Unión Española (Panama)

Unión Española is a sports entity based in the commune of Independencia, Santiago, Chile. Its main activity is professional soccer, where it currently participates in the First Division of Chile. It has a women's soccer branch, and competes in national tournaments with its lower categories. Hailed as one of the ''four greats'' of Chilean soccer, is one of the longest-running teams in the country.

It was founded by a group of Spaniards living in Chile and descendants of Spaniards under the name of Centro Español de Instrucción y Recreación on May 18, 1897. The idea was to form a recreational center for Spanish immigrants who did not have the optimal economic conditions to have access to the social clubs of the time. Finally, the club was officially re-founded on April 12, 1934 after the merger of the ''Centro Español de Instrucción y Recreación'' with the ''Unión Deportiva Española'', renaming it Unión Española.

Its stadium is the Santa Laura, popularly known as "The Cathedral of Chilean Soccer". After its recent remodeling, it has a capacity of approximately 20,000 spectators. Located in the north of the city of Santiago, it is considered one of the safest stadiums, and with one of the best views to enjoy soccer. The club is one of only four Chilean teams to have its own stadium.

The colors that identify the institution are red and yellow, in reference to the colors of the Spanish flag.

It is the 5th team with the most Primera Division titles, holding 7 championships. Its track record also includes 2 Chilean Cups, 1 Chilean Super Cup and 1 Primera B championship, which makes it the 4th most successful club in Chilean soccer. On the other hand, with 89 official seasons played, it is the 2nd team with the most participations in the Primera Division, surpassed only by Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo. In international matters, it has participated 13 times in the Copa Libertadores de América, becoming one of the only four Chilean teams to have played in a final, when it obtained the runner-up position after being defeated by Independiente in 1975.

Its traditional rivals are Audax Italiano and Palestino, with whom it plays the "Clásico de Colonias", representing the most numerous foreign colonies settled in the country. Recently, the enmity with Universidad Católica has gained popularity, recalling the rivalry of the extinct "Clásico de Independencia ". This confrontation is considered a classic by a large part of the fans.

Among its most emblematic sporting milestones, it stands out for having beaten the two most important teams in Spanish soccer. First, they defeated Futbol Club Barcelona 2-1 at the Campo de Las Corts on January 18, 1961, as part of an international tour of Spain. During this tour, they traveled around the country and played against other traditional teams such as Real Zaragoza and Athletic Club de Bilbao. On May 22, 1994, during a friendly match at the Santa Laura Stadium, they defeated Real Madrid 1-0.

History

Foundation, Amateur Era and First seasons

The team was founded as Centro Español de Instrucción y Recreación on 18 May 1897 by a group of Spanish immigrants resident in Chile. In 1918 two other teams were founded: Club Ciclista Ibérico and the Club Ibérico Balompié. Both clubs merged in 1922, becoming the club, Unión Deportiva Española. The club operated as titular team in the Estadio Santa Laura.

In the first seasons of the club, Unión Deportiva Española participated in the championship of the Asociación de Fútbol de Santiago. In this tournament the club won his first two consecutive titles in the Copa Chile, in the seasons of 1924 and 1925. The team was led by his captain, the Spanish defender Juan Legarreta.

In 1927, following the merger of the National Football Federation occurred the year before, the championship was called Liga Central de Football. Because of the participation of too many clubs, league was divided into two categories in 1927 and 1928: the Serie A and Serie B. The club also was in the Serie A. In 1928, Unión Deportiva Española was awarded its second title, after winning the Liga Central de Fútbol.

In May 1933, Unión Deportiva Española with Colo-Colo, Santiago Badminton, Audax Italiano, Green Cross, Magallanes and Santiago National, were the clubs that founded the Professional League of Chile, part of the Asociación de Fútbol de Santiago. In the Apertura Championship of the same year, Unión achieved the runner-up, after lossing the final against Colo-Colo, in a 2–1 loss. In the Official Championship, the club finished in the fourth place of eight teams.

In the next year, with the final fusion of Centro Español de Instrucción y Recreación and Unión Deportiva Española, in 1934, the club take definitely the name of Unión Española (being re–founded symbolically on 9 December 1935).

In 1939, Unión only played one match in the Primera División 1939 (against Colo-Colo), under the name of Central, in the first week of the tournament. Because the Spanish Civil War of this year, the club's leadership entered in recess for one year. In the next season, Unión had a youth squad during the Primera División tournament of 1940, but the team finished in the tenth place. In 1943, Unión won his first professional title in the Primera División.

After the runner-up achieved in 1945, 1948, in 1950, the team once was runner-up, after lossing the Championship play-offs against Everton for 1–0, with a goal of René Meléndez. Unión once win the Primera División title in 1951 under the Spanish coach Isidro Lángara. This title was the second in Unión Española's history.

Golden Age

Under the Argentine Nestor Isella as coach, Unión Española was the runner-up of the Primera División Chilena in 1970, after a loss in the final match against Colo-Colo in January 1971. However, being the runner-up allowed to Unión to participate for the first time in the Copa Libertadores. In the Copa Libertadores 1971, the club finished first in the group stage, qualifying for the semi-finals, but Unión was eliminated in the group in the last position. Whilst in the local tournament, Unión finished in the third place. In the next season, the club once again was runner-up against Colo-Colo and qualified to Copa Libertadores.

In the season of 1973, with the arrival of the coach Luis Santibáñez to the club, Unión was proclaimed champion of Primera División for the second time, and the team had also the highest goalscorer of the tournament, Guillermo Yávar. In the international tournaments, Unión had a poor performance during the Copa Libertadores 1973, finishing in the last position of the group stage.

On the next season, the coach Luis Santibáñez went to Deportes Ovalle, but he returned to the club in June 1974. In the tournaments Unión had a regular season, finished in the fourth place of the Primera División of 1974 and finishing in the last position of the group stage of Copa Libertadores. However, Unión won the Copa Libertadores play-offs and qualified to the Copa Libertadores of the next year.

One of the most successful seasons of Union Española's history was the 1975 season, winning the national tournament and the runner-up achieved in the Copa Libertadores against Independiente of Avellaneda. In the season of 1976, the squad of Unión Española was totally dismantled, because of offers for their players by other clubs. On the Primera División tournament, Unión finished in the first place with Everton, and both clubs had to play a Championship play-off, that Unión lost. In the Libertadores play-offs, Unión did not qualify to the tournament, after a finish in the third position. However, in 1977, Unión was champion of the tournament.

Irregular years

The years 1980s were irregular season for the Hispanic club. In 1983, Unión made a poor season finishing in the 20th place of 22 teams, meaning the relegation to the Second Division. Finally, the club not relegated because a decree of the directive of the Asociación Central de Fútbol (AFC). In the next season, Unión integrated the South Group, qualifying with Universidad Católica. In the Championship play-off, Unión played a quadrangular, finishing in the third place behind Cobresal.

After an irregular season in 1987, one of maximum idols of the club Honorino Landa

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