UNAN Managua

UNAN Managua
Full nameUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua – Managua
Nickname(s)Los Universitarios
GroundNicaragua National Football Stadium
Managua, Nicaragua
Capacity20,000
ChairmanWilber Altamirano
ManagerEduardo Urroz
LeagueLiga Primera
2024–25TBD

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua – Managua is a Nicaraguan football team playing in the Primera División de Nicaragua of the Nicaragua football system. It is based in Managua.

History

UNAN Managua was founded in 1983, but did not break into the first division until 1985.[1]

UNAN Managua has spent much of its history struggling to earn promotion to the top flight. Their first serious effort came in 2008–2009, when they earned their way into a relegation playoff against Real Madriz. They lost, 7–2 on aggregate. In 2011–2012, UNAN Managua won the Clausura and earned a promotion playoff with Apertura champion Xilotepelt. Once again, they lost.

However, in 2013–2014, UNAN won the Apertura 2013 title. The Clausura that year was won by Real Esteli's feeder side, which was not eligible for promotion, and so UNAN automatically moved up into the top flight. Their first season, 2014–2015, was a struggle. The club won just eight of 36 top flight matches and was forced into a promotion/relegation playoff with San Marcos. They won, 6–0 on aggregate, but were still not expected to have much of an impact on the table in 2015–2016.

Instead, they stunned Nicaragua by storming to a 3rd-place finish in Apertura 2015, good enough for their first playoff berth. Then, in the postseason, they defeated Walter Ferretti and Diriangén to claim their first national crown. It ended a decade of dominance for Ferretti, Diriangén, and Real Esteli. Although Managua lost the season championship to Clausura winners Real Esteli, their championship was nonetheless a special one.

They spent the next two years as a regular playoff participant, then staved off relegation in 2017 and 2018 seasons before finally succumbing in 2019.

After two years in the Liga de Acenso, UNAN returned to the top division.

Current squad

As of 19 January 2025

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
1 GK  NCA Brandon Mayorga (captain)
2 DF  NCA Jason Downs
3 DF  CUB Dario Lopez
4 DF  COL Jhanz Mina
5 MF  NCA Josue Calderon
6 MF  NCA Jeyser Cisneros
9 FW  NCA Leslie Sevila
11 FW  NCA Rafael Baquedano
12  NCA Joel Soto
13 DF  COL John Mena
15  NCA Oscar Soto
16  NCA Ethan Castaneda
18  NCA Fabian Lemus
19 DF  NCA Angel Brenes
20  NCA Adrian Chavarria
21  BRA Maycon Santana
25 GK  NCA Lester Acevedo
38  NCA Danny Mendoza
40  NCA Filimon Lopez
47  NCA Mario Mendez
No. Pos. Nation Player
10 FW  NCA Anderson Treminio (captain)
14 MF  NCA Dilan Pineda
20 FW  NCA Brandon Arana
51 MF  NCA Jeremy Flores
DF  CUB Eugenio Palmero


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. Pos. Nation Player
 NCA Jason Ingram (Loaned From Walter Ferretti)
 NCA Roger Gomez (Loaned From Real Esteli)
 BRA Vinicius de Souza (From Walter Ferretti)
 NCA TBD (From TBD)
No. Pos. Nation Player
 NCA TBD (From TBD)
 NCA TBD (From TBD)
 NCA TBD (From TBD)

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. Pos. Nation Player
 NCA Nahum Peralta (To Walter Ferretti)
 NCA Marcelo Cruz (To Rancho Santana)
 BRA Pedrinho (To FC San Marcos)
No. Pos. Nation Player
 NCA Joel Soto (To FC San Marcos)
 NCA TBD (To TBD)
 NCA TBD (To TBD)

Honours

List of coaches

  • Edison Oquendo (2008–2009)
  • Eduardo Urroz (2012 – October 14)[2]
  • Luis Montano (October 2014 – March 2015)
  • Julio César Madrigal (March 2015 – June 2015)
  • Eduardo Urroz (July 2015 – December 2017)
  • Carlos Garabet Avedissian (December 2017 – February 2018)
  • Luis Vega (February 2018 – December 2018)
  • Daniel Garcia (January 2019 – December 2021)
  • Eduardo Urroz (December 2021 – June 2023)
  • Daniel Garcia (July 2023 – November 2024)
  • Luis Vega (November 2024 - June 2025)
  • TBD (June 2025 - present)

Notable managers

The following managers have won at least one trophy while in charge at UNAM Managua:

Name Nationality From To Honours
Eduardo Urroz Nicaragua 1 January 2012
1 July 2015
1 December 2021
28 October 2014
28 December 2017
28 June 2023
2 Segunda División de Nicaragua (Clausura 2012; Apertura 2013)
1 Primera División de Nicaragua (2015 Apertura)
Daniel García Nicaragua 1 January 2019
1 July 2023
28 December 2021
28 November 2024
1 Segunda División de Nicaragua (Apertura 2020)

Personnel

Current technical staff

As of 13 November 2023

Position
Head coach Daniel Garcia
Assistant coach TBD
Goalkeeping coach TBD
Fitness coach TBD
Under 20 coach TBD
Under 20 Assistant coach TBD
Ladies coach Juan Gomez
Ladies Goalkeeping coach Heyker Caldera
Futsal coach Arvin Espinoza.
Physio TBD
Massagist TBD
Team Doctor Dr.TBD
Utility TBD

Women's department

The women's team is the most successful team in Nicaragua winning 8 championships, the team is currently led by head coach TBD and features several members of the Nicaragua national team.

Honours

References

  1. ^ "UNAN Managua". LigaPrimera. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  2. ^ laprensa.com.ni article