Club Deportivo Dragón is a Salvadoran football club, based in San Miguel, El Salvador; founded in 1939.[1] Dragón has won the league title twice in the 1951 and 1953 and finished as runner-up on three occasions.[2]

C.D. Dragón
Full nameClub Deportivo Dragón
Nickname(s)Los Mitológicos
El Monstruo Verde
Escupefuego
Founded18 September 1939; 85 years ago (1939-09-18)
GroundEstadio Juan Francisco Barraza
San Miguel, El Salvador
Capacity10,000
ChairmanEl Salvador Lic. Renè Ventura
ManagerUruguay Pablo Quiñones
LeagueEl Salvador Primera División

CD Dragón have played their home games at the 10,000 capacity Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza since 1956 when the stadium was built.[3]

Their traditional home kit consists of Green and White shirts (striped) with white shorts and green socks.

The club has a long-standing rivalry with national opponents Águila, and matches between the two sides are known as the "Derby Migueleño".

History

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C.D. Dragón was founded on 18 September 1939; during this period no national league was available, so they played against teams from different zones. Dragón represented San Miguel department. Dragón played their matches at the Estadio Charlaix, which would be their home stadium for several decades. Under the coaching of player-coach Esteban Blanco, the direction of Samuel Córdoba and key players such as Juan Francisco Barraza, Rómulo Granados and Domingo Flores, the club experienced their most successful period in the 1950s, when they won two league titles (1950–51, 1953–53) and lost two other championship finals.[4]

However, Dragón's fortune would change when a new club was founded during the latter part of the 1950s, Águila. Águila began to assume the mantle as the top representative of San Miguel and began to drain Dragón of quality players such as (Barraza, Blanco and others), sponsorship and fans which led to Dragón not only developing a fierce rivalry with Águila but also led to the club being relegated to the Second Division after the conclusion of the 1963–64 season.[5]

The club spent 13 years in the Second Division, during this time they were one of the founding members of UCLA (Unión de Clubes de Liga de Ascenso) in 1971. However, on 12 February 1977, under Brazilian coach Jorge Tupinambá who had previously coached ANTEL and Platense to the First Division, helped Dragón win their promotion game against Santiagueño 1–0 and helped elevate Dragón back to the First Division.[5]

Dragón's stay in the First Division was a short one (four years), the club only achieved two final series participations during the 1977–78, 1978–79 where they were quickly eliminated and the club was relegated to the Second Division after the conclusion of the 1980 season.

Under the coaching of former player and idol Juan Francisco Barraza, the club almost achieved promotion back to the First Division during the 1984–85 season; however, they lost their promotion game to CESSA and had to wait another four years to gain promotion.[5]

Mario Martínez, whose name will become entwined with Dragón, helped the club gain promotion to the First Division thanks to a 2–1 aggregate victory over Halcón de San Cayetano Istepeque, during this period a new crop of talented players were identified including future highest goalscorer for the El Salvador national football team Raúl Díaz Arce, Moisés "Pecho de Mono" González, and others. Despite the success, the club were struck with financial troubles and had to sell those players and in just one season the club was relegated back to the Second Division.

The club waited four years to achieve promotion once again thanks to the coaching of Miguel Aguilar Obando, who helped Dragón win their promotion game 4–0 over Arcense.

Their most recent spell in the top tier lasted from 1996 through 2003; during this period several players shone including Honduran Williams Reyes, William Torres and others and they achieved a few final series. However they were relegated back in 2003 to the Second Division and have played there for ten years.

Dragón won promotion to the First Division mainly due to the coaching of Mario Martínez second time in which he helped C.D. Dragón gain promotion, Dragón defeated Ciclón del Golfo over the two legs with an aggregate score of 3–1.[6]

Despite having a very poor Apertura campaign in which Mario Martínez was sacked and replaced by Nelson Ancheta, with the recruitment of club legend Williams Reyes and the emergence of stars like Rommel Mejía, Santos Ortíz, and Aurelio Vásquez the club reached the Clausura grand final (after disposing Santa Tecla in a play-off series 2–1, and defeating league leaders FAS in the semi-finals 1–0 on aggregate), However, despite the game ending 0–0 after 120 minutes, two missed penalties in the shootout meant that Isidro Metapán would win the grand final 6–5 on penalties.

