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Unión La Calera is a Chilean
football club A football team is a group of players selected to play together in the various team sports known as football. Such teams could be selected to play in a match against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an all- ...
based in La Calera and competes the
Primera División de Chile Primera may refer to * Nissan Primera The is a large family car which was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1990 to 2007, for the markets in Japan and Europe. In Japan, it replaced the Auster/Stanza, and was exclusive to '' N ...
. It was founded as Club de Deportes La Calera on 26 January 1954, after the merger of three teams from the city: ''Condor'', ''Calera Comercio'' and ''Tifón''. The following year, Deportes La Calera joined ''Club de Deportes Melón'' (originated by the merger between Cemento Melón and Minas Navío) to form Unión La Calera. After spending six seasons in second level, the club obtained its first promotion to
Primera División de Chile Primera may refer to * Nissan Primera The is a large family car which was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1990 to 2007, for the markets in Japan and Europe. In Japan, it replaced the Auster/Stanza, and was exclusive to '' N ...
in
1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 ...
, category where they remained until
1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of President of the United States, United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom K ...
. In 1985, they returned to top-tier, but they were relegated the incoming season. From there, they wandered through second level and third level, until returning to the top category in 2011, and in
2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
, after a brief stint in the promotion division (
Primera B Primera may refer to * Nissan Primera, a car * Primera Air, a former airline * Primera división (disambiguation), multiple top division football leagues * Primera, Texas, a town in Cameron County, Texas * Alí Primera, Venezuelan musician, c ...
). In its palmares, Unión La Calera counts with three second division titles (the
1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 ...
and 1984 Segunda División de Chile titles; and a 2017 Primera B title) and two
Tercera División de Chile Tercera División de Chile (Third Division of Chile), is the fourth tier of Chilean football (soccer). It is organized by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile and the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Amateur de Chile. It is both the fourth level o ...
honors (1990 and 2000). The color that identifies the club is red (present in their uniform since the formation as Union La Calera) and disputes their home games at the
Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán Nazar Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán is a multi-use stadium in La Calera, Valparaíso Region, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches, and is the home ground of Unión La Calera of the Chilean Primera División. The stadium was o ...
. Nevertheless, due to its reconstruction, around 2017 and 2018 they moved to
Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández Estadio Municipal Lucio Fariña Fernández is a multi-use stadium in Quillota, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unquali ...
in neighboring Quillota (which has a capacity for 7703 spectators). Their main local rivals are San Luis de Quillota. The club is well known for be the team when Sergio Jadue began his sports manager career before coming to power in the ANFP in 2011. He assumed Unión La Calera Corporation's presidency in 2007. In June 2009 he was appointed Club's President of the Board. During his management, Unión La Calera was promoted, after 26 years, to top-tier in
2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
. After his departure, the team had a brief success in 2011's first part, reaching the Torneo Apertura's semi-final. In that tournament, highlighted players like
Ramón Ignacio Fernández Ramón or Ramon may refer to: People Given name *Ramon (footballer, born 1998), Brazilian footballer *Ramón (footballer, born 1990), Brazilian footballer *Ramón (singer), Spanish singer who represented Spain in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest * ...
,
Braian Rodríguez Braian Damián Rodríguez Carballo (born 14 August 1986), known as Braian Rodríguez, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brazilian club Juventude in Brazil. Career Born in Salto, Rodríguez made his senior deb ...
or
Gonzalo Barriga Gonzalo Felipe Barriga Ahumada (born 21 June 1984) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays for Primera División club Unión La Calera as a midfielder. He was titled as engineer after attending DuocUC. Club career After ending his career ...
.


History


1954–1970: Beginnings

The club was founded on 15 April 1955. It was following the merger between five local clubs: Tifón, Minas Navío, Cóndor, Cemento Melón and Calera Comercio. Nevertheless, the club's foundation its recorded on 26 January 1954.


