Cusco FC

 

Cusco FC

 

Cusco Fútbol Club, in short Cusco FC, formerly Asociación Civil Real Atlético Garcilaso (better known as Real Garcilaso), is a football club founded in July 2009 by Julio Gerardo Vásquez Granilla and renamed Cusco FC in December 2019, based in Cusco (Cuzco), Peru, currently competing in the First Division of Peru (Liga 1), the top tier of Peruvian football, after winning the 2022 Second Division (Liga 2). As Real Garcilaso, the club had started in the lower local leagues but in 2011 won the Copa Perú, which meant an automatic promotion to the Peruvian First Division. The club competed for 10 years in the First Division (2012-2021), finishing three times as runners-up (2012, 2013 and 2017), and classifying usually in the upper half of the table, which allowed them to participate in Copa Libertadores in 2013 (when they reached the quarter-finals), 2014, 2018 and 2019, as well as in Copa Sudamericana in 2016 and 2020. However, they were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the 2021 season, but came back to the First Division after just one year. Their home ground is mainly Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, located in Cusco at 3366 m above sea level, with a capacity for 42,056 spectators. The ground is shared with other teams in Cusco, such as Cienciano and Deportivo Garcilaso. Cusco FC also play some of their home games at Estadio Túpac Amaru in Sicuani, which has a capacity for 15,230 spectators. The club has also built its own stadium (used as a training ground) and other sporting facilities in Oropesa, near Cusco. The colours of Cusco FC are gold and black, departing from the previous light sky blue (celeste) of Real Garcilaso.

 

Cusco FC, champions of the 2022 Second Division. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

 

History

 

The club was founded officially on 16 July 2009 by Julio Gerardo Vásquez Granilla, the eldest son of Julio Gerardo Vásquez Cardenas, two businessmen native of Cuzco who developed trade relations with Mexico, China and other countries. While in Mexico, Julio Gerardo Vásquez Granilla found out that some of their business partners had their own football teams and told his father that he also wanted his own football team. Initially, they tried to invest in one of the traditional football teams of Cuzco, Cienciano or Deportivo Garcilaso, but their offer was rejected by the directing boards of the two teams. As Julio Gerardo Vásquez Granilla graduated from the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega College, he was closer to the idea of supporting the official team of the college, Deportivo Garcilaso, who was then competing in the lower local leagues and in Copa Peru, compared to their rivals, Cienciano, which was a long-established team of the First Division of Peru, and winner of the 2003 Copa Sudamericana.

Julio Vásquez Cardenas (left) and Julio Vásquez Granilla, founders of Real Garcilaso

When turned down, Julio Gerardo Vásquez Granilla decided to form a new club, from the scratch, with the help of his father, Julio Gerardo Vásquez Cardenas, who became the sporting director of the club, and his uncle, Wilbur Cardenas Alarcón, as vice-president. The club was named “Real Garcilaso” in honour of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and his main work, “Los Comentarios Reales”. The relationship with Inca Garcilaso de la Vega College was also important, although the college continued to support Deportivo Garcilaso as its official team. The colour of the two clubs and of the college were the same: light sky blue (celeste).

In 2009, the team was enrolled in the Second Division of the Cuzco League and won the tournament, thus promoting to the First Division of Cuzco League.

In 2010, Real Garcilaso also won the First Division of Cuzco League but promotion to the higher leagues was achievable only by means of Copa Perú, a competition open to all amateur teams in the country. In that year, Real Garcilaso reached the national stage of Copa Perú but lost in the round of 16 against Sportivo Huracán.

At the beginning of 2011, Fredy “Petróleo” García was brought in as manager, as well as new players. It was a successful season. In the middle of the year, the team was invited, along with other amateur and professional teams, to play the Torneo Intermedio, a tournament organized by the Peruvian Football Federation as a knock-out competition for clubs during Copa America. Real Garcilaso eliminated both local rivals, Deportivo Garcilaso and Cienciano, as well as other strong professional teams, to reach the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Sport Ancash.

The biggest achievement of the year was, however, winning the 2011 Copa Perú. The final was played against Pacífico, a team of the capital region, Lima. Real Garcilaso won 3-1 in Cuzco and lost only 1-0 in Lima, therefore were crowned champions of Copa Perú and granted automatic promotion to the First Division of Peru, while their opponents promoted to the Second Division of Peru.

Real Garcilaso before a game in 2012

In 2012, their first year in the top tier, Real Garcilaso was a real surprise to everyone and reached the final of the competition but lost to Sporting Cristal, therefore becoming Peruvian vice-champions. Their striker, Andy Pando, was the top league goalscorer with 27 goals. The next year, 2013, Real Garcilaso classified again for the final and lost again, this time at penalties, against Universitario de Deportes. The same year, they participated for the first time in Copa Libertadores, where they reached the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia.


