Liga Deportiva Alajuelense

2025-10-26T06:10:41Z

240D:1E:1B9:1C00:346C:7C76:D2D3:138E: /* External links */

{{short description|Costa Rican sports club}}
{{distinguish|Alajuelense Fútbol Femenino}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = '' Leones'' (The Lions), <br /> ''La Liga'' (The League)<br>''Manudos'' (Big-Handed)
| short name = LDA
| ground = [[Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto]]
| capacity = 17,895
| pattern_la1 = _LDA21h
| pattern_b1 = _LDA21h
| pattern_ra1 = _LDA21h
| pattern_sh1 = _LDA21h
| pattern_so1 =
| leftarm1 = 191919
| body1 = 191919
| rightarm1 = 191919
| shorts1 = 191919
| socks1 = ED1C24
| pattern_la2 = _LDA21a
| pattern_b2 = _LDA21a
| pattern_ra2 = _LDA21a
| pattern_sh2 = _LDA21a
| pattern_so2 =
| leftarm2 = FFFFFF
| body2 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = FFFFFF
| shorts2 = FFFFFF
| socks2 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la3 = _LDA22t
| pattern_b3 = _LDA22t
| pattern_ra3 = _LDA22t
| pattern_sh3 = _LDA21h
| pattern_so3 = _LDA22t
| leftarm3 = ED1C24
| body3 = ED1C24
| rightarm3 = ED1C24
| shorts3 = 191919
| socks3 = 191919
| clubname = Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
| image = Logo LDA.png
| upright = 0.78
| fullname = Association Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
| founded = {{Start date and age|1919|6|18}}
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = Joseph Joseph Saidy
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Óscar Ramírez (footballer, born 1964)|Óscar Ramírez]]
| league = [[Liga FPD|Liga Promerica]]
| season = Clausura 2023
| position = 1°
| current =
| website = {{official URL}}
| American =
}}
'''Liga Deportiva Alajuelense''' ('''LDA''', {{IPA|es|ˈliɣa ðepoɾˈtiβa alaxweˈlense|cr}}), commonly known as '''Alajuelense''' and nicknamed '''La Liga''' ({{IPA|es|la ˈliɣa|cr}}), is a [[Costa Rica]]n multisport club based in the borough of El Llano, [[Alajuela]], [[Alajuela province]]. Although they compete in a number of different sports, Alajuelense is mostly known for its [[association football]] team. It plays in the [[Primera División de Costa Rica]], the top tier of the [[Football in Costa Rica|Costa Rican football league system]]. Alajuelense is one of two clubs to have [[List of unrelegated association football clubs|never been relegated]], along with [[Club Sport Herediano|Herediano]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/catorce-diputados-impulsan-declarar-a-alajuelense-institucion-benemerita-de-la-patria/XLU7PWDT2VGRBMWEX7O5GL4ELI/story/|title=Catorce diputados impulsan declarar a Alajuelense institución benemérita de la patria|last1=experiencia|first1=Fanny Tayver Marín Graduada en la UIA Con más de 10 años de|last2=Alajuelense|first2=escribe sobre|website=La Nación, Grupo Nación|language=es-LA|access-date=2019-03-24|last3=ciclismo|last4=Selección|first4=ciclo olímpico y más Entre sus coberturas destacan juegos eliminatorios de la|last5=Francia|first5=el Tour de|last6=Janeiro|first6=el Mundial de voleibol en Japón y los Juegos Olímpicos en Río de|date=28 September 2017 |archive-date=2023-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519164104/https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/catorce-diputados-impulsan-declarar-a-alajuelense-institucion-benemerita-de-la-patria/XLU7PWDT2VGRBMWEX7O5GL4ELI/story/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2000/diciembre/02/deportes2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618204207/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2000/diciembre/02/deportes2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-06-18|title=DEPORTES|date=2018-06-18|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref>