On 29 of May, 2016, the club had its most successful period in its modern history under the guidance of Salvadorian Omar Sevilla, the club were able to win their first championship in 63 years (the Clausura 2016 final). Dragón won the match 1–0, Wilman Torres was the lone goal-scorer for Dragón in the final.[1].

However, despite winning their first championship in 63 years their fortune dwindled first showed a poor international performance at the concacaf losing 3 games and drawing one, with 6–0 loss against Deportivo Saprissa being the worst of the result.

Soon the club struggled to win games and eventually during the 2017–2018 season, the club finished equal 12th with Sonsonate, this meant they were forced to play a relegation playoff game with Sonsonate, they lost 3–2, which meant they to fell back to the Segunda division. [7]

On the 14th of January, 2018 due to failed payment to player, the club would not be registered and caused the club to be de-registered from the Segunda Division [2].

After a change of coach, hiring Marvin Benites and mixing a blend of experience and youth. Dragon won the Clausura 2022 tournament defeating Inter SS 2-1, with the goals coming from Javier Fermán and Henry Álvarez.[8]

On 6 June 2022, after 4 years out of the Primera Division, Dragon were promoted back to the top flight following a 4-2 playoff victory against Apertura 2021 champion AD Municipal 4-2 with goals coming from Kevin Moreno, Henry Álvarez and a double from Romel Mejía.[9]

Performance in CONCACAF competitions

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Best: Group stage in 2016
2016–17 : Group stage

Historical Matches

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November 16, 1952 Friendly C.D. Dragon 2-0 C.S. Uruguay de Coronado San Salvador, El Salvador
Esteban Blanco  
Juan Francisco Barraza  
Nil Stadium: TBD
January 4, 1953 Friendly C.D. Dragon 0-6 Racing Club San Salvador, El Salvador
Nil [3] Juan José Pizzuti      
Cipolla    
Mario Boyé  
Stadium: TBD
July 28, 1957 Friendly C.D. Dragon 0-6 Troya Chinameca, El Salvador
Nil   Stadium: TBD

International level

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  • As of 28 October, 2023
Opponent First meeting Last Meeting Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Saprissa August 18, 2016 August 25, 2016 2 0 1 1 0 6 −6
  Portland Timbers August 2, 2016 September 27, 2016 2 0 0 2 2 4 −2
Totals 4 0 1 3 2 10 -8

Stadium

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Dragón plays its home games at Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza located in San Miguel, The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people.

Supporters

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There is currently one officially recognized supporters group, El Monstruo Verde[4].

Mascot

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Throughout their history, a dragon was the club's official mascot. On March 9, 2014, the club, after consultation with the fans, decided to call their mascot Mito [5].

Rivalries

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Dragón's main rival is Águila. The derby has been labelled Derbi Migueleño (the San Miguel Derby). The intense feelings between the two sides began early on due to the close proximity and the switching of players between the clubs. The biggest defection occurred in the 1950s when legendary players Juan Francisco Barraza, Esteban Blanco and left the championship side of Dragon to Aguila and started a dynasty. The sole final played between the two teams ended 1–0 to Dragon. The most recent match was a 3-0 victory by Aguila on the 17 of October, 2024.
[6]
The teams have played 85 matches in all competitions, Aguila winning 50, Dragon 12, and the remaining 24 having been drawn.

Sponsorship

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Companies that Dragon currently has sponsorship deals with for 2023–2024 includes:

  • Tony Sports – Official kit suppliers
  • Pollo Campenese – Official sponsors
  • Canal 4 – Official sponsors
  • Devins Rosticeria – Official sponsors
  • Hotel Real Centre – Official sponsors
  • Hotel Marbella – Official sponsors
  • UFTOR  – Official sponsors
  • Las Perlitas – Official sponsors
  • Electrolit – Official sponsors
  • 777Bingo – Official sponsors
  • Natiluss Gym – Official sponsors

Honours

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Dragon is historically the second most successful team from San Miguel in El Salvador football, as they have won the second most championships with 3 titles.

