Liga Deportiva Alajuelense facts for kids
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| Full name | Association Liga Deportiva Alajuelense | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Leones (The Lions), La Liga (The League) Manudos (Big-Handed) |
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| Short name | LDA | |||
| Founded | June 18, 1919 | |||
| Ground | Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto | |||
| Capacity | 17,895 | |||
| President | Joseph Joseph Saidy | |||
| Head coach | Óscar Ramírez | |||
| League | Liga Promerica | |||
| Clausura 2023 | 1° | |||
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Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (often called LDA or Alajuelense) is a famous sports club from Alajuela, Costa Rica. While they play many sports, they are best known for their amazing association football (soccer) team. This team plays in the Primera División de Costa Rica, which is the top football league in Costa Rica. Alajuelense is one of only two clubs that have never been moved down to a lower league.
The club started on June 18, 1919. Six former players from a team called Once de Abril wanted to bring all the sports groups in Alajuela together. Their hard work paid off in 1928 when Alajuelense won its first national championship. A key player from that time was Alejandro Morera Soto. He later became a top striker for FC Barcelona and is seen as one of Costa Rica's best players ever. Morera Soto also led Alajuelense to more titles as a coach in 1939, 1941, and 1945. Since then, Alajuelense has become one of the most popular football clubs in Costa Rica.
Alajuelense is one of the most successful teams in Costa Rica and Central America. They have won 30 national championships. They also have many international titles, including 2 CONCACAF Champions Cup wins and 1 CONCACAF League title. In 1986, they were the first Costa Rican club to win an official international competition. They also made history in 1996 by being the first club in the world to get over 100 points in a national league season. They did this again in 1998 and 2000.
Alajuelense plays its home games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. Their home uniform is red and black striped shirts, black shorts, and red or black socks. This look has been part of the club since it began. Kelme makes their uniforms. Alajuelense has big rivalries with teams like Saprissa, Herediano, and Cartaginés. Many of their players have also played for the Costa Rica national football team in the FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Club History
How the Team Started
The team began in 1919. A group of friends who played for a team called "Once de Abril" met at a place called "Salon París." They wanted to create a team that could represent their city, Alajuela, at a national level. Their first official game was on August 2, 1919, against Cartaginés. Alajuelense won that game 3–1.
Alajuelense was one of the seven teams that helped create the National League in Costa Rica in 1921. They won their first championship in 1928. In 1941, they had a perfect season, winning all six of their games.
Big Achievements and Challenges
In 1960, the team went on a world tour. They played 24 games in 78 days, winning 12 of them. Juan Ulloa Ramírez was a star player during this tour.
Alajuelense is known as one of the best teams in Central America. The 1990s were a great time for them. They won four championships and were runners-up four times. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, they won five more local championships, including four in a row. They also won two Copa Interclubes UNCAF trophies and a CONCACAF Club Championship. Many of their players were part of the Costa Rican national team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In 2000, Alajuelense was ranked 27th in the world by IFFHS. This was the highest rank any Central American club had reached.
Later, the club faced some money problems. They decided to let go of many older players and build a new team with younger players from their own youth divisions. This helped them get out of debt. Today, the club is financially stable and still one of the best teams in the region. On June 10, 2019, the club celebrated its 100th birthday.
In 2023, Alajuelense won the first-ever 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup. They beat Cartaginés and Herediano to reach the final. In the final, they easily defeated Real Estelí with a 4–1 score. This win also helped them qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Home Stadium
Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
The Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto is where Alajuelense plays its home games. The club owns and runs the stadium. It is located in the El Llano area of Alajuela.
On July 20, 1966, the stadium was named after Alejandro Morera Soto. He was a famous former player for Alajuelense, Barcelona, and Hércules. People called him el mago del balón, which means the magician of the ball. For business reasons, the name Scotiabank was added to the stadium's name in 2011.
The idea to find a permanent home for the club started in 1938. The club bought the land on October 7, 1940. The first game was played there on January 18, 1942, against Cartaginés. At first, the stadium only had a simple wooden stand.
In 1949, a teacher named Armando Morux Sancho started "La marcha del ladrillo" (The March of Bricks). Students donated bricks to help build the stadium walls and stands. The first stands were built around the north, west, and east sides of the field.
The stadium had its first night game on March 19, 1970. Alajuelense played against the Honduran club Motagua and won 4–1.
From 1979 to 1984, the stadium was made much bigger. New stands were added, and roofs were built over some areas. The lighting system was also improved and was considered one of the best at the time.
On April 8, 2021, the team announced plans for a new stadium. They hope it will open by January 2025.
Team Mascot
The Lion and Lioness
Alajuelense is represented by a Lion and Lioness mascot. They wear the team's uniform and cleats, ready to play!
At every home game, the mascots come out before the game. They play with fans, joke with rival fans, and cheer on the team with a huge flag. They also walk through the crowd and take pictures with children.
The team's first mascot was a Mango. This is because Alajuela is known as "The Mangoes' City" due to its many mango trees. But in the early 1980s, the mascot changed to a Lion.
The Lion was chosen because it shows four important qualities of the king of the jungle: Courage, Strength, Dynamism, and Fidelity. These qualities reflect the team's goals and spirit.
Team Sponsors
Jersey Suppliers
| Manufacturer | Period | Sponsor |
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 Jugados |
1986–1996 | Punto Rojo |
 Nike |
1996–1998 | Mutual Alajuela |
 Atletica |
1998–2000 | |
| Jugados |
2000–2007 |  LG |
 Puma |
2008–2009 | |
| 2010–2011 |  Sony |
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| 2012–2015 |  Movistar |
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| 2016 | Movistar
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| 2017 | Claro
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| Kelme |
2018 | Toyota
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 Umbro |
2025–present | Don Pedro
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Jersey Sponsors
Team Achievements
National Titles
- Primera División de Costa Rica (Costa Rican League)
- Champions (30 times): 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, 2004–05, Invierno 2010, Verano 2011, Invierno 2011, Invierno 2012, Invierno 2013, Apertura 2020
- Torneo de Copa de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Cup)
- Champions (12 times): 1926, 1928, 1937, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1953, 1949, 1974, 1977, 2023, 2025
- Supercopa de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Supercup)
- Champions (1 time): 2012
- Recopa de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Recopa)
- Champions (2 times): 1967, 2024
International Titles
Continental Competitions
- CONCACAF Champions Cup
- Champions (2 times): 1986, 2004
- CONCACAF League
- Champions (1 time): 2020
- Campeonato Centroamericano y Caribe
- Champions (1 time): 1961
Regional Competitions
- CONCACAF Central American Cup
- Champions (2 times): 2023, 2024
- Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica/Copa Interclubes UNCAF
- Champions (3 times): 1996, 2002, 2005
Friendly Tournaments
- 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
Player Records
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Players
Current Squad
As of 3 February 2025
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Players on Loan
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Retired Jersey Numbers
20 – Mauricio Montero, defender (1987–98)
Coaches Through the Years
- Carlos Watson
- Luis Diego Arnaez
Andrés Carevic (November 20, 2022 – March 7, 2024)
Alexandre Guimarães (March 12, 2024 – April 17, 2025)- Óscar Ramírez (April 18, 2025 – present)
Images for kids
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Liga Deportiva Alajuelense logo in 1919
See also
In Spanish: Liga Deportiva Alajuelense para niños