Real Garcilaso in one of their first games in Copa Libertadores (2013)

In 2014, Real Garcilaso participated again in the Copa Libertadores but left the competition early. They had a weak season also in Peru, finishing in tenth place (out of 16) in the aggregate table of the Peruvian league. The head coach Freddy “Petróleo” García left the club after almost 4 years and was replaced by Luis Flores, who took charge of the team only for a few months. Since then, Real Garcilaso has changed the managers rather often, at least once a year.

In 2015, the team lost the Clausura final play-off against Melgar, came third in the aggregate table of the Peruvian league and therefore classified for the semifinals as the best placed team (except for the Apertura and Clausura winners). However, Real Garcilaso lost both the semifinal against the same Melgar and the third place match against Universidad César Vallejo, finishing fourth. In September 2015, Julio Gerardo Vásquez Cardenas, the sporting director of the club, was suspended for 5 years by the Peruvian football authorities for his allegations against Sporting Cristal and also against some of the players of Real Garcilaso who supposedly did not play correctly in the match against Sporting Cristal. Another event was the relegation of Cienciano to the Second Division at the end of the season, which meant that Real Garcilaso remained the only Cusco team in the First Division.

The next year, 2016, Real Garcilaso only classified ninth (out of 16) in the league and advanced no more than the second round of Copa Sudamericana. In 2017, the team classified second to Alianza Lima in both Apertura and Clausura tournaments, therefore no play-off was played and Alianza Lima were crowned champions, while Real Garcilaso were the overall runners-up. As a result, the team played in the group stage of the 2018 Copa Libertadores but classified last in the group. In 2018, Real Garcilaso just missed the play-offs and classified fourth overall, which gave them again the opportunity to play in the first stage of 2019 Copa Libertadores, where they were eliminated by Deportivo la Guaira (Venezuela).

 


Real Garcilaso at the beginning of the 2018 season. Source: Facebook club page

In 2019, the team performed not so well at the beginning of the year and head coach Héctor Tapia was sacked in March. Results improved under the new head coach, Juan Reynoso, but he left in August, and the team had a negative streak in the first half of Clausura, being also eliminated in the quarter-finals of Copa Bicentenario. The arrival of Javier Arce as sporting director in September changed again the results of the team, which succeeded to classify seventh overall, which gave them a chance to compete in the 2020 Copa Sudamericana.

In December 2019, the management board of Real Garcilaso decided to change the name of the team and to create a new identity, under the name Cusco FC, allegedly at the request of some of the fans. A poll among people in Cusco (but Real Garcilaso fans were not specifically targeted) showed that 70% of those questioned agreed to the change, according to a press release. Despite protests from many fans across social media, the press release issued on the 23rd of December 2019 acknowledged that the new name of the club will be Cusco FC. The change of identity included also the colours, to become gold and black (instead of light blue) and the crest.

The change was most likely triggered by the good performance of Deportivo Garcilaso in the 2019 Copa Perú, as they were close to reach the Final Four and therefore could have even promoted to the Peruvian First Division. In this case, two “Garcilaso” teams would have played in the same league. While a dispute over identity issues have existed since 2009, it reached a momentum at the end of 2019. Therefore, the management of Real Garcilaso had to consider a change and to depart from the “Garcilaso” tradition, in terms of name, colours and crest. The new name, Cusco FC, is neutral and focuses on the name of the city and the region, quite famous in the whole world, but not carried by any of the traditional teams in town (Cienciano or Deportivo Garcilaso).


 

Cusco FC players and staff at the official presentation with the new kits and crest in January 2020. Source: todosobrecamisetas.com

 

Under the new name, the club has not started well in 2020. A negative run of four defeats in five matches in the Peruvian First Division (Apertura) and the elimination in the first stage of the Copa Sudamericana, after an unexpected 3-0 away loss to Chilean side Audax Italiano, led to internal trouble. Head coach Javier Arce left the club and Argentinian Carlos Ramacciotti was brought at the beginning of March 2020, winning a match just before the competition was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Despite winning two matches and drawing in other two matches after the restart of the competition in August 2020, Carlos Ramacciotti was sacked in September 2020, when Francisco Melgar took over as interim coach, but the same Carlos Ramacciotti was brought back a few weeks later after several defeats. Cusco FC finished 12th, the worst performance since their promotion to the First Division.


 

Cusco FC players and staff at the beginning of 2021. Source: Facebook official club page

 

In 2021, the season started badly again, with no win in the first four rounds, and Carlos Rammacciotti was again sacked. Another Argentinian, Claudio Vivas, was brought in as manager. Poor results led to another change of manager in August, when another Argentinian, Marcelo Grioni, was brought in to save the team from relegation. Relegation seemed to have been avoided in the last round of the season, when Cusco FC won 2-1 over Sport Huancayo and luckily all other teams fighting in the lower part of the table lost or drew. However, the whole situation changed on 20 January 2022, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne decided in favour of Cienciano and Deportivo Binacional, and against Cusco FC and the Peruvian Football Federation, so that the final result of the match Cusco FC – Cienciano was that on the field, 2-2, and not 3-0 for Cusco FC, as initially awarded by the Peruvian Football Federation as they considered that Cienciano had used an inelligible player. Therefore, Cusco FC lost 2 points in the final aggregate table, which had to be updated, and Cusco FC finished in 17th position instead of 14th, which meant an automatic relegation to the Second Division. On 21 January 2022, the Peruvian Football Federation confirmed the updated final table and that Cusco FC were relegated to the Second Division for the 2022 season.