2011–2016: Primera División de Chile


The successful 2011 season


=2011 Torneo Apertura

= Unión La Calera began the 2011 season hiring eight players: Jonathan Domínguez (forward from Unión San Felipe), Rodrigo Flores (goalkeeper from O'Higgins), Ángel Carreño (midfielder from Deportes La Serena),
Jorge Ampuero Jorge Enrique Ampuero Cabello (born 17 April 1987) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a centre-back. Career He is commonly known for having played at Unión Española. In 2021, he played for Chilean Segunda División side Rodelindo ...
(defender from
Unión Española Club Unión Española S.A.D.P. is a professional football club based in the Independencia neighborhood, commune of Santiago, Chile. They currently participate in the Primera División de Chile. It has a branch of women's football, and compete ...
),
Ramón Ignacio Fernández Ramón or Ramon may refer to: People Given name *Ramon (footballer, born 1998), Brazilian footballer *Ramón (footballer, born 1990), Brazilian footballer *Ramón (singer), Spanish singer who represented Spain in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest * ...
(from Argentinian powerhouse Estudiantes de La Plata),
Braian Rodríguez Braian Damián Rodríguez Carballo (born 14 August 1986), known as Braian Rodríguez, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brazilian club Juventude in Brazil. Career Born in Salto, Rodríguez made his senior deb ...
(from Peru's top-tier Club Deportivo Universidad de San Martín de Porres), Claudio Muñoz (from Universidad de Concepción) and
Luis Jiménez Barrera Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archaic ...
(from
Deportes Melipilla Deportes Melipilla is a Chilean football club, based on Melipilla, a comune in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on January 24, 1992, as a successor of ''Club Deportivo Soinca Bata''. The club has its classic rival, San Antonio Uni ...
).


Regular Phase

They debuted in the 2011 Torneo Apertura on 30 January with a 1–1 draw with Santiago Morning. In this match the scores were from Paraguayan striker
Ever Cantero Ever Milton Cantero Benítez (born 3 December 1985) is a Paraguayan footballer who last played for Guaireña in Paraguay. Club career Cantero began his career playing for River Plate of his country in 2003, after signed by Cerro de Franco an ...
for Santiago Morning and an own-goal from
Edgardo Abdala Edgardo Smith Abdala Montero (born July 1, 1978) is a Chilean-born Palestinian former professional footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are ...
. The next week on 6 February, the Uruguayan Braian Rodríguez (the striker from San Martín de Porres) scored Calera's first goal in top-tier in a 1–0 home win over Unión San Felipe. Besides, it was the club's first goal scored by a team's player after its 24 year-absence in Primera from 1987 season (considering Abdala's own goal). On 12 February, for the third week, they surprised everyone after beating 2–1 to Universidad Católica as local in
Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán Nazar Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán is a multi-use stadium in La Calera, Valparaíso Region, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches, and is the home ground of Unión La Calera of the Chilean Primera División. The stadium was o ...
. The goals for Calera were scored by the defender Claudio Muñoz in the 39th minute (who precisely played in Universidad Católica between 2004 and 2007, prior to play in Universidad de Concepción) and
Diego Cuéllar Diego Ignacio Cuéllar Vásquez (born 22 November 1986) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays for Chilean Segunda División side San Antonio Unido. Career In 2024, Cuéllar joined San Antonio Unido in the Segunda División Profesional de ...
in the 75th minute, who netted the tie-breaker goal after
Hans Martínez Hans Alexis Martínez Cabrera (born 4 January 1987) is a Chilean former association football, footballer who mainly played as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, central defender, but he could also play as a Defender (association foot ...
's equalizing goal in 66th minute. Thereby, Unión La Calera broke the small unbeaten Universidad Católica had in the first two games (a 0–2 away win over
Deportes Iquique Club de Deportes Iquique S.A.D.P. is a Chilean football club based in Iquique that is a current member of the Primera B. Founded in 1978, the club's home stadium is the Estadio Tierra de Campeones, which has a 13,171 capacity. Iquique has spent ...
and a 3–1 victory against
Audax Italiano Audax Club Sportivo Italiano () is a Chilean football club based in La Florida. Founded in 1910, it plays in the Campeonato Nacional and has spent most of its history in the top tier of Chilean football. Audax has been national champions four ...
