This article has been translated from the article Club de Deportes Cobreloa in the Spanish Wikipedia, and requires proofreading. If you are confident enough in your fluency of English and Spanish, please proofread it.(August 2022)
Founded on 7 January 1977, by the initiative of various local groups and the Chilean state-owned enterprise, CODELCO. This club was created starting from the Legal Personality of the local club, Deportes El Loa. On 30 March 2006, the club changed to a Limited sports company with the unanimous approval of 56 of its socios (members).[1] According to the 2023 year public report, the capital of the club is $7.534 billion CLP ($7,760,020.00 USD) spread on 1.100.000 shares of stock without nominal value, mostly owned by the socios (members of club), since 2013, by means of an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on second call, with 1099,999 of them and the president of the club with 2 share, the first is in his capacity as president of the club and the other is as president of the board of directors of the corporation.[2] In 2024 the first team budget was $77,900 million CLP.[3]
On 1 January 1948, 'Club Social Deportivo Deportes El Loa' was founded in Calama, Chile.[8] This club was the first legal personality of the team and the first team in Calama in have this type of personality.[9] In 1951, the team played in the Asociación de Fútbol de Calama with a second team with the name 'Cóndor'. Later, in February 1955, the team was renamed to 'Club Deportivo y Social Sport Cóndor.[8]
In 1957, Calama entered on a tournament organized by the newly established Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Amateur de Chile, previously known as a federation, Calama had participated in previous amateur tournaments, such as in 1949 and 1953. The third Nacional Juvenil de Fútbol began on July 28 of that year. The organizers' goal was to select a group of players who would compete in the 1962 World Cup, which would be held in Chile. The first phase matches were played in regional divisions, with the Calama youth team facing off against its counterpart from Chuquicamata.[10]
In 1959, the Calama Amateur team, coached by Roberto Rodríguez Antequera, won the 28th edition of the National Amateur Football Championship. The final was against Thomas Bata de Peñaflor, played at the Estadio Municipal de Calama. The score was 3–2 in extra time, after a 2–2 tie at the end of regulation time. The game-winner was scored by Valencia in the 8th minute of the first half.[11] The team that played in the final was as follows:
Hidalgo, Soto, Tapia, Lillo, Aracena, Toro, Gutierrez, A. Portillo, Valencia, M. Portillo, and Vega.[11]
28th Chilean National Amateur Football Championship
Final
Calama
3–2
Peñaflor
A.Portillo24' Gutierrez68' Valencia98'
Romero59' Grandi79'
Estadio Municipal de Calama, Calama, Chile
Attendance: 2,400
Referee: Luis Orozco
This achievement allowed Calama to qualify for the Copa Chile of that same year,[11] as an amateur team, but they only reached the round of 16 of the tournament,[12] being eliminated in that round by Deportes La Serena,[13] winning by one goal in the first leg and winning 6–0 in the second leg, qualifying them for the next phase.[14]
By 1960, Sport Cóndor team was already participating in provincial championships in the region of Antofagasta with teams from Calama, such as Tronador, which would animate the matches of the Asociación de Fútbol de Calama of that decade; from Tocopilla as Chile Sporting, from Tal-Tal as Unión Caleta and the teams such Coquimbo and Correvuela from Chuquicamata.[15]
Later, on Sunday, December 17, 1961, the Chuquicamata amateur, coached by Daniel Chirinos, team won the next edition of the Chilean National Amateur Football Tournament undefeated against Osorno 3–2, with a hat trick by Mario Valencia, at the Anaconda Stadium in Chuquicamata,[16] before an audience of 6,346.[17][9] The winning team's lineup was as follows:
Hidalgo, Silva, Gary, Cortés, Valencia, Reyes, León (Cortés), Portillo, Mario Valencia, Carvajal (Diaz), and Bustos.[16]
29th Chilean National Amateur Football Championship
Final
Chuquicamata
3–2
Osorno
Mario Valencia29' Mario Valencia35' Mario Valencia92'(pen.)
Acuña11' Rubén Marcos
Estadio Anaconda de Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, Chile
Attendance: 6,346
Referee: Pascual Vera
In the previous match, the Calama teams, coached this time by Jaime Meneses, and Peñaflor played, and the score ended in a 2–2 draw.[16] These facts pushed to the 'El Loa' citizen the desire to have a professional team in the city.
