UNAN Managua
Association football club in Nicaragua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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| Full name | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua – Managua | ||
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| Nickname | Los Universitarios | ||
| Founded | 1983 | ||
| Ground | Nicaragua National Football Stadium Managua, Nicaragua | ||
| Capacity | 20,000 | ||
| Chairman | Wilber Altamirano | ||
| Manager | Eduardo Urroz | ||
| League | Liga Primera | ||
| 2024–25 | TBD | ||
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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.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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.
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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.
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Honours
- Primera División de Nicaragua and predecessors
- Champions (1): 2015 Apertura
- Runners-up (0):
- Segunda División de Nicaragua and predecessors
- Champions (3): 2012 Clausura, 2013 Apertura, Apertura 2020
List of coaches
Edison Oquendo (2008–2009)
Eduardo Urroz (2012 – October 2014)[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)
- Oscar Blanco (July 2025 - June 2026)
Flavio da Silva (June 2026 - 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 June 2026
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
- Nicaraguan women's football championship: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 Apertura, 2012 Clausura, 2013 Apertura