Alajuelense was founded on the former Paris Hall, west of Alajuela's Central Park, on June 18, 1919, by six former players of a historic city club, ''Once de Abril'', with the intention of uniting all the sportsmen and associations present at that time in Alajuela under a single banner. However, it wouldn't be until 1928 when Alajuelense managed to become national champions for the first time in a season that saw the club's first star: [[Alejandro Morera Soto|Alejandro Morera]]. Morera, who would later go on to become [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]'s main [[Forward (association football)|striker]] for two seasons, is regarded as one of the finest players Costa Rica has ever produced. He would later manage Alajuelense to their second national title in 1939 as well as two others in 1941 and 1945. Since then, Alajuelense has become one of the most supported football clubs in Costa Rica.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportesxx.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193944/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportesxx.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-06-23|title=DEPORTES|date=2018-06-23|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref><ref name="DEPORTES">{{Cite web|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportes4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924230204/http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/mayo/09/deportes4.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-09-24|title=DEPORTES|date=2017-09-24|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref>

Alajuelense is one of the most successful teams in Costa Rica and [[Central America]], having won 30 national championships, 2 [[CONCACAF Champions League|CONCACAF Champions Cup]] titles, 1 [[CONCACAF League]], 2 [[CONCACAF Central American Cup]], 3 [[UNCAF Interclub Cup]] and 1 [[Campeonato Centroamericano|Campeonato Centroamericano y Caribe]]. Alajuelense was the first Costa Rican club to win an official international competition when they defeated [[Suriname|Suranamese]] club [[S.V. Transvaal|Transvaal]] in the final series in 1986. Alajuelense has also participated in the [[Copa Interamericana]], [[Copa Merconorte]], and [[Copa Sudamericana]]. In 1996, Alajuelense became the first club in the world to reach 100 points in any national league, finishing with a total of 102 points. This feat was repeated in 1998 and 2000 with 105 and 102 points gained, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es.fifa.com/news/alajuelense-ganador-desde-siempre-1564384|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324061312/https://es.fifa.com/news/alajuelense-ganador-desde-siempre-1564384|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2019|title=Bienvenidos al Centro de Noticias de FIFA.com - Alajuelense, ganador desde siempre |last=FIFA.com|website=www.fifa.com|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref><ref name="DEPORTES"/>

Alajuelense plays its [[Home (sports)|home]] matches at the [[Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto]]. Alajuelense's home kit is composed of red and black vertical striped shirts, with black shorts, accompanied by red or black socks. This combination has been used since the club's foundation. [[Kelme (company)|Kelme]] are the kit manufacturers. Alajuelense holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably against [[Deportivo Saprissa|Saprissa]], [[C.S. Herediano|Herediano]], and [[C.S. Cartaginés|Cartaginés]]. It has contributed many key and famous players towards [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]]'s [[FIFA World Cup]] squads such as [[José Carlos Chaves]], [[Óscar Ramírez (football manager)|Óscar Ramírez]], [[Mauricio Montero]], [[Wilmer López]], [[Luis Marín Murillo|Luis Marín]], [[Jhonny Acosta]], and [[Patrick Pemberton]].

==History==
The team was created in 1919 when a group of friends that used to play in a team called the "Electra" at first and then "Once de Abril" (April the 11th) met at "Salon París". They wanted to give the city a team that could represent them at a national level. They played their first official game on August 2 of that same year against [[C.S. Cartaginés|Cartaginés]] getting their first victory, 3–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nacion.com/blogs/el_otro_futbol/futbol-manudo-nacio-cadaveres_10_1349765013.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001219/http://www.nacion.com/blogs/el_otro_futbol/futbol-manudo-nacio-cadaveres_10_1349765013.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-09-21|title=El fútbol manudo nació sobre cadáveres|date=2017-09-21|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diarioextra.com/Noticia/detalle/302815/la-historia-del-11-de-abril-de-alajuela?fb_comment_id=1069495439803257_1070042166415251|title=Diario Extra - La historia del 11 de Abril de Alajuela|last=www.diarioextra.com|website=www.diarioextra.com|date=6 August 2016 |language=ES|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2021-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224181536/https://www.diarioextra.com/Noticia/detalle/302815/la-historia-del-11-de-abril-de-alajuela?fb_comment_id=1069495439803257_1070042166415251|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Alejandro Morera Soto.jpg|150px|thumb|left|[[Alejandro Morera Soto]], most important idol of the club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cuando Alejandro Morera brilló en el FC Barcelona - Buzón de Rodrigo|url=http://buzonderodrigo.com/cuando-alejandro-morera-brillo-en-el-fc-barcelona/|date=15 October 2018|access-date=16 October 2018|work=Buzón de Rodrigo|language=es-ES|archive-date=17 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017082110/http://buzonderodrigo.com/cuando-alejandro-morera-brillo-en-el-fc-barcelona/|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