Sport Cóndor, have in its acolates the local championships of the Asociación de Calama, in the year 1961 and 1962.[8]
In 1962, Sport Cóndor submitted its bid to participate in professional football. At that time, the club had the support of the Chile Exploration Company, then managed by the Anaconda Copper consortium, an international mining company, from which the state-owned company, CODELCO,[18] would be born a decade later. Its then president, Carlos Seguel, was also the company's commercial manager and established links between the sports club and the company. The Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional de Chile responded negatively to the request by the president of the club.[19]
During the Holy Week period of 1964, the Calama and Chuquicamata teams played an international quadrangular, hosted in Calama, with a title in dispute, which included the participation of the Municipal de Lima international team from Peru and the Universidad Católica de Chile team, who were on tour.[20] In the last matches of the competition, the Universidad Católica team defeated the Calama football team by 4 goals to 0, in favor of the Santiago team, the goals were scored by Foulijoux, Tobar, Gajardo and Isella. And the Municipal de Lima team defeated the Chuquicamata team by 5 goals to 1, with double goals by Etuchi, Drago Mosquera and Bernales, these results gave the winner of the international tournament to the Peruvian team Municipal de Lima.[21]
In 1965, the Presidents' Congress of the Segunda División Tournament agreed that provincial teams would not be accepted into the tournament in order to compete in 1966. Therefore, the Sport Condor club was not eligible to apply to join the Segunda División during this period of time.[22]
In January 1967, the idea of merging Sport Cóndor with Santiago Morning under the name of 'Loa Morning' to venture into professional football was originated by the Asociación de Fútbol de Calama, the choice at that time was the financial crisis of the chosen team, which led it to relegate to Segunda División; In August of the same year the board of Chile Exploration Company headed by Carlos Seguel accepted a period of formal approach with this team,[23] but this idea failed due to the refusal of the partners and the board of directors of both teams.[24][25]
On 2 January 1968, 'Gobernación del Loa' decided to introduce a football club to professional football to represent the northern chile region, to this end, they encouraged Cóndor and 'Correvuela', the team of the neighboring Chuquicamata, but this initiative failed because the 'Asociación Central de Fútbol' decided incorporate 'Antofagasta Portuario' like a representative. In 1969.[8]
In press releases from the Illustrious Municipality of Calama, reference has been made to the fact that Club Sport Cóndor, later known as Deportes El Loa, leased the Calama Municipal Stadium for its sporting events. These leases date from 1969 to 1974.[26] His subsequent attempts to enter professional football in the country independently are recorded. However, despite retaining the legal status of Sport Cóndor, he used the name Deportes El Loa, registering on January 28, 1970.[8]
By 1971, the Sport Cóndor club, a club recognized by the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Amateur of Chile, who made its application for the only place offered by the Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional that year, by then, the application was reinforced by adding the name of Deportes El Loa, appearing as a double application, the manager who would be in charge of the institution would be Jorge Burboa, who participated in the integration into professionalism of clubs such as Federico Schwager and Huachipato, this application had the support of workers' unions in Chuquicamata, Calama, and the nitrate offices of Pedro de Valdivia and Maria Elena. The club already had 10,000 members, whose membership fees would be deducted from their payroll, the board of delegates finally decided to include the Independiente de Cauquenes team to enter the Segunda División that year.[27][28] The request to enter the professional ranks was rejected again.
In the 1970 decade, the Brazilian national team was the was the benchmark for world football, being an inspiration to Roberto Rodriguez to make the jersey of Deportes El Loa.
The representative colors of Deportes El Loa were a yellow shirt, blue shorts, and white socks, similar to those of the Brazilian national team, since the team's coach, Roberto Rodriguez, liked the Brazilian national team's football. The team was a member of the Asociación de Fútbol de Calama.[29] That February of this year, the team faced a row of friendly matches in the Estadio Municipal de Calama, against Unión San Felipe, versus Coquimbo Unido, winning both the matchs by one goal to null, a draw between Colo-Colo to two goals tie[8] and versus the Cuban national football team, which was touring Chile, and won 1–0 over the Cubans.[30]
In 1972, the then Deportes El Loa team loaned players from its team to represent Calama in the thirty-fourth Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol Amateur. At the time, it was coached by Roberto Rodríguez and featured players who had played on professional teams, such as Héctor Torres, Jorge Garcés, and Gabriel Cáceres.[31]
In 1974, another entry into the Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional of Deportes El Loa, chaired by Carlos Seguel, was submitted for the first time. In 1975, the application for entry into professional football was again submitted, but was rejected again, on the grounds that Calama was outside the established limits for professional football. In that year, the player Carlos Rojas, enters the final of Deportes El Loa, coming from Unión Española. This player, who would return to play from the beginning of Cobreloa until 1990, won three national titles in the Primera División and one Copa Chile in 1986. He also had a period as a formative player trainer at the club, being one of the managers of the first sale of the club, Mauricio Donoso. He then had a stint as coach of the club's first team, in the 1997 and 1998 tournament, then in 2000. He then coached again in 2016.[32]
The director board of 'Club Regional Antofagasta' held some talks with the regional Mayor of Region of Antofagasta in order to get Codelco workers to join and give one percent of their salary to the club, but the local government officials rejected the idea.[9] There have also been indications that the club has expressed a desire to undertake the same unification exercise with the professional club Deportes Magallanes, but without success.