Cusco FC succeeded to maintain most of their players, initially contracted for the First Division, which made them big favourites to win the 2022 Second Division. However, the season started with a 1-0 defeat away at Unión Comercio, and manager Marcelo Grioni was sacked. Uruguayan manager Pablo Peirano was brought in, and Cusco FC went on undefeated for 22 matches, winning both the Apertura and the Clausura tournaments of the Second Division, and therefore promoted to the 2023 First Division as Second Division champions without the need for any play-offs.

Pablo Peirano continued as manager of Cusco FC in the 2023 First Division (Liga 1), and the team had a good first half of the season, finishing the Apertura in fourth place, their best result since 2018. However, their performance dropped in the Clausura, and Pablo Peirano was eventually sacked in September 2023, with six rounds to go. Luis Flores was brought in as interim manager, but the results did not improve enough. Cusco FC finished ninth in the aggregate table, just one point behind the top eight, which would have allowed them to participate in the 2024 Copa Sudamericana.

Argentinian Miguel Rondelli was appointed as manager for 2024, and the squad changed almost completely.

 

Results season by season

 

- as Cusco FC -

 

2024: First Division of Peru. Apertura:

                                                Clausura:

                                                Overall:

2023: First Division of Peru. Apertura: 4th (out of 19). Results: 18 10 2 6 24-22  32 points.

                                                Clausura: 13th (out of 19). Results: 18 4 6 8 18-23  18 points.

                                                Overall: 9th (out of 19). Results: 36 14 8 14 42-45  50 points.

2022: Second Division of Peru. Apertura: 1st (out of 13). Results: 12 9 2 1 20-7  29 points.

                                                Clausura: 1st (out of 13). Results: 12 9 2 1 27-9  29 points.

                                                Overall: 1st (out of 13). Results: 24 18 4 2 47-16  58 pts. Promoted

2021: First Division of Peru. Stage 1, group B: 7th (out of 9). Results: 9 1 5 3 11-13 8 points.

                                                Stage 2: 15th (out of 18). Results: 17 4 4 9 30-36 16 points.

                                                Overall: 17th (out of 18). Results: 26 5 9 12 42-49 23 p[1]. Relegated

2020: First Division of Peru. Apertura (Stage 1): 15th (out of 20). Results: 19 5 6 8 26-31  21 pts.

                                                Clausura (St. 2), gr. B: 4th (out of 10). Results: 9 4 3 2 13-10 15 p.

                                                Overall: 12th (out of 20). Results: 28 9 9 10 39-41  36 points.

            Copa Sudamericana, First Stage: lost 3-2 on aggregate to Audax Italiano (Chile).

 

- as Real Garcilaso -

 

2019: First Division of Peru. Apertura: 6th (out of 18). Results: 17 7 5 5 19-15  26 points.

                                                Clausura: 11th (out of 18). Results: 17 6 3 8 19-16  21 points.

                                                Overall: 7th (out of 18). Results: 34 13 8 13 38-31  47 points.

            Copa Libertadores, first stage: lost 2-2 (away goal rule) to Dep. La Guaira (Venezuela).

2018: First Division of Peru. Torneo de Verano, gr. B: 5th (out of 8). Results: 14 6 2 6 21-23 20p.

                                                Apertura: 3rd (out of 16). Results: 15 8 2 3 19-19  26 points.

                                                Clausura: 8th (out of 16). Results: 15 5 6 4 26-22 21 points.

                                                Overall: 4th (out of 16). Results: 44 19 10 15 66-64 67 points.

            Copa Libertadores, group F: 4th (last, out of 4). Results: 6 1 3 2 2-7 6 points.

2017: First Division of Peru. Torneo de Verano, gr. B: 2nd (out of 8).Results: 14 7 3 4 27-17 24p.

                                                Apertura: 2nd (out of 16). Results: 15 9 3 3 23-18  30 points.

                                                Clausura: 2nd (out of 16). Results: 15 10 2 3 29-15  32 points.

                                                Overall: 2nd (out of 16). Results: 44 26 8 10 79-50  86 points.

2016: First Division of Peru. Apertura: 8th (out of 16). Results: 15 5 5 5 22-22  20 points.

                                                Clausura: 12th (out of 16). Results: 30 10 6 14 39-49  36 points.

                                                Liguilla, group A: 5th (out of 8). Results: 44 16 9 19 55-62 57 p.

                                                Overall: 9th (out of 16). Results: 44 16 9 19 55-62 57 points.

            Copa Sudamericana: winner in the First Stage against Aucas (Ecuador). Advanced.

Lost in the Second Stage against Palestino (Chile).

2015: First Division of Peru. Torneo del Inca, gr. B: 2nd (out of 6). Results: 10 7 1 2 19-10 22 p.

