Alajuelense Femenil
Full nameLiga Deportiva Alajuelense Femenil
Nickname(s)Manudas, Rojinegras, Leonas
FoundedApril 9, 2019 (2019-04-09)[1]
StadiumEstadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Barrio El Llano, Alajuela
(capacity: 17,895)
PresidentJoseph Joseph
Sporting directorMercedes Salas[2]
ManagerWilmer López
LeagueCosta Rican Women's Premier Division
2023 Clausura1st, Champions
WebsiteClub website
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Tertiary colours

Liga Deportiva Alajuelense Femenil, also known as Alajuelense Fútbol Femenino (Alajuelense FF) and Alajuelense Femenil, is a women's football team that competes in the Costa Rican Women's Premier Division, the top division of women's football in Costa Rica.[3] It is affiliated with men's side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and was formed through an agreement with the Comite Cantonal de Deportes y Recreación de Alajuela (CODEA); the club first competed as Alajuelense CODEA in 2019.[4][5][6][7][8]

As of 5 June 2023, it is the first and only club in the Costa Rican Women's Premier Division to win two undefeated championships, to win consecutive championships, or to win three or more championships.[9][10]

As of 7 May 2023, IFFHS ranked the club 5th in CONCACAF and 36th in the world,[11] the highest rankings for any club from Central America or Costa Rica.[12][13] As of 2022, it was also the only club in Costa Rica to field a women's team at all levels of competition.[14]

History

Women's football in Alajuela was played as early as 15 September 1959, between clubs Independiente and ODECA at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. Independiente wore red shirts against ODECA, wearing blue, and won 2–0.[15] A women's side affiliated with Alajuelense reportedly played in the 1996 Campeonato de ANAFA.[16]

In 2019, Shirley Cruz became the first women's footballer to sign a professional contract with a Costa Rican team

Beginnings

CODEA had participated in Costa Rica's women's league in 2001, but had no relationship with Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and instead became UCEM Alajuela.[17] In 2017, the club defeated AD Coronado to win promotion from the Segunda División, and after a year in the Premier Division signed an agreement with Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.[18][19][20] In 2019, the team signed Costa Rican international player Shirley Cruz, who had previously played in Europe and the United States, to the first professional contract in Costa Rican women's football.[21][22][8] Other players followed, including Fabiola Sánchez, Priscila Chinchilla, Lixy Rodríguez, Fernanda Barrantes, María Paula Salas, and Noelia Bermúdez.[23][24][25][26][27]

On 9 December 2019 the team secured its first championship in the Primera División by winning the Torneo Clausura,[28][29] qualifying it for the national final against Clásico del fútbol costarricense femenino rivals Saprissa FF.[30][31][32][33] Alajuelense drew the first match of the national final 1–1 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá,[34] then on 16 December 2019 won the second leg 1–0 on a goal by Priscila Chinchilla at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto to secure the club's first national championship in its inaugural season. The second leg set a national women's club attendance record of 16,900.[35][36]

Success and records

Alajuelense severed the club's affiliation with CODEA and organized its own lower divisions.[37]

Alajuelense's 2021 Women's Torneo Apertura championship trophy, center

The newly rebranded Alajuelense team won its second championship in 2021 by winning the first phase[38] and defeating Dimas in the two-legged semi-final, rallying from a 2–3 loss in the first leg to win 4–3 on aggregate.[39] In the national final against Herediano, Alajuelense drew 2–2 on goals by Kenia Rangel and Marta Cox,[40] drew in regulation of the second leg 1–1 on a goal by Sianyf Agüero, and failed to separate after extra time. In the penalty shoot-out to decide the championship, Alajuelense won 5–4. Cox won the championship's Golden Boot award as top goalscorer and also registered the most assists.[41][42]

The team won its third championship in the 2021 Torneo Clausura in historic fashion, becoming the first club in Costa Rican women's soccer to complete an undefeated season, winning 16 of 18 matches and drawing twice. Alajuelense defeated Herediano again in the national championship semi-finals, then defeated Saprissa in the finals 5–2 on aggregate, with Paula Salas completing a hat-trick in the second leg.[43] The club ended 2021 by winning the Super Copa 5–1 against Saprissa FF.[44]

The team then won the 2022 Torneo Apertura, becoming the first to win consecutive tournaments with undefeated seasons and the first to win three championships. The two undefeated seasons and championships totalled 39 matches without a loss.[45] Alajuelense defeated Sporting F.C. in the national championship semi-finals before defeating Saprissa once again in the finals, 4–1 on aggregate.[46][47]

International success

In September 2022 Alajuelense won its first international title by defeating Saprissa 1–0 in the finals of the Torneo Interclubes Femenino Uncaf Fifa Forward 2022.[48] Alajuelense became the first club to win the tournament with a perfect record, scoring 28 total goals.[49][50][51][52] The trophy was Alajuelense's sixth, setting a record for most total cups won by a Costa Rican women's club.[53]

Fourth championship

In December 2022 Alajuelense won its fourth championship by defeating Sporting F.C. Despite suffering its first loss in a national championship series, the team rallied to win 4–3 on aggregate.[54][55]

Fifth championship

In June 2023 Alajuelense won its sixth championship by defeating Sporting F.C. again in the Torneo Apertura finals, but did so after falling behind three goals in the first leg by losing 1–4. In the second leg, expected to be captain Shirley Cruz's final match for the team before retirement, the team rallied to win 4–0 and defeat Sporting 5–4 on aggregate. Natalia Mills scored the championship-winning goal.[56][57]

Stadium

The team plays in Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, the home stadium of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. The team also plays at the High Performance Center stadium in Turrúcares. The team's previous home ground was the Monserrat Sports Center in the Río Segundo District of Alajuela.

Records

Year-by-year

As of 3 June 2023.[58]

Seasons of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense Femenil
Edition Result Apertura Clausura MP W D L GF GA Pts. Per. Copa / S. Copa Top goalscorer GS Manager
2018[lower-alpha 1] 4th3rd5th 28146870484857% – Costa Rica Priscila Chinchilla24 Costa Rica Edgar Rodríguez Carranza
2019[lower-alpha 2] Champions3rd1st 362538110457872% – Costa Rica Priscila Chinchilla33
Tournaments of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense Femenil
Edition Result Pos. MP W D L GF GA Pts. Per. Copa / S. Copa Top goalscorer GS Manager
Apertura 2020 Abandoned1st[lower-alpha 3] 3300809100% – Costa Rica María Paula Salas3 Costa Rica Edgar Rodríguez Carranza
2020 3rd3rd[lower-alpha 3] 20122652203863% – Costa Rica Priscila Chinchilla12 Costa Rica Edgar Rodríguez Carranza
Costa Rica Wilmer López
Apertura 2021 Champions1st[lower-alpha 3] 18104440173463% – Panama Marta Cox9 Costa Rica Wilmer López
Clausura 2021 Champions1st[lower-alpha 3] 18162058135093% Champions[lower-alpha 4] Costa Rica Fernanda Barrantes10
Apertura 2022 Champions1st[lower-alpha 3] 18144057104685% 3rd[lower-alpha 5] United States Mia Corbin15
Clausura 2022 Champions3rd[lower-alpha 3] 18121542293768% Runners-up[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] United States Mia Corbin17
Apertura 2023 Champions1st[lower-alpha 3] 16132357154083% – Panama Kenia Rangel
Panama Natalia Mills		8
  1. ↑ As CODEA
  2. ↑ As Alajulenese CODEA
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 First phase
  4. 1 2 Super Cