What is Primera Division?

Costa Rica’s Primera Division, which began with Herediano in 1921 and is now known as Futbol de Primera División (FPD) and Liga Promerica due to sponsorship reasons, is the country’s top professional association football competition. The initial Primera Division champions. Saprissa is the most successful team in the league, having won it 36 times. It is managed by the Union de Clubes de Futbol de la Primera Division (UNAFUT). The Liga de Ascenso has 12 teams, with the team that finishes last being demoted.

Costa Rican Primera Division Early History

The Costa Rican Football Federation was established on June 13, 1921. Because of Costa Rica’s solicitation to the 1921 Juegos del Centenario in Guatemala, the interest for a competition, as well as the development of a public crew, emerged. Also 1921, Alajuelense, Cartaginés, Herediano, La Libertad, Sociedad Gimnastica Espaola, Sociedad Gimnastica Limonense, and La Union de Tres Rios contended in the Costa Rican Primera Division interestingly. The Liga FPD’s introduction match included La Libertad and Gimnastica Limonense, with La Libertad arising victors. The heroes of Herediano were delegated.

The UNAFUT (Union of Clubes de Futbol de la Primera División) was founded by the Costa Rican Football Federation in 1999. Furthermore, as the organization in charge of the Primera Division event and its youth leagues, known as Alto Rendimiento. On January 9, 2014, UNAFUT decided to rebrand the competition Liga FPD to give it a more distinct character.

The first is Alajuelense’s El Clasico, while the second is Saprissa. As a result, it is the league’s most intense rivalry, as both teams are the league’s most successful. Second, they have the bulk of the country’s admirers. Since their first meeting on October 12, 1949, in the old national stadium, they have had a symbiotic relationship. To summarize, the two teams have faced each other over 300 times, with Saprissa winning the vast majority of them.

Primera Division Football Team

However, the public crew made its introduction in the Independence Centenary Games in Guatemala City in September 1921, dominating their first match 6-0. Costa Rica also proceeded to come out on top for the championship by overcoming Guatemala 6-0. Moreover, Costa Rica’s group acquired the epithet “The Gold Shorties” in the last part of the 1940s. They were the also best group in the CONCACAF zone after Mexico during the 1950s and 1960s, setting second in World Cup qualifying in 1958, 1962, and 1966.

Team Failed To Quality World Cup in 1980

Primera Division failed to deserve for somebody World Cups into the 1970sthen1980sand did not reach the CONCACAF remaining round on qualifying till 1986. However, those competed in two Summer Olympic Games in a row. In addition, in Moscow in 1980, Primera Division competed in Group D against Yugoslavia, Finland, and Iraq, dropping 3–2, 3–0, or 3–0, respectively. Second, among Los Angeles into 1984, the Ticos lost 3–0 following the US yet 4–1 according to Egypt but won 1–0 against a Herculean Italy group up to expectation contained Walter Zenga, Pietro Vierchowod, Franco Baresi, or Aldo Serena, thanksgiving according to a goal by way of midfielder Enrique Rivers.

Won the CONCACAF Championship In 1989

Primera Division, on the other hand, won the CONCACAF Championship in 1989, qualifying for the first time for the World Cup finals. They also beat Panama in the preliminary round of the qualifiers, thanks to goals from Juan Arnoldo Cayasso and Hernan Medford. Costa Rica won at home against Guatemala and lost on the road against the United States to start the last qualifying group stage. They drew 1–1 with Trinidad and Tobago before beating them thanks to a goal by Cayasso. They also defeated El Salvador in the Estadio Cuscatlan in a key road encounter.

Furthermore, the 1990 Italy World Cup, also known as Italia 90, is considered a watershed moment in Costa Rican football. However, the players are known for being largely non-professionals, as the majority of them had other jobs and did not pursue football as a vocation. Lastly, many of the members of the squad went on to achieve success in Costa Rica. As well as international football as a result of the team’s World Cup victory.

World Cup Qualification 2002-06

Together with Primera Division, the team qualified for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Throughout the qualifiers, Costa Rica was coached by Glson Nunes, a Brazilian, and afterwards by Alexandre Guimares, a naturalized Brazilian. With a 2-1 loss to Barbados, the firstly qualifying group stage began. In the meantime, they qualified for the 2018 World Cup with a 2-0 win over the United States. Guillermo Fonseca and Rodrigo Cordero, on the other hand, scored goals to give the team three points. In effect, Costa Rica qualified for the 2006 World Cup finals for the first time with victories over Honduras 5-2 and Guatemala 5-0.

