The team from Usulután is one of the most important and oldest teams in El Salvador and, right now, one of the most powerful teams in Central America, for the last three years it has reached the semifinals in the prestigious Tournament of Champions of CONCACAF.  And it already qualified for the 1999-2000 edition of this tournament.  But of course, it was not always like this.  For a long period of time Firpo endured difficult times in which it was relegated to the Liga de Ascenso (Second Division of El Salvador's soccer).  But wait, I'm getting ahead of the story... 

On September 23, 1923, at 7:00 pm, a group of citizens of the city of Usulután got together with the idea of creating a sport society to look after the interests and development of football, or soccer, as it is known in North America, in their beloved city.  As a result of that meeting, they created a football team called "TECUN UMAN". 

The first players who were part of that team were:José María Navarrete, Rafael Bonilla, Gregorio Joya, Fidel Arévalo, Adán Hernández, José Ferrer, Rafael González, Fernando Marinero, Salvador Aparicio, Miguel Amador, Mariano Jeréz, Juan Melara, J. Vaquero, Roque Solano, Mariano Aguilar, Amilcar Ruiz, Marcos Flores, Alberto Ortíz, Julio Grimaldi, Máximo Flores, and Luis Cárdona. 

But the name "TECUN UMAN" was short lived, it lasted only five days!!  So, What happened?  Why did the name change so fast? 

In September 14 1923, Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, defeated the Argentinean Luis Angel "The Wild Bull of the Pampas" Firpo in a brutal, quick fight that has often been called the most exciting championship fight ever witnessed.  In four minutes of wild, frenzied action, the two boxers traded blows and knockouts with a savage fury unmatched before or since.  The winner, as was expected, was Dempsey, but it was Firpo who recorded perhaps the most famous knockout in boxing history. 

After being sent to the mat,  Firpo rushed the confused Dempsey and dealt him nine unanswered shots, finishing with an earth-shattering left that knocked Dempsey clear through the ropes!

With the help of the journalists at ringside, Dempsey climbed back into the ring after about twenty seconds (yes! they stole the fight from the Bull).  Weak as he was, the champ warded off another Firpo attack and the wildest round ever in a championship fight ended.  Observers reported between five and seven knockouts of Firpo and three of Dempsey in the first round.  The second round was briefer but just as gory.  Firpo continued rushing the champ, but he parried his blows.  After receiving a crushing uppercut, Firpo went down again.  For the eighth time Firpo struggled to his feet and rushed the champ again, and Dempsey sent him to the mat once more.  This time the Wild Bull of the Pampas had no answer and did not get up.  Dempsey retained his championship, of course, but it was Firpo who returned to Argentina a hero to all Latin Americans even in defeat. 

After the fight, in September 26, 1923, the city of Usulután paid homage to the Bull by changing the name of its soccer team, TECUN UMAN, and renaming it CLUB DEPORTIVO LUIS ANGEL FIRPO.  Being Mr. Gustavo Demis the team's first president. 

In 1930 the team, under still president Gustavo Demis, buys two thirds of the stadium, making Firpo the only team in El Salvador's First Division with its own stadium, distinction that Firpo still holds even today.  For more than two long decades Club Deportivo Luis Angel Firpo, known, like the boxer, as The Bulls of the Pampas, built a reputation of a solid but unspectacular soccer team.  And it was not until 1942 that Firpo went to its first National Championship Game.  Unfortunately, the opponent was a team named Quequeisque,  which would defeat Firpo en route to its second of six consecutive championships.  

As a reward to its runner-up finish, Firpo would represent El Salvador in the Fraternidad Tournament of Central America.  With a fast and intelligent game, Firpo won its first title when it finished first in the tournament.  To win the Fraternidad Cup was an honor, but the city of Usulután greatest dream was to see its team win a National Championship.  But that would not happen for a long time. 

Winning the Fraternidad tournament maintained Firpo's image as that of a  solid team, but Firpo would not reach another Championship Game for a while.  And in 1958 the city of Usulután mourns as Club Deportivo Luis Angel Firpo is relegated to the Second Division after finishing in last place that year.  In 1960-61 Firpo wins the Second Division Championship and goes back to the First Division.  However, it is relegated again in 1962-63 and resurfaces to the First Division in 1967-68 - just to finish last that same season and to be  relegated again.  After seven long and sad years in the Second Division, Firpo returns in 1973-74.  In 1982, thanks to bad luck and the poor work of its front office, Firpo finishes last in the First Division.  However,  Firpo does not play one single game in the Second Division, for it buys its place in the majors from the Second Division champion, C. D. Agave from Hacienda El Platanar.  That is why Usulután will always be thankful to C. D. Agave.  Since then, Firpo's trajectory in First Division play has been nothing but glorious. 

In the early eighties the Torres family takes total control of the team and starts building what would later be known as "Firpo's Dynasty".  And in 1989, Firpo awards the noble and suffered city of Usulután its first National Championship. 
 

The 1989 season was the most glorious of all.  After 66 seasons without a tittle, Firpo becomes the National Champion.  The game was played at Monumental Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, and the opponent was C. D. Cojutepeque.  The game finished tied after 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra time, so the game was decided in penalty kicks that Firpo executed brilliantly, and Usulután celebrated with a carnival that lasted many days, giving the whole country a lesson on how to celebrate a national tittle.  

In 1990, Firpo appears in the final game ready to defend the title won the previous season.  A red card to the player De Mello (Nenei) shortly after the start of the game and an inspired Alianza F. C. team shattered the dream of becoming a back-to-back champion. 

But the next season nothing would stop Firpo en route to becoming champions again, and throughout the nation, whispers of dynasty were starting to be heard.  This time the opponent was the hated rivals of Club Deportivo Aguila of the neighbor city of San Miguel.  With effort, heart, and a great goal of Marlon Menjívar, Firpo wins the Cup again.  The final score: Firpo 1 - Aguila 0. And Usulután celebrated in style. 
 

In 1992 Firpo returns to the Championship Game for the fourth consecutive time to play our old friend Alianza F. C. of San Salvador.  Usulután still remembered the defeat at the hands of Alianza and the shattered dream of a back-to-back tittle.  The city asks its favorite sons revenge.  Firpo did not fail them.  This time De Mello (Nenei) would not let another red card destroy Firpo's aspirations.  With an inspired game, Nenei led Firpo to the promised land and routed Alianza three goals to nothing.  The goals were scored by De Moura (2) and Nenei.  Back-to-back champions! 

This does not end here, though.  Firpo would won the Cup in 1993 and 1994, and would reach the final game three more times and the semifinals of the CONCACAF Tournament of Champions three times.  Today, every team in El Salvador's First Division trembles against the bulls:  Firpo is the reigning champion (1999 season) after defeating FAS of Santa Ana in penalty shots 5x3, therefore, becaming back-to-back champs since Firpo defeated FAS last year, too, and is the only team to reach the final game every year of the decade.  And without a shadow of a doubt, Firpo will reach the Championship Game of 2000 season.  The only tittle that still escapes Firpo is the CONCACAF Cup, but not for long. 
 

The dynasty continues...