# Santa Tecla F.C.

Santa Tecla Fútbol Club is a Salvadoran multi-sport club based in Santa Tecla since being formed in 2007. Although they compete in a number of different sports, Santa Tecla is mostly known for its professional association football team. The club has 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, and currently plays its home games 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. 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.

## Stadium

* Estadio Las Delicias (2007–present)
** 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.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | ARG | Alejandro Frezzotti |
| 6 | | SLV | Kevin Garay |
| 7 | | SLV | Anthony Roque (captain) |
| 9 | FW | ARG | Gonzalo Tarifa |
| 11 | | ARG | Adrian Toloza |
| 15 | | SLV | Brayan Erazo |
| 16 | | SLV | Rodrigo Rodriguez |
| 21 | | SLV | Aquiles Méndez (captain) |
| 25 | GK | SLV | Cristopher Rauda |
| 28 | | SLV | Emerson Mancia |
| — | | SLV | Balmore Ernesto Pineda |
| — | | SLV | Gil Adonay Sanchez |
| — | MF | SLV | Fernando Sanchez |
| — | | SLV | Joaquin Montoya |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 3 | DF | SLV | Edwin Cordova |
| 6 | | SLV | Carlos Alfaro |
| 17 | | SLV | Mauricio Aldair Perez |
| 22 | MF | SLV | Jeffry Aguilar |
| — | | SLV | A Rodríguez |
| 25 | | SLV | Erick Vega |
| 31 | | SLV | Allan Acevedo |
| 36 | DF | SLV | Alejandro Serrano |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | | SLV | TBD (at TBD for the 2023-24 Apertura and Clausura) |

### In

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Nation | Player |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
| No. | Nation | Player |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
| — | SLV | TBD (From TBD) |
Roberto Llamas

### Out

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Nation | Player |
| — | SLV | Cesar Orellana (To LA Firpo) |
| — | SLV | Andres Rivas (To Alianza) |
| — | SLV | Allan Ocon (To FAS) |
| — | SLV | Samuel Rosales (To FAS) |
| — | SLV | Mario Martinez (To FAS) |
| — | SLV | Diego Lemus (To Platense) |
| — | SLV | William Flores (To Once Deportivo) |
| No. | Nation | Player |
| — | SLV | Ángel Ortega (To Once Deportivo) |
| — | SLV | Gabriel Velasquez (To Once Deportivo) |
| — | SLV | (To TBD) |
| — | SLV | (To TBD) |
| — | SLV | (To TBD) |

## Coaching staff

As of April 4, 2024
| Position | Staff |
| Manager | 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 García |
| Kinesiologist | Hector Bermudez |
| Utility | David Ernesto Guevara |
| Utility | William Antonio Velázquez |
| Sporting Director | Fernando Ledesma (*) |

## Personnel
### Management

| Position | Staff |
| Honorary President | José Eduardo Amaya |
| President | Eduardo Amaya de Leon |
| Vice President | Jorge Italo Argueta * |
| Management Representative | Roberto D'Aubuisson |
| Administrative Manager | Rene Guevara |
| Board Director | Guillermo Figueroa |
| Board Director | Oscar Ortiz |
| Legal Representation | Max Ayala Revelo |
| General Director | Enrique Monico * |
| Board Director | |
| Board Director | |
| Board Director | |

### Presidential history

| Name | Years |
| Óscar Ortiz | 2012–2014 |
| José Vidal Hernández | 2014–2018 |
| Guillermo Figueroa | 2018–2019 |
| José Eduardo Amaya | 2020-Present |

## List of notable players
### Captains

| Name | years |
| Pedro Reyes | 2012 |
| Jaime Medina | 2012–2013 |
| Óscar Navarro | 2013–2015 |
| Gerson Mayen | 2015–2016 |
| Diego Chavarría | 2016–2017 |
| Gerson Mayen | 2018–2019 |
| Alexander Méndoza | 2020–2021 |
| Marlon Cornejo | 2022 |
| Gilberto Baires | 2022–2023 |
| Néstor Renderos | 2023 |
| Aquiles Méndez | 2024-Present |