Domestic honours

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Leagues

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Minor Cups

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  • El Salvador Benefit Tournament
    • Champions (1) : 2000
  • Copa de la Historia
    • Champions (1) : 2015
  • Copa Roberto "Burra" Rivas
    • Champions (1) : 2016

Current squad

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As of 30 July 2024: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   SLV Danilo Joya
2 DF   COL Kevin Moreno (captain)
4 DF   SLV Kevin Calderon
5 DF   SLV Henry Maldonado
6 MF   SLV Francisco Escobar
7 MF   COL Manuel Chala
8   SLV Jose Orlando Martinez
9 FW   COL Yerson Tobar
10 FW   COL Yair Arboleda
11   SLV Cristian Gil
12   SLV Diego Coca
14 MF   SLV Luis Fernando Mendez (vice-captain)
16 MF   SLV Romel Mejia
17 DF   SLV Gerson Rodriguez
19 DF   SLV Jonathan Quintanilla
20   SLV Bryan Mancia
21 DF   SLV Nelson Rodriguez
22 GK   SLV Hector Carbajal
23   SLV Jeremias Dubon
24   COL Kevin Berrios
28 MF   SLV Josué Ventura
29 DF   SLV Mario Machado
GK   SLV Brandon Hernández
46   SLV Lopez
48   SLV Henry Guzman
50   SLV Marvin Benitez
No. Pos. Nation Player
12   SLV Kenneth Fuentes
15 DF   SLV Cesar Lopez
16 DF   SLV Edwin Lazo
19 MF   SLV Henry Alvarez
20 FW   SLV Ever Garcia
23 DF   SLV Stanley Torres
25 GK   SLV Daniel Arroyo
26 GK   SLV Kevin Coca
27 MF   SLV René Wilfredo Granados
28 FW   SLV Edwin Ulloa
31   SLV Calix
32 FW   SLV Alejandro Martinez
33 DF   SLV Jonathan Diaz
40   SLV Norvin Alfaro

Players with dual citizenship

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  •     Nelson Rodriguez
  •     Kenneth Fuente

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
  SLV TBD (at TBD for the 2023-24 Apertura and Clausura)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
  COL Yair Arboleda (From FAS)
  SLV Henry Maldonado (From Jocoro)
GK   SLV Hector Carbajal (From San Salvador FC)
  SLV Jonathan Quintanilla (From Jocoro)
  SLV Diego Coca (From Fuerte San Francisco)
  SLV Nelson Rodriguez (From Jocoro)
  SLV Cristian Gil (From FAS)
No. Pos. Nation Player
  SLV Jeremias Dubon (From Isidro Metapan)
  SLV Bryan Mancia (From Titan)
  SLV Andres Alfaro (From Oakland Soccer)
  SLV Rommel Mejia (From TBD)
  SLV Jose Orlando Martinez (From Jocoro)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
  COL Manuel Chala (To TBD)
  COL Yerson Tobar (To TBD)
  SLV Rommel Mejia (To TBD)
  SLV TBD (To TBD)
No. Pos. Nation Player
  SLV TBD (To TBD)
  SLV TBD (To TBD)

Reserve Category Football

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As of: September 21, 2022 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
33   SLV Christopher Joya
37   SLV Carlos Arbauza
38   SLV Alexis Calix
39   SLV Daniel Gonzalez
46   SLV Anderson Perdomo
52   SLV Cristofer Magana
No. Pos. Nation Player
54   SLV Jonathan Díaz
55   SLV Hugo Hernandes
53   SLV Carlos Martinez
58 GK   SLV William Abrego
59   SLV Bryan Andrade
  SLV

