Managua FC

Managua F.C.
Full nameManagua Fútbol Club
Nickname(s)La Maquinaria Azul
(The Blue Machinery)
Los Leones Azules
(The Blue Lions)
El Orgullo de la Capital
(The Pride of the Capital)
Founded2006 (2006)
GroundEstadio Olímpico del IND Managua
Capacity9,000
ChairmanDenis Salinas
ManagerFlavio da Silva
LeagueLiga Primera
2024–25TBD

Managua Fútbol Club is a professional football club based in Managua, Nicaragua which currently plays in the Nicaraguan Premier Division.

History

The team was promoted to the Primera División for the first time in their history in 2009–10 after beating Deportivo América in a two-legged Segunda División championship final.[1]

They made an immediate impact on the top flight, qualifying for the semi-finals in their first season (Apertura 2010). Since then, they have been a regular playoff participant and even reached the finals of the 2017 Apertura, losing on away goals to Walter Ferretti.

In 2018, the club had its most successful period in its history under the guidance of Nicaraguan Emilio Aburto. The club were able to win their first championship (the Apertura 2018) in club history. Managua won 1–0 over two legged series against powerful club Real Esteli F.C.; Lucas dos Santos was the lone goal-scorer for Managua and he was the league-leading goalscorer that season.

Achievements

First Division record (2010–present)

Apertura 2010 – present

Season Position GP W D L GF GA PTS Play-offs Pl. W D L GS GA PTS
2010 Apertura 3rd
14
8
2
4
22
15
26
Semi-finals
6
2
2
2
5
3
8
2011 Clausura 6th
14
5
2
7
17
18
17
Did not qualify
2011 Apertura 2nd
14
8
1
5
22
15
25
Semi-finals
6
2
2
2
5
7
8
2012 Clausura 4th
14
5
6
3
19
17
21
Semi-finals
6
2
1
3
6
11
7
2012 Apertura 2nd
14
6
4
4
16
11
22
Semi-finals
6
2
2
2
6
6
8
2013 Clausura 4th
14
5
4
5
18
16
19
Semi-finals
6
2
0
4
5
12
6
2013 Apertura 4th
18
8
7
3
25
14
31
Semi-finals
2
0
0
2
1
4
0
2014 Clausura 4th
18
7
6
5
34
25
27
Semi-finals
2
0
0
2
2
10
0
2014 Apertura 5th
18
7
5
6
24
17
26
Did not qualify

Current squad

As of: June, 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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Nicaragua NCA Mario Davila
3 DF Argentina ARG Matias Steib
4 DF Colombia COL Darwin Carrero
7 MF Nicaragua NCA Kevin Serapio
8 MF Nicaragua NCA Marlon Lopez
10 FW Nicaragua NCA Jose Martinez
14 DF Nicaragua NCA Steven Caceres
15 DF Nicaragua NCA Cristhian Herrera
16 MF Nicaragua NCA Jeremy Cuarezma
17 FW Nicaragua NCA Abner Acuña
20 DF Uruguay URU Richard Rodriguez
21 Nicaragua NCA Ronald Palacios
25 GK Nicaragua NCA Alyer Lopez
26 MF Nicaragua NCA Juwan Brown
40 FW Nicaragua NCA B Morgan
FW Cuba CUB Maikel Reyes
No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Nicaragua NCA Ramon Estrada
11 MF Nicaragua NCA Juan Barrera
12 Df Nicaragua NCA Miguel Guerrero
18 Nicaragua NCA Ethan Lopez
21 DF Nicaragua NCA Junior Delgado
GK Nicaragua NCA Erling Mendez
DF Nicaragua NCA Allan Caballero
Nicaragua NCA Kevin Miranda

Players with dual citizenship

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
Uruguay URU Richard Rodriguez (From Diriangén)
Nicaragua NCA Juwan Brown (From A.D. Guanacasteca)
Nicaragua NCA Mario Davila (From Matiguás FC)
Nicaragua NCA Cristhian Herrera (From CS Sebaco)
FW Argentina ARG Mauro Verón (From San Martín de Tucumán)
No. Pos. Nation Player
Nicaragua NCA TBD
Nicaragua NCA TBD
Nicaragua NCA TBD

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW Nicaragua NCA Bryan Zuniga (to TBD)
Brazil BRA Ewerton Bezerra (to TBD)
Spain ESP Pablo Gállego (to TBD)
Brazil BRA Lucas dos Santos (to Walter Ferretti)
No. Pos. Nation Player
Nicaragua NCA Ismael Mendieta (to TBD)
Nicaragua NCA TBD
Nicaragua NCA TBD