Alajuelense was part of the 7 teams that built and formed the National League in [[Costa Rica]], back in 1921, along with La Libertad, [[Sociedad Gimnástica Española de San José|Gimnástica Española]], [[Club Sport Herediano|Herediano]], [[C.S. Cartaginés|Cartaginés]], CS Tres Rios de La Union, and Sociedad Gimnástica Limonense. They won their first championship in 1928. They are the only team to win the championship with a perfect record; in 1941 they won all 6 games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unbeaten during a League Season|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html|work=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=26 May 2012|archive-date=16 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216212124/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1960, the team made a tour around the world, leaving Costa Rica on September 17. In 78 days, the team played 24 games, winning 12, losing seven and drawing five. They scored 71 goals and allowed 47, with a remarkable performance from Juan Ulloa Ramírez, the best player and top scorer of this tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lda.cr/article/feliz-aniversario-liga|title=LDA - ¡FELIZ ANIVERSARIO LIGA!|website=lda.cr|language=en|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2019-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324061306/https://lda.cr/article/feliz-aniversario-liga|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Deportivas del Trece|title=El Zar se lo cuenta: Historia de Alajuela|date=2015-06-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LERCiY8dx40|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2023-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411234916/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LERCiY8dx40|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Liga Deportiva Alajuelense1919.svg|thumb|170x170px|Liga Deportiva Alajuelense logo in 1919]]
Throughout their history, Alajuelense has generated a lot of great players and stunning performances. They are known as one of the best teams in the Central America area. Their best decade was the 1990s, during which they won 4 Championships and 4 sub-championships (runner up) as well. In addition to that, by the end of the 90's and the middle of the 2000s, they won a total of 5 local championships (4 of them in a row), 2 [[Copa Interclubes UNCAF]] Trophies and a [[CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2004|CONCACAF Club Championship]], being the base for the Costa Rican football team in the Korea and Japan [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], with 9 players.

By November 11, 2000,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.goal.com/es-us/news/3441/costa-rica/2011/10/05/2697974/costa-rica-alajuelense-el-equipo-mejor-rankeado| title = Noticias de fútbol, marcadores en directo, resultados y fichajes {{!}} Goal.com México| access-date = 2012-03-27| archive-date = 2023-12-07| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231207071603/https://www.goal.com/es-mx| url-status = live}}</ref> and after participating in the [[Copa Merconorte]], Alajuelense was ranked 27th in [[IFFHS]]'s Club World Ranking. It is the best rank any Central American club has reached.

The club struggled with financial and administrative problems in the second part on the 2000s decade, so they decided to end contract with a lot of their regular and known players and started to build a team based on their younger divisions and make some structural changes. Nowadays the club is free of debts and with a team averaging 25-year-old players is still one of the best teams in the area and one of the teams with most fans in Costa Rica. On June 10, 2019, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary, being the second Costa Rican team to do so.

In 2023, Alajuelense participated in the [[2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup]], and they would advance to quarter-finals after being leaders on the Group D. They would face [[C.S. Cartaginés|Cartaginés]], that they would defeat 6–1 on aggregate, advancing to semifinals, where they would face [[C.S. Herediano|Herediano]], defeating them 5–4 on penalties after a 4–4 aggregate draw. In the final, they would face [[Real Estelí FC|Real Estelí]], but they would defeat them easily after a 4–1 victory on aggregate, being the first champions of the CONCACAF Central American Cup, and qualifying directly for the round of 16 of the [[2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup]].

