0 2 2 11 0 -9 Alajuelense CONCACAF 1997 2 1 0 1 4 5 3 -1 Alianza CONCACAF 1993 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 -4 Árabe Unido CONCACAF 1998 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 -1 Atlético Marte CONCACAF 1970 2 0 0 2 1 8 0 -7 Coke Milpross CONCACAF 1989 2 0 1 1 1 4 1 -3 Comunicaciones CL 2022 3 1 0 2 2 15 0 -13 Euro Kickers CONCACAF 1997 2 1 0 1 6 5 3 +1 FAS UNCAF 2004 2 0 0 2 0 9 0 -9 Herediano CONCACAF 1994 2 0 0 2 2 9 0 -7 La Victoria FC CONCACAF 1992 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 -1 Marathón CL 2021 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 -2 Municipal CONCACAF 1977 2 0 0 2 2 16 0 -14 Olimpia UNCAF 2006 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 -4 Real Maya CONCACAF 1994 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 -3 Real España CONCACAF 1990 2 0 0 2 1 7 0 -6 Deportivo Saprissa CONCACAF 1998 6 0 0 6 1 29 0 -28 Suchitepéquez UNCAF 2006 2 0 0 2 2 4 0 -2 Universitario CL 2018 2 0 0 2 1 7 0 -6 Totals
Sponsors Jersey sponsors claro (2001–06) Movistar (2007–2015) claro (2015–present) totto (2014–present) U de M (2014–present) Alcaldía de Diriamba (2014–present) CrediFacil Proplasa betcris Victoria Frost Iresa Flor de Cana
Shirt sponsors Joma (2003–2022) Macron (2022–present; also the shirt manufacturers)
Club statistics and records José María Bermúdez holds the distinction of scoring the most goals in one match, he notched 9 goals in 1997 match against Xiletepelt.
Award winners Top Goalscorer (TBD) The following players have won the league top Goalscorer while playing for Diriangén :
Manuel Cuadra (-) - 1968 Manuel Cuadra (-) - 1969 Mauricio Cruz (-) - 1983 Mauricio Cruz (-) - 1984 Mauricio Cruz (-) - 1985 Mauricio Cruz (-) - 1987 Livio Bendana (-) - 1990 José Maria Bermúdez (-) - 1997-1998 Sergio Gago (-) - 1998-1999 Lester Gonzalez (-) - 1999-2000 Carlos Novoa (-) - 2002-2003 Emilio Palacios (8) - Apertura 2004 Herberth Cabrera (15) - 2010-2011 Maycon Santana (10) - 2021 Luis Coronel (11) - 2024 Clausura
Notable players Below are the notable former and current players who have represented Diriangen in Primera Division and international competition since the club's foundation in 1917. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 100 official matches for the club, and or who has been called up by their national team.
Roy Zuniga P.- "Portero Historico" Ranvir Singh Livio Bendaña Mauricio Cruz Manuel Cuadra
Stadium
The stadium, Estadio Cacique Diriangén, holds 7,500 people. It is a multi-purpose stadium, and has been the home stadium of the Nicaragua national football team for many years. The stadium has much history: In this stadium the club Diriangén FC won against many teams from Central America.
List of managers Diriangen has had permanent managers since it first appointed Napolen Parrales Bendaña as coach in 1917. The longest-serving manager was Mauricio Cruz Jiron, who managed Diriangen for fourteen years from 1992 to 2006. Hungarian Eduardo Kosovic was the foreign coach in the club. Mauricio Cruz Jiron is the most successful manager as he led the club to seven primera division titles.
Napolen Parrales Bendaña (1917–TBD) Miguel Cuadra Gonzalez Alberto Davila El Tico Carlos Marin (1940s) Eduardo Kosovic (1940s) Lurio Martinez (1950s) Eduardo Cosovich (1956) Luis Angel Pipila Umana (1958) Santiago Bonilla (1950s) Santiago Berrini (1960s) Omar Muraco Martin "El Cantante" García Manuel "Catarro" Cuadra (1969) Armando Ruiz (1960s) Omar Jiron Rugamas (1960s) Roberto Guardia (1960s) Livio Bendaña Espinoza (1966–72) Oscar Figueroa Cristales Cocoroco (1973) Pedro Jose Jiron (1970s) Julio Rocha Ideaquez El negro Julio (1970s) Armando Mendieta Parrales Miluy (1980s) Jose Manuel Figuero Chemanel (1980s) William Parrales Quintanilla (1980s) Benjamin Parrales (1980s) Mario Chavez Morales (1980s) Milton Cuadra Serrano (1990–1991) Mauricio Cruz Jiron (1991– 2006) Róger "Pinocho" Rodríguez (Aug 2006–06) Martín Mena (2007) Mauricio Cruz Jiron (2008–10) Edgardo Soza (2010) Rolando Méndez (2010–11) Glen Blanco (July 2011 – October 11) Martín Mena (October 2011 – February 12) Ángel Eugenio Orellana (February 2012 – June 12) Francisco Nuñez (June 2012 – September 12) Luis Vega (September 2012 – October 12) Carlos Alberto de Toro (October 2012 – November 13) Flavio Da Silva (November 2013 – May 14) Florencio Leiva (June 2014 – August 14) Roberto Chanampe (August 2014 – July 2015) Andrés Novara (July 2015 – October 2015) Javier Londoño (October 2015 – January 2016) Mario Reig (January 2016 – February 2016) Jose Luis Rugamas (February 2016 – August 2016) Tyron Acevedo (August 2016 – May 2017) Mauricio Cruz Jiron (May 2017 – September 2019) Flavio Da Silva (September 2019 – April 2022) Tyrone Leiva (April 2022 – June 2022) Roberto Chanampe (June 2022 – May 2023) José Giacone (June 2023 – September 2024) Edward Urroz Interim (September 2024 - March 2025) José Giacone (April 2025 - December 2025) Alexander Vargas (December 2025 - present)
Notable managers The following managers have won at least one trophy while in charge at Diriangen: NameNatTenureHonors Eduardo Cosovich1956 Primera Division 1956 Manuel "Catarro" Cuadra 1969 Primera Division 1969 Livio Bendaña Espinoza1966-1972 Primera Division 1970 Mauricio Cruz Jiron1992–2006 Primera Division 1989, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2018 Clausura Flavio Da Silva 2019–2022 Copa Primera 2020, 2021 Clausura, 2021 Apertura Tyrone Leiva April 2022 – June 2022 Clausura 2022 José Giacone June 2023 – September 2024; April 2025 – December 2025 Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Copa Primera 2024, 2025 Apertura Edward Urroz September 2024 – March 2025 Apertura 2024
Women's team The women's team has won the Nicaraguan women's football championship four times in 2000, 2001, 2003 and lately in 2010.
References
External links Soccerway profile Los inmortales caciques (history) – La Prensa Historias del Fútbol Diriambino: Nacimiento del Diriangen Papyfutbol – Futbol de Nicaragua De la gloria a la inmortalidad – La Prensa El Equipo Diriangen de Futbol – Multicampeon Nica – Diriamba Livio Bendaña Espinoza – El Nuevo Diario Luis Mario "El Mesie" Orellana Castro – Notifutbol Diriangen FC: 92 Años de Orgullo y Pasión – Notifutbol Defendamos 83 años de historia – El Nuevo Diario Trece técnicos han pasado durante la sequía – Barra Cacique