C.D. Águila

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.https://lbeditores.com/mostrar_revista/1 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. https://lbeditores.com/mostrar_revista/1

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 with for 2024–2025 includes:

• England Umbro – Official kit suppliers
• Sweden Tigo – Official sponsors
• USA Pepsi – Official sponsors
• USA Gatorade – Official sponsors
• USAJPN Mister Donut – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Canal 4 – Official TV sponsors
• El Salvador La Pampa El Volcán – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Supamercado Costa del Sol – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Las Perlitas – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Acodjar – 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

Main article: C.D. Águila records and statistics

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. https://www.elgrafico.com/primera/Aguila-no-tiene-piedad-del-Dragon-y-le-mete-cuatro-20250326-0019.html

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

CONCACAF

• CONCACAF Champions' Cup
  • Champions (1) : 1976
• UNCAF Interclub Cup
  • Runners up (1) : 1973

Current squad

Updated August 2025

Players with dual citizenship

• ARG SLV Tomás Granitto
• CRC SLV Erick Cabalceta
• USA SLV Allan Benitez

Out on loan

In

Out

Personnel

Coaching staff

As of September 2025

Management

As of June 2025

Presidential history

Aguila have had numerous presidents over the course of their history, some of which have been the owners of the club, others have been honorary presidents, here is a complete list of them.

|}

Notable players

World Cup winners

Players that have played for Águila in their career and won a World Cup:

• BRA Zózimo (Sweden 1958 & Chile 1962)

South American Championship runners-up

Players that have played for Águila in their career and finished up as runners-up South American Championship:

• BRA Zózimo (1957 South American Championship)

World Cup players

Players that have played for Águila in their career and played in a World Cup:

• BRA Zózimo (1958 FIFA World Cup & 1962 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Mario Castillo (1982 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Luis Guevara Mora (1982 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV José Francisco Jovel (1982 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Juan Ramón Martínez (1970 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Sergio Méndez (1970 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Saturnino Osorio (1970 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Joaquín Ventura (1982 FIFA World Cup)
• SLV Luis Ramírez Zapata (1982 FIFA World Cup)
• HON Ramón Maradiaga (1982 FIFA World Cup)

Team captains

Head coaches

Main article: List of head coaches of Águila

Aguila has had various coaches since its formation in 1956. In 1956, Argentinian Gregorio Bundio Núñez became the club's first full-time head coach. Conrado Miranda is the club's most successful coach, having won three Primera División titles, and one CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1976, followed closely by Hugo Coria who won two primera titles, and won Copa Presidente 1999–2000, and Victor Manuel Ochoa who won two titles as well. Hugo Coria has served five terms as head coach.

Kit makers

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 Joaquin Perez. the team played in the Primera División Reserves, their greatest successes were winning the Reserve championships in Apertura 2001, Apertura 2005, Apertura 2007, Clausura 2017, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2019, Apertura 2023.

Águila's youth squad plays in the ten-team Primera División Reserves (El Salvador). Current members of the squad are: As of October 2024

Junior teams

The youth team (under 17 and under 15) has produced some of El Salvador's top football players, including TBD and TBD. The Under 17 finished 3rd place at the 2018 UNCAF U-17 Interclub Cup, the highest finish internationally done by a Salvadoran team in that age range.

Current squad

As of: July, 2025

World Cup players

Players that have played for Aguila in their career and played in a U-17 World Cup:

• SLV Jefferson Perla (2025)
• SLV Jose Guatemala (2025)

Women's team

The women's first team, which is led by head coach Amilcar Guzman, features several members of the El Salvador national ladies team. Their greatest successes were reaching the semi-finals the in Apertura 2020.

Current squad

As of: January, 2026

In

Out

Other sports

Aguila has other departments for a variety of sports.

Basketball

Aguila Básquetbol Club or Águila BC for short was founded on TBD and play Liga Mayor de Baloncesto (LMB) which is the highest level in El Salvador league tier. the club is led by head coach Argentinian Pablo Epeloa, the club features several key members including American Marquise Mosley and TBD. Their greatest successes were winning the 2015 Apertura and the Clausura 2022. https://www.elsalvador.com/deportes/otros-deportes/baloncesto-cd-aguila-campeones-lmb-santa-tecla-bc/1023736/2022/

They currently play the Cancha Alvarez y Biblioteca e Infocentro Municipal, San Miguel. Previous coach: Roberto Carrillo Notable players:

2020s

• PAN Pablo Rivas
• USA SLV Marquise Mosley

2010s

• Cuba Osmel Oliva
• COL Michael Jackson

Baseball

Aguila Béisbol Club was founded in 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 was TBD

Volleyball

Aguila Voleibol Club was founded in 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.

References

References

1. Raúl Recinos. (2017-06-25). "Águila comenzará su pretemporada con un cuadro tranquilo".
2. "Águila confirma amistoso ante Olimpia de Honduras | El Gráfico".
3. (2017-06-30). "Salvadoreños lucen los colores del Águila en el Camp Nou | El Gráfico".
4. ".:. Club Deportivo Águila .:. Historia".
5. "aguilaonline: CAMISETAS".
6. (19 September 2014). "Aguila contra Dragon una batalla de altura". elsalvador.com.
7. "Águila se lleva la Supercopa al vencer en penaltis al Alianza".
8. (6 February 2015). "Un campeón del mundo que jugó en Águila". laprensagrafica.com.
9. "Águila finaliza tercero en el torneo Interclubes sub 17".