Real Estelí F.C.

The club was founded in 1960 as Estelí FC, adding Real to its name in 1961. Estelí FC plays at the Estadio Independencia, one of the biggest stadiums in Nicaragua, with a capacity of 4,800 and higher, due to renovations made. The club is known by the nickname, El Tren del Norte (Train of the North), coming as it does, from the northern region of Las Segovias. Real Estelí has finished in the top five of Nicaragua's top flight every year since 1986. In that time, they have also achieved traditionally high attendance numbers. However, it took time for the club's growing popularity to translate into championships. The club under Leonidas "Cascarilla" Rodriguez and Honduran Roy Posas were able to win the club first silverware, winning both the League and cup double. Players that contributed with players such as Otoniel Olivas, Salvadoran Julio "El Cura" Barahona, Honduran Samuel Nunez, and Ramon "ElChino" Mejia then added another in 1999. Nonetheless, their fierce rivals Diriangén FC remained the dominant power in Nicaraguan football. This began to change in 2002–2003. The two clubs met for a two-legged tie to determine the year's champion. Diriangén won the first leg 1–0, but Real Estelí answered by winning the return match 3–0, claiming the title 3–1 on aggregate. That was the last year Nicaragua determined their championship with a "long season"; for 2003–2004, the league adopted an Apertura/Clausura format. Real Estelí won both tournaments, and each time they defeated…

Real Esteli is historically the second most successful team in Nicaragua football, as they have won the second most Primera División de Nicaragua with nineteen. They are also Nicaragua's most successful team in international competitions, having finished runner up in CONCACAF Tournament.

Domestic honours

League

Primera División de Nicaragua and predecessors Champions (22): 1991, 1998−99, 2002−03, 2003 Apertura, 2004 Clausura, 2006−07, 2007−08, 2008−09, 2009−10, 2010−11, 2011−12, 2012−13, 2013−14, 2015−16, 2016−17, 2019 Clausura, 2019 Apertura, 2020 Clausura, 2020 Apertura, 2022 Apertura, 2023 Clausura, 2026 Clausura

Domestic Cups

Copa de Nicaragua Champions (2): 1991, 2023

International honours

CONCACAF

CONCACAF Central American Cup Runners up (1): 2023, 2024