==Stadium==
{{Main|Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto|Proposed Alajuelense Stadium}}
The Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto is the home of Alajuelense and is owned and operated by La Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. It is located in ''El Llano'' neighborhood of [[Alajuela]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lda.cr/article/este-viernes-se-cumplen-77-anos-de-la-fundacion-de-la-catedral|title=LDA - Este viernes se cumplen 77 años de la inauguración de 'La Catedral'|website=lda.cr|language=en|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2019-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119120858/https://lda.cr/article/este-viernes-se-cumplen-77-anos-de-la-fundacion-de-la-catedral|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On July 20, 1966, due to a motion by the Municipality of Alajuela, the stadium was renamed in honor of [[Alejandro Morera Soto|Alejandro Morera]], nicknamed ''el mago del balón'', which means ''the magician of the ball''. He was a notable former player of Alajuelense, [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], and [[Hércules CF|Hércules]], and for commercial purposes, in an agreement with the financial institution [[Scotiabank]] in 2011, the name Scotiabank was added.<ref name="Scotiabank">{{cite web|title=Estadio manudo ahora se llama Alejandro Morera Soto Scotiabank|url=http://www.nacion.com/2011-08-03/Portada/NotaPrincipal/UH0308-LIGA.aspx|year=2011|access-date=2011-08-03|publisher=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]]|first=David|last=Goldberg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927224725/http://www.nacion.com/2011-08-03/Portada/NotaPrincipal/UH0308-LIGA.aspx|archive-date=September 27, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Morera-Soto-lda.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto]]

The project to find a proper site for a permanent home started in 1938, when the director of the club, Carlos Bolaños, proposed that the club should purchase its own land. The land was purchased on October 7, 1940, but the terrain would not be football-ready until when the first game was played on January 18, 1942, when Alajuelense played against [[C.S. Cartaginés|Cartaginés]]; the stadium only had a simple wooden stand that was previously used in the [[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (1924)|Estadio Nacional]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.as.com/us/2018/09/26/masdeporte/1537940150_204880.html|title=Alajuela, el hogar de los 'Manudos'|last=AS|first=Diario|date=2018-09-26|website=AS USA|language=es-us|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2019-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218202135/https://us.as.com/us/2018/09/26/masdeporte/1537940150_204880.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 27, 1949, a professor from a local high school named Armando Morux Sancho started what was called ''La marcha del ladrillo'', meaning ''The March of Bricks'' in which every student would donate a brick to help build the walls and stands of the stadium. The first stands to be built were located in north, west and east around the pitch.

On March 19, 1970, the stadium saw its first night game when Alajuelense faced [[Honduras|Honduran]] club [[C.D. Motagua|Motagua]], beating them 4–1.

In 1979, the enlargement of the stadium was initiated with the project of building a second stand on top of the existing stand and adding an additional stand over the dressing and conference rooms (south) and also adding a roof to the stands located to the east and the south. The project was fully completed in 1984. The stadium was re-inaugurated that year along with the new illuminations, which were amongst the best illuminations systems at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/alajuelense-esta-de-fiesta-el-estadio-alejandro-morera-soto-cumple-75-anos-este-miercoles/NFROCAUNHRDUDLMQKVOCFKNRNU/story/|title=Alajuelense está de fiesta: el estadio Alejandro Morera Soto cumple 75 años este miércoles|last1=experiencia|first1=Fanny Tayver Marín Graduada en la UIA Con más de 10 años de|last2=Alajuelense|first2=escribe sobre|website=La Nación, Grupo Nación|language=es-LA|access-date=2019-03-24|last3=ciclismo|last4=Selección|first4=ciclo olímpico y más Entre sus coberturas destacan juegos eliminatorios de la|last5=Francia|first5=el Tour de|last6=Janeiro|first6=el Mundial de voleibol en Japón y los Juegos Olímpicos en Río de|date=17 January 2017 |archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714110818/https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/alajuelense-esta-de-fiesta-el-estadio-alejandro-morera-soto-cumple-75-anos-este-miercoles/NFROCAUNHRDUDLMQKVOCFKNRNU/story/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 8 April 2021, the team announced plans for [[Proposed Alajuelense Stadium|a new stadium]], with an expected opening by January 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanabria |first1=Daniel |title=LDA - La nueva casa rojinegra de ser aprobada se inauguraría en enero del 2025 |url=https://www.lda.cr/article/la-nueva-casa-rojinegra-de-ser-aprobada-se-inauguraria-en-enero-del-2025 |website=lda.cr |publisher=Liga Deportiva Alajuelense |access-date=25 November 2021 |language=en |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125044318/https://www.lda.cr/article/la-nueva-casa-rojinegra-de-ser-aprobada-se-inauguraria-en-enero-del-2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Mascot==
The team is now represented by a Lion and Lioness dressed with the team uniform and wearing cleats as if he was going to play.

