Chile Primera Division 03/22 22:00 1 [13] Union La Calera v Universidad Catolica [12] D 0-0
Chile Primera Division 03/17 23:30 5 [12] Universidad Catolica v Audax Italiano [14] D 0-0
Chile Primera Division 03/11 22:00 4 [11] Universidad Catolica v Everton de Vina [14] L 2-4
Copa Sudamericana 03/05 22:00 14 Universidad Catolica v Coquimbo Unido L 0-2
Chile Primera Division 03/02 21:00 3 [6] Palestino v Universidad Catolica [14] W 0-2
Chile Primera Division 02/23 22:00 2 [8] Universidad Catolica v Nublense [6] L 0-1
Chile Primera Division 02/17 23:30 1 Union La Calera v Universidad Catolica - Postponed
Club Friendly List 01/27 23:00 - Universidad Catolica v Universidad de Chile L 1-3
Club Friendly List 01/24 23:00 - Coquimbo Unido v Universidad Catolica W 0-1
Club Friendly List 01/21 19:00 - Alianza Lima v Universidad Catolica D 0-0
Club Friendly List 01/14 22:00 - Sporting Cristal v Universidad Catolica L 4-0
Chile Primera Division 12/09 21:00 30 [7] Union La Calera v Universidad Catolica [9] W 0-3
Chile Primera Division 12/02 21:00 29 [8] Universidad Catolica v Deportes Copiapo [14] D 2-2
Chile Primera Division 11/25 21:00 28 [2] Huachipato v Universidad Catolica [8] D 1-1
Chile Primera Division 11/11 18:00 27 [7] Universidad Catolica v Universidad de Chile [9] L 1-3
Chile Primera Division 10/07 18:00 26 [12] O'Higgins v Universidad Catolica [8] W 0-3
Chile Primera Division 10/01 18:00 25 [3] Colo Colo v Universidad Catolica [8] L 2-1
Chile Primera Division 09/24 20:30 24 [9] Universidad Catolica v Magallanes [15] W 1-0
Chile Primera Division 09/01 00:00 23 [8] Union Espanola v Universidad Catolica [9] D 2-2
Chile Primera Division 08/26 21:30 22 [10] Universidad Catolica v Nublense [13] W 2-1
Chile Cup 08/20 19:00 10 Colo Colo v Universidad Catolica L 1-0
Chile Cup 08/16 22:00 10 Universidad Catolica v Colo Colo D 0-0
Chile Primera Division 08/13 19:00 21 [4] Palestino v Universidad Catolica [9] L 3-0
Chile Cup 08/10 00:30 9 Universidad Catolica v Everton de Vina W 5-4
Chile Primera Division 08/05 21:30 20 [9] Universidad Catolica v Audax Italiano [12] L 0-2
Chile Primera Division 07/29 19:00 19 [1] Cobresal v Universidad Catolica [8] D 2-2
Chile Primera Division 07/23 22:00 18 [10] Universidad Catolica v Coquimbo Unido [3] W 2-1
Chile Primera Division 07/17 00:00 17 [14] Curico Unido v Universidad Catolica [8] L 2-0
Chile Primera Division 07/08 21:30 16 [6] Universidad Catolica v Everton de Vina [8] L 0-1
Chile Cup 07/02 22:00 8 Universidad Catolica v Santiago Wanderers W 2-0

Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile. Founded in 1937 they play in the Primera División, the top flight of Chilean football. The team has played its home games at Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo since 1988.

Universidad Católica has won the third most league championships at a national level. In domestic football, the club has won 28 trophies; a record 16 Primera División de Chile titles, 2 Segunda División de Chile, 4 Copa Chile, 4 Supercopa de Chile, a Copa Apertura, a Copa República. In international competitions, Universidad Católica have won 1 trophies; Copa Interamericana (1994).

In 1993, Universidad Católica was the runner-up in the most important international tournament in South America: the Copa Libertadores de América, losing in the finals against the defending Libertadores' Champion São Paulo. Universidad Católica has reached the semi-finals in the Copa Libertadores four times (years 1962, 1966, 1969 and 1984).

The club's most successful player is José Pedro Fuenzalida with eleven titles, and the player with most appearances is Mario Lepe with 639 games. Its traditional rival is Universidad de Chile, they contest the Clásico Universitario. Colo-Colo is the other big rival of the club.

History

Founding and beginnings in professional football

Team of Universidad Católica in 1939

While the club was born as one of the many sport branches of the Universidad Católica de Chile, officially founded in 1937, it began, strictly speaking, around 1910, when students of the university would reunite to play football matches, frequently facing historical rival Universidad de Chile. In time, the idea of creating a professional club emerged, and on 21 April 1937, the club officially and legally began. It made its professional debut, in the second division, against the Universidad de Chile. Universidad Católica won its first League title in the 1949 season.

Universidad Católica in 1949

In December 1956, Universidad Católica was placed at the bottom of the league table and relegated to Segunda División for the first time in its history. On 10 November 1956, Universidad Católica won the Segunda División title after defeating Deportes La Serena by 3–2 and gained promotion straight back up to the top division, with captain Sergio Livingstone and Raimundo Infante claiming the top scorer award. In the 1970s, Universidad Católica was facing an institutional, the team ended the 1973 Primera División tournament at the bottom of the table, Universidad Católica was relegated to Segunda División for the second time in its history. In 1975, Universidad Católica won the title and therefore returned to Primera División to play the 1976 season.

In 1993, Universidad Católica reached their first ever Copa Libertadores final. The team had previously eliminated clubs Atlético Nacional (2–0, 1–2 in round of 16), Barcelona (3–1, 1–1 in quarterfinals) and América de Cali (1-0, 2–2 in semifinals). In the finals, between the two legs after a heavy defeat away la Catolica won the second leg but lost São Paulo the title on aggregate 5–3. With Manuel Pellegrini as manager, on 1 November 1994, after beating Saprissa 5–1 at San Carlos de Apoquindo with goals by Andrés Romero, Alberto Acosta, Juvenal Olmos, Miguel Ardiman and Rodrigo Barrera, Universidad Católica became the second Chilean team to win a Copa Interamericana, they also achieved the 1995 Copa Chile title.

In 1997 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a friendly tournament where they beat Ajax Amsterdam 3–2 in the Copa 60º Aniversario de Universidad Católica.

In the 21st century

Universidad Católica won the title 2002 Primera División (Apertura) after beating Rangers de Talca 4–0 in final at San Carlos de Apoquindo, with Juvenal Olmos as manager. In 2005 the club has been reemerged in international competition, advancing to the 2005 Copa Sudamericana semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful Boca Juniors from Argentina, who would go on to win the tournament. On 22 December, Universidad Católica won their nine Chilean Primera División (Clausura) title, after beating Universidad de Chile's in a penalty shootout at Estadio Nacional. In 2006 the team made a good presentation in the Copa Libertadores, but was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres UANL of Mexico and failed to advance beyond the group stage.

Católica again played 2008 Copa Libertadores with no luck, being eliminated in the group stage by goal difference by River Plate and América. In 2010 Copa Libertadores, their performance was no better, finishing third in group stage behind Universidad de Chile and Flamengo. In the 2010 season a 3–2 defeat to Colo Colo in October gave Colo Colo a seven-point lead in the league with seven match of the season remaining. A victory over Cobreloa 3–2 at Estadio Municipal de Calama, put them one point away from their first title since 2005. In the last match, Universidad Católica defeated Everton 5–0 to secure the club's ten Chilean Primera Division title and end a five-year trophy drought.

In the 2011 season they finished in second place in Chilean Primera División. They also reached the 2011 Copa Chile final where they faced Deportes Magallanes. Universidad Católica won 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1. In 2011 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished first on the group stage, and then advanced to the quarter-finals, knocking out Grêmio of Brazil on the best 16 round, and falling to Peñarol of Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo and winning their home match 2–1, which was not enough to advance. In 2012 the club again played Copa Libertadores, under coach and former player Mario Lepe, finished last on the group stage, winning only 1 home game and losing on their away games in Colombia and Bolivia. In Copa Sudamericana 2012, Universidad Católica advancing to the semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful São Paulo from Brazil, who would go on to win the tournament.

On April 30, 2016, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Clausura title in 2016 for the first time in six years. Universidad Católica won the title on the last matchday after beating Audax Italiano 2–1. On 15 September 2016, the club won the Supercopa de Chile for a first time defeating Universidad de Chile 2–1 in the final. After, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Apertura, the title was won on 8 December, where Universidad Católica faced Deportes Temuco at Germán Becker. Two goals in the last half-hour secured Universidad Católica a 2–0, with Mario Salas leading the team towards its first Bicampeonato for winning two national titles in a row.

Four consecutive Chilean Primera División

José Pedro Fuenzalida is the most decorated player in Universidad Católica history.

With Beñat San José as manager, Universidad Católica won the title 2018 on the last matchday after beating Deportes Temuco 2–1. In 2019, with Gustavo Quinteros Universidad Católica won their 2th Supercopa de Chile and won a second consecutive Primera División title. Due to the 2019 Chilean protests, the competition was suspended since mid-October with six matchdays still left. On 29 November 2019, ANFP's Council of Presidents voted to conclude the season. The title was the 14th official league in the club's history. In the 2010s, Universidad Católica won five league championships, a Copa Chile and two Chilean Supercups.

On 14 February 2020, with Ariel Holan Universidad Católica secured their third consecutive Primera División title, they also achieved the semi-finals of Copa Chile. Days after winning the title, Holan announced his resignation as Universidad Católica and in March, Gustavo Poyet was appointed coach, signing a two-year contract, and Universidad Católica won their 3rd Supercopa de Chile. In 2021 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished second on the group stage, and then advanced to the round of 16, before being knocked out by the Palmeiras from Brazil, who would go on to win the tournament. On 30 August 2021, Gustavo Poyet was sacked from his managerial position, one day after Cristian Paulucci was announced as the new coach. On 20 January 2021, Universidad Católica won their four Supercopa de Chile title, after beating Ñublense's in a penalty shootout. On 4 December 2021, Universidad Católica were confirmed 2021 Primera División champions, reaching four consecutive league titles.

Universidad Catolica is a professional soccer team based in Santiago, Chile. The team was founded in 1937 and has since become one of the most successful clubs in Chilean soccer history. The team plays its home matches at the Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, which has a capacity of 14,118 spectators.

The team's colors are blue and white, and its nickname is "Los Cruzados" (The Crusaders). The team has won 13 Primera Division titles, making it the fourth most successful team in Chilean soccer history. Universidad Catolica has also won the Copa Chile four times and the Supercopa de Chile twice.

The team is known for its attacking style of play, with a focus on possession and quick passing. The team's current manager is Gustavo Poyet, a former Uruguayan international player who has also managed teams in England, Spain, and France.

Some of the team's most notable players include Diego Buonanotte, a talented Argentine midfielder, and Edson Puch, a Chilean forward who has played for the national team. The team also has a strong youth academy, which has produced several players who have gone on to play for the national team and top European clubs.

Overall, Universidad Catolica is a respected and successful soccer team in Chile, with a strong tradition of attacking play and a commitment to developing young talent.