U. Catolica

Founding and beginnings in professional football

While the club was born as one of the many sport branches of the Universidad Católica de Chile, officially founded in 1937, it began, strictly speaking, around 1910, when students of the university would reunite to play football matches, frequently facing historical rival Universidad de Chile. In time, the idea of creating a professional club emerged, and on 21 April 1937, the club officially and legally began. It made its professional debut, in the second division, against the Universidad de Chile. Universidad Católica won its first League title in the 1949 season.

In December 1956, Universidad Católica was placed at the bottom of the league table and relegated to Segunda División for the first time in its history. On 10 November 1956, Universidad Católica won the Segunda División title after defeating Deportes La Serena by 3–2 and gained promotion straight back up to the top division, with captain Sergio Livingstone and Raimundo Infante claiming the top scorer award. In the 1970s, Universidad Católica was facing an institutional, the team ended the 1973 Primera División tournament at the bottom of the table, Universidad Católica was relegated to Segunda División for the second time in its history. In 1975, Universidad Católica won the title and therefore returned to Primera División to play the 1976 season.

In 1993, Universidad Católica reached their first ever Copa Libertadores final. The team had previously eliminated clubs Atlético Nacional (2–0, 1–2 in round of 16), Barcelona (3–1, 1–1 in quarterfinals) and América de Cali (1–0, 2–2 in semifinals). In the finals, between the two legs after a heavy defeat away la Catolica won the second leg but lost São Paulo the title on aggregate 5–3. With Manuel Pellegrini as manager, on 1 November 1994, after beating Saprissa 5–1 at San Carlos de Apoquindo with goals by Andrés Romero, Alberto Acosta, Juvenal Olmos, Miguel Ardiman and Rodrigo Barrera, Universidad Católica became the second Chilean team to win a Copa Interamericana, they also achieved the 1995 Copa Chile title.

In 1997 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a friendly tournament where they beat Ajax Amsterdam 3–2 in the Copa 60º Aniversario de Universidad Católica.

In the 21st century

Universidad Católica won the title 2002 Primera División (Apertura) after beating Rangers de Talca 4–0 in final at San Carlos de Apoquindo, with Juvenal Olmos as manager. In 2005 the club has been reemerged in international competition, advancing to the 2005 Copa Sudamericana semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful Boca Juniors from Argentina, who would go on to win the tournament. On 22 December, Universidad Católica won their nine Chilean Primera División (Clausura) title, after beating Universidad de Chile's in a penalty shootout at Estadio Nacional. In 2006 the team made a good presentation in the Copa Libertadores, but was eliminated at the last minute by Tigres UANL of Mexico and failed to advance beyond the group stage.

Católica again played 2008 Copa Libertadores with no luck, being eliminated in the group stage by goal difference by River Plate and América. In 2010 Copa Libertadores, their performance was no better, finishing third in group stage behind Universidad de Chile and Flamengo. In the 2010 season a 3–2 defeat to Colo Colo in October gave Colo Colo a seven-point lead in the league with seven match of the season remaining. A victory over Cobreloa 3–2 at Estadio Municipal de Calama, put them one point away from their first title since 2005. In the last match, Universidad Católica defeated Everton 5–0 to secure the club's ten Chilean Primera Division title and end a five-year trophy drought.

In the 2011 season they finished in second place in Chilean Primera División. They also reached the 2011 Copa Chile final where they faced Deportes Magallanes. Universidad Católica won 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1. In 2011 Copa Libertadores, Católica finished first on the group stage, and then advanced to the quarter-finals, knocking out Grêmio of Brazil on the best 16 round, and falling to Peñarol of Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo and winning their home match 2–1, which was not enough to advance. In 2012 the club again played Copa Libertadores, under coach and former player Mario Lepe, finished last on the group stage, winning only 1 home game and losing on their away games in Colombia and Bolivia. In Copa Sudamericana 2012, Universidad Católica advancing to the semifinal before being knocked out by the powerful São Paulo from Brazil, who would go on to win the tournament.

On 30 April 2016, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Clausura title in 2016 for the first time in six years. Universidad Católica won the title on the last matchday after beating Audax Italiano 2–1. On 15 September 2016, the club won the Supercopa de Chile for a first time defeating Universidad de Chile 2–1 in the final. After, Universidad Católica won the Primera Division Apertura, the title was won on 8 December, where Universidad Católica faced Deportes Temuco at Germán Becker. Two goals in the last half-hour secured Universidad Católica a 2–0, with Mario Salas leading the team towards its first Bicampeonato for winning two national titles in a row.