                                                Lost in semifinals against Universidad César Vallejo (at penalties).

                                                Apertura: 4th (out of 17). Results: 16 8 4 4 22-20 28 points.

                                                Clausura: 2nd (out of 17). Results: 16 8 5 3 26-16 29 points.

                                                Lost the Clausura play-off final against Melgar (at penalties).

                                                Overall: 3rd (out of 17). Results: 32 16 9 7 48-36  57 points.

                                                Championship play-off: lost in semifinals against Melgar.

                                                Third place final: lost against Universidad César Vallejo.

2014: First Division of Peru. Torneo del Inca, gr. A: 5th (out of 8). Results: 14 5 4 5 20-15 19 p.

                                                Apertura: 9th (out of 16). Results: 15 6 2 7 19-19  20 points.

                                                Clausura: 6th (out of 16). Results: 15 5 6 4 20-17  21 points.

                                                Overall: 10th (out of 16). Results: 30 11 8 11 39-36  41 points.

            Copa Libertadores, group 5: 4th (last, out of 4). Results: 6 1 0 5 4-13  3 points.

2013: First Division of Peru. First stage: 1st (out of 16). Results: 30 17 7 6 40-20  57 points[2].

                                                Liguilla, group A: 1st (out of 8). Results: 44 22 12 10 63-39 77 p[2].

                                                Overall: 1st (out of 16). Results: 44 22 12 10 63-39 77 points[2].

                                                Play-off: lost the final against Universitario (at penalties).

            Copa Libertadores, group 6: 2nd (out of 4). Results: 6 3 1 2 8-7 10 points. Advanced.

                                                Knock-out phase, round of 16: won against Nacional (Uruguay).

                                                Quarter-finals: lost against Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia).

2012: First Division of Peru. First stage: 2nd (out of 16). Results: 30 16 9 5 38-21  57 points.

                                                Liguilla, group B: 1st (out of 8). Results: 44 24 10 10 63-35 82 p.

                                                Overall: 2nd (out of 16). Results: 44 24 10 10 63-35 82 points.

                                                Play-off: lost both legs in the final against Sporting Cristal.

2011: Torneo Intermedio. Preliminary round: won against Deportivo Garcilaso. Advanced.

                                                First round: won against Cienciano. Advanced.

                                                Round of 16: won against UTC (at penalties). Advanced.

                                                Quarter-finals: lost against Sport Áncash (at penalties).

            Copa Perú: Qualified directly to the regional stage.

                        Regional stage (Region VIII), group A: 1st (out of 5). Results: 8 6 0 2 30-5 18 pts.

                        National stage, round of 16: won against Unión Minas Orcopampa (0-0 and 4-2).

                                    Quarter-finals: won against Sportivo Huracán (3-0 and 0-2).

                                    Semifinals: won against Alianza Universidad (2-3 and 2-0).

                                    Final: won against Pacífico (3-1 and 0-1). Promoted to the First Division.

2010: Copa Perú: winner of the district, provincial and departamental leagues. Advanced.

                        Regional stage (Region VIII), group B: 1st (out of 4). Results: 6 4 0 2 10-8 12 pts.

                        Lost the regional stage final against Alianza Unicachi (3-4) but advanced.

                        National stage, round of 16: lost against Sportivo Huracán (4-3 and 1-4).

2009: Cuzco District Second Division: winner. Promoted to Cuzco District First Division.

 


Real Garcilaso in 2011, when they won the Copa Perú

 

Honours

 

International level

 

Copa Libertadores: quarter-finalists (2013).

Copa Sudamericana: Second Stage (2016).

 

National level

 

Peruvian First Division: runners-up (2012, 2013, 2017), 4th (2015, 2018).

            Overall (aggregate table): 1st (2013), 2nd (2012, 2017), 3rd (2015), 4th (2018).

            Apertura: runners-up (2017), 3rd (2018).

            Clausura: runners-up (2015, 2017).

            First stage (Apertura + Clausura): winners (2013), runners-up (2012).

            Liguilla: winners (2012, 2013).

Peruvian Second Division: winners (2022).

Copa Perú: winners (2011).

 

Local level

 

Region VIII stage: winners (2011), runners-up (2010).

Liga Departamental de Cuzco: winners (2010).

Liga Provincial de Cuzco: winners (2010).

Liga Distrital de Cuzco: winners (2010).

Second Division of Liga Distrital de Cuzco: winners (2009).

 

            Stadium

 

The home ground of Cusco FC is mainly Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, better known as Estadio Garcilaso, located in Cuzco (Cusco) at 3366 m above sea level, with a current capacity for 42,056 spectators. Since 2013, there were works meant to increase its capacity but they stopped for the lack of financial support. The ground is shared with other teams in Cuzco, such as Cienciano and Deportivo Garcilaso.

 


Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium in Cusco. Source: Wikipedia.