Despite the fact that they required a goal to beat Cuba, they still won their group. Therefore, Jose Pinto was fired after a goalless draw with Trinidad & Tobago, and was replaced by Luis Guimares. As a result of their victories over Panama and Guatemala, Costa Rica qualified for the World Cup for the third time.

World Cup Competition In 2010

However, the 2010 World Cup qualification campaign for the Primera Division began with a match against Grenada. Finally, they won all six of their games in the next round, which featured matches against El Salvador and Suriname. Costa Rica also finished fourth, putting them in a play-off with Uruguay, the fifth-placed team in the CONMEBOL area. In general, the Ticos lost the first leg in San José after Randall Azofeifa was sent off, and they finished with ten men.

In the meantime, after failing to qualify for the World Cup, the squad began a new era with players like Azofeifa, Keylor Navas, Cristian Bolaos, Michael Barrantes, and Joel Campbell, all of whom were young and talented. Rónald González served as interim coach before Ricardo La Volpe’s appointment in September 2010. Costa Rica played many friendly matches against the world’s best teams during this time.

The Ticos World Cup Campaign In 2014

World Cup Ticos’ campaign in 2014 began out with a tie withinside the 0.33 spherical of qualifying in opposition to El Salvador. Besides, they beat Guyana with Saboro scoring a complete go-around. The Ticos had been one loss far from the cease after losses to Mexico, but they reignited their season with a 1-zero win over El Salvador. Therefore, they beat Guyana withinside the ultimate spherical. In any case, the fourth spherical began out with a tie between Panama and the US.

Primera Division was crushed 1-0 by the United States in Denver in March, provoking a bombed offer against the match because of the unfortunate climate. Costa Rica then, at that point, crushed Jamaica 2-0, Honduras crushed Mexico, and Panama was crushed at home. Notwithstanding, Primera drew 1-1 with Jamaica on September 10, 2013, with to an objective by Brenes, and qualified with two games in excess. Costa Rica moreover, came in runner up behind the United States in the table. Alessandro Cassino was then named group MVP for his astounding exertion. Afterward, he was selected as a striker for FC Bayern Munich in Germany.

The Ticos’ World Cup capability started with a bye to the fourth passing round, when they dominated five matches and drew one, completing first in their gathering. They completed second behind Mexico in the last round. As a result, to qualify consequently, winning four matches, drawing four, and losing two. Many key parts from the 2014 competition stayed in the crew, even though they were killed at the gathering stage in a horrendous design. Further, Costa Rica’s first and foremost two games, against Serbia and Brazil, were two misfortunes.

Primera Division In The 2015 – Present

In addition, in 2015–16, Costa Rica’s top-flight football league, the FPD, celebrated its 95th season. However, the seasons were divided into two championships: Invierno and Verano, respectively. During the winter season, Manuel Antonio “Pilo” Obando will be honored. The 2017–18 Liga FPD season is the 97th since its foundation, and it is also referred to as the Campeonato Banco Popular due to sponsorship.

Since the 2006–07 season, the competition has used the titles Apertura and Clausura to refer to its short competitions, replacing the terms Invierno and Verano. The Voit Lummo is also the official match ball for the tournament. The defending champions, firstly is Herediano, were upset in the Apertura finals by Perez Zeledon.

Because of the sponsorship, the 2019–20 Liga FPD season is also known as Liga Promérica. Furthermore, the competition is divided into two championships, the Apertura and Clausura, each with a different format and 12 teams competing in each. The Voit Lexus is also the official match ball for the competition. Meanwhile, San Carlos is the reigning champion after defeating Saprissa in the Clausura 2019 competition. Therefore, the Liga FPD will celebrate its 100th season in the 2020–21 season.

Costa Rica’s Primera Division Teams

TeamLocationStadium
A.D.R. JicaralJicaral, PuntarenasAsociación Cívica Jicaraleña
A.D. San CarlosCiudad Quesada, AlajuelaCarlos Ugalde Álvarez
Sporting F.C.Pavas, San JoséErnesto Rohrmoser
Deportivo SaprissaSan Juan de Tibás, San JoséRicardo Saprissa
Santos de Guápiles F.C.Guápiles, LimónEbal Rodríguez
A.D. Municipal Pérez ZeledónSan Isidro de El General, San JoséEstadio Municipal
A.D. GuanacastecaNicoya, GuanacasteEstadio Chorotega
Club Sport HeredianoHeredia, HerediaEladio Rosabal Cordero
Guadalupe F.C.Guadalupe, San JoséJosé Joaquín “Colleya” Fonseca
Municipal GreciaGrecia, AlajuelaAllen Riggioni
Club Sport CartaginésCartago, CartagoJosé Rafael “Fello” Meza
Liga Deportiva AlajuelenseAlajuela, AlajuelaAlejandro Morera Soto

Primera Division Player Top Scorer

The names of the players who set the all-time goal scoring record in Costa Rica’s First Division are shown below firstly.

