Created in February 1918, Once Lobos are the oldest club still active in any form of the El Salvador football league system. They have been competing in the Segunda División de El Salvador (Segunda División) since 2005.
Once Lobos was founded in 1918, in Chalchuapa.[3][4] Their first match that year–long before the country had a football league or even a football federation–was against Fuerte 22, a club from nearby Santa Ana. The Club came about after the fusion of clubs Esparta and Germania. [3] They played their first international match that same year, travelling about 60km (37mi) north to face a team in Jutiapa, Guatemala.[5] Once Lobos played their first official match against UCA in 1923.
For many decades, the team played its home games at Estadio el Progreso, a pitch within earshot of the ancient Tazumal pyramid and its ballcourt from Pre-Columbian times. In December 2002, Once Lobos moved to the Estadio Cesar Hernández, in the outskirts of the city.
Once Lobos made its first ascension to the Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador (La Primera) on February 7, 1980 at the Óscar Quiteño stadium in the neighboring city of Santa Ana, where they beat UCA in the second and decisive game. During their first full season in La Primera, struggled to fight-off relegation, made more difficult by the league's decision the previous year to relegate two teams at season's end. They finished 9th, staying ahead of Dragón and Platense, to maintain a spot in La Primera for the 1981 season.[6]
In the 1981 Season, the Chalchuapa side won the "Torneo de Copa" by beating the League Champion Atlético Marte by penalties. At the conclusion of the regulation time, the score was tied one all (Once Lobos scorer was W. Barrera at 27‘) and nothing changed in the ensuing 30-minute overtime.[6]
The 1982 season saw the team come under the direction of Dr. Ricardo Mena Laguán. At the end of the regular season, the teams that made it onto the final Serires were Águila, Atlético Marte, Independiente and Once Lobos. In this elimination round, Atlético Marte defeated Once Lobos 2 nil in the first leg and drawing in the second leg. Once Lobos and Águila fought for 3rd and 4th place respectively in a single game played on December 19. Once Lobos emerged victorious by penalties after the end of regulation the score read 3 all. Once Lobos capitalized on all 5 shots while Águila scored only four, thus achieving the best position for the "yuqueros" in their long history. Once Lobos did it with only 10 men on the pitch since the 81st minute in regular time, when Mario D. Campos was sent off.[6]
In 1983 Once Lobos made it to the final round once again. Still under the direction of Ricardo Mena Laguán. Joined by Independiente, C.D. FAS and C.D. Águila fought the final in a two-round robin elimination; achieving 3rd place once again by defeating Independiente this time in the last game by a score of 2–1.
In 1987 Once Lobos were relegated to the Segunda División.[6]After a later relegation to the third division, Once Lobos were promoted to the Segunda División in 1995.[6] They were promoted to La Primera in 2004 through a "play-off" game victory against Chalatenango.
In 2018, Once Lobos celebrated their 100th year of existence, receiving a special recognition from the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador as the oldest football club still in existence in the nation.[4][5]
On June 13, 2025 It was announced Once Lobos would be cessiding their spot in the segunda division for the Apertura 2025 to Dragon. [7]
Honours
Once Lobos's first trophy was the Copa Campeons Tourney, which they won in 1981. Their first league honour came in 1980–1981, when they won the 1980–81 Segunda División title
Throughout the club's history, Once Lobos have worn blue with a yellow stripe.
Stadium
Estadio de Chalchuapa, (2002–present)
Estadio El Progreso, (1918–2002)
Estadio César Hernández, (2004–2011) games played while renovations are being done at Estadio de Chalchuapa.
The 2,000-capacity Estadio de Chalchuapa has been Once Lobos's home stadium since its creation 2002. Previously the team played at Estadio El Progreso, where they had played their home matches from 1918 until the end of the 2001 season. The stadium was located in Santa Ana. The team's headquarters are located in TBD.
In 2012, Estadio El Progreso was remodelled by INDES and Municipality of Chalchuapa for a cost of 39,000 dollars .
As of March 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.
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's current manager is the Salvadorian Cesar Acevedo. There have been TBD permanent and TBD caretaker managers of Once Lobos since the appointment of the club's first professional manager, Ranulfo Castro in 1922. The club's longest-serving manager, in terms of both length of tenure and number of games overseen, is TBD, who managed the club between 1996 and 2018. Argentinian Raul Miralles was Once Lobos's first manager from outside the El Salvador. Salvadoran Ricardo Mena Laguán helped Once Lobos reached its highest possible finish in Primera division with a 3rd place finish in 1982. Miguel Angel Deras "Chincullita", Cesar "El Piscuchita" Acevedo and Mauricio Laureano Alvarenga "Tarzan" is the club's most successful coach in terms of titles, having won one Segunda División Salvadorean title.
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Juan Duch Martínez