On 26 September 1976, the 'Cámara del Comercio', Railroad Unions, merchants and businessmen, sports directors of the 'El Loa' and also the Coronel Fernando Ibáñez, the prefect Francisco Núñez Venegas and the assistant directors of CODELCO, José Gorrini, Renzo Gasparini, Orlando Urbina and Nicolás Tschischow formed a committee called 'Pro Ingreso al Fútbol Rentado' with the purpose of induction 'Deportes El Loa' to professional football in Chile. The director of the hospital of Roy H. Glover, Sergio Stóppel joined this effort. United under the motto 'Ahora o Núnca' ('Now or never'), and was subsequently accepted into 'Segunda División' on the 14 October in the same year. In December this initiative counted with the approval of clubs like Regional Antofagasta, Colo-Colo, Naval, Aviación, Huachipato, Coquimbo, Ovalle, Everton, Wanderers and O'higgins.[9][25][33]
A work plan was developed prior to entering professional football. This consisted of consultations with top executives in the field, such as city coaches, and in-depth studies of the team. This included a review of the area's sports infrastructure. Commissions traveled across the country to gather useful information prior to the founding of the new team. The objective of all this was to meet the requirements necessary to enter the country's professional football sector. The work plan lasted six months.[34]
Due the inexperience of the directors of the team on professional football, they decided to sign up Alfonso Fuentes who had previously worked as a manager for Lota Schwager. The directors of the team, José Gorrini and Francisco Núñez, decided to incorporate to team as a section of CODELCO.[34]
Fernando Riera, helped by Carlos Lillio Guerrero y Roberto Rodríguez, was asked to select the players for the team. They presented requirements to Executive Committee of the team to create the first squad with selection of the best players in the El Loa región. For this selection, mining workers who had previous Football experience were used. At the end of the day, the technical staff selected the following players:
Requeriments
Bring to the club the best players on the province between 19 ultil 26 years old with exceptions
Set up into the squad a solid group, fullness of friendship and fellowship.
Create habits of good manners in and out the Pitch.
Create a positive mentality pro to the introduction to professional football.
The selected team would begin regular training at Anaconda Stadium, with the goal of eventually being presented to the Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional. This was at the request of Nicolás Tschichow, José Gorrini, and Mario Puente.
On October 14 of this year, Eduardo Gordon, president of the Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional, received the executive committee's letter of introduction, signed by all the entities involved.[34]
On November the team played previous matches before entering professional football, which would enter into the Segunda División championship of their country, their first match in this period was with Regional Antofagasta with a 2-2 goal tie, then facing the Copiapó team, achieving a victory and then against the Vallenar team by 6 goals to 3.[34]
On 7 January 1977, the NCO School of Carabineros of Chile, all directors of Asociación Central de Fútbol and all representatives of Chilean football clubs were reunited at 18.30 P.M. in Calama and Chuquicamata. Through the local Radio, 'Radio El Loa', at 20.15 P.M. the incorporation of 'Deportes El Loa' to the professional football by unanimous 'Primera and Segunda división' clubs approval was officially announced.[9] The other candidates are Deportes Colchagua, Unión San Felipe were also accepted into the professional football of the country.[35]
The governor and the mayor of Calama, called to the citizens to support this new project, end celebrated the event. To celebrate this fact, they chose a new name for the team, rejecting the proposed 'Calama Loa' due to this name not being representative of mining that composes the main economic activity of the region.[9] The name Deportes El Loa, under which the club was presented to the Asociación Central de Fútbol Profesional, was changed at the request of the same board of directors. At a meeting of the club's leaders, the name "Cobreloa" was chosen because the new name included the miner, his family, copper, and El Loa, thus representing all the inhabitants of the province. By this time the club already had a daily membership of 10,625. The exercise of eliminating the legal status of Deportes El Loa and giving rise to Deportes Cobreloa was carried out by Cesáreo Castillo, who was a leader of the Asociación de Fútbol de Calama until 1976 and also a prominent businessman in the city of Calama.[29]
The first head coach of the club was elected in a shortlist between Salvador Nocetti, Pedro Morales, Luis Santibañez, Caopolicán Peña, Isaac Carrasco and Andrés Prieto. Initially, an offer was made to coach Pedro Morales, but he declined, and on his recommendation, the directors ultimately chose Andrés Prieto as the team's head coach for the season and he signs with the club on 15 January 1977.[33][36]
When he was appointed team manager, Andres Prieto contacted the physical trainer, Gustavo Graef, at that time he was working for the Chilean National Soccer Team, the negotiations were not fruitful because the team had to pay a higher amount than the national team to take him, discarding him. Then there were approaches with the coaches; Sergio Lillo, Armando Aravena, Alejandro Sanchez, however, none was available to address the deal. On Graef's recommendation, they contacted Alejandro Guzmán to be the team's first physical trainer, who ended up accepting the proposal.[37] The technical staff is made up as follows:
First Technical Staff
Position
Staff
Head Coach
Andrés Prieto
Assistant Coaches
Carlos Lillo
Raúl Rossi
Víctor Pinochet
Head Fitness Coach
Alejandro Guzmán Valdés
he choose the first transfers of the first team, been the following.