 

The stadium was inaugurated in 1960 with a capacity for 30,000 spectators, then it was renovated in 2004 and its capacity increased to more than 40,000 for the 2004 Copa America, when it hosted the third-place game between Colombia and Uruguay. The stadium belongs to the Instituto Peruano del Deporte (Peruvian Institute for Sports). The two main central stands are called “Occidente” (the Western stand) and “Oriente” (the Eastern stand), according to their location. The stands behind the two goals are called “Popular Norte” (People’s North) and “Popular Sur” (People’s South).

 


Panoramic view of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega stadium

 

During the works at the stadium, Real Garcilaso also played their home games at Estadio Municipal de Urcos in 2013 and 2014 and Estadio Túpac Amaru in Sicuani in 2017 and 2019. Estadio Túpac Amaru in Sicuani has a capacity for 15,230 spectators and is the secondary home ground for Cusco FC. It also belongs to Instituto Peruano del Deporte (Peruvian Institute for Sports).

 


Estadio Túpac Amaru in Sicuani. Source: ovacion.pe

 

The club has also built its own stadium and other sporting facilities in Oropesa, near Cusco, where the club owns 40 hectares. In 2015 this sporting complex has been inaugurated, including two training grounds for the senior team, as well as for the reserve, youth and junior teams. There is also a building in the city of Cusco, named Casa Dorada (the Golden House – reference to one of the club colours; formerly called Casa Celeste), which also includes areas for training, halls for meetings and press conferences.

 

Crest

 

The crest of Cusco FC has been presented and accepted in January 2020. It has a round shape and a golden background. A narrow black line surrounds an outer golden ring, on which the word CUSCO is written in bold black capital letters on the upper side, and FUTBOL CLUB in smaller black capital letters on the lower side. In the centre, the rays of the Rising Sun, representing one of the symbols of the Inca Empire (Tahuantinsuyo), provide a back-side (or left-side) light to the peaks of the mountains behind Machu Picchu, one of the best-known Peruvian and Cusco sites around the world. The ruins of Machu Picchu are sketched in the foreground.

 


 

The former crest of Real Garcilaso was a double-rounded ring, yellow on the edges and white inside, wearing a yellow crown above, which is white and sky-blue on the inside. The top crown made specific reference to the name of the club, Real, which may be translated as “Royal”, and is typical of other “Real” clubs as well (such as Real Madrid, for instance).

 

The former name of the club, Real Garcilaso, was written in sky-blue letters in the outer ring, “Real” on the upper part, and “Garcilaso” on the lower part, while a sky-blue capital “G” letter is in the centre of the inner ring. The “G” letter makes also reference to Garcilaso, the name of the club, but it is also the symbol of the other club in Cuzco that shared this name, Deportivo Garcilaso. Therefore, this symbol showed the common root of both clubs in the “Inca Garcilaso de la Vega” College of Cuzco.

The crest was usually accompanied by the club logo, “Real Garcilaso – Presente y Futuro del Futbol Peruano”, meaning “Real Garcilaso – Present and Future of Peruvian Football”.

 

Kit colours

 

Since 2022, Cusco FC have used mainly full golden kits both home and away. Shirts, shorts and socks are all in the same colour, gold, which makes reference to the richness of the ancient Incas. The shirts carry traditional Inca geometric symbols in the upper part, where the name and logo of the kit sponsor and the club crest are also imprinted. The mountains and Machu Picchu are drawn in the lower part of the shirt. Names of the players and of the sponsors are written mostly in black letters.

 


Cusco FC in their full golden kits before a game against Alianza Lima in August 2023. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

 

The alternative kit for 2022 was full white, preserving the horizontal stripe of Inca geometric symbols in gold on the upper part of the shirt, and the mountains and Machu Picchu also in gold on the lower part of the shirt.

In 2020 and 2021, Cusco FC used mostly black kits as their main (home) kits. The shirts were black, except for the lower part, where the mountains and Machu Picchu are drawn white on the black background, replacing in 2021 the thin white and black stripes which had existed in 2020. Names of players and of the sponsors were written in golden letters. The shorts were also black, as well as the socks, which carried a horizontal golden stripe in the middle.

 


Cusco FC at the start of the match against Cienciano (March 2021). Source: Facebook official club page

 

The alternative kit for 2021 was mostly golden. The golden shirts had black sleeves, the shorts were golden, while the golden socks carried a horizontal black stripe in the middle.

In 2020, the alternative kit involved white shirts, with golden sleeves, golden shorts and white socks.

Before 2020, the main colour of Real Garcilaso was light sky blue (celeste), which is also the colour of the older club, Deportivo Garcilaso, supported by “Inca Garcilaso de la Vega” College of Cusco. Therefore, since the very beginning (in 2009), full light sky blue kits were used as the main (home) kits.

 


Real Garcilaso starting eleven in 2018 Copa Libertadores match against Santos at home

 

The secondary (away) kits were either dark blue or full white and, very rarely, yellow. Dark blue kits with small light blue horizontal stripes were mostly used for the away games. Formerly, the away kits included shirts with blue and black vertical stripes and black shorts. Full white kits had also been used as an alternative.

