Brujas F.C (Costa Rica)
It originated in 2004 when investors acquired the Primera División license/franchise of Asociación Deportiva Guanacasteca (ADG, also known as Los Pamperos, founded in the early 1970s and based in Nicoya/Guanacaste).
The new club was initially called Brujas de Escazú, referencing Escazú’s nickname as “La Ciudad de las Brujas” (the Witches’ Town) due to local folklore. It later relocated to Desamparados (in San José province) and was renamed Brujas F.C., playing home matches primarily at the Estadio Jorge “Cuty” Monge (capacity around 5,500–6,000).
The club experienced frequent changes in location, management, and coaching.
Early coaches included Hernán Fernando Sosa, Manuel Keosseián, and Colombian Carlos Restrepo. Mauricio Wright (a former Costa Rica national team player from the 2002 World Cup) took over in 2007 and guided the team to its peak. In the Invierno 2009 tournament, Brujas won the national championship by defeating Puntarenas F.C. in the final on penalties (after a 1-1 aggregate), the first such final decided that way in 38 years. This was its only major title.
Its decline was rapid. The club struggled in subsequent seasons, and its primary backer, Minor Vargas (linked to Grupo Ícono), faced legal troubles. Vargas was arrested in the U.S. in 2011 on fraud and money-laundering charges (later convicted and sentenced to a long prison term). In April 2011, the franchise was transferred to Orión F.C. (under Spanish businessman Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes), which continued competing at the Cuty Monge stadium. Brujas effectively ceased to exist as an independent professional club that year.
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