*Juan Rogelio Núñez was the first professional player hired by the club in his history.[38] *Former clubs register in the magazine, Revista Estadio of 1977.[39]
The first matches recorded as Deportes Cobreloa were those held on January 9 against the Chiquicamata youth team, with Cobreloa winning by 3 goals to 2 and The historical match of the team on January 12 of this year, against Tocopilla selection team, playing away. The result of the match was victory of the team by 0–1. Their first defeat was recorded on January 30 against Universidad Católica, losing 1–3 with Chuquicamata as the venue.[29]
After the friendly matches in the local area, the team decided to continue their preseason preparations at the Las Vertientes Training Center in Santiago de Chile, where they would initially meet with the squad's foreign signings and the new management team. During this time, they faced teams from the capital, which would help them prepare for their first ever competitive season.[29]
The first official match of the team was on the date February 6 of this year, playing away against 'Regional Antofagasta', on the Estadio 'Regional de Antofagasta' valid for 'Copa Chile', winning by 0–2 with goals of Armando Alarcón on 20' and Juan Rogelio Núñez on 34'.[40]
The team entered the field with the following Line-Up:
Olivares
Garisto
Concha
Aedo
M. González
Alarcón
Huanca
Núñez
Castillo
Cuello
G. González
The initial first official match Line-Up, valid for Copa Chile 1977
Estadio Regional de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
Attendance: 8,023
Referee: Miguel Luengo
On 1977, the club participated in Copa Chile and Segunda División de Chile of this season. In the national cup, the team neing part of the group 4 of this, with the teams, Club Social y Deportivo Ovalle, Club de Deportes La Serena, Antofagasta Portuario and Coquimbo unido. The second gameweek on the February 12, the team went to the La Serena to play against the homonymous team with name of the city, loses the game by one goal to null, the third gameweek on the date February 26, the team plays against Deportivo Ovalle in Calama, being this match the first official in this place for the club, the team won the match by two goals to one.
The team entered the field with the following Line-Up:
Pérez
Garisto
Concha
Gómez
M. González
Alarcón
Yávar
Núñez
Castillo
Cuello
G. González
The initial first official match Line-Up in the Estadio Municipal de Calama, valid for Copa Chile 1977
Finished the first row with Coquimbo Unido, won the match, on March 2, by one goal to two. In the second row of the cup, the team draws with Antofagasta Portuario, by two goals, in Calama, on the date March 5, the team faced the matchday with Deportes La Serena, losses the match, by one goal, on March 9. Due difference of goals the team did not classifiqued to the Quarters Finals of the competition, being Deportivo Ovalle the team classifiqued to the next stage.
The team have his debut in profesional domestic leagues in the Segunda División de Chile of 1977, his first match was against the team of San Luis de Quillota, in Calama. The team won that match by one goal to null, with goal of Luis Ahumada. On the date Saturday, April 30, the Striker, Luis Ahumada scores an Hattrick against the team of Deportes Iberia and repeat the action with the team of San Antonio on the Sixth Gameweek. The first local match whom the team loss was, against the team of Coquimbo Unido, the score was of null to two goals for the away team. The final table the team finish in the fourth position, with 42 points, and 17 wins and a difference of goals of 15. This fact let it participated to the promotion playoffs of the competition, with the teams of Santiago Wanderers and Santiago Morning, teams of the Primera división de Chile of this year and Malleco únido, whon finish the Segunda División de Chile tournament in third position all theses matches was played in the Estadio Nacional of Chile. Finished the Playoffs, the team finish in the second place let it promoted to Primera División de Chile to the next year, this due Santiago Morning who finish in first place in this playoff can remains its position in Primera División, relegated the team of Santiago Wanderers to Segunda División of the next year.
* The goals in the table are from all professional competitions of the team that season. * The Stadistics are based in the magazine Revista Estadio over all 1977 Season.
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama Attendance: 9.000
Malleco Unido v Cobreloa
16 August 197713
Malleco Unido
1-1
Cobreloa
Ángol, Chile
Diaz
Sergio Pérez
Cobreloa v Deportes Linares
17 July 197714
Cobreloa
1-0
Deportes Linares
Calama, Chile
Cristián Sasso
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Independiente Cauquenes v Cobreloa
21 August 197715
Independiente Cauquenes
2-2
Cobreloa
Cauquenes, Chile
Romero
Hugo Cárdenas
Sergio Pérez
Luis Ahumada
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Cauquenes
Cobreloa v Trasandino
21 July 197716
Cobreloa
2-0
Trasandino
Calama, Chile
Guillermo Yávar
Luis Ahumada
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Magallanes v Cobreloa
6 August 197717
Magallanes
3-2
Cobreloa
Santiago, Chile
Juan Lataste
Manuel Baeza
Tejo (Penalty)
Guillermo Yávar (2 goals)
Stadium: Estadio El Bosque
San Luis v Cobreloa
28 August 197718
San Luis
3-2
Cobreloa
Quillota, Chile
-
Nuñez
Rubén Rivera
Óscar Villaroel
Guillermo Yávar (Penalty)
Sergio Pérez
Cobreloa v Deportes La Serena
4 September 197719
Cobreloa
1-0
Deportes La Serena
Calama, Chile
Baudilio Jáuregui
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Iberia v Cobreloa
11 September 197720
Iberia
1-0
Cobreloa
Los Ángeles, Chile
Benjamín Muñoz
Stadium: Municipal de Los Ángeles
Cobreloa v Curicó Unido
17 September 197721
Cobreloa
4-2