 


Real Garcilaso in an away game in 2017, using the dark blue secondary kits

The current kit sponsor is Lotto. Former kit sponsors include Walon (2012 and 2016-2022), Marathon (2013-2015) and Julio’s Export & Import (2009-2011).

The shirt main sponsor is Caja Cusco. Former shirt sponsors include I-Run (2012-2016), Knup (2013-2016) and Julio’s Export & Import (2009-2011).

Other sponsors include Dorado Bet, O2 Medical Network, Walking, Smart Fit, SSN Telecomunicaciones, ULTRA Supermayorista, I-Cax, SPORADE. Former sponsors include Dafabet, Vida, Gatorade, San Carlos, Qosqo Gas, Movistar, Instituto Montalvo, Grupo Palomino, Electrolight, Vistony and Odessa.

 

Current squad (as of January 2024)

 

No.

Nat.

Position

Name

Date of birth

Transferred from

Since

2

PER

Centre Back

Jonathan Bilbao

29.07.1999

Alianza Atlético

2023

3

PER

Centre Back

Franz Schmidt

03.05.2000

Alianza Universidad

2024

4

PER

Left Back

Francys Arévalo

13.03.2003

Universitario

2024

5

PER

Midfielder

Miguel Ángel Aucca

10.08.1998

Youth team

-

6

ARG

Centre Back

Alan Pérez

20.04.1991

Temperley

2024

7

PER

Winger

James Morales

12.04.2000

Youth team

-

9

PER

Forward

Luis Ramos

13.12.1999

Los Chankas

2024

10

ARG

Playmaker

Iván Colman

06.05.1995

Quilmes

2024

11

ARG

Forward

Juan Manuel Tévez

28.08.1987

Gimnasia y E. Jujuy

2024

13

PER

Goalkeeper

Andy Vidal

23.08.1994

Carlos A. Mannucci

2024

14

PER

Right Back

José Zevallos

13.01.1999

Ayacucho FC

2024

15

PER

Midfielder

Sebastián Zarabia

22.02.2005

Youth team

-

16

PER

Midfielder

Oswaldo Valenzuela

20.12.2000

Alianza Lima

2024

17

PER

Right Back

Pablo Cárdenas

10.02.2000

Cobresal

2024

18

PER

Left Winger

Jhosep Núñez

04.11.2003

Deportivo Municipal

2024

19

PER

Left Back

Alonso Tamariz

13.01.1998

Academia Cantolao

2024

20

PER

Midfielder

André Vásquez

30.01.2003

FBC Melgar

2024

21

PER

Left Back

Freddy Yovera

11.02.2001

Deportivo Municipal

2023

22

ARG

Winger

Lucas Colitto

01.06.1994

Barracas Central

2024

23

VEN

Centre Back

Rubén Ramírez

18.10.1995

Monagas SC

2024

26

ARG

Left Winger

Nicolás Silva

24.06.1990

Chaco For Ever

2024

27

PER

Right Winger

Rely Fernández

01.11.1997

UTC Cajamarca

2024

29

PER

Midfielder

Eslyn Correa

29.06.2005

Deportivo Municipal

2024

33

PER

Goalkeeper

Carlos Solís

20.09.1990

Deportivo Municipal

2024

 

Note that Pablo Cárdenas has both Peruvian and Chilean citizenship, Jonathan Bilbao has both Peruvian and Venezuelan citizenship, Rubén Ramírez has both Venezuelan and Portuguese citizenship, Lucas Colitto has both Argentinian and Italian citizenship, and Juan Manuel Tévez has both Argentinian and Ecuadorian citizenship.

 

Managers

 

Miguel Ángel Rondelli – manager (since January 2024)

Luciano Precone – assistant manager (since January 2024)

Hugo Valverde – goalkeepers’ coach (since 2021)

Guido Thompson – physical trainer (since January 2024)

Miguel Cevallos – video assistant (since January 2024)

Jhoel Herrera – team manager


Miguel Rondelli, Cusco FC manager. Photo source: studiofutbol.com.ec

 

Executive board

 

Julio Vásquez Cardenas – owner (since the foundation of the club)

Julio Vásquez Granilla – president (since the foundation of the club)

Wilbur Cardenas Alarcón – vicepresident (since the foundation of the club)

 

Other staff

 

Luis Ventura – head coach of the reserve team

Jorge Álvarez – physician

Víctor Venero – kinesiologist

Johan Carlo – kit man

Joel Paredes – kit man

Reinaldo Borda – kit man


 

Ivan Santillán, in light blue (no. 27), the second most capped player for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC

 

Notable former players

 