In every home game, the mascot comes out at the pitch before the game starts and plays on the field with fans, jokes with rival's fans, walk through the pitch with models giving away gifts from their sponsors and cheers the team with a huge team's flag. Before the game starts and during the half-time break, the Lion walks among the crowd and stands for pictures with the children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.repretel.com/deportes/la-historia-del-hombre-detras-del-leon-de-la-liga-66128|title=La historia del hombre detrás del León de la Liga|last=Repretel|date=1969-12-31|website=Repretel|language=es|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2019-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324061316/http://www.repretel.com/deportes/la-historia-del-hombre-detras-del-leon-de-la-liga-66128|url-status=live}}</ref>

The original mascot used to be a Mango, this because the team is located in Alajuela that is known as "La Ciudad de los Mangos" ("The Mangoes' City") because of the high amount of Mango Trees that could be located in the province due its weather, but later on in the early 80's, the mascot was changed into a Lion.

The Lion was chosen years ago because it represents four main attributes of the major king of the jungle, that are reflected on the team's vision and mission: Courage, Strength, Dynamism and Fidelity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lda.cr/la-mascota-leon-manudo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714010802/http://lda.cr/la-mascota-leon-manudo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-14|title=La mascota: León Manudo {{!}} Liga Deportiva Alajuelense|date=2012-07-14|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref>

==Sponsors==
* '''Jersey supplier'''

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Manufacturer
!Period
!Sponsor
|-
| None
|1980
|{{Flagicon|BRA}} [[Caloi]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Jugados
|1983–1986
|{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Lee (brand)|Lee]]
|-
|1986–1987
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Punto Rojo
|-
| rowspan="4" | None
|1987–1988
|{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Glidden (paints)|Glidden]]
|-
|1988
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Jabón Fortuna
|-
|1988–1992
|{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Coca-Cola Cherry]]
|-
|1992–1996
|{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Coca-Cola]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
|1996–1998
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Mutual Alajuela]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Atletica]]
|1998–2000
|-
|{{Flagicon|Mexico}} Escord
|2000–2001
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Popular Pensiones
|-
|{{Flagicon|Brasil}} [[Finta]]
|2001–2002
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Coca-Cola]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Jugados
|2003–2008
|-
| rowspan="5" |{{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Puma (brand)|Puma]]
|2008–2009
|{{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[LG Corporation|LG]]
|-
|2010–2011
|{{Flagicon|Japan}}[[Sony]]
|-
|2012–2015
|{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Movistar]]
|-
|2016
|{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Movistar]]
{{Flagicon|Panama}} [[Banco General (Panama)|Banco General]]
|-
|2017
|{{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Claro (company)|Claro]]
{{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Volaris]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Kelme (company)|Kelme]]
|2018
|{{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Toyota]]

{{Flagicon|United States}} [[ExxonMobil|Mobil]]

{{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Bridgestone]]

{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad|Kolbi]]
|-
|rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|England}} [[Umbro]]
|2024
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Don Pedro

{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Gatorade]]

{{Flagicon|United States}} [[Mastercard]]

{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [https://materialessanmiguel.com/index.html San Miguel]
|-
|2025–present
|{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[BAC Credomatic]]

{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Dos Pinos]]

{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Medismart

{{Flagicon|Costa Rica}} Monge
|}

*'''Jersey sponsors'''

:[[Claro Americas|Kolbi]] – [https://grupotuasa.com/ Tuasa] – [[Repretel]] – Cementos Fortaleza – [[Toyota]] – [[ExxonMobil|Mobil]]