Curicó Unido
Calama, Chile
Juan Rogelio Nuñez
Gustavo Cuello
Luis Ahumada
Guillermo González
Sánchez
López
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Colchagua v Cobreloa
25 September 197722
Colchagua
0-1
Cobreloa
Colchagua, Chile
Elmo Aedo
San Antonio v Cobreloa
2 October 197723
San Antonio
0-2
Cobreloa
San Antonio, Chile
Julio Correa
Luis Ahumada
Cobreloa v Naval
9 October 197724
Cobreloa
4-1
Naval
Calama, Chile
Manfredo González
Julio Correa
Guillermo Yávar (2 goals) (1 of penalty)
Juan Valdivia
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Unión San Felipe v Cobreloa
16 October 197725
Unión San Felipe
2-0
Cobreloa
San Felipe, Chile
Negrete
Hugo Ubeda
Attendance: 4,751
Cobreloa v Ferroviarios
23 October 197726
Cobreloa
2-0
Ferroviarios
Calama, Chile
Francisco Valdés
Juan Rogelio Nuñez
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Unión La Calera v Cobreloa
30 October 197727
Unión La Calera
1-1
Cobreloa
La Calera, Chile
Claudio Mena
Francisco Valdés
Cobreloa v Coquimbo Unido
5 November 197728
Cobreloa
0-2
Coquimbo Unido
Calama, Chile
Claudio Gallegos
Heriberto Rojas
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Rangers v Cobreloa
13 November 197729
Rangers
2-1
Cobreloa
Talca, Chile
Luis Fontora
Gabino Román
Francisco Valdés
Stadium: Estadio Fiscal de Talca
Cobreloa v Malleco Unido
20 November 197730
Cobreloa
1-1
Malleco Unido
Calama, Chile
Guillermo Yávar
José Burgos
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Deportes Linares v Cobreloa
27 November 197731
Deportes Linares
1-0
Cobreloa
Linares, Chile
Patricio Bonhomme
Cobreloa v Independiente Cauquenes
3 December 197732
Cobreloa
4-0
Independiente Cauquenes
Calama, Chile
Armando Alarcón
Guillermo Yávar
Luis Garisto
Luis Ahumada
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
Trasandino v Cobreloa
11 December 197733
Trasandino
0-3
Cobreloa
Los Ándes, Chile
Juan Rogelio Nuñez
Guillermo Yávar (Penalty)
Luis Ahumada
Cobreloa v Magallanes
18 December 197734
Cobreloa
0-0
Magallanes
Calama, Chile
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Calama
The club was able to establish itself in Chile's top flight very quickly, earning promotion after its first season, where they stayed until the 2014–2015 season. Only four years after their foundation, Cobreloa reached the finals of the Copa Libertadores in 1981, losing in a third match to Brazilian club Flamengo. Cobreloa reached the Copa Libertadores final the following year, losing to Peñarol of Uruguay. The club also reached the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores in 1987.
They have competed in the Copa Libertadores de América 13 times, 3 times in the Copa Sudamericana and twice in the Copa CONMEBOL. In 1995 they reached the quarter-finals and the following year were eliminated in the first round. Cobreloa have 8 Primera División titles and 1 Copa Chile title making them the most successful side outside Santiago in Chile and one of the four biggest clubs of the country.
Domestic League record
Domestic League Chart with each tier division who the team has participated since 1977.
In 1977, the team go to primera división de Chile.
In 2015, the team was relegated to Primera B de Chile.
In 2023, it is promoted to Chile's first Division.
In 2024, it descends to the first B in Chile, being the second in its history
Support
Card with Cobreloa 2019 membership
In 2019 to get a membership of the club can be by the assistant to the headquarters of the club in Calama in Abaroa street N°1757 or through the online platform in the official website of the institution with previous registration. The necessary documents to get a membership are passport or ID Card and a photo.[44]
The oldest oficial member of the club, is Rodolfo Yáñez Rojas, who is member since the foundation of the institution.[45]
The first official supporters group was created in 1977, called Barra Oficial de Cobreloa by the workers from the El Loa province; Orlando Navarro, Mario Paniagua and José Santos Rodriguez and the support of the club directors.[46]
In 1982, 35 CODELCO workers established the supporters group, Barra Chuquicamata. On this decade was created de group of supporters Mario Soto, tribute to Defense of the club, who dressed the club colors until 1985. They were characterized because they support with musical instruments.[46]
In 1994 was created the supported group, Huracan Naranja, from the Santiago de Chile fans group Vicente Cantatore.[46]
A poll called, Encuesta GFK Adimark, study who is the most popular team on Chile. Cobreloa in 2015 reached the most high value on the poll, with a 1,5% of the total of the population polled.[47] And in the 2018 the lowest value with 0,9%.[48] In both polls the team was the 5th most popular club in country. In Región de Antofagasta the team reach since 2015 until 2019 the 12,752% of preference of the population.
Supporters of Cobreloa distribuided in Chile by GFK Adimark
The Cobreloa supporters, specifically the CODELCO workers, are known for having donated a day of their salary to contribute to pay the signing pass of the defender Mario Soto.[52]
Colours, badge and symbols
The left was the badge of the club since 1979 to 1995, and second one on the right is the actual badge made in 2013.
The first badge was created by Enrique Escala,[53] The original badge was inspired in the logotype of the Chilean Company who administered the first years of the club, Corporation del Cobre, which in turn take the inspiration in the planetary symbol of venus, whom metal represent the copper, the main recourse from El Loa to the country. Over the CODELCO logotype specifically a sphere, who in the institution badge is replaced by a traditional football ball with yellow and black casings, and the name of the club in the horizontal line of the badge in an orange color.