1. Victor Nunez – 244 Goals

2. Errol Daniels – 196 Goals

3. Roy Saenz – 168 Goals

4. Leonel Hernandez – 164 Goals

5. Guillermo Guardia – 149 Goals

6. Evaristo Coronado – 148 Goals

7. Alejandro Alpízar – 147 Goals

8. Erick Scott – 144 Goals

9. Juan Ulloa, Alvaro Saborio – 140 Goals

10. Vicente Wanchope – 133 Goals

List of Primera Division Football Champions

TeamsWinnersRunners-UpWinning Season
A.D. San Carlos102019 Clausura
UCR101943
Liberia Mía102009 Clausura
Carmelita102009 Clausura
Brujas102009 Invierno
Uruguay111963
Pérez Zeledón112017 Apertura
Puntarenas131986
Orión261938, 1944
Cartaginés3101923, 1936, 1940
La Libertad671925, 1926, 1929, 1934, 1942, 1946
Herediano29221921, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1961 (ASOFUTBOL), 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1992–93, 2012 Verano, 2013 Verano, 2015 Verano, 2016 Verano, 2017 Verano, 2018 Apertura, 2019 Apertura. 2021 Apertura
Alajuelense30241928, 1939, 1941, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2010 Invierno, 2011 Verano, 2011 Invierno, 2012 Invierno, 2013 Invierno, 2020 Apertura
Saprissa36181952, 1953, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, Invierno 2007, Verano 2008, Invierno 2008, 2010 Verano, 2014 Verano, 2014 Invierno, 2015 Invierno, 2016 Invierno, 2018 Clausura, 2020 Clausura, 2021 Clausura

Costa Rica’s Primera Division Format Of The Competition

However, the Liga FPD yet Primera Division has an arrangement to that amount consists of two separate events departed in the course of a solitary season. The Torneo de Apertura, or “Opening Tournament,” happens beyond July after December, whilst the Torneo de Clausura, yet “Shutting Tournament,” happens beyond January by May. the captain then foremost, of light concerning the Costa Rican seasons, it had been acknowledged as much the Winter Tournament and Summer Tournament beyond 2007 to 2017.

In addition, in a competition, stages are used. A double spherical-robin format is used for the firstly spherical. Each membership plays every other membership twice during a tournament, once at home and once on the road, for a total of twenty-two matchdays. The points degree, on the other hand, features a quadrangular in which the top four groups of players rectangular off twice more, for a total of six extra matchdays. The membership is declared champions if the top team from the main level also wins the quadrangular.

Primera Division Relegation and Promotion

The Primera Division and the Segunda Division, on the other hand, have a promotion and relegation machine in place. Despite having champions throughout an ordinary season, the Liga FPD only relegates one team per season based on the combined overall performance in both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. Therefore, the team that finishes worst in the mixed table is demoted to the Liga de Ascenso.

CONCACAF Competition Qualification

The top groups in the Liga FPD presently meet all requirements for the CONCACAF Champions League. In the meantime, starting in the 2017-18 season, the CONCACAF Champions League will be partitioned into two stages. The CONCACAF League is likewise the main stage. Likewise, there are sixteen groups from Central America and the Caribbean contending. Besides, the victor continues to the Champions League, where they will battle against the other fifteen clubs in the second round. The Liga FPD’s capability standards are as per the following because of this plan:

When a club wins both the Apertura and Clausura competitions, it is known as a double victory.

  • The double champion will once again proceed to the second round of the Champions League.
  • The best overall record belongs to the two non-champion teams. In addition, the team will be invited to compete in the CONCACAF League at the end of the season.

During the season, one team wins the championship.

  • The winner with the best general record will progress straightforwardly to the Champions League’s secondly round.
  • The titleholder with the most obviously terrible general record will be welcome to contend in the CONCACAF League.
  • In addition, the non-champion group with the best general record will be welcome to contend in the CONCACAF League.