==Honours==
===National===
* '''[[Primera División de Costa Rica]]'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38%3Aprimera-division&catid=3&Itemid=35 |title=Primera División |access-date=2017-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809200238/http://unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38%3Aprimera-division&catid=3&Itemid=35 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
** '''Champions (30):''' 1928, 1939, 1941, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, [[Primera División de Costa Rica 2004/05|2004–05]], [[2010–11 Costa Rican Primera División season#Campeonato de Invierno|Invierno 2010]], [[2010–11 Costa Rican Primera División season#Campeonato de Verano|Verano 2011]], [[2011–12 Costa Rican Primera División season#Campeonato de Invierno|Invierno 2011]], [[2012–13 Costa Rican Primera División season#Campeonato de Invierno|Invierno 2012]]. [[2013–14 Costa Rican Primera División season#Campeonato de Invierno|Invierno 2013]], [[2020–21 Liga FPD|Apertura 2020]],
** Runners-up (30): 1930, 1928, 1944, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07, [[2007–08 Primera División (Costa Rica)#Verano 2008 Verano|Verano 2008]], [[2008–09 Primera División (Costa Rica)#Invierno 2008|Invierno 2008]], Verano 2014, Verano 2015, Invierno 2015, Verano 2016, Apertura 2019, Clausura 2020, Clausura 2022, Clausura 2023, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024
* '''[[Costa Rican Cup|Torneo de Copa de Costa Rica]]'''
** '''Champions (12):''' 1926,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos26.html |title=NB: tournament organised by Federación de Fútbol but not official |access-date=2023-02-02 |archive-date=2022-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206165007/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos26.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 1928,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica 1928 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos28.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> 1937,<ref>Copa Guatemala. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos28.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206162548/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos28.html |date=2022-12-06 }}</ref> 1941,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica 1941 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos41.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> 1944,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica 1944 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos44.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> 1948,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica 1948 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos48.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> 1953, 1949,<ref>Copa Gran Bretana. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos49.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206183053/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos49.html |date=2022-12-06 }}</ref> 1974, 1977,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica 1977 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cos77.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> 2023, [[2024–25 Costa Rican Cup|2024–25]]
** Runners-up (3): 1938, 1947, 1956
* '''[[Supercopa de Costa Rica]]'''
** '''Champions (1):''' 2012
** Runners-up (1): 2021
* '''[[Supercopa de Costa Rica|Recopa de Costa Rica]]'''
** '''Champions (2):''' 1967, 2024

===International===
====Intercontinental====
* '''[[Copa Interamericana]]'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intam86.html | title=Copa Interamericana 1986 }}</ref>
** Runners-up (1): [[1986 Copa Interamericana|1986]]

====Continental====
* '''[[CONCACAF Champions Cup]]'''
** '''Champions (2):''' [[1986 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1986]], [[2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2004]]
** Runners-up (3): [[1971 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1971]], [[1992 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1992]], [[1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1999]]
* '''[[CONCACAF League]]'''
** '''Champions (1):''' [[2020 CONCACAF League|2020]]
** Runners-up (1): [[2022 CONCACAF League|2022]]
* '''[[Campeonato Centroamericano|Campeonato Centroamericano y Caribe]]'''{{Efn|Because the CCCF was its own confederation at the time, this is considered a continental competition (unlike the later CONCACAF Central American Cup)}}
** '''Champions (1):''' [[1961 Campeonato Centroamericano y Caribe|1961]]

====Regional====
* '''[[CONCACAF Central American Cup]]'''
** '''Champions (2):''' [[2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup|2023]], [[2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup|2024]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Alajuelense crowned kings of Central American Cup |url=https://www.concacaf.com/central-american-cup/news/alajuelense-crowned-kings-of-central-american-cup/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Concacaf |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207071513/https://www.concacaf.com/central-american-cup/news/alajuelense-crowned-kings-of-central-american-cup/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''[[UNCAF Interclub Cup|Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica/Copa Interclubes UNCAF]]'''<ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/ca1.html |title=CONCACAF Cup |access-date=2016-10-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112090854/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/ca1.html |archive-date=January 12, 2016 }}</ref>
** '''Champions (3):''' [[1996 Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica|1996]], [[2002 UNCAF Interclub Cup|2002]], [[2005 UNCAF Interclub Cup|2005]]
** Runners-up (2): [[1999 UNCAF Interclub Cup|1999]], [[2000 UNCAF Interclub Cup|2000]]

===Friendly===
* '''Torneo Relámpago de Fútbol de Costa Rica''': 1944, 1945
* '''Cuadrangular Antonio Escarré''': 1964
* '''KLM Cup''': 1994
* '''Torneo 90 Minutos por la Vida''': 2003, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
* '''Copa de las Américas''': 2004
* '''Superclásico de Costa Rica''': 2012, 2013 2014, 2015