Through the years the badge has suffer some modifications, to 1995 until 2000, the badge was changed to entirely orange with the letters of the name of the club in white, to 2000 until 2005, was added over the upperbody of the badge a ribbon with the letters, Cobreloa and the lowbody of this, was added the letters Calama, referring to homeground of the team, and was added a white outline around the badge, and the color of this badge was more of a dark orange, to 2005 until 2012, the white outline was removed replaced by a black one, and the upperbody ribbon was united with the main body of the badge, to 2012 until 2013, the design was 'simplified' and the football ball on the badge was bigger and touched the borders of the inner body, and the orange color was replaced to another more bright, to 2013 to the present, to the design of the badge was added eight stars to represent the eight national titles won by the club, and the football ball was centred in the inner body of this.[54]
The traditional color of the team was inspired in Netherlands National Football Team in the 70's according to the former president, José Gorrini.
The traditional color of Cobreloa is orange, according to president, José Gorrini, the color of the club was selected due to give tribute to Netherlands National Football Team, in the 70's this selection was very popular by players like Johan Cruyff. Also, by commercial reasons this color was selected due obtain travel discounts in the national airline, Ladeco (Línea aérea del Cobre), whose corporative color was orange.The idea for this was thanks to engineer of CODELCO Chuquicamata, Peter Kiefkoff, who accepted the task of managing the club's finances, on the condition that the club would wear the colors of his native country's team.[55]
A painting inside the Municipal de Calama of badge of the club with the eight titles won ultil 2004.
The first Cobreloa kit was red shirt and white shorts, due to lack of clothing, improvised in February 1977 for Copa Chile, facing Regional Antofagasta.[56][57] In 2024, this jersey was released in a limited commercial edition to commemorate the club's first kit.[58] Since 1977 the classical kit of the team is full orange, with some modifications, like 1992–93 season with white shorts, in 2009–10 the official kit was change with white socks. The away kit has been mostly full white, until 2001–2006 year it changed by color black, also in 2013–15 and 2017–18 seasons alternating with white color during those years.
The first brand who was clothing the team was Chilean Sport brand 'Haddad', located in Santiago de Chile, due the international brands was not interested in clothing the team, aside the calama brands who was interested. However, there was a moment who the team directors was decided to change the atire to the Chilean brand, 'Kotting'. Finally 'Haddad' was the first brand to dress to team, who was participated on Segunda División.[36]
In 1978, the team participated on Primera División de Chile, hence the team change of sport brand, to the Mario Soto sports brand, called 'MyS'. Part of the player contract. In 1981, the team change the sport brand to the Chilean brand 'New Lider' to participate in his first international competition, while 'MyS' continued give the training clothes until 1981.[36]
In 1982, the club sings with the Germany sport brand, Adidas, presented in the final of Copa Libertadores of this year, versus Peñarol of Uruguay.[36]
The first commemorative shirt of the club was in 2007, with Spanish sportswear company, Kelme. That attire was a special logo on them.[59] In December 2016, the sportswear company, Macron, announced for sale a commemorative shirt to celebrate 40 years of the club; the design was similar to the 1980s kits style.[60]
On 4 February 2019, was shown its first third kit in Cobreloa, being the black the color that was elected due to the popular choice of the club fans.[61]
Y en los triunfos y derrotas, gladiador tu frente noble mostradas con tu hinchada gran devota, donde jueges por amor te seguirá, por el cobre y su gran mineral.
Part of the First Hymn of Cobreloa Alejandro Álvarez Vargas.
The first anthem of the club was written and composed by the musician and writer, Alejandro Álvarez Vargas—the winning contestant from a contest advertised through the local radio station[62]
One of the most important aspects of the team's idiosyncrasy is the siren that sounds when the team begins to execute an attacking play in the opponent's area. Librarian Fabiana Rosales attributes this idea to the idea of a CODELCO worker known as Negro Pinto and his coworkers. She says they boldly took over the stadium's northwest lighting tower to install a siren with an 80-meter cable, connecting it to a push-button panel under the seat. This would function as a sort of "goal alarm." The sound was identical to the one they heard when an overhead crane was put into motion or the concentrator at the Chuquicamata mine was started up.[31]
The club's first mascot was inspired by the events of a Chuquicamata resident named Gerónimo Dominguez, who met the club at age 12. During the team's development into professional football, his brother-in-law, while doing his military service in Conchi, found a fox cub, which he took to Calama and ended up giving to Dominguez, who decided to raise it as a domestic dog. One day they decided to take it to the stadium. The squad liked it, and a relationship was formed between Gerónimo, the fox, and the team, who decided to make it their mascot. The fox's first appearance as such was during a match against Santiago Morning, around 8:00p.m., entering the stadium with it and parading it around the field. The second time, it came dressed in a salmon-colored baby suit. Gerónimo performed this performance throughout the season. Due to the animal's natural behavior, eating livestock and causing problems for not being domesticated, the family decided to set it free. The fox, trying to return to the family home, was struck by a vehicle and killed.[31]
This incident caused a stir in the community, and a cartoon fox named "Loíto" was designed, the brainchild of journalist Alfredo Llewellyn Bustos. The mascot was designed by director René Vásquez Rodríguez. The mascot first appeared in a club brochure for membership recruitment and also in the local newspaper "El Mercurio de Calama" in 1977, to follow the team's weekly activities.[63]
Traditional color of the team
1992–93 years
2009 kit
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Team Kit from 2005-to 2019
Period
Kit supplier
Shirt main sponsor
Notes
1977
Haddad and Kotting
None
This were the first Sporting brand on dress the institution.