). Nevertheless, on 19 February, now Calera's short unbeaten was broken by Cobresal which defeat 3–1 the team in
El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by ...
with a hat-trick of Joel Soto.RSSSF Chile 2011
— Apertura Round 4; 19 February
The goal for Calera was of
Alejandro Risso Claudio Alejandro Risso (born 16 March 1988) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Primera B Metropolitana Primera B Metropolitana is one of two professional leagues that form the third level of the Argentine football league system ...
. The following week the team was recovered from the 3–1 defeat with Cobresal, beating 2–0 to Deportes La Serena at Nicolás Chahuán Nazar, but after this victory, an important triumph was against
Cobreloa Club de Deportes Cobreloa S.A.D.P. (), commonly referred to as Cobreloa, is a Chilean football professional club based in Calama, Región de Antofagasta, Chile. That competes in the Primera B. The club's home ground is the Estadio Zorros del ...
in Calama with a goal of Ramón Fernández in the 17th minute. This victory meant the team's climb to the league table's first place, being there with thirteen points next to Universidad Católica. The next matchday, Católica and Calera remained as table's leaders after both teams won to Universidad de Concepción (Calera; 2–0) and Palestino (Católica; 1–2). On 11 March, Unión La Calera had to play with giants
Colo-Colo Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo () is a Chilean professional football club based in Macul, Santiago. Founded in 1925 by David Arellano they play in the Chilean Primera División, from which they have never been relegated. The team has pla ...
at
Estadio Monumental There are a number of stadiums and venues known under the name of Estadio Monumental (''Monumental Stadium'') in different Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries: * Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina *Estadio Monumental David Ar ...
in the capital city
Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, who ...
. However, the team was defeated in a 2–0 loss with goals of the Argentinian
Lucas Wilchez Lucas Daniel Wilchez (, born 31 August 1983) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a left winger. He began his career at the Cambaceres youth squad, then moved to La Plata and joined the football academy of his hometown club, Estudiantes, ...
and Chilean international
José Pedro Fuenzalida José Pedro Fuenzalida Gana (; born 22 February 1985) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays as forward for Universidad Católica. Club career A product of the Universidad Católica youth set-up, Fuenzalida was promoted to the first-adu ...
. The next matchday, on 20 March, Unión La Calera defeated 3–1 as local to
Audax Italiano Audax Club Sportivo Italiano () is a Chilean football club based in La Florida. Founded in 1910, it plays in the Campeonato Nacional and has spent most of its history in the top tier of Chilean football. Audax has been national champions four ...
, thereby confirming its second place behind Universidad Católica. The team began losing with a goal of Bryan Carrasco in the 20th minute, but the score of Braian Rodríguez through a penalty, gave encouragement so that later Octavio Pozo and
Jorge Ampuero Jorge Enrique Ampuero Cabello (born 17 April 1987) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a centre-back. Career He is commonly known for having played at Unión Española. In 2021, he played for Chilean Segunda División side Rodelindo ...
contribute with goals. Since the 10th week after a 3–1 loss to
Unión Española Club Unión Española S.A.D.P. is a professional football club based in the Independencia neighborhood, commune of Santiago, Chile. They currently participate in the Primera División de Chile. It has a branch of women's football, and compete ...
, the team went into a losing streak until the end of the regular phase which finished in the seventeenth week. Since there, Unión La Calera draw then with Palestino (with a goal of Braian Rodríguez in 90th minute), lost with
Universidad de Chile The University of Chile ( es, Universidad de Chile) is a public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.
by a 2–0 score, again 2–0 with O'Higgins the next week (13th) and in the 15th matchday (after a 0–0 draw Huachipato in the 14th week) lost 1–0 to Deportes Iquique with a score of defender Juan González Calderón. Only a 2–0 win over Ñublense with a twice of Braian Rodríguez in the 16th matchday, and a 1–1 away draw with Santiago Wanderers in regular phase's final matchday, secured the team's classification to the playoffs (the qualified were eight teams out of a total of eighteen). The team finished in the sixth position with 25 points over Unión San Felipe with 24 points (7th) and Colo-Colo with 23 points (8th).