===Awards===
* '''CONCACAF League Fair Play''': 2020, 2022

==Performance in CONCACAF competitions==
*'''[[CONCACAF Champions Cup|CONCACAF Champions Cup/League]]: 26 appearances'''
::[[1962 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1962]] – Second round (quarter-finals)
::[[1968 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1968]] – First round
::[[1971 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1971]] – ''Finalist''
::[[1973 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1973]] – Third round (quarter-finals)
::[[1986 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1986]] – '''Champion'''
::[[1988 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1988]] – Semi-finals
::[[1991 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1991]] – Third round (quarter-finals)
::[[1992 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1992]] – ''Finalist''
::[[1993 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1993]] – Second round (quarter-finals)
::[[1995 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1995]] – Third place
::[[1996 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1996]] – Second round
::[[1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1997]] – Second round
::[[1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1998]] – Quarter-finals
::[[1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1999]] – ''Finalist''
::[[2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2000]] – Quarter-finals
::[[2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2002]] – Semi-finals
::[[2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2003]] – Quarter-finals
::[[2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2004]] – '''Champion'''
::[[2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2006]] – Semi-finals
::[[2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League|2008-09]] – First round
::[[2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League|2011–12]] – Group stage
::[[2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League|2012–13]] – Group stage
::[[2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League|2013–14]] – Semi-finals
::[[2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League|2014–15]] – Semi-finals
::[[2021 CONCACAF Champions League|2021]] – Round of 16
::[[2023 CONCACAF Champions League|2023]] – Round of 16
::[[2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup|2024]] – Round of 16
::[[2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup|2025]] – Round of 16

*'''[[CONCACAF League]]: 4 appearances'''
::[[2017 CONCACAF League|2017]] – First round
::[[2020 CONCACAF League|2020]] – '''Champion'''
::[[2021 CONCACAF League|2021]] – First round
::[[2022 CONCACAF League|2022]] – Finalist

*'''[[CONCACAF Central American Cup]]: 2 appearances'''
::[[2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup|2023]] – '''Champion'''
::[[2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup|2024]] – '''Champion'''

===Recent seasons===

Below are listed the club's history performances in national compétition.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Season
! {{Abbr|Pos|Position in Primeira Liga de Costa Rica}}
! {{Abbr|Pld|Matches played}}
! {{Abbr|Pts|Points}}
! Torneo apertura
! Position
! Torneo clausura
! Position
! {{Abbr|Copa de Costa rica}}
! {{Abbr|Supercopa}}
! colspan=2| Other competitions
|-
|}

==Player records==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: center;"
|-
|+Most appearances (as of December 11, 2017)<ref>[http://www.unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431:un-historico-qpatoq&catid=9:noticias-historicas&Itemid=49 Un histórico "Pato"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926143655/http://www.unafut.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431:un-historico-qpatoq&catid=9:noticias-historicas&Itemid=49 |date=September 26, 2017 }} – UNAFUT{{in lang|es}}</ref>
|-
!width=30px|#
!width=170px|Name
!width=200px|Career
!width=30px| Apps
!width=30px|Goals
|-
|1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Wilmer López]] || 1993–07 || 478 || 80
|-
|2 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Luis Marín Murillo|Luis Marín]] || 1993–11* || 451 || 17
|-
|3 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Harold Wallace]] || 1995–08 || 424 ||
|-
|4 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Mauricio Montero]] || 1987–98 || 408 ||
|-
|5 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Álvaro Solano]] || 1978–91 || 396 || 73
|-
|6 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Luis Diego Arnáez]] || 1993–05 || 390 || 76
|-
|7 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Javier Delgado Prado|Javier Delgado]] || 1990–03* || 377 ||
|-
|8 ||align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Pablo Gabas]] || 2003–17* || 333 || 61
|-
|9 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Joaquín Guillén]] || 1987–98 || 331 ||
|-
|10 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Richard Smith (Costa Rican footballer)|Richard Smith]] || 1988–98 || 315 || 44
|-
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: center;"
|-
|+Most goals
|-
!width=30px|#
!width=170px|Player
!width=200px|Career
!width=30px|Apps
!width=30px|Goals
|-
|1 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Errol Daniels]] || 1964–72 || 168 || 196
|-
|2 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Juan Ulloa]] || 1954–62 || || 89
|-
|3 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Roy Sáenz]] || 1969–75 || || 84
|-
|4 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Jonathan McDonald]] || 2011–17* || 174|| 92
|-
|5 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Wilmer López]] || 1993–07 || 478 || 80
|-
|6 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Álvaro Solano]] || 1978–91 || 396 || 73
|-
|7 ||align=left|{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Josef Miso]] || 1995–03 || 208 || 72
|-
|8 ||align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} [[Javier Jiménez (Costa Rican footballer)|Javier Jiménez]] || 1972–84* || || 71
|-
|9 ||align=left| {{flagicon|CRC}} Óscar Cordero|| 1969-78 || || 68
|-
|10 ||align=left| {{flagicon|CRC}} [[Juan José Gámez|Juan Gámez]] || 1959-74 || || 66
|-
|}
|-
{{col-end}}

