Costa Rican Primera División
 The UNAFUT logo |
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| Countries |  Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Founded | June 13, 1921 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Segunda División |
| International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions League |
| Current champions | Alajuelense (27) (Torneo Invierno 2011) |
| Most championships | Saprissa (29) |
| TV partners | Teletica Canal 7, Extra TV 42, Repretel |
| Website | Official website |
 2011–12 |
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Primera División de Costa Rica is a professional league for association football clubs in Costa Rica. At the top of the Costa Rican league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 12 clubs*, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Segunda División. The seasons are separated by two single tournaments each year, the Apertura, from July to December, and the Clausura, from January to May. Thus, there are two champions each season with teams playing anywhere from 32 to 44 games each totalling 412 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, but recently there have been games programed on Friday afternoons and Monday nights. Also the league has some Wednesday nights available to program games if any club needs it. The Campeonatos de Invierno and Verano are sponsored by Scotiabank for the 2010-2011 season.
The competition formed on June 13, 1921 following an invitation presented by Guatemala to Costa Rica to participate in its Centenary Games. A total of 12 clubs have won the title. The current champions are Alajuelense, who won the 2011 Torneo Apertura.
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[edit] Format
- The total number of clubs has been reduced to 11 this season. Due to financial and administrative issues in Liberia Mia the franchise has been frozen.
The current Primera División season has two championships. The format of both championships is the same. It has been modified numerous times over the last few years. The actual format consists in 11 teams playing against each other 2 games (away and home) and having one week off for a total of 20 games each club. The first 4 places automatically advance to a semifinal leg. The winners of that leg advance to the finals, which determines the tournament champion and runner up.
The Primera División operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Segunda División in wich the Segunda División's champions will be promoted the top league. Also, the last club after the 20 game round in Primera División would play a series of 2 games (away and home) against the Segunda División's runner up to determine who will be the 12th team in the Primera División to complete the original format (12 teams).
The winners of both tournaments (apertura and clausura) will qualify to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. In case that the same team wins both tournaments, the second qualified team will be the one that made more points in regular seasons.
[edit] History
In the year 1921, the Liga Nacional de Fútbol was created by Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, CS Cartaginés, CS Herediano, Club Sport La Libertad, Sociedad Gimnástica Española de San José, Club Sport La Unión de Tres Ríos and Sociedad Gimnástica Limonense, and the Primera División was born. In 1931 the league was centralized and renamed as Federación Deportiva de Costa Rica, then Federación Nacional de Fútbol and in the 1970s to Federación Costarricense de Fútbol (FEDEFUTBOL).
In 1999, the FEDEFUTBOL, created UNAFUT to operate the Primera División and the Alto Rendimiento and Juvenil Especial (botj Youth Development Leagues from Primera Division clubs).
[edit] The Classic
The Classic in Costa Rica is played between LD Alajuelense and Deportivo Saprissa the two teams with the biggest support groups around the country, the largest stadiums, and the largest number of national and international titles in their cases. The first Classic was played in 1949 when Deportivo Saprissa was promoted to the Primera División de Costa Rica and the score was 6-5 (Alajuela's win). The statistics said that from a total of 274 games played as of Dec 04, 2011; Saprissa has won 104, Alajuelense 84 and 86 matches have ended tied in Costa Rica's championship. They have also played 15 classics on international tournaments in centroamerica and CONCACAF, the balance says that Saprissa has won 7 games, Alajuelense has won 4 and the remaining 4 games have ended tied.
It is important to mention that before the Deportivo Saprissa's promotion to the Primera Division, the Classic was played between Club Sport Herediano and Club Sport La Libertad (now in the Third Division), but gradually began to lose intensity until it lost that "classic" title.
Other Classic and Derbys
Note that there is a difference between a Classic and a Derby. The classic is a game in which there is a big rivalry between the teams and remains or increases over the years. A derby is played between two teams that falls in the same town or city.
- Costa Rican Classic of Classics: Deportivo Saprissa vs. Alajuelense.
- "Clasico del Buen Futbol": Deportivo Saprissa vs Club Sport Herediano
- Provincial Classic: Club Sport Herediano vs. Alajuelense, Club Sport Herediano vs. Club Sport Cartagines (Oldest).
- Sa-Sa Classic: Deportivo Saprissa vs Sagrada Familia (Second Division).
- Alajuelan Derby: Alajuelense vs. Asociación Deportiva Carmelita (Second Division).
- Caribbean Derby: Santos de Guápiles vs Limon F.C..
- Ports Classic: Limon F.C. vs. Puntarenas.
- Capital Derby: Brujas FC (frozen frachise) vs. Deportivo Saprissa.
[edit] Clubs in 2011-2012 season
The league currently consists of the following 11 clubs. For the 2011-2012 season, teams are aligned as follows:
[edit] Defunct Franchises
| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Ceased Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defunct Franchises | |||||
| Club Deportivo Alajuela Junior | 1933 | 1936 | |||
| Club Sport Buenos Aires | 1932 | 1935 | |||
| Club Sport Costa Rica | 1924 | 1924 | |||
| Club Sport México | 1932 | 1934 | |||
| Club Sport Progreso | 1923 | 1925 | |||
| Corsarios Fútbol Club | 1930 | 1930 | |||
| Hispano Atlético | 1932 | 1932 | |||
| Juventud | 1927 | 1927 | |||
| Sociedad Gimnástica Española de San José |
1912 | ||||
| Unión Deportiva Moravia | 1926 | 1955 | |||
[edit] List of champions year by year
[edit] Champion Titles by club (1921–2011)
| Club | Championships | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| Deportivo Saprissa | 29 | 15 |
| LD Alajuelense | 27 | 20 |
| CS Herediano | 21 | 15 |
| CS La Libertad | 6 | 7 |
| CS Cartaginés | 3 | 10 |
| Orión FC | 2 | 6 |
| Municipal Puntarenas | 1 | 3 |
| Uruguay de Coronado | 1 | 1 |
| Universidad de Costa Rica | 1 | 0 |
| Asociación Deportiva Carmelita | 1 | 0 |
| Brujas FC | 1 | 0 |
| Liberia Mía | 1 | 0 |
| Sociedad Gimnástica Española | 0 | 7 |
| Alajuela Junior | 0 | 2 |
| Barrio México | 0 | 1 |
| Asociación Deportiva Limonense | 0 | 1 |
| Municipal Pérez Zeledón | 0 | 1 |
| Puntarenas FC | 0 | 1 |
| Santos de Guápiles | 0 | 1 |
[edit] Short Championships (Opening and Closure) Titles by club (2007–2011)
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[edit] External links
- http://www.futboltico.com/
- http://www.futboldecostarica.com/
- (Spanish) UNAFUT - Primera Division
- (Spanish) Federación Costarricense de Fútbol (Federation of Costa Rican Football)
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Main article: List of soccer clubs in Costa Rica
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