FC Santa Coloma
FC Santa Coloma is an Andorran professional football club based in Santa Coloma, parish of Andorra la Vella, founded in 1986. The club competes in the Primera Divisió and stands as the most successful team in Andorran football history, having won the Primera Divisió thirteen times and the Copa Constitució ten times. The club has achieved several historic firsts for Andorran football in European competitions and underwent significant changes in ownership in 2022 when it was acquired by Gold Star Sports Management Group.
History
Overview
General information about the club
FC Santa Coloma was founded in 1986 through the efforts of a group of football enthusiasts who represented the village of the same name that belongs to Andorra la Vella in the National Football Tournament, which was the former amateur league of Andorra. The club later became one of the founder members of the Primera Divisió in 1995, marking the beginning of professional football in Andorra.
Most recent season and achievements
The 2023–24 season saw FC Santa Coloma claim another historic first, becoming the first Andorran team to navigate two European two-legged ties in the same season. Entering at the first qualifying round of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League, they eliminated Welsh club Penybont F.C., then Montenegrin club FK Sutjeska Nikšić, to reach the third qualifying round against Dutch club AZ.
History
Early years
Fútbol Club Santa Coloma was established in 1986 by football enthusiasts representing the village of Santa Coloma. The club initially participated in the National Football Tournament, which served as Andorra's amateur league before the establishment of professional football in the country.
Successful period
Since 2001, the club has enjoyed tremendous success in all Andorran competitions, establishing itself as the dominant force in the country's football landscape. FC Santa Coloma holds all the records in the Premier Andorran League with 13 titles and has won the Andorran Cup 10 times, making it the most successful club in both competitions.
Crisis and recovery
At the end of 2017, Spanish La Liga team Villarreal CF announced a collaboration agreement with the Andorran club at grassroots football level, providing valuable support and expertise to help develop the club's infrastructure and youth programs.
Current period
In July 2022, Gold Star Sports Management Group, led by Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Daniel Milstein, completed the acquisition of the club. With Milstein as chairman, he announced Alex Lubyansky as CEO and Annabel Llevot as the General Manager. FC Santa Coloma and Gold Star FC Detroit are both under the Gold Star Football Club group of clubs.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Primera Divisió: - Winners (13): 1994–95, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 - Runners-up (8): 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2019–20
Copa Constitució: - Winners (10): 1991, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2018 - Runners-up (7): 1996, 1998, 1999, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023
Supercopa Andorrana: - Winners (7): 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019 - Runners-up (10): 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
Continental and global competitions
FC Santa Coloma has two unique achievements for an Andorran team in European competitions: it was both the first team from Andorra to win a match in any European competition and the first team from Andorra that did not concede a goal in a match in a European competition.
Both of these feats were achieved on three occasions: the first match in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup qualifying round against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, in which FC Santa Coloma won 1–0 at home with a goal scored by Juli Fernandez; in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round when they beat Banants of Armenia 1–0; and in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying, in which FC Santa Coloma won 1–0 at home against Valur of Iceland.
In 2014, Santa Coloma advanced for the first time in a knock-out round after beating FC Banants on the away goals rule. The deciding goal was scored by Coloma's goalkeeper Eloy Casals in the 4th minute of added time, making it the second time an Andorran club won a two-legged tie in Europe after Sant Julià.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
In the club crest feature the colours of Andorra and the Holy Dove that gives the name of the Santa Coloma d'Andorra town and therefore the name of the club.
Traditional home and away kits colors
FC Santa Coloma has dressed in all white since the creation of the Andorran Premier League, alternating the home kit with red or blue. Traditionally, the away kit has been all blue and third kit all red. However, the original first kit at the beginning of the foundation of the club was blue, which gives the nickname of Blues.
Traditional Rivals
El Clàssic
The main rival of FC Santa Coloma in Primera Divisió has always been Sant Julià, playing in a derby called El Clàssic. Both teams are strong in the Andorran Premier League and since the creation of the championship, the clubs have been competing for being the champion of the top flight.
El Derbi Colomenc
The local rival of FC Santa Coloma is actually their neighbour's hometown football team UE Santa Coloma. The rivalry between these two teams has increased since the 2009/10 season when those teams were competing for winning the Premier Andorran League.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Ownership and finances
In July 2022, Gold Star Sports Management Group, led by Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Daniel Milstein, completed the acquisition of the club. The new ownership structure includes Milstein as chairman, Alex Lubyansky as CEO, and Annabel Llevot as General Manager.
Nicknames
The club is known by the nickname "Blues," which originates from their original blue kit worn at the beginning of the club's foundation.