A.D. Chalatenango

Asociación Deportiva Chalatenango is a Salvadoran professional football club based in Chalatenango, El Salvador, they are currently playing in the top-tier Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador.

The club was founded in 1950 as C.D. Alacranes, and reformed in 1975, as C.D. Chalatenango.

In 1975, the club relocated to their current stadium, the Estadio José Gregorio Martínez stadium.

They initially competed in the regional and national competition before eventually joining the full Salvadoran Second Division in 1960s, and subsequently enjoyed promotion to the top flight for the 1979 season.

Since its formation in 1950, the club has won three Segunda División Salvadoreño titles (1979, 1990, 2003) and one Tercera División Salvadoreño (2013 Clausura).

Its emblem and mascot is a scorpion.

Early history
In 1977 Gregorio Martínez, started a club naming them Alacranes and purchased the spot of Independiente de San Vicente in the Liga de Ascenso for five Colon. They eventually changed their name to Club Deportivo Chalatenango.

Club Deportivo Chalatenango success and insolvency (1979–2009)
In 1979, the club was promoted to the First Division for the first time in its history. The club finished the 1979–80 season in 7th place, accumulating 18 points from 8 wins, 2 draws, and 12 losses. Chalatenango finished in last place during the 1983 season but was not relegated. It remained in the first division until being relegated to the Second Division following its last place finish during the 1989–90 season. During the club's first 11 seasons it was in the First Division, it never qualified for the postseason tournament.

They stayed in the Segunda División battling promotion for 13 years until they won promotion in 2003, but a year later they were relegated again.

However they were able to quickly return to the Primera División de Fútbol Professional by purchasing the spot of Coca-Cola for $250,000.

In the 2008 Apertura, Chalatenango reached the final for the first time in the club's history under the direction of Carlos Antonio Meléndez. After a 3–3 draw in normal time, they lost 4–3 on penalties, which allowed Isidro Metapán to become champions for the second time.

The team qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions league knockout phase based on their record in apertura and clausura. On 26 June 2009, due to financial trouble, sold their spot in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional to Municipal Limeño. Because the club failed to fill out the necessary paperwork to compete in the Second Division before the 23 July 2009 deadline, CD Chalatenango did not compete during the 2009–10 season.

At the time, the club owed its former players $17,000 in unpaid salaries, and it owed CONCACAF $7,500 for pulling out of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Merger years (2009–2013)
At the end of 2009, some of Chalatenango's former players created a new team, merging it with Nejapa FC to establish Alacranes Del Norte.

In 2010, the club filed the necessary paperwork to be able to compete in the Second Division.

In 2012, The club merged with Vendaval to form Chalatenango-Vendaval and they played in the second division. However, after one season, in 2013, the partnership between Chalatenango and Vendaval ended and they split into two teams again, with Vendaval remaining in the Second Division while Chalatenango descending down a level to play in the third division.

Rebirth and another bankruptcy (2013–2017)
Chalatenango as a sole entity for the first time in five years, they were able to win promotion to the segunda division via promotion playoff and they continued several attempts to gain promotion to the first division, they were unsuccessful

However, on 18 June 2015 the team purchased a franchise license in the new expansion of the Primera Division and will be able to compete in the Primera Division for the Apertura 2015 season.

Financial troubles precipitated a succession of ownership changes and the club's eventual bankruptcy in June 2017 with total liabilities of €218 thousand dollars and months of unpaid salaries. The club was allowed to finish the season but finished bottom of the league in 12th place. They had License stripped and owner Francisco Perraza were suspended.

Another rebirth (2017–present)
The re-founded club, A.D. Chalatenango, was formed in July 2017, taking its name from the predecessor club and beating off competition from rival clubs to secure a place in the 2017–2018 season as the representative of Chalatenango. Rigoberto Mejia was appointed as president and former coach Ricardo Serrano was chosen as head coach.

The club was relegated to the second division in May 2023.

On 28 July 2023, the Segunda División confirmed the administrative relegatation of Chalatenango to Tercera Division due to their financial crisis, which meant all players contracts were voided.

On 26 March 2024, FESFUT announced that Chalatenango will disaffiliate and we no longer be able to register or participate with ADFA and any professional league, every member of the board will be banned for 10 years and FESFUT will take responsibility of payments of the remaining debts.

Stadium


Chalatenango plays its home games at Estadio José Gregorio Martínez in Chalatenango. The Estadio José Gregorio Martínez is a 15,000-seat soccer-specific stadium.

In 2018, INDES stated that Estadio José Gregorio Martínez will undergo renovations to allow them to satisfy the ability to host CONCACAF matches.

Rivalry
Chalatenango's current biggest rivalry was with fellow Chalatenango based team Atlético Comalapa, against whom they contest the derby chalateco.

Another of Chalatenango's rivalry was with fellow Chalatenango based but now defunct team Alacranes Del Norte, against whom they contest the derby chalateco. The rivalry stems from Alacranes Del Norte 's relocation from Nejapa to Chalatenango and using the same colours and stadium as Chalatenango

Sponsorship
Companies that Chalatenango currently has sponsorship deals with for 2021 Apertura include:
 * Arijam Sports – Official kit suppliers
 * Electrolit – Official sponsors
 * Powerade – Official sponsors
 * Canal 4 – Official sponsors
 * Aqua Sport – Official sponsors
 * Eurofarma – Official sponsors
 * Omnicom – Official sponsors
 * Fitness Sports – Official sponsors

Leagues

 * First Division of Salvadoran Football and predecessors
 * Runners-up (1): Apertura 2008
 * Second Division of Salvadoran Football and predecessors
 * Champions (3): 1979, 1990, 2003
 * Third Division of Salvadoran Football and predecessors
 * Champions (1): 2013 Clausura

Club records

 * First game in the Primera Division for Chalatenango: 0–1 v Atletico Marte, 6 May 1979
 * First victory in the Primera Division for Chalatenango: 2–1 TBD, TBD, 2019
 * First goalscorer for Chalatenango: TBD v TBD, TBD, 2019
 * First goalscorer in the Primera Division for Chalatenango: TBD v TBD, TBD, 2019
 * Largest Home victory, Primera División: 3–0 v TBD, TBD, 2019
 * Largest Away victory, Primera División: 4–0 TBD, TBD, 2019
 * Largest Home loss, Primera División: 4–0 v TBD, TBD, 2019
 * Largest Away loss, Primera División: 0–3 v TBD, TBD, 2019
 * Highest home attendance: 14,403 v Primera División, Estadio Cuscatlán, 21 December 2008
 * Highest away attendance: 1,000 v Primera División, San Salvador, 2018
 * Highest average attendance, season: 49,176, Primera División
 * Most goals scored, Apertura 2019 season, Primera División: 21, TBD, 2018
 * Worst season: Primera Division Apertura 2019: 3 win, 5 draws and 14 losses (14 points)

Individual records

 * Record appearances (all competitions): TBD, 822 from 1957 to 1975
 * Record appearances (Primera Division): Salvadoran TBD, 27 from 2018
 * Most capped player for El Salvador: 74 (7 whilst at Chalatenango), Ramón Sánchez
 * Most international caps for El Salvador while a Chalatnenago player: 1, TBD
 * Most caps won whilst at Chalatenango: 1, TBD.
 * Record scorer in league: TBD, 396
 * Most goals in a season (all competitions): TBD, 62 (1927/28) (47 in League, 15 in Cup competitions)
 * Most goals in a season (Primera Division): René Andrés Ubau, 13

Most appearances
Note: Players in bold text are still active with Chalatenango

Top goalscorers
Note: Players in bold text are still active with Chalatenango

Players with dual citizenship

 * 🇸🇻 🇺🇸 Josué Dubon
 * 🇸🇻 🇨🇦 Fernando Estrada
 * 🇸🇻 🇨🇦 Matthaus García

Coaching staff
As of January 2024

Reserve League squad
Chalatenango's reserve squad plays in the twelve-team Primera División Reserves (El Salvador). Updated 9 May 2023

Coaches
Chalatenango has had 22 permanent managers and two caretaker managers since the club's first appointed Oscar Rene Serrano as a professional manager in 1960. The longest-serving manager in terms of time was Armando Contreras Palma, who managed Chalatenango for three years from 1986 to 1990. Raúl Héctor Cocherari, who managed the club from 2002 to 2003, was the first Chalatenango manager to achieve a championship.