Alfredo “Chapú” Ramúa

José Fajardo

Iván Santillán

Jhoel Herrera

Daniel Ferreyra

Danilo Carando

Felipe Rodríguez

Mauro Da Luz

Federico Alonso

Abdiel Ayarza

Nelinho Quina

Rolando Díaz

Gerson Barreto

Johnny Vidales

José Velásquez

Carlos Uribe

Christopher Olivares

Jordan Guivín

Anthony Gordillo

Éder Hermoza

Tiago Cantoro

Hideyoshi Arakaki

Horacio Benincasa

Josué Estrada

Carlos Orbe

Diego Minaya

Miguel Carranza

Matías Abisab

Jared Ulloa

Gerson Iraola

Edy Rentería

Mauricio Montes

Manuel Corrales

Royer Villano

Jairo Uscamayta

Juan Pretel

Federico Nicosia

Jair Céspedes

Anier Figueroa

Yorkman Tello

Diego Espinoza

Erick Gonzales

Alexander Lecaros

José Daniel Rivera

Erick Rossi

Edson Aubert

Sandro Rengifo

Gonzalo Rizzo

Víctor Cedrón

Diego Enríquez

Cristian Souza

Maximiliano Barreiro

Pablo Nicolás Royón

Franco Boló

Janio Pósito

Brandon Palacios

Ray Sandoval

Pedro Gutiérrez

Willyan Mimbela

Eduardo Aranda

Miguel Paniagua

Josimar Atoche

Jorge Jair Toledo

Edinson Chávez

Marcos Delgado

Jordi Vílchez

Marco Saravia

José Guidino

Andrés Robles

Jesús Arismendi

Ricardo Farro

Carlos Gómez

José Cánova

Pablo Míguez

Alexis Cossío

Javier Núñez

Minzún Quina

Damian Ísmodes

Santiago Ormeño

Hernán Rengifo

Joao Ortiz

Jean Pierre Archimbaud

Reimond Manco

Lampros Kontogiannis

Gustavo Dulanto

Juan Diego Lojas

Luis Cristhian Ortiz

Emiliano Ciucci

Alfredo Rojas

Edwin Retamoso

Marcio Valverde

Joazinho Arroé

Carlos Neumann

Julio Landauri

Fernando Martinuzzi

Sebastián Lojas

Carlos Beltrán

Paulo Albarracín

Sebastián Gallegos

Joao de Jesús Villamarín

Wilberto Cosme

Carlos Alberto Orejuela

Diego Carranza

Walter Vílchez

Hugo Souza

César Ortiz

Brian Sarmiento

Ramón Rodríguez

Jaime Huerta

Gonzalo Maulella

Hugo Ángeles

Carlos Flores

Víctor Ferreira

Rolando Bogado

Cristhian Vildoso

Luis Alberto Guadalupe

Fabio Ramos

Ivan Camarino

Yoshiro Salazar

Juan Goyoneche

Jorge Reyes

Fernando Alloco

Israel Chávez

Eduardo Uribe

Édson Julio Uribe

Andy Pando

Giancarlo Chichizola

Miguel Reyna

Ricardo Uribe

Freddy García

Roy Sucuitana

Víctor Zambrano

Paul Rodríguez

Jhonny Quintanilla

Juan Carlos Odar

Antonio Serrano

Moisés Condori

 

Alfredo “Chapu” Ramúa, the player with most appearances for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC

 

Top appearances for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC in Peruvian Primera División, 2012-2021, 2023

(in bold, footballers who are still playing for Cusco FC)

 

No.

Name of the player

Nationality

Appearances

Period

1.

Alfredo Ramúa

ARG / PER

277

2013-2015; 2017-23

2.

Iván Santillán

PER

222

2012-2018

3.

Jhoel Herrera

PER

194

2012-2017; 2019

4.

Juan Diego Lojas

PER

144

2013-2018

5.

Danilo Carando

ARG

131

2015; 2017; 2019-20

6.

Edwin Retamoso

PER

121

2013-2017

7.

Johnny Vidales

PER

112

2017-2018; 2023

8.

Marcio Valverde

PER

105

2015-2017

9.

Diego Carranza

ARG

96

2012-2015

10.

Ramón Rodríguez

PER

94

2012; 2014-2015

Statistics are based on data provided by soccerway.com

 


Jhoel Herrera, former team captain and third most capped player for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC.

Source: Cusco FC Official Facebook page

 

Top goalscorers for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC in Peruvian Primera División, 2012-2021, 2023

(in bold, players who are still playing for Cusco FC)

 

No.

Name of the player

Nationality

Goals

Period

1.

Danilo Carando

ARG

53

2015; 2017; 2019-20

2.

Alfredo Ramúa

ARG / PER

45

2013-2015; 2017-23

3.

Ramón Rodríguez

PER

34

2012; 2014-2015

4.

Andy Pando

PER

27

2012

5.

Mauricio Montes

PER

22

2013; 2021

6.

Marcio Valverde

PER

19

2015-2017

7.

Víctor Ferreira

PAR

18

2013-2014

 

Fabio Ramos

PAR

18

2012-2013

9.

Iván Santillán

PER

15

2012-2018

10.

Johnny Vidales

PER

14

2017-2018; 2023

Statistics are based on data provided by soccerway.com


Andy Pando, the top goalscorer of the Peruvian Primera División in 2012 with 27 goals

 

Top appearances for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC in all official domestic[3] and international[4] competitions, 2011-2023

(in bold, players that are still playing for Cusco FC)

 

No.

