Tauro Fútbol Club is a professional football club based in the district of Pedregal, Panama City, Panama. It was founded on 22 September 1984 and has participated in the Panamanian Football League (LPF) since 1988. Its founder, Giancarlo Gronchi, was a fan of Juventus and for that reason the colours of the club are black and white. They have won thirteen championships between 1989 and 2017, making them the most successful club in the league. Their traditional rival has been Plaza Amador. Their meetings are known as the "El Clásico" in Panama.
History
Tauro FC's origins date to 1984, when tannery owner Giancarlo Gronchi, an immigrant from Italy, decided to create an internal football league for his company. From that came the idea of forming a company team. At that time, there were leagues formed of teams representing various Panamanian companies, as well as leagues formed of teams from the various immigrant colonies in Panama. Tauro competed in those leagues, as well as the Panamanian District League, from its founding on 22 September 1984 to 1988.
In 1988, Tauro joined six other teams in forming ANAPROF, Panama's first national professional league. This was a significant turning point in Panamanian football, which at the time was a smaller soccer presence in the region.
Gronchi's favorite Italian team was Juventus FC, and in the honor of that Italian power, Tauro also competed in black and white striped jerseys. They club won its first title in 1989, and during the 1990s was the dominant team in Panamanian football.
What followed was the glory days of Tauro FC, which won championships in 1989, 1991, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1999–2000. Closely identified with the club's success in those years was Uruguayan Miguel Angel Mansilla, who managed the team on five occasions, interspersed with three stints managing Panama's national team.
Perhaps the most memorable title of that run came in 1996–97, when Patricio Guevara's 9th-minute goal lifted Tauro to a championship victory over the AFC Euro Kickers. That strike ended a five-year championship drought, and was followed by a repeat win over Deportivo Árabe Unido in 1997–98. The club won a fifth crown in 1999–2000, upsetting archrivals C.D. Plaza Amador. Plaza Amador was favored because they had signed striker Víctor René Mendieta, widely considered one of the best players in Panamanian history.
Tauro has continued to win championships in the Apertura/Clausura era. In 2003, they swept the season under the direction of Colombian manager Gonzalo Soto. In Clausura 2006, they followed the leadership of ex-player Ruben Guevara to another crown. In Apertura 2007, Mansilla returned to lead the club to a tenth championship (the fifth under his direction).
The club's tenth title came in Apertura 2010, under the leadership of Juan Carlos Cubillas. The club has also won titles in Clausura 2012 and Apertura 2013, with titles coming under ex-players Sergio "Checho" Angulo and Rolando Palma. In all, four former Bullfighters have won titles as both managers and players.
Rivalries Plaza Amador Árabe Unido San Francisco F.C.
Honors Liga Panameña de Fútbol Champions (17) 1989, 1991, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, Apertura 2003, Clausura 2003, Clausura 2006, Apertura 2007, Apertura 2010, Clausura 2012, Apertura 2013, Clausura 2017, Clausura 2021, Apertura 2024 Runners-up (9): 1990, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2000–01, Clausura 2002, 2008 (A), 2008 (C), Apertura 2009, 2018 Apertura, 2019 Apertura, 2023 Clausura
National League finals SeasonChampionRunner-up 1989Tauro FCDeportivo La Previsora1991Tauro FCAFC Euro Kickers1996-97Tauro FCAFC Euro Kickers1997-98Tauro FCÁrabe Unido1999-00Tauro FCCD Plaza Amador2003 (a)Tauro FCÁrabe Unido2003 (c)Tauro FCAlianza FC2006 (c)Tauro FCÁrabe Unido2007 (a)Tauro FCSan Francisco FC2010 (a)Tauro FCSan Francisco FC2012 (c)Tauro FCChepo FC2013 (a)Tauro FCSan Francisco FC2017 (c)Tauro FCÁrabe Unido
Current squad
Non-playing staff
Board of directors
Position NamePresident Alvaro VargasVice-president Moises ZebedeSecretary Carlos MartansTreasurer Alejandro PinoFiscal Luis Moreno
Management hierarchy Position NameManager Saul MaldonadoAssistant manager Rafael Mea VitaliPhysical trainer-Goalkeeping coach -Physiotherapist-Physiotherapist-Head doctor-Utility Management-Utility Assistant-Reserve Manager 1 Ricardo MammarellaReserve Manager 2 Hector D. Chianelli
Historical list of coaches
Christian Saborío (1988) Miguel Ángel Mansilla (1988–1989) Miguel Ángel Mansilla (1991–1993) José Andrade (1994) Miguel Ángel Mansilla (1994–1999) José Alfredo Poyatos (2000) Gonzalo Soto (2002–2004)Soto quiere triunfar con Tauro F.C – Panamá América José Alfredo Poyatos (2004–2006)Alfredo Poyatos dirigirá al Tauro en lo que resta del torneo – La Prensa Thomas Kempe (2006)ANAPROF: THOMAS KEMPE ES EL NUEVO ENTRENADOR Un Tauro con estilo alemán – Crítica Rubén Guevara (2006)Técnico del Tauro se marchó – Panamá América Miguel Ángel Mansilla (2007–2008) Gonzalo Soto (2008–2010) Christian Saborío Juan Carlos Cubillas (2010–2011)No hay fracaso, según Cubillas – La Prensa Sergio Angulo (2011–2012)Tauro presenta a Sergio Angulo como nuevo técnico – PanamaFutbol Gonzalo Soto (2012)Colombiano Gonzalo Soto vuelve al banquillo del Tauro – Telemetro Rolando Palma (2012–2014) Jorge Dely Valdés (2014) José Alfredo Poyatos (2015)Alfredo Poyatos debutó con victoria en pretemporada del Tauro – Somos Lasele Mike Stump (2015)Mike Stump nuevo técnico del Tauro – RPC Jorge Dely Valdés (2015)Tauro FC se encomienda a Jorge Dely – Crítica Rolando Palma (2015–2018)Jorge Dely Valdés sale del Tauro, Rolando Palma regresa – RPC Sergio Angulo (2018) – Metro Libre Juan Carlos Garcia (2018) Saul Maldonado (2018–2020) Rafael Mea Vitalli (2020) Javier Ainstein (2020) Julio Dely Valdés (2020–2021) Enrique Kike Garcia (2021) Rolando Palma (2021–2022) Francisco Perlo (August 2022 – April 2023) Diego Gutierrez (interim) (April 2023 – May 2023) Felipe Baloy (June 2023 – February 2025) Kike García (March 2025 – September 2025) Carlos Lenis (interim) (September 2025 – October 2025) Bernardo Redín (October 2025 – present)
International participations
CONCACAF Champions League: 6 appearances 2008-09 : Group stage 2010-11 : Preliminary round 2011-12 : Group stage 2012-13 : Group stage 2014-15 : Group stage 2018 : Quarter-finals
CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 4 appearances 1990 : First round 1991 : Second round 1992 : Third round 1997 : First round
References
External links
Non-official site (Página realizada en su momento por el periodista panameño Adán De Gracia E.) Tauro FC Page-ANAPROF Site