Notable players

Notable players

  • Brazil Lucas dos Santos (100 goals)
  • Brazil Christian Fernandez
  • Brazil Clayton José da Cunha (2010–11)
  • Venezuela Edward Murillo
  • Honduras Mario García
  • Honduras Víctor Norales (2010–11)
  • Nicaragua Gerardo Arce
  • Nicaragua Ewing Herrera
  • Nicaragua Marvin Joseph
  • Nicaragua Brandon Joseph Ramírez (2010–11)
  • Nicaragua Justo Lorente
  • Nicaragua Norfran Lazo (2011–12)
  • Nicaragua Raúl Leguías (2009–10)
  • Nicaragua Ivan Méndez
  • Nicaragua William Mendieta
  • Nicaragua Mario Morales
  • Nicaragua Luis Olivares

One-club men

Name Nationality Position Managua
Debut
Managua
Last Match
Jairo Gutiérrez Nicaragua Defender 2006 2018

Coaching staff

As of July, 2025

Position Staff
Manager Nicaragua Emilio Aburto
Assistant Manager Costa Rica Douglas Sequeira
Physical coach Argentina Alejandro Blasco
Goalkeeper Coach Nicaragua TBD
Physiotherapist Nicaragua TBD
Team Doctor Nicaragua TBD
Under 20 coach Nicaragua Emilio Aburto

List of coaches

Managua has had permanent managers since it first appointed TBD as coach in 2007. The longest-serving manager was Emilio Aburto, who managed Managua for three years from Feb 2012 to Jan 2015. Argentinian Nestor Holweger was the first foreign coach in the club and helped the club win its first title, winning the second division in 2009. Emilio Aburto is the most successful manager as he led the club to two Primera division title in 2018 and in 2025 and first Copa de Nicaragua in 2019.

  • Argentina Nestor Holweger (August 2009 – August 2010)
  • Nicaragua Mario Alfaro (August 2010 – February 2012)
  • Nicaragua Emilio Aburto (February 2012 – January 2015)
  • Nicaragua Carlos Zambrana (January 2015 – December 2015)
  • Brazil Flavio Da Silva (December 2015 – June 2016)
  • Venezuela Amleto Bonaccorso (June 2016 – August 2016)
  • Venezuela Jack Galindo (August 2016 – September 2016)
  • Costa Rica Luis Fernando Fallas (September 2016 – November 2016)
  • Venezuela Jack Galindo (November 2016 – February 2017)
  • Nicaragua Emilio Aburto (Feb 2017 – May 2017)
  • Nicaragua Tyron Acevedo (May 2017 – Sept 2017)
  • Nicaragua Emilio Aburto (September 2017 – August 2021)
  • Spain Juan Cortes (September 2021 - August 2022)
  • Nicaragua Emilio Aburto (August 2022 - December 2022)
  • Brazil Flavio Da Silva (December 2022 – October 2024)
  • Nicaragua Emilio Aburto (October 2024 – Present)


Notable managers

The following managers have won at least one trophy while in charge at Managua FC:

Name Nationality From To Honours
Emilio Aburto Nicaragua Nicaragua 1 February 2012
1 February 2017
1 September 2017
1 December 2022
28 January 2015
28 May 2017
28 December 2022
28 December 2025
2 Liga Primera de Nicaragua (2018 Apertura, Clausura 2025) 1 Copa de Nicaragua (2019)

Records

Record versus other Clubs

As of 2025-03-12

The Concacaf opponents below = Official tournament results: (Plus a sampling of other results)

Opponent Last Meeting G W D L F A PTS +/-
Guatemala Antigua GFC 2025 Central American Cup 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 -3
Costa Rica LD Alajuelense 2025 Central American Cup 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 -1
El Salvador Alianza 2025 Central American Cup 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 -1
Costa Rica Guanacasteca 2024 Central American Cup 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
El Salvador FAS 2020 CONCACAF League 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1
Honduras Olimpia 2020 CONCACAF League 1 0 0 1 6 0 0 0
Honduras Motagua 2019 CONCACAF League 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 -4
Guatemala Municipal 2024 Central American Cup 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 1
Nicaragua Real Esteli 2024 Central American Cup 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 -3
Costa Rica Saprissa 2024 Central American Cup 1 0 0 1 2 3 0 -1
Panama Plaza Amador 2025 Central American Cup 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals

References

  1. ^ Nicaragua 2009/10 – RSSSF