1978-1980
MyS'
This Chilean brand was founded by Mario Soto, who was player of the club. As part of his contract this brand must dress the team.
1981
New Lider
Due the contract with Mario Soto continued, the institution signed with a new brand, but the training clothes was Still MyS' brand.
1982
Adidas
Was the first international brand on dress the club.
1983 -1985
Isapre Chuquicamata
1986
Penalty
TECSA
This was the first company not directly linked to CODELCO to sponsor the team.[64]
1987
Isapre Chuquicamata
1988–1991
Adidas
None
1992
Reusch
Isapre Chuquicamata
1993–1994
Adidas
Cristal
1995
Uhlsports
1996–1997
Puma
1998
Le Coq Sportif
1999
Kelme
2000–2001
Adidas
In 2000, the first third kit of the team, with black colors was added.
2002
Adidas
Sky
2003–2004
Adidas
Turbus
2005
Diadora
Pullman Bus
2006
None
2007
Kelme
Lider Presto
First Commemorative kit to celebrate 30 years of the club.
2008
Garcis
Hino
2008
Lotto
2009
Nissan
2010
Mitre
Pal Airlines
2011
Finning CAT
2012–2015
Lotto
2015–2021
Macron
In 2017, the 40-year commemorative shirt in special format was made available for sale.
2022–2024
KS7
In 2023, the 46-year commenorative shirt, was made abadible for sale.
In 2023, the company will produce a special jersey in purple, black, and white, alluding to the bluish mineral extracted in mining.
In 2024, the company will produce a special jersey in shades of gold and black.
In 2024, the company will make a pink and white jersey commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
2025
Siker
SOBEK Ingenieros
The company created a special 2024 jersey, commemorating the first jersey the team wore in its debut season as a professional.
Since 1977 the first home ground of the club was the Estadio Municipal de Calama, who played the national league and internationals Cups matches until 27 January 2013. The last match that was played by the team in this stadium was against Colo-Colo, the team won 5–2.[68]
For the two finals of Copa Libertadores the team played in the Estadio Nacional de Chile, in 1981 and 1982, against Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and Club Atletico Peñarol respectively.[69]
In February 2013 due to the renovation of the Stadium, the team had to play in another's home ground, the first stadium at which it was elected to play was the Parque Estadio Juan López located in Antofagasta.[70] For the first class matches the stadium elected was the Tierra de Campeones on Iquique, where Club de Deportes Universidad Católica plays.[71]
The complaints of the team about the infrastructure of the stadium Juan López, the directing of the club made negotiations with the Municipality of Antofagasta to play in the Stadium Calvo y Bascuñan, in this homeground the team played the Copa Sudamericana matches, with Club Atletico Peñarol and Club Deportivo La Equidad and local first Class matches of the Local League for the rest of the year.[72]
From June of this year, the main stadium at which the team played mostly the national league, in the recently inaugurated stadium Estadio Luis Becerra Constanzo, formerly called Estadio la Madriguera de Calama in Calama, the team inaugurated the home ground in a Copa Chile match against Club de Deportes Cobresal.[citation needed]
Since 2015, the team plays in the stadium Zorros del Desierto of Calama. The first match was against Club de Deportes Antofagasta. The team plays the local competitions like the Primera B de Chile and Copa Chile.[citation needed]
Honours
Primera División Trophies the team won through its history.
Hector Puebla holds the most appearances with the club with 663 and holds the most appearances in domestics leagues with 457, on 16 years in the team (1980–1996), also, is the player with most titles with the club with 5 domestic leagues (1980, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992) and the 1986 national Cup.[73]
Juan Covarrubias is the all-time goalscorer for the team, with 147, and the top goalscorer in domestics leagues with 105 goals. He won with the team the domestics titles in 1988 and 1992.[74]
The higher transfer fee on Chile was Eduardo Vargas transfer to the Universidad de Chile, for US$1.365 million.[75]
This institution owns the fifth local unbeaten streak of the world, which extended from 22 December 1980 until 22 September 1985, with a total of 91 matches without loss in Calama for Domestic Matches.[76]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The club is managed by Sociedad Anonima Deportiva Profesional (Professional Sports Corporation) format in Chile, through the Chilean law, N° 20.019 relativa a las Organizaciones Deportivas Profesionales (Related to Professional Sports Organizations). This law allow to organize, produce, marketing and participate in professional sports activities in the country.[77]
On 2 October 2017, the club made an extraordinary assembly with the members of the club, the assistance of these with suffrage right was of 86. The purpose was to reform the statute regime of the club in that moment. This renewed statutes lay down the official address of the club, Calama, the indefinite length time of the directory and the unlimited number of member who could be owns.[78]
This statute allude the principles and objectives of the institution, the rights and duties of the members, the heritage and the administration, the members general assemblies, the directory, the duties of the directors of the corporation, subsidiaries of the club and the rules of this.[78]
↑ To compile this table, information was gathered from the Chilean Magazine 'Revista Estadio', issues 1,743 to 1,794, covering the period from January 1 to December 28.
