Deportivo Recoleta was founded on 12 February 1931 following the merger of the clubs 2 de Julio and Unión Pacífico. It took its name from the neighborhood where the Recoleta church was located, with Juan Gardel as its first chairman.[1] In 1941, it bought the plot of land where Estadio Roque Battilana is currently located. The club gained its nickname of Funebrero (undertaker) due to the location of the stadium, as it is located behind the Recoleta Cemetery.[2]
The club first competed in the Federación Paraguaya de Deportes (Paraguayan Sports Federation) from 1936 to 1948, in which it won four tournaments in 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1943, joining the Paraguayan Football Association in 1949.
In 1971 Deportivo Recoleta won the Segunda de Ascenso (third tier) championship, earning promotion to the Primera de Ascenso, and in 1997 it became one of the clubs that took part in the first División Intermedia championship, which it won in 2001 allowing them to compete in the Paraguayan Primera División for the first time in history. However, their participation in the top flight was short-lived as they were relegated after just one season, and they were further relegated back to the third tier the following season.[1]
In 2015, both Deportivo Recoleta and Sportivo Ameliano gained promotion from the Primera División C to the Primera División B for the 2016 season,[3][4] with Recoleta defeating Ameliano in the final to win the Primera C title.[5] They competed in Primera B until the 2022 season, in which they won the title as well as promotion back to the División Intermedia after winning 20 matches, drawing eight and losing four for a total of 68 points.[6]
After spending two seasons in División Intermedia, Deportivo Recoleta won their second title in the second tier in 2024, returning to Primera División for the 2025 season.[7]
Notable players
To appear in this section a player must have either:
Played at least 125 games for the club.
Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club.
Been part of a national team at any time.
Played in the first division of any other football association (outside of Paraguay).
Played in a continental and/or intercontinental competition.