Personnel

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Coaching staff

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As of September 2024

Position Staff
Manager   Pablo Quiñones (*)
Assistant Managers   Oswaldo Franco *
Goalkeeping Coach   Manuel Meme Gonzalez *
Reserve Manager And Ladies Manager   Marvin Rosales *
Under 17 Manager   Luis Alberto Campos
Luis Alexander Portillo *
Fitness Coach   Ricardo Avalos (*)
Team Doctor   TBD
Sports Director   TBD
physiotherapist   Samuel Chávez

Management

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Position Staff
Owner   Municipal Association of Chapeltique
President   Rene Ventura
Vice President   Rene Jose Ayala (*)
Administrative Manager   TBD
TBD   Jonathan Torres
TBD   TBD
TBD   TBD

Notable players

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Team captains

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Name Years
  19
  19
  19
  Pedro Flores 1976
  Elmer Rosas 1978
  Julio Urrutia 1979
  Asdrubal Padin 1988-90
  Marvin Torres 1991-1992
  Oscar Suarez 1996-1997
  Daniel Sagastizado 1997-1998
  Orlando Martinez Mingo 1998
  Williams Reyes 2014
  Johnny Rios 2015
  Luis Miguel Hernández 2016
  Manuel Gonzalez 2017
  Pastor Melgar 2018
  Herberth Ulloa 2021- June 2022
  Felipe Amaya June 2022 - December 2022
  Marvin Ramos January 2023 - December 2023
  Felipe Amaya January 2024 - June 2024
  Kevin Moreno June 2024 -Present

Foreign players

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Players with senior international caps:

World cup players

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This list all the players that have represented their respective national teams at the World cup. Those in Bold were playing with Dragonwhen they played

Notable managers

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The club's current manager is Marvin Benitez. There have been TBD permanent and TBD caretaker managers of Dragon since the appointment of the club's first professional manager, Jorge El Choco Méndez in 1951. The club's longest-serving manager, in terms of both length of tenure and number of games overseen, is Jose Mario Martinez, who managed the club between 1996 and 2018. Argentinian Gregorio Bundio was also Dragon's first manager from outside the El Salvador. Overall Jose Mario Martinez is the club's most successful coach, winning two Segunda División Salvadorean, Followed by one title each in the Primera División by Jorge El Choco Méndez, Miguel Herrera and Omar Sevilla.

The following managers won at least one trophy when in charge of Dragon
Name Period Trophies
  Jose Mario Martínez 1987–1989, 1995, 2003, 2009 – October 2009, June 2012 – August 2013, Nov 2019- 2020, 2021 2 Segunda División Salvadorean
  Jorge (El Choco) Méndez 1950–51 1 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional
  Miguel Herrera 1951–53 1 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional
  Omar Sevilla June 2015 – September 2016 1 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional (2016 Clausura)
  Jorge Tupinambá 1976–1978 1 Segunda División Salvadorean ()
  Nelson Ancheta August 2013- May 2014, September 2016 – February 2017 1 Runner-up in the Clausura 2014
  Marvin Benitez January 2022 – December 2023, July 2024-Present 1 Segunda División Salvadorean (2022 Clausura), 1 Play-off winner (2020-21)

Records

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  • Debut in the primera division: 2–3 TBD, Estadio Santaneco, 1950s
  • Highest league position: 1st in the Primera division (Apertura 1999, Apertura 2000)
  • Best post season finish: Runners up (Apertura 1999, Apertura 2000)
  • Record League victory: 7-1 v Chalatenango (Primera Division, February 2003)
  • Largest Home victory, Primera División: 7-1 v Chalatenango, 2 February 2023
  • Largest Away victory, Primera División: 3-0 v TBD, 29 October 2018
  • Largest Home loss, Primera División: 1–3 v TBD, 4 November 2018
  • Largest Away loss, Primera División: 1-4 v TBD, 7 April 2019
  • Record attendance at Estadio Jose Ramon Flores : 25,133 v TBD, Primera Division (TBD)
  • 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.

Individual records

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  • Record appearances (all competitions): TBD, 822 from 1957 to 1975
  • Record appearances (Primera Division): Paraguayan TBD, 64 from 2018 to 2019
  • Most capped player for El Salvador: 68 (17 whilst at Dragon), Raúl Díaz Arce
  • Most international caps for El Salvador while a Dragon player: 17, TBD
  • Most caps won whilst at Dragon: 17, TBD.
  • Record scorer in league: TBD, 77
  • First goal scorer in International competition: Jamaican Kenrod Howell (v. Portland Timbers; TBD; 3 August 2020)
  • 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):Raul Diaz Arce (1990-1991), 21
  • Longest streak without conceding a goal: TBD 495 minutes (TBD)
  • First international to play for Dragon– TBD, 1973 (El Salvador 1967-1972)
  • First Dragon international – TBD (for El Salvador v TBD, 1940s)
  • Fastest goal scored for Dragon: Uruguayan Jorge Garay (7 seconds) vs ADET, 1 May 2001
  • Top goalscorer in CONCACAF competition: 1, Kevin Howell and Melara

Top goalscorers

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No. Player period Goals
1   TBD TBD-TBD 77
2   Raul Diaz Arce 1989-1990 55
3   Williams Reyes 2000, 2014 48
4   Jhon Montaño 2022-2023 28
5   Javier Ferman 2022-2023 20
6   Jackson de Oliveira 2015-2016, 2018 19
7   Carlos Villarreal 2000 18
8   TBD TBD-TBD 13
9   TBD TBD-TBD 12
10   TBD TBD-TBD 10
10   Ruben Alonso 1995 10

Note: Players in bold text are still active with Dragon

Overall seasons table in Primera División de Fútbol Profesional

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Pos. Club Season In D1 Pl. W D L GS GA Dif.
TBA C.D. Dragon 68 1004 297 282 424 1281 1542 -261

Last updated: 21 March 2024

Distinction to history of club goals.

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Individual trophies

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Nationality First Name Season Number of Goals Distinction Granted to the Player
  El Salvador   Juan Francisco Barraza 1955 11   Goals' Top League scorer
  El Salvador   Raúl Díaz 1990–91 21   Goals' Top League scorer
  Honduras   Williams Reyes 2000 17   Goals' Top League scorer
  Honduras   Williams Reyes 2014 13   Goals' Top League scorer

Other departments

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Football

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Reserve team

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The reserve team serves mainly as the final stepping stone for promising young players under the age of 21 before being promoted to the main team. The second team is coached by Marvin Rosales. the team played in the Primera División Reserves, they have yet to reach win or reach a final at the Reserve championships

Junior teams

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The youth team (under 17 and under 15) has produced some of El Salvador's top football players, including TBD and TBD. They are currently being coached by Salvadoran Luis Campos.

Women's team

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The women's first team, which is led by head coach Manuel Acevedo, features several members of the El Salvador national ladies team. Their greatest successes were reaching the semi-finals the in Apertura 2020.

References

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  1. ^ Gráfico, El. "Dragón comenzará pretemporada el lunes 29 de mayo". elgrafico.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  2. ^ "El Dragón se prepara para ser protagonista – Culebrita Macheteada – Futbol El Salvador – Culebrita Macheteada – Futbol El Salvador". www.culebritamacheteada.com.sv. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  3. ^ Gráfico, El. "Pohl: "Zelaya no se irá a ningún lado"". elgrafico.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ El Salvador – List of Champions Archived 2023-01-04 at the Wayback Machine – RSSSF
  5. ^ a b c "Dragón: 74 años entre ascensos y descensos - Culebrita Macheteada – Futbol El Salvador". Archived from the original on 2013-09-07. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  6. ^ "¡Dragón... Es de la Primera! - El Salvador FC - El Salvador FC". Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  7. ^ "Así fue la etapa de Dragón por la Primera División". May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  8. ^ "Dragón se coronó campeón del Clausura de segunda división y ahora va por el ascenso ante AD Municipal". 28 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Dragón derrotó a Juayúa y asciende a la primera división". Archived from the original on 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  10. ^ Gráfico, El. "Dragón confirma que mantendrá su localía en Chapeltique". elgrafico.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Primera división mantiene en pie sus juegos de hoy a pesar de enjambre sísmico". laprensagrafica.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
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