Ground Capacity 12,000 2015 Clausura 12th Founded 1978 | Chairman Césare Rossi | |
Nickname(s) Los Dragones Celestes (The Sky Blue Dragons) Profiles | ||
Club de Deportes Iquique S.A.D.P., is a Chilean football club based in Iquique that is a current member of the Campeonato Nacional. Founded in 1978, the club's home stadium is the Estadio Tierra de Campeones which has a 12,000 capacity.
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Iquique has been Primera División member nineteen times, having its most large period ten years (1980–90), having also integrated thirteen times the Primera B (second tier) and four times the Tercera División (third-tier). Among its titles, Iquique has won three Copa Chile titles (1980, 2010 and 2013–14).
They have a fierce local rivalry with San Marcos de Arica, disputing the derby since early 1980s.
History
The team was founded on 21 May 1978 by the merger of Cavancha and Estrella de Chile. The following year Iquique integrated the Segunda División, winning it and reaching its promotion to Campeonato Nacional as well as its first ever professional title.
In its first season at top-level, the club finished in the 14th place of eighteen teams and won the Copa Polla Gol (current Copa Chile), beating in the final to giants Colo-Colo at the Estadio Nacional.
Between 1981 and 1987, Iquique remained at the middle-table positions. In 1988, The Dragons reached the liguilla to qualify to the 1989 Copa Libertadores after finishing in the third place. Nevertheless, Iquique lost in the final against Colo-Colo and failed to achieve its first ever qualification to a continental tournament. That season, Juan José Oré, team’s player, was the tournament goalscorer with eighteen goals.
In 1991, following a poor campaign where the team finished in the bottom of the table, were relegated to second-tier. Iquique remained six years there (except for a brief spell at top-level in 1993). After only two seasons in the honor division, the team once again lost the category in 1999. However, three years later, Iquique's situation worsens due to its relegation to third division and, besides, its bankruptcy, issue which the club had to change his name to Municipal Iquique.
During its four-year presence at third division, and on the positive side, Iquique saw the rice of Chilean international Edson Puch, key player in the title obtention in 2006. Two years later, Iquique reached its fourth promotion to first-level following beat during the promotion playoffs to Coquimbo Unido at the shootout, broking thereby a ten-year absence in that category. Nevertheless, after an impressive first half at the Apertura, for the incoming tournament Iquique suffered the departure of its stars Puch (Universidad de Chile) and Cristian Bogado (Colo-Colo), only obtained nine points and finished in the annual table’s bottom which meant the club’s return to second-level.
In 2010, Iquique won its third second division title and its second Copa Chile title, this last send the club to the 2011 Copa Sudamericana; Iquique’s first ever continental tournament, where was eliminated in the preliminary stage by Universidad Católica. Already at first division that year, the team finished in the eleventh place of the general table.
In 2012, Iquique participated in the Copa Sudamericana for second consecutive time, reaching the qualification following an impressive third place at the Apertura which featured the return of Puch, Bogado, incorporations such as Rodrigo Díaz and rising performances like of the young Álvaro Ramos. However, once again the team would be eliminated at the preliminary stage, now by Uruguay’s Nacional after a 4–2 aggregate loss. That season even, the club achieved its qualification to the Copa Libertadores after finishing third at the annual table. Following beat Mexican side León in the first stage, Iquique entered in the Group 1 where finished in the bottom.
Iquique won in 2014, its third Copa Chile, reaching for third time a Copa Sudamericana qualification, and for third time too, its elimination at the preliminary stage after loss against Universitario de Sucre from Bolivia. Then, the team would complete a discreet 2014–15 season where as only landmark had the title snatching to Católica which lost the race for it against Cobresal in the final matchday after drawing 3–3 with they as visitors; match which Iquique was losing 3–0 at the end of the first half. During the 2015–16 season they finished tenth in the annual table.
Stadium
It is the home stadium of the team. The stadium holds 12,000 spectators and was built in 1993.
Current squad
Current squad of Deportes Iquique as of 2 September 2016 (edit)
Sources: ANFP Official Web Site
Manager: Jaime Vera
In
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.