The Crusaders’ head coach is navigating a season marked by thirteen wins, six draws, and nine losses so far.
Ariel Holan was officially appointed as the new technician of Catholic University on April 30, prepared to tackle the Crusaders’ challenges in the Copa Chile, the 2022 National Championship, and the Copa Libertadores.
After resigning from León in Mexico following disappointing results in the Clausura 2022 Liga MX, the Argentine manager returned to the club where he had previously led Costa through a Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal appearance, a setback against Vélez Sarsfield, and a domestic title that added to the club’s three-time championship tally. His return, however, rekindled expectations for UC fans and supporters alike.
Following his departure from San Carlos de Apoquindo, Holan explored opportunities in Brazil with Santos and then with La Fiera, a team he led in 44 matches, posting 21 wins, 10 draws, and 13 defeats. In his first term with Las Condes, he registered 23 victories, 13 draws, and 10 losses across 46 games.
Holan’s first test in the refreshed tenure was a 3-0 victory against Unión La Calera. The campaign then featured a challenging run in the Copa Libertadores, including a departure in Rio after a loss to Flamengo and a return to Chile where Audax Italiano defeated them 3-2 at El Teniente de Rancagua in the fourteenth round of the local league.
Later, UC fell 0-1 to Talleres in Group H, ending their hopes of advancing in the continental tournament and sending them into the knockout rounds of the Copa Sudamericana, where they faced Sao Paulo in the Round of 16. Despite a burst of momentum at the end of the first round with a win over Deportes Antofagasta, the team faced a tough path in South American competition.
The ongoing rivalry with Colo Colo, the reigning champions, shaped UC’s third-round start with a 1-3 victory at Lucio Fariña against Unión San Felipe, thanks to goals from Fernando Zampedri and Jose Pedro Fuenzalida. This set the stage for the rematch on July 25, a 3-0 win that coincided with the debut of Mauricio Isla for the squad.
South American competition proved demanding, as UC entered the continental stage with a 2-4 loss to an opponent eyeing past glory in 2022. The setback cooled some expectations, but the journey remained intense with more early-round fixtures and the looming possibility of progression through the knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, in domestic play, the Striped team showed resilience at home with a 2-0 win over Coquimbo Unido. However, a heavy defeat to Curicó Unido and a loss to Palestino pushed the team away from their five-time championship dream. A 1-0 defeat to Cobresal reshaped the year-end plans, while a draw in Viña del Mar added a small spark, hinting at momentum under Holan. A second draw followed soon after, a 2-2 result against O’Higgins at Las Condes.
Before the Chile Cup resumed, UC advanced to the Round of 16 with a 2-0 triumph over Audax Italiano in La Florida, with Ampuero and Zampedri contributing. A subsequent win against the Italians marked the eighth triumph in the rematch at the farewell to San Carlos. The Clásico Universitario 195 delivered a 3-0 victory, the tenth win came with a commanding 4-0 over La Serena featuring Zampedri’s decisive acrobatic effort. The eleventh win arrived in Rancagua, a 1-0 victory over Huachipato, led by Zampedri’s contribution, though a setback against the Chilean rivals before the first leg of the cup quarter-finals kept the team from sealing a title that season.
Returning to the league, the Crusaders found themselves near the top as Colo Colo dominated moments in Macul and El Teniente, complicating UC’s chances of securing a top-three finish in the Libertadores standings.
Ultimately, a rematch draw in the Copa Chile quarter-final sealed their exit from the competition, leaving the 2022 campaign without a title after the team had celebrated multiple titles in the prior years. Holan guided UC from behind to climb to fourth with a 2-1 win at Santa Laura against Unión, only to be undone by a 4-0 defeat to Unión La Calera later in the season. A draw against Audax Italiano in the season’s closing act preserved a sense of momentum, while the squad bid farewell to notable players like José Pedro Fuenzalida, Luciano Aued, and Germán Lanaro. The 2022 season closed with a triumph over Deportes Antofagasta and a tally that earned a South American berth.
STATISTICS
On the UC bench, Holan’s numbers are examined in depth in the context of the season’s outcomes.
SEASON 2022
SEASON 2023
In 2023, UC confirmed a schedule of international fixtures ahead of its league campaign and Copa Sudamericana debut. The squad, refreshed with several new signings, resumed activities on January 5, preparing to face international competition while opening the domestic calendar with a match against Everton in Sausalito. The team also engaged in pre-season friendlies against Magallanes, securing wins of 3-0 and 4-1. The Crusaders began the domestic league with a clash against Everton, and the club continued to build fitness and cohesion through a series of preparatory matches during the early part of the year.
Source: Goal