==Players==
{{For|a list of all former and current Liga Deportiva Alajuelense players with a Wikipedia article|Category:Liga Deportiva Alajuelense footballers}}

===Current squad===
{{updated|2 August 2025}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|nat=CRC|name=Bayron Mora|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|nat=CAN|name=[[Manjrekar James]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|nat=CRC|name=Guillermo Villalobos|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|nat=CRC|name=[[Celso Borges]]|pos=MF|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|nat=CRC|name=[[Anthony Hernández]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|nat=CRC|name=[[Elián Quesada]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|nat=CRC|name=[[Jonathan Moya]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=CRC|name=[[Aarón Suárez]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=CRC|name=[[Diego Campos (Costa Rican footballer)|Diego Campos]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=CRC|name=[[Joel Campbell]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=CRC|name=[[Alexis Gamboa]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=CRC|name=[[Alejandro Bran]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=ESP|name=[[Alberto Toril (footballer, born 1997)|Alberto Toril]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=CRC|name=Kenyel Michel|pos=FW|other=<small>on loan from [[Minnesota United FC|Minnesota United]]</small>}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=CRC|name=[[Rónald Matarrita]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=URU|name=[[Washington Ortega]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=CRC|name=[[Aarón Salazar]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=CRC|name=[[Santiago van der Putten]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=CRC|name=Fernando Piñar|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=CRC|name=Deylan Aguilar|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=33|nat=COL|name=[[Jeison Lucumí]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=CRC|name=Creichel Pérez|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=CRC|name=Rashir Parkins|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=CRC|name=Isaac Badilla|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=42|nat=CRC|name=John Ruiz|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=90|nat=CRC|name=[[Doryan Rodríguez]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=99|nat=CRC|name=Johnny Álvarez|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=MEX|name=[[Ronaldo Cisneros]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=CRC|name=Esteban Cruz|pos=FW}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs end}}

===Retired numbers===
{{see also|List of retired numbers in association football}}
<big>'''20'''</big> – {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Mauricio Montero]], [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (1987–98)

==Historical list of coaches==

{{div col|colwidth=35em|small=yes}}

* {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Carlos Watson (footballer)|Carlos Watson]]
* {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Luis Diego Arnáez|Luis Diego Arnaez]]
* {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Andrés Carevic]] (20 Nov 2022 - 7 March 2024)
* {{flagicon|Brazil}} {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Alexandre Guimarães]] (12 March 2024 - 17 April 2025)
* {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Óscar Ramírez (footballer, born 1964)|Óscar Ramírez]] (18 April 2025 - )
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=22em}}

==External links==
* {{official website}} {{in lang|es}}
* {{YouTube|user=ldacrtv|Liga Deportiva Alajuelense}}
* {{Twitter|ldacr|Liga Deportiva Alajuelense}}
* {{Facebook|alajuelense.oficial|Liga Deportiva Alajuelense}}
* {{Instagram|alajuelense_oficial|Liga Deportiva Alajuelense}}

{{Liga Deportiva Alajuelense squad}}
{{Navboxes top
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{{Liga Deportiva Alajuelense matches}}
{{Costa Rican Primera División}}
{{CONCACAF Champions League Winners}}
{{CONCACAF League Winners}}
{{UNCAF Interclub Cup Winners}}
{{Navboxes bottom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alajuelense}}
[[Category:Liga Deportiva Alajuelense| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1919]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Costa Rica]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in Costa Rica]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning clubs]]
[[Category:CONCACAF League winning clubs]]
[[Category:UNCAF Interclub Cup winning clubs]]
[[Category:Alajuela]]

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Liga Deportiva Alajuelense