Name of the player

Nationality

Appearances

Period

1.

Alfredo Ramúa

ARG / PER

350

2013-2015; 2017-23

2.

Iván Santillán

PER

267

2012-2018

3.

Jhoel Herrera

PER

239

2012-2017; 2019

4.

Juan Diego Lojas

PER

182

2013-2018

5.

Edwin Retamoso

PER

162

2013-2017

6.

Danilo Carando

ARG

148

2015; 2017; 2019-20

7.

Diego Carranza

ARG

126

2012-2015

8.

Ramón Rodríguez

PER

125

2011-12; 2014-15

9.

Marcio Valverde

PER

119

2015-2017

10.

Johnny Vidales

PER

118

2017-2018; 2023

Statistics are based on data provided by soccerway.com


Danilo Carando (in black), the all-time goalscorer for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC

 

Top goalscorers for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC in all official domestic[5] and international[6] competitions, 2011-2023

(in bold, players that are still playing for Cusco FC)

 

No.

Name of the player

Nationality

Goals

Period

1.

Danilo Carando

ARG

61

2015; 2017; 2019-20

2.

Alfredo Ramúa

ARG / PER

60

2013-2015; 2017-23

3.

Ramón Rodríguez

PER

41

2011-12; 2014-15

4.

Andy Pando

PER

27

2012

5.

Mauricio Montes

PER

24

2013; 2021-2022

6.

Víctor Ferreira

PAR

23

2013-2014

7.

Marcio Valverde

PER

21

2015-2017

 

Abdiel Ayarza

PAN

21

2022-2023

9.

José Fajardo

PAN

20

2022-2023

10.

Fabio Ramos

PAR

19

2012-2013

Statistics are based on data provided by soccerway.com


Ramón Rodríguez, the third best all-time goalscorer for Real Garcilaso/Cusco FC

 

Former managers (coaching history)

 

Milton Sequeiros (2009)

Roberto Arrelucea (January – December 2010)

Freddy García (January 2011 – September 2014)

Luis Flores (September – December 2014)

Mariano Soso (January – August 2015)

Tabaré Silva (August – December 2015)

Jorge Espejo (December 2015 – May 2016)

Wilmar Valencia (May – September 2016)

Jorge Parihuana (September – December 2016)

Duilio Cisneros (January – February 2017)

Gustavo Coronel (March – May 2017)

Marcelo Grioni (June – December 2017)

Óscar Ibañez (January – March 2018)

Tabaré Silva (2nd time; March – October 2018)

Víctor Reyes (October – December 2018)

Héctor Tapia (January – March 2019)

Juan Reynoso (March – August 2019)

Ariel Paz (interim, August – September 2019)

Juan Chumpitaz (interim, September – December 2019)

Javier Arce (January – March 2020)

Carlos Ramacciotti (March – September 2020)

Francisco Melgar (interim, September – October 2020)

Carlos Ramacciotti (2nd time; October 2020 – April 2021)

Claudio Vivas (April – August 2021)

Marcelo Grioni (2nd time: August 2021 – April 2022)

Pablo Peirano (April 2022 – September 2023)

Luis Flores (interim, September – December 2023)

 

Former members of the club management

 

Julio Gerardo Vásquez Cardenas – sporting director (2009-2015)

Fernando Nogara – sporting director (October – December 2018)

Francisco Melgar – sporting director (June – September 2020)

Gustavo Zevallos Velarde – sporting director (April – August 2021)

Rolando Escajadillo – team manager and sporting director (2018 – June 2022)

Gustavo Fernández – manager of the youth teams (October – December 2018)

Jorge Parihuana – head coach of the reserve team (2017-2018)

 

Main sources

 

Club official website (in Spanish)

Club official Facebook page (in Spanish)

Cusco FC fans Facebook page (in Spanish)

Alternative fans Facebook page (in Spanish)

Wikipedia club page (in English)

Wikipedia club page (in Spanish)

Soccerway club page (in English)

Ovacion.pe (in Spanish)

Depor.com (in Spanish)

dechalaca.com (in Spanish)



[1] Cusco FC were deducted one point in the aggregate table due to financial irregularities.

[2] Real Garcilaso were docked 1 point obtained against León de Huánuco and penalized with 3 goals against for listing 5 foreigners within the squad of 18 players in the round 5 match against León de Huánuco.

[3] Peruvian Primera División (2012-2021), Peruvian Segunda División / Liga 2 (2022), Copa Bicentenario (2019 and 2021), Copa Inca (2014 and 2015), Torneo Intermedio (2011) and Copa Perú (2011 – national stage only).

[4] Copa Libertadores (2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019) and Copa Sudamericana (2016 and 2020).

[5] Peruvian Primera División (2012-2021), Peruvian Segunda División / Liga 2 (2022), Copa Bicentenario (2019 and 2021), Copa Inca (2014 and 2015), Torneo Intermedio (2011) and Copa Perú (2011 – national stage only).

[6] Copa Libertadores (2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019) and Copa Sudamericana (2016 and 2020).

No comments:

Post a Comment