### 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.
| Name | From | To |
| Armando Contreras Palma | 2007 | 2007 |
| Jorge Alberto Perez Quezada | 2008 | Nov 2009 |
| Leonel Cárcamo | Nov 2009 | Feb 2010 |
| Efren Marenco | Feb 2010 | July 2010 |
| Armando Contreras Palma | Aug 2010 | Oct 2010 |
| Jorge Búcaro | Oct 2010 | Dec 2010 |
| Rubén Alonso | Dec 2010 | Nov 2011 |
| Edgar Henríquez "Kiko" | Dec 2011 | June 2012 |
| Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi" | June 2012 | Oct 2012 |
| Guillermo Rivera | Oct 2012 | Dec 2012 |
| William Renderos Iraheta | Dec 2012 | Sept 2013 |
| Edgar Henríquez "Kiko" | Sept 2013 | May 2014 |
| Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi" | May 2014 | May 2016 |
| Ernesto Corti | June 2016 | December 2017 |
| Rubén da Silva | December 2017 | June 2018 |
| Christian Díaz | June 2018 | April 2019 |
| Rodolfo Gochez (Interim) | April 2019 | April 2019 |
| Sebastian Abreu | April 2019 | May 2019 |
| Rodolfo Gochez | May 2019 | August 2019 |
| Leonel Cárcamo (Interim) | August 2019 | September 2019 |
| Marco Sánchez Yacuta | September 2019 | January 2020 |
| Osvaldo Escudero "El Pichi" | January 2020 | July 2020 |
| Juan Andrés Sarulyte | August 2020 | October 2020 |
| Jaime Medina (Interim) | October 2020 | January 2021 |
| Rubén da Silva | January 2021 | September 2021 |
| Rodolfo Góchez (Interim) | September 2021 | December 2021 |
| Daniel Bartolotta | December 2021 | March 2022 |
| Leonel Cárcamo | March 2022 | June 2022 |
| Ernesto Corti | June 2022 | May 2023 |
| Francisco Medrano | July 2023 | October 2023 |
| Juan Ramón Sánchez | October 2023 | April 2024 |
| Francisco Medrano | April 2024 | July 2024 |
| Hiatus | July 2024 | Present |

## 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.
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.
* First victory for Santa Tecla 2–1 Once Municipal, 6 August 2012
* Record League victory: 8-0 v Pasaquina, Primera division, 14 February 2016
* Record League Defeat: 1-7 v Alianza, Primera division, 22 July 2012

### International level

* As of 24 January 2023
| Opponent | First meeting | Last Meeting | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Municipal | August 20, 2015 | August 25, 2015 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
| Real Salt Lake | September 15, 2015 | September 24, 2015 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | February, 2018 | March 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 |
| Herediano | August 2, 2018 | August 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Real Esteli | 30 July 2019 | 6 August 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| San Carlos | 20 August 2019 | 27 August 2019 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## League season performance

Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador (La Primera): (Apertura 2012 – Clausura 2024)
| Season | League | Position | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS | Playoffs | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | PTS |
| Apertura 2012 | La Primera | 7th | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 21 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2013 | La Primera | 5th | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 17 | 29 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Apertura 2013 | La Primera | 8th | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 30 | 19 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2014 | La Primera | 5th | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 24 | 25 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Apertura 2014 | La Primera | 1st | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 30 | Semi-finalist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Clausura 2015 | La Primera | 3rd | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 23 | 29 | Champion | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| Apertura 2015 | La Primera | 4th | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 47 | 34 | 34 | Quarter-finalist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Apertura 2016 | La Primera | 3rd | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 38 | Champion | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
| Clausura 2017 | La Primera | 3rd | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 27 | 34 | Champion | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 13 |
| Apertura 2017 | La Primera | 2nd | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 41 | 23 | 39 | Runner-up | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Apertura 2018 | La Primera | 2nd | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 12 | 47 | Runner-up | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| Clausura 2018 | La Primera | 2nd | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 18 | 43 | Champion | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 12 |
| Clausura 2019 | La Primera | 6th | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 29 | 30 | 30 | Quarterfinals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Apertura 2019 | La Primera | 6th | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 26 | 31 | Semi-finalist | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Clausura 2020 | La Primera | 10th | 11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 11 | Season cancelled | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Apertura 2020 | La Primera | 11th | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 24 | 12 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2021 | La Primera | 2nd | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 24 | 22 | Semi-finalist | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| Apertura 2021 | La Primera | 10th | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 24 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2022 | La Primera | 12th | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 32 | 19 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Apertura 2022 | La Primera | 9th | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 11 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2023 | La Primera | 9th | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 29 | 25 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Apertura 2023 | La Primera | 12th | 22 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 42 | 11 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clausura 2024 | La Primera | 10th | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 20 | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

## Other departments
### Football
#### Reserve team

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; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Nation | Player |
| 32 | SLV | M Perez |
| 33 | SLV | A Nerio |
| 35 | SLV | Rodrigo Rodríguez |
| 37 | SLV | Brandon Amaya |
| 38 | SLV | O Guardado |
| 40 | SLV | Fernando Sánchez |
| 41 | SLV | M Garcia |
| 47 | SLV | A Figueroa |
| 48 | SLV | W Escobar |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 52 | | SLV | M Barahona |
| 54 | GK | SLV | J Osorio |
| 57 | | SLV | Samuel Rosales |
| 63 | | SLV | B Guevara |
| 65 | | SLV | W Gutierrez |
| — | | SLV | Andrés Rivas |
| — | | SLV | Aldair Pérez |
| — | | SLV | René Fuentes |
| — | | SLV | Carlos Alfaro |

#### Junior teams

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

#### Women's team

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.
| Name | Years | Honours |
| TBD | TBD-TBD | |
| TBD | TBD-TBD | |
| René David López | TBD-Present | 1 Liga Femenina (2022 Clausura) |

### Other sports

Santa Tecla has other departments for a variety of sports.

#### Basketball

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

#### Baseball

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

#### Volleyball

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