LD Alajuelense - last updated on 3 August 2008
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
Foundation: June 18th 1919
City: Alajuela
Colours: Red and black
Website: www.lda.cr
Honours:
CONCACAF Champions' Cup - 2 (1986, 2004)
Copa Interclubes UNCAF - 3 (1996, 2002, 2005)
Primera División de Costa Rica - 24 (1928, 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)
Copa de Campeones del Futbol Nacional - 1 (1967)
A bit of history:
The club was founded in June 18, 1919 in Alajuela, Costa Rica by a group of friends who belonged to a team that, at the time, was known as El Once de Abril (The Eleventh of April), giving the Province of Alajuela its first soccer team. On August 2, 1919 Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, or La Liga, played its first game in the city of Cartago against Club Sport Cartagines and achieved one of its many victories with a score of 3-1. In 1921 Costa Rica officially formed a National League, creating the first National Championship (Campeonato Nacional) for the country, and La Liga officially became one of the first seven clubs to join. The other clubs that joined were Club Sport Herediano, Club Sport Cartagines, and the now defunct teams of Sociedad Gimnástica Española, Club Sport La Unión de Tres Ríos, Club Sport La Libertad, and Sociedad Gimnástica Limonense. The first year of the Costa Rican National Championship saw nothing but failure for La Liga, as it finished the season in last place. But in 1928, La Liga managed to win the first of many national championships thanks to the skills of a young man that would become one of Costa Rica's most historic soccer figure ever, Alejandro Morera Soto. On September 7, 1930 La Liga had its first ever international victory, defeating Cuban club Fortuna 4-2. In February of 1932, Alejandro Morera Soto was signed by Spanish League team Barcelona where he helped FC Barcelona achieve a Spanish League Championship in 1934, being the lead scorer for the team and earning him the nickname of "El Mago del Balón" (The Wizard of the Ball). On October 12, 1949 La Liga and Saprissa played the first of what would become the Costa Rican Classico, where La Liga beat Saprissa 6-5 in El Estadio Nacional. Since 1919, La Liga has been able to obtain 24 Costa Rican National Championships including the most recent one in 2005. They were also the CONCACAF Club Champions in 1986 (disputing the Copa Interamericana against River Plate in 1987), and in 2004. They also have obtained Central America Champion status in 1992, and in 1996 they became the champions of "Campeones Grandes de Centro America", they participated in the Copa Merconorte 2000 with a high performing, and in 2002 they won the UNCAF Cup championship as well as in 2005 , earning the invitation for the Copa Sudamericana 2006. Is the Costa Rican team that has won more short tournaments.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
LD Alajuelense