Gatica Wiermann, Héctor (May 2019). Almanaque del Fútbol Chileno. Clubes[Almanac of Chilean Football. Clubs] (in Spanish). Chile: Hueders. ISBN978-956-365-170-6.
Beraud Zurita, Jorge (2006). Cobreloa Equipo de hombres[Cobreloa, a men's team] (in Spanish). Chile. ISBN956-8142-45-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Flores Reyes, Paulo (2018). Datos Naranjas Historias y Anécdotas de Cobreloa[The Oranges data Histories and Anecdotes of Cobreloa] (in Spanish). Chile. ISBN978-956-9496-22-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Magazines
Avila, Homero (1962). "Con todos los honores" [With all honors]. Revista Estadio (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag.
Martinez, Julio (1977). "A propósito del Ascenso"[Regarding the promotion]. Revista Estadio N° 1,745 (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag.
Salviat, Julio (1977). "Cobreloa: Sueños de Benjamín"[Cobreloa: Dreams of 'benjamin']. Revista Estadio N° 1,767 (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag.
"Diganos"[Cobreloa: Say to us]. Revista Estadio N° 1,782 (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag. 1977.
Escarate, Orlando (1977). "Chile, o la ilusión de los jóvenes"[Chile, or the illusion of youth football players]. Revista Estadio N° 1,757 (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag. p.28.
Flores, Alfonso (1990). "COBRELOA 90". Special Edition (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Antartida S.A.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
"CASI TODO LÓGICO" [ALMOST ALL LOGICAL]. Revista Estadio (Number 862) (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Zig-Zag. 3 December 1959.
"Caritas: El gran negocio de la miseria"[Caritas: The big business of misery](PDF). Punto Final (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Prensa Latinoamericana. 15 October 1966. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
Newspapers
"Mineros del Cobre y Salitre como "Tabla" con el club El Loa" [Copper and Saltpeter Miners as "Tabla" with the El Loa Club]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 3 March 1971. p.12.
Rojas, Patricio; Muñoz, Alejandro (11 January 1972). "Todos los equipos son una incognita" [All teams are a riddle]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. p.10.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
"EL DOMINGO COMIENZA EL III NACIONAL JUVENIL DE FÚTBOL" [THE 3RD NATIONAL YOUTH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS ON SUNDAY.]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 25 July 1957. p.11.
"SANTIAGO ACTUARÁ FRENTE A ÑUÑOA" [SANTIAGO WILL PERFORM IN FRONT OF ÑUÑOA]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 25 August 1949. p.17.
"CALAMA, CAMPEÓN NACIONAL DE FÚTBOL AMATEUR" [CALAMA, NATIONAL AMATEUR FOOTBALL CHAMPION]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 10 November 1959.
"ELIMINADOS" [ELIMATED]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 30 November 1959. p.18.
"DIEZ PLAZAS PIDIO EL FÚTBOL AMATEUR" [TEN PLACES ASKED FOR AMATEUR FOOTBALL]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 14 November 1959.
"SORTEO DE LA COPA CHILE" [CHILE CUP DRAW]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 15 November 1959.
"CHUQUICAMATA, CAMPEÓN INVICTO" [CHUQUICAMATA, UNDEFEATED CHAMPION]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 18 December 1961. p.20.
"CALAMA QUIERE LLEVARSE AL NORTE A SANTIAGO MORNING" [CALAMA WANTS TO TAKE SANTIAGO MORNING TO THE NORTH]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 25 August 1967. p.18.
"TRONADOR Y COQUIMBO SON LOS PUNTEROS" [TRONADOR AND COQUIMBO ARE THE LEADERS]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 18 August 1960. p.20.
"FUMARONE INTERESA AL AUDAX Y VASQUEZ A LA "U"" [TAUDAX IS INTERESTED IN FUMARONE AND VASQUEZ IN “U”.]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 21 March 1964. p.12.
"EL ASCENSO NO ACEPTA PARA 1966 EL INGRESO DE NUEVOS CLUBES" [THE PROMOTION DOES NOT ACCEPT NEW CLUBS FOR 1966.]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 7 December 1965.
"MUNICIPAL DE LIMA GOLEÓ A CHUQUICAMATA 5-1" [MUNICIPAL DE LIMA DEFEATED CHUQUICAMATA 5-1]. La Nación (in Spanish). Chile. 30 March 1964. p.2.
Documents
"Carta N° 104" [Letter N° 104] (Document). Calama, Chile: Ilustre Municipalidad de Calama. 4 November 2019. p.1.
Websites
Nuñez, Felipe; Saavedra, Bryan (24 November 2024). "El zorro, la sirena y el campeón de los 80"[The fox, the siren and the champion of the 80s]. Bush in action (in Spanish). Chile. Retrieved 15 March 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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Harry Robledo
