C.D. Once Municipal

Club Deportivo Once Municipal, also known as Once Municipal, is a Salvadoran professional football club based in Ahuachapán, Ahuachapán department, that currently competes in Tercera División de El Salvador, the third division of El Salvador football. Their colors are blue and yellow and the team mascot is a canary. Which provided the team nicknames Los Canarios or the Canaries in english. The club currently play its matches at the Estadio Simeón Magaña, which has a capacity of 5,000.

History

Foundation and early years

Once Municipal was founded on 20 August 1945 by Salvador Marinero, who arrived in Ahuachapán from San Vicente in 1946. He was the owner of a factory in Ahuachapán. After discussing the venture with his neighbors, he put together a football team to play in El Salvador's second division.

After a year of managing the team, Marinero asked Don Alfonso Salaverría, a property tycoon and the mayor of Ahuachapán, to help the team with equipment, finances, and logistics. Salaverría accepted Marinero's invitation, but wanted to see the team play first. Salaverría observed a practice at Llano del Espino, a field on the outskirts of the city where the team was based, but was unimpressed with the quality of the players. He issued instructions for Once Municipal to be reinforced with second division players such as defender René "Chacuate" Moscoso, a shoemaker. Salaverría signed Moscoso despite Marinero's protests against Moscoso's young age.

The club was officially founded after Salaverría gave the team one colon for player wages. It played its first game in August 1946 against Ferrocarril, which Once won 3–1. Their first season was a success, finishing second on the league standings.

1948–49: First national league title

In 1948, the team was promoted to the Primera Division, the highest league in El Salvadorian football. Due to the team's successful previous seasons, Salaverría began recruiting more players and staff, including two Costa Ricans (the first to play in Salvadoran football) and coach Armando Chacón of FAS for the 1948–49 season. The team's first season in Primera Division was a success, with Once Municipal finishing first in the national tournament and winning a title.

1950s–1960s: After the title

After the club won the national title, the players demanded more money. As Salaverría couldn't afford to keep paying large player salaries, a large exodus of players began in the "First Canary Leak", most leaving for other first division teams and the newly founded Atlético Marte. In the 1950–51 season, the club was punished with demotion to the fourth division for not paying its players. When the club regrouped financially, it quickly rose through the leagues, again achieving qualification to Primera Division in 1955. However, more financial problems led Salaverría to sell Once Municipal's 1959 Primera Division spot to Atlético Constancia (later Alianza F.C.) for one colon. Once Municipal was promoted again to the first division in 1963, where it led an average performance as a midtable team. However, another fiasco arose in 1969–70 when players and management once again disagreed on wages, leading to a large exodus of players and the relegation of the club.

1970s: Second ascent

In the 1970s, Once Municipal management decided to try to secure the team its own field. They turned to Arturo Simeón Magaña, the landowner of the area around El Zapotón, the field where Once Municipal played. Simeón Magaña decided to donate the land to the team on the condition that the team "would be the pride of Ahuachapán".

With a new stadium, Once Municipal became a dominant team in the 1970s. Although they were not able to win any titles, they finished at the top of the table in 1978 and 1979.

1980s–1990s: Sharp decline

In 1980, Once Municipal was again relegated, this time for poor performance in the league. The club remained in Second Division for the next fifteen years, and was even briefly demoted to Third Division in 1993.

2004–2006: League and cup double

The controversial Adalid Magaña took over the team in 1999 to save it from financial crisis.

Once was not a favorite to be promoted the Primera circuit in 2004. Financial problems continued to plague the team and many worried that it would go bankrupt. The Once Lobos were the firm candidate in the league to gain direct promotion and had experienced players such as Memo Rivera and William Renderos, as well as Edwin Portillo as a coach. However, Once Municipal won 3–2 on the afternoon of 22 May 2004 in an unexpected upset against the Lobos at Estadio Cuscatlán with a hat trick by Colombian Víctor Jaramillo that solidified Once's place at the top of the Segunda Division and its place in the Primera Division the next season, returning to the top tier for the first time in 25 years.

In 2006, the club had its most successful period ever under Nelson Mauricio Ancheta, who filled the roster with players released by more prominent teams. The club won its first Copa Presidente with a 1–0 victory over C.D. Águila on 22 November, giving the club its second ever title. Once also won the grand final of the 2006 Apertura Tournament on 17 December against C.D. FAS. Although they began trailing in the scoreline with an own goal by Nelson Nerio, Once equalised with seven minutes remaining, which sent the game into overtime, where Once were able to score two more goals and win 3–1, to clinch the club's second league title and third overall title while completing a league and cup double.

2007–2014: Promotions and relegations

In 2008, the team was once again relegated to the Second Division due to poor management, coaching errors and the underperformance of high-earning players.

In 2010 the club won their relegation/promotion battle with Municipal Limeño to regain promotion to Primera Division. The club was relegated at the end of the next season but were given a reprieve after Atletico Balboa was demoted due to their failure to pay the league. Once was finally relegated at the end of the Clausura 2013 season.

Demise and new club

On 17 January 2018 Once Municipal were stripped of their football license due to unpaid fees to Segunda Division and lack of payments to players and coaches.

On 20 July 2019, a new club was founded by members of the defunct Once Municipal. It acquired the spot of C.D. Pasaquina, which was forced to sell its spot due to massive debt. The name of the new club is Once Deportivo FC.

Rebirth

On May 9, 2025 Once Deportivo announced they sold their spot to the historic club Hercules was would be taking over Once Deportivo's former spot in the Primera División series in the Apertura 2025 , which left a huge gap for fans of Ahuachapan. On June 20, 2025 on the club social media page Once Municipal announced they would be purchasing the spot of Malacoff and will be participating in the Tercera División Salvadorean for the 2025-2026 season.

Honours

Domestic honours

Leagues

• Primera División de Fútbol Profesional and predecessors Champions (2) : 1948–49, Apertura 2006 Runners-up (6): 1946, 1957–58, 1965–66, 1976–77, 1977–78, Apertura 2011
• Segunda División Salvadorean and predecessors Champions (2) : 1955, 2009 Apertura Runners-up (0): N/A Play-off winner (1): 1975-1976
• Tercera División Salvadorean and predecessors Champions (0) : N/A Play-off winner (0): N/A
• La Asociación Departamental de Fútbol Aficionado' and predecessors (4th tier) Champions (0): N/A Play-off winner (0): N/A

Cups

• Copa President and predecessors Champions (1) : 2006–07

Crest, colors and nicknames

The team's colors are yellow, white and blue, which have been the same since the club was founded. Their home jerseys consist of a yellow shirt and shorts with blue socks. Their away jerseys consist of blue shirts and shorts with yellow socks.

Their crest is made up of the number 11, representing the Municipality of Ahuchapan, and the canary, which is the team mascot and symbol.

The nickname given to Once Municipal is Canarios, a reference to their Canary mascot.

Stadium

• Estadio Simeón Magaña (1974–2017;2025–Present) Llano del Espino Canchas (1946-1973)

Once Municipal played their home games at the Estadio Simeón Magaña, which has a capacity of 5,000 people. It is located in the city center of Ahuachapan. Prior to the construction of its stadium, the club trained and played home games at the Llano del Espino in Canchas.

Supporters

Once Municipal are renowned in El Salvador for the support that the team receives, especially at home games. Once Municipal's fan club is called the "Fuerza Canaria". The "Fuerza Canaria" is an ultra group that supports the team at games by singing songs, waving banners and flags, and wearing the team's colors.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Sponsorship

Companies that Once Municipal currently has sponsorship deals with for 2025–2026 includes:

• El Salvador Elite Sportswear – Official kit suppliers
• United States AGM Sports Inc – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Tu Financiera – Official sponsors
• China Oppo – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Termales La Montaña - Hot Springs – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Alcaldía Municipal de Ahuachapán Centro – Official sponsors
• El Salvador Granja Avícola de Ahuachapán – Official sponsors

Records

Club records

• First Match (prior to creation of a league): vs. TBD, 1946
• First Match (official): vs. Ferrocarril 3-1 (a club from La Libertad,), August 1946
• Most points in La Primera: 41 points (13 win, 15 draws, 5 losses) 1986/87
• Least points in La Primera: 11 points (1 win, 8 draws, 27 losses) 1996/97
• Most League appearances: 317, TBD (TBD)
• Most League goals scored: total, Tbd, TBD (1998–2003)
• Most League goals scored, season: 13,
• Worst season: TBD 2002-2003: 0 win, 0 draws and 0 losses (0 points)
• Debut in Concacaf Competition: 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League
• First CONCACAF Champions League match: Dragon 1–2 Portland Timbers; TBD; 3, August 2016.
• Most wins in a row: TBD, TBD - TBD
• Most home wins in a row (all competitions): TBD, TBD– TBD
• Most home league wins in a row: TBD, TBD - TBD
• Most away wins in a row: TBD, TBD – TBD
• Most draws in a row: TBD, TBD
• Most home draws in a row: TBD, TBD
• Most away draws in a row: TBD, TBD
• Most defeats in a row: 8, TBD
• Most home defeats in a row: TBD, TBD
• Most away defeats in a row: TBD, TBD
• Longest unbeaten run: TBD, TBD
• Longest unbeaten run at home: TBD, TBD
• Longest unbeaten run away: TBD, TBD
• Longest winless run: 10 Games, 21 October 2012 – 9 February 2013
• Longest winless run at home: TBD, TBD – TBD
• Longest winless run away: TBD, TBD - TBD

Individual records

• Most capped player for El Salvador: 50 (0 whilst at Once Lobos), Luis Guevara Mora
• Most international caps for El Salvador while a Once Lobos player: 1, TBD
• Most goals in a season, all competitions: unknown player, 62 (1927/28) (47 in League, 15 in Cup competitions)
• Most goals in a season, La Primera: TBD, 7

Overall seasons table in La Primera

Pos. Club Season In La Primera Pl. W D L GS GA Dif. TBA Once Municipal 11 310 77 108 125 340 439 -99

Last updated: 9 October 2022

Historical Matches

Current squad

As of January 2026: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Players with dual citizenship

• El Salvador United States Roni Bran

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.

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.

Players

Notable players

Below are the notable former and current players who have represented Once Municipal and international competition since the club's foundation in 1912. To appear in the section below, a player must have either played in at least 50 official matches for the club or represented their country's national team playing for Once Municipal before, during or after departing the club.

Notable players

Team captains

Personnel

Current technical staff

As of December, 2025

Management

As of July 4, 2025

Coaches

Others

• José Orlando Contreras

Notable managers

The following managers have won at least one trophy while in charge at Once Municipal:

List of presidents

• Alfonso Salaverria (1946–1959)
• Antonio Salaverria (1970–1979)
• Ricardo Espinoza (1979–1999)
• Adalid Magaña (1999–2009)
• Andrés Rodríguez Celis (2009–2012)
• Oswaldo Magaña (2012–2016)
• Carlos Calderón (2016)
• Omar Maldonado (2016–2018)

Others

• José Orlando Contreras

External links

• (in Spanish)
• (in Spanish)
• (in Spanish)