Club Deportivo Águila, commonly known as Águila, is a Salvadoran professional football club based in San Miguel. The club currently competes in Primera División, the top tier of El Salvador football league system.
Águila is one of the most successful clubs in El Salvador football history, with seventeen Primera División championships, one Copa Presidente, and one CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Their 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1976 title made them the second Salvadoran team to win a CONCACAF title.
Since 1956, Águila have played their home games at Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza located in San Miguel.
Aguila is one of the most widely supported football clubs in El Salvador, and has a long standing rivalry with neighbours Dragón, known as the San Miguel derby, and also competes with power club FAS, known as El Clásico (English: The Classic).
History Foundation and early years Club Deportivo Águila was founded on 15 February 1926, in the City of San Miguel, by a group of young people. The first club president was Victor Vanegas. The major goal of the club was first to establish a baseball team, and later develop football and basketball teams. At the beginning, baseball and football were not as successful as basketball with the team dominating in both El Salvador as in neighbouring countries.
In 1956, a group met in San Miguel and decided to form a football team named Club Deportivo Águila. Their first act was to meet with the president of Alacranes, Miguel Sagastizado, after sometime negotiating, they purchased their spot in Liga B and this was ratified by FESFUT on 21 August 1956. In the first season the club played under the name of CD A, this was due to another club in the division Águilas FC from Santa Tecla having a similar name. To attract big names players the clubs paid a minimum of 75 colones per month (US$8), which was above the average of their three biggest rivals (Dragon Rácing and Corona) paid their players per month, which was around 30 to 50 colones (US$3.40 – 5.70). This allowed them to signed players such as Juan Francisco Barraza, Esteban Blanco, Salvador Hernández, Fito Fuentes, Juan Merthem, Atilio Pineda, Honduran Manuel Larios, Saul Molina and Rodolfo Fuentes. This came at great cost professionally as FESFUT barred the players to play for the national team as no second division players were allowed to represent the national team. They hired Argentinian Agustin Noriega who previously coached Guatemalan club like Guatemala Deportiva. CD A first game was a 2–2 all draw with Titan, with Juan Antonio "Maquinita" Merlos scoring both goals, by the end of the season Juan Merlos was the team leading scorer with 16 goals.
During its time in the lower leagues, it fought for the affections of the San Miguel people alongside rival Dragón, but when they were promoted to the Liga, it attracted a following not only from San Miguel but also from the entire country. Proof of this was demonstrated by the fact that the teams sold more tickets when the local club played against Águila.
Early titles (1956-1961) After two years in the Liga B (Segunda Division), Aguila qualified to Championship/Promotional series against Atlético Constancia (Currently known as Alianza F.C. Aguila won the first game 2–0, thanks to a double from Juan Antonio Merlos, and after 0–0 draw in the second leg. Aguila were promoted to the first division for the first time in the club history.
In their very first campaign, Under the tutelage of Conrado Miranda, and signing of key players such as Juan Francisco Barraza, Juan Antonio Merlos and Saul Molina, Costa Rican Fernando Jiménez and many others, Aguila finished the regular season tied on points with future arch rival FAS (26 points), the club scored on average 2.6 goals per game and included a memorable 7–0 victory over Leones de Sonsonate. This required a two=legged playoff games, which Aguila won the first leg 4–0. the goalscorers were Costa Rican Raul Lizano, Juan Francisco Barraza, Salvador Rocabruna and Juan Antonio Merlos. The club were able to win 1–0 away, with the sole goal coming from Saul Molina. They became the first club to win a title after gaining promotion, only two other clubs have done that in the history of Primera Division (C.D. Platense Municipal Zacatecoluca and C.D. Vista Hermosa).
The following season, the club hired Honduran coach Carlos Padilla, signed Raul Corcio and Costa Rican Ramon Rodriguez, and promoted Sergio Mendez from the youth level. The club went on to win 14 games, draw 3 games and only suffered 1 game. The club secured the title after defeating Atlante 3–1 on the 14th of May, 1961. The club were able twin back to back titles for the first time in the club history.
Third and Fourth titles under Victor Manuel Ochoa(1963-1965) After an unsuccessful 1962 campaigns. The club board members hired Victor Manuel Ochoa for the 1963-64 campaign, the club started poorly with loss against 2-0 UES (goals from Alcides Cabrera and Mauricio Rodriguez), 2–1 loss against Arch-rivals FAS (goals from Macklin Flores and Arutro Jaco; with Juan Merlos for Aguila) and 4–4 draw against Once Municipal. Despite call for Victor Manuel Ochoa to be sacked, the club preserved with him, the result turned around with Aguila winning 5, drawing 3 and losing 1 game. the only loss coming against Alianza 3-0 and 2 games AGuila won by 4 goals or more (4–1 against Atletico Marte and 5–1 against Once Municipal. Aguila will win the title by 3 points over the Juventud Olimpica.
For the 1964 season, The club went through several changes losing Costan Rican Fernando Jimenez, Fito Fuentes to season long surgery in Mexico, retirement of Saul Molina due to a serious knee injury, and Catuto Lopez to UES. The club made some big changes including two costan Rican players Tarcisio Guillén and Rafael la pulga Mena, Honduran Vladimiro Rosa, and ypouth players Rene Mena and Efrain Merlos. The club were able ton win their second back to back titles, by winning 12 games, drawing 5 and losing 1, this was despite losing Vladimiro Rosa to injury and Juan Francisco Barraza on a month long loan for São Paulo FC.
Fifth Championship After 2 dominate season by rivals Alianza, The board decided to make some big changes which included starting pre-season camp early, hired Brazilian Silas da Silva. The club hired world cup winner Brazilian player Zózimo. The season started strong, however towards the end of the season, Silas da Silva left due to personal reason. Zózimo had player-coach role, with two games remaining, Aguila were behind FAS by three points, Aguila won the rivalry match 1–0 with the lone goal against Moises Gonzalez. In the final match, On 10 November 1968, Aguila beat Sonsonate 3-0 thanks to goals from (Juan Ramon Martinez brace and own goal from Coutinho). While rivals FAS 1–0 against Alianza with the sole goal coming from Panamian Luis Tapia.
Titles C.D. Águila ranks second in the number of championships won in El Salvador with fifteen titles. The two most successful managers in the club history are Conrado Miranda (1959, 1975, 1976) and Argentinian Hugo Coria (Apertura 1999, Apertura 2000, Clausura 2001) with three titles each, Juan Francisco Barraza (1972, 1983) and Victor Manuel Ochoa (1963, 1964) with two titles each, while Honduran Carlos Padilla (1960), Brazilian Zózimo (1968), Chilean Hernán Carrasco Vivanco (1986) and Serbian-Salvadoran Vladan Vićević (Clausura 2006) won one title each. They were also winners of the Copa President in 2000 and won the CONCACAF Champions League.
The members of the team that conquered the first championship in 1959 were Luis Alberto López, Rodolfo Fuentes, Justiniano Jiménez, Manuel Larios, Raúl Vásquez, Raúl Bonilla, Raúl Lizano, Juan Francisco Barraza, Juan Antonio Merlos, and Saúl Molina.
Sponsorship Companies that Águila currently has sponsorship deals for the 2026–2027 season includes: Umbro – Official kit suppliers Claro Official sponsors Pepsi – Official sponsors Gatorade – Official sponsors Mister Donut – Official sponsors Canal 4 – Official TV sponsors La Pampa El Volcán – Official sponsors GanaPlay - Official sponsors Pollo Campestre - Official sponsors Molinos de El Salvador (MOLSA) Official sponsors HONOR Official sponsors
Stadium
Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza (1956–Present) Estadio Cuscatlán; San Salvador (2012, 2016–2017, 2025-) games in the CONCACAF Champions League and played in Clausura 2016 during Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza renovation. Estadio Flor Blanca; San Salvador (TBD) International games prior to the building of Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio Las Delicias; Santa Tecla (2023–Present) International games
Águila plays its home games at Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza located in San Miguel. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people.
Colours and crest Since the club foundation the clubs have always played in orange with black stripes shirt, black shorts and orange socks. While the club alternative kit is Black with Orange stripes.
Home
Away
Statistics and records
TBD holds the record for most Águila appearances, having played TBD first-team matches from TBD to TBD. The record for Águila's most capped international player is Rudis Corrales with 77 caps (33 while at the club), Arnold Cruz of Honduras is Águila's most capped foreign international player with 55 caps.
Luis Ramírez Zapata is Águila's all-time top goalscorer, with 184 goals. other players have also scored over 100 goals for Águila: Hugo Coria and the previous goalscoring record-holder Félix Pineda (1971–1983).
Rivalries Águila's biggest rivalries are with Alianza, Luis Ángel Firpo and FAS. Together, these teams form the "Big Four" of Salvadoran football, and are the primary title contenders each season.
The rivalry stems not only from their competitiveness, but from the economic, political, and cultural clashes between the cities of San Miguel, Santa Ana and San Salvador, where the other three clubs are based.
El Clásico Of those rivalries, Águila's rivalry with FAS is the strongest and most passionate. That rivalry is traditionally referred to as El Clásico. The first in the series took place on 17 May 1959, and ended in a 1–1 draw. The most recent match was a 2–2 draw on the 24th of September, 2023. The teams have played 255 matches in all competitions, Aguila winning 81, FAS 92, and the remaining 82 having been drawn.
El Derbi Migueleño The rivalry between Aguila and Dragón is known as the "El Derbi Migueleño" due to the fact that both teams are based in San Miguel.
The intense feelings between the two sides began early on due to the close proximity and the switching of players between the clubs. The biggest defection occurred in the 1950s when legendary players Juan Francisco Barraza and left the championship side of Dragon to Aguila and started a dynasty. The sole final played between the two teams ended 1–0 to Dragon. The most recent match was a 4–1 victory by Aguila on the 26 March 2025. The teams have played 87 matches in all competitions, Aguila winning 52, Dragon 12, and the remaining 24 having been drawn.
Honours Águila is historically the third most successful team in El Salvador football, as they have won the second most championships. They are also one of El Salvador's most successful team in international competitions, having won one trophy. Águila is one of only three clubs to have won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Domestic honours Leagues Primera División Salvadoran and predecessors Champions (17) : 1959, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964, 1967–68, 1972, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1983, 1987–88, Apertura 1999, Apertura 2000, Clausura 2001, Clausura 2006, Clausura 2012, Clausura 2019, Apertura 2023 Segunda División Salvadoran and predecessors Champions (1) : 1958 Tercera División Salvadoran and predecessors Champions (1) : 1950
Cups Copa President and predecessors Champions (1) : 1999–2000 Campeón de Campeones Winners (1): 2018–2019 Supacopa de Campeones Winners (1): 2024