Santa Tecla Fútbol Club was a Salvadoran multi-sport club based in Santa Tecla since being formed in 2007. Although they competed in a number of different sports, Santa Tecla was mostly known for its professional association football team. The club competed in Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador, the nation's top tier, since being promoted there for Apertura 2012. Santa Tecla was founded in 2007, its home games were at the 10,000 capacity soccer-specific Estadio Las Delicias.
History 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.
They took over the Telecom FC licence and made their debut in professional football in the 2007–08 season. – RSSSF During their first competitive season, the team managed to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Promotion to La Primera 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.
Champions 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.
Second championship 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.
Third championship 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.
Contenders and fourth championship 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.
Recent events 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 in 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. 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.
Disbandment On March 25th 2025, It was announced by Comisión Disciplinaria de la Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol (FESFUT) that the club will be banned from all levels of Salvadoran football and disbanded, while boards members Max Miguel Ayala Revelo (president), Jorge Italo Argueta Osorio (vice-president), Mario Enrique Monico Chavarría (secretary), Sonia Luz Alas de Valladares (treasurer), Juan Ramón Molina (trustee), Boris Ernesto Romero Castro (first director) and Juan Carlos Cruz Orellana (second director) were banned from all football related activities for 10 years.
Stadium
Estadio Las Delicias (2007–2024) Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González; San Salvador (2012) played in TBD during Estadio Las Delicias renovation. Estadio Universitario UES; San Salvador (2019, 2023-present) played in Clausura 2019 during Estadio Las Delicias renovation. Estadio Cuscatlán; San Salvador (2019–2020) played in Clausura 2019 during Estadio Las Delicias renovation and again in Apertura 2020 due to dispute with INDES the owner of the stadium. Estadio Anna Mercedes Campos; Sonsonate (2023–2024) played for both the Apertura/Clausura 2023 season while the Estadio Las Delicias renovation
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.
Sponsorship Companies that Santa Tecla FC currently has sponsorship deals with for 2023–2024 includes: AriJam – Official kit suppliers Electrolit – Official sponsors Sistema Fedecredito – Official sponsors Las Perlitas – Official sponsors Plaza Merlot – Official sponsors Transportes Galindo – Official sponsors ElQuijote – Official sponsors Laboratorios Proquifar – Official sponsors
Honours
Domestic honours Leagues Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador and predecessors Champions (4): Clausura 2015, Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017, Apertura 2018 Segunda División Salvadorean and predecessors Champions (1): Clausura 2012
Cups Copa El Salvador and predecessors Champions (2): 2016–17, 2018–19
Minor Cups Jaguar Sportic Cup Champions (1): 2015–16
Current squad As of July, 2024.
Out on loan
In
Roberto Llamas
Out
Coaching staff As of April 4, 2024 PositionStaffManager Francisco Medrano (*)Assistant Manager Rodrigo Vanegas *Assistant Manager TBD *Reserve Manager Rodrigo Vanegas *Under 17 Manager Douglas Vidal Jiménez *Under 15 Manager TBD *Goalkeeping Coach TBD *Fitness Coach Josué Martínez *Team Doctor Isela GarcíaKinesiologist Hector BermudezUtility David Ernesto Guevara Utility William Antonio VelázquezSporting Director Fernando Ledesma (*)
Personnel
Management PositionStaffHonorary President José Eduardo AmayaPresident Eduardo Amaya de LeonVice President Jorge Italo Argueta *Management Representative Roberto D'AubuissonAdministrative Manager Rene GuevaraBoard Director Guillermo FigueroaBoard Director Oscar OrtizLegal Representation Max Ayala Revelo General Director Enrique Monico *Board Director Board Director Board Director
Presidential history
NameYears Raúl Góchez2007 Óscar Ortiz2012–2014 José Vidal Hernández2014–2018 Guillermo Figueroa2018–2019 José Eduardo Amaya 2020-Present
List of notable players Captains Nameyears Pedro Reyes2012 Jaime Medina2012–2013 Óscar Navarro2013–2015 Gerson Mayen2015–2016 Diego Chavarría2016–2017 Gerson Mayen 2018–2019 Alexander Méndoza 2020–2021 Marlon Cornejo 2022 Gilberto Baires 2022–2023 Néstor Renderos 2023 Aquiles Méndez 2024
World Cup players Players that have played for Santa Tecla in their career and played in a World Cup: Sebastian Abreu
Copa America players Players that have played for Santa Tecla in their career and played in a Copa America: Sebastian Abreu Carlos Bueno
Players with 50 or more goals/appearances for Santa Tecla 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)
List of coaches 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.
NameFromTo Armando Contreras Palma 2007 2007 Jorge Alberto Perez Quezada2008Nov 2009 Leonel CárcamoNov 2009Feb 2010 Efren MarencoFeb 2010July 2010 Armando Contreras PalmaAug 2010Oct 2010 Jorge BúcaroOct 2010Dec 2010 Rubén AlonsoDec 2010Nov 2011 Edgar Henríquez "Kiko"Dec 2011June 2012 Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi"June 2012Oct 2012 Guillermo RiveraOct 2012Dec 2012 William Renderos IrahetaDec 2012Sept 2013 Edgar Henríquez "Kiko"Sept 2013May 2014 Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi"May 2014May 2016 Ernesto CortiJune 2016December 2017 Rubén da SilvaDecember 2017June 2018 Christian DíazJune 2018April 2019 Rodolfo Gochez (Interim)April 2019April 2019 Sebastian AbreuApril 2019May 2019 Rodolfo GochezMay 2019August 2019 Leonel Cárcamo (Interim)August 2019September 2019 Marco Sánchez YacutaSeptember 2019January 2020 Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi"January 2020July 2020 Juan Andrés SarulyteAugust 2020October 2020 Jaime Medina (Interim)October 2020January 2021 Rubén da SilvaJanuary 2021September 2021 Rodolfo Góchez (Interim)September 2021December 2021 Daniel BartolottaDecember 2021March 2022 Leonel Cárcamo March 2022June 2022 Ernesto Corti June 2022May 2023 Francisco Medrano July 2023October 2023 Juan Ramón SánchezOctober 2023April 2024 Francisco Medrano April 2024July 2024HiatusJuly 2024Present
Club records
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.