League table


=Playoffs

=


Background and Results

The favorite to win the championship was Universidad Católica which finished in the regular phase's first place. Nevertheless, Católica (after winning to Unión La Calera in the semi-finals) lost to
Universidad de Chile The University of Chile ( es, Universidad de Chile) is a public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.
in the final's second leg, where Universidad de Chile won 4–1, reversing the first leg's 0–2. For its part, Unión La Calera already without the surprise sensation which generated in the tournament's early part, defeated to
Unión Española Club Unión Española S.A.D.P. is a professional football club based in the Independencia neighborhood, commune of Santiago, Chile. They currently participate in the Primera División de Chile. It has a branch of women's football, and compete ...
in the quarterfinals for then repeat a 2–1 triumph over Católica in the semifinals first leg. Unfortunately, in the next leg, the team was eliminated after losing 1–0 in
Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, who ...
.


Quarterfinals: Calera vs. Unión Española

;First leg On 26 May, Unión La Calera and Unión Española played the quarterfinal's first leg at
Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán Nazar Estadio Municipal Nicolás Chahuán is a multi-use stadium in La Calera, Valparaíso Region, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches, and is the home ground of Unión La Calera of the Chilean Primera División. The stadium was o ...
and the team recovered from its 3–1 loss in the regular phase. The game's only one goal was scored by Ángel Carreño in the 68th minute. The match had 2,459 spectators. Astorga this time played with a 3–4–1–2 lineup:
Lucas Giovini Lucas Raúl Giovini Schiapino (born 13 October 1981) is an Argentine naturalized Chilean former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Career He retired at the end of the 2021 season. Personal life In 2014 Giovini gained Chilean nationality. ...
in the goal; in the rear,
Jorge Ampuero Jorge Enrique Ampuero Cabello (born 17 April 1987) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a centre-back. Career He is commonly known for having played at Unión Española. In 2021, he played for Chilean Segunda División side Rodelindo ...
as left sweeper, Mario Berríos as centre-back, Nicolás Suárez as right sweeper; in the midfield, Ángel Carreño and Claudio Muñoz as central midfielders, Francisco Bahamondes and
Gonzalo Barriga Gonzalo Felipe Barriga Ahumada (born 21 June 1984) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays for Primera División club Unión La Calera as a midfielder. He was titled as engineer after attending DuocUC. Club career After ending his career ...
as left midfielder and right midfielders respectively and finally with Ramón Fernández as playmaker; meantime the forward was composite by
Braian Rodríguez Braian Damián Rodríguez Carballo (born 14 August 1986), known as Braian Rodríguez, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brazilian club Juventude in Brazil. Career Born in Salto, Rodríguez made his senior deb ...
and Jonathan Domínguez. On the other hand,
José Luis Sierra José Luis Sierra may refer to the following Chilean footballers: *José Luis Sierra (footballer, born 1968) José Luis "Coto" Sierra Pando (born 5 December 1968) is a Chilean football coach and former player. He is the manager of Al-Wehda. P ...
played with a 4–2–1–3 lineup: Eduardo Lobos in the goal; in the rear, Rafael Olarra and
Leandro Delgado Leandro Javier Delgado Plenkovich (born July 15, 1982) was a Chilean Association football, footballer of Croatian descent. Career Leandro Delgado started his career in Club de Deportes Puerto Montt, Puerto Montt, at those times in the Primera Di ...
as centre backs, Fernando Cordero as left back and Esteban González as right back; in the midfield,
Braulio Leal Braulio Antonio Leal Salvo (born 22 November 1981) is a Chilean former association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. Club career Youth career Fuentes started his career at Primera División de Chile club Colo-Colo. He progresse ...
and
Gonzalo Villagra Gonzalo Andrés Villagra Lira (born 17 September 1981) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a midfielder. Career He retired at the end of the 2021 season. Career statistics Honours Club ;Unión Española * Primera División de Chile ...
(
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
) as central midfielders and Martín Ligüera as playmaker; the forwards were
Raúl Estévez Raúl Enrique Estévez (born 21 January 1978 in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina) is a retired Argentine footballer. Estévez, nicknamed "El Pipa", has played for San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors, Colón de Santa Fe and Racing Club of Argentina; Botafogo o ...
,
Sebastián Jaime Sebastián Óscar Jaime (born January 30, 1987) is an Argentine-born Chilean footballer who plays for Unión Española. Honours Club ;Argentinos Juniors * Argentine Primera División (1): 2010 Apertura ;Unión Española * Primera División de ...
and
Mario Aravena Mario Antonio Aravena Bonilla (born 31 January 1985) is a Chilean former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Career A product of Coquimbo Unido youth system, Aravena played for them, Unión Española, Universidad de Concepción an ...
.
;Second leg On 29 May, the teams played the quarterfinal's second leg at Estadio Santa Laura. The game ended in a 0–0 draw which allowed to Unión La Calera the qualification to the semifinal. The match had 4,842 spectators. For its part, Unión with Sierra also repeated the 4–2–1–3 lineup, being the only one change Leonardo Monje (who scored against Calera in the team's 3–1 defeat as visitors in Santa Laura for the regular phase) instead of Mario Aravena. Between the key events, Leal missed a penalty in the 24th minute and Jaime was sent-off in the 71st minute.


Semifinals: Católica vs. Calera

;First Leg Unión La Calera played the semifinal's first leg with Universidad Católica on 2 June. Astorga played with the same lineup that occupied against Unión Española in the quarterfinal's second leg, whilst Católica, coached by Juan Antonio Pizzi, played with a 4–2–2–2 lineup:
Christopher Toselli Cristopher Benjamín Toselli Ríos (, born 15 June 1988) is a Chilean footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Universidad de Chile. Toselli is best known for beating Cláudio Taffarel's clean sheet record of 484 minutes during 2007 FIFA U-20 W ...
in the goal;
David Henríquez David Henríquez may refer to: * David Henríquez (footballer, born 1977) * David Henríquez (footballer, born 1998) {{hndis, Henriquez, David ...
and Alfonso Parot as central backs; Rodrigo Valenzuela and Juan Eluchans as full backs;
Gonzalo Sepúlveda Gonzalo Alfredo Sepúlveda Domínguez (born 10 November 1988) is a Chilean former footballer who played as a midfielder. Honours Club ;Universidad Católica * Primera División de Chile (1): 2010 * Copa Chile (1): 2011 File:2011 Events Collage. ...
and
Tomás Costa Tomás Alberto Costa (born 30 January 1985) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. Club career Rosario Central Born in Oliveros, Santa Fe, Costa joined Rosario Central's youth ranks at the age of 18 ...
as central midfielders; Fernando Meneses and Milovan Mirosevic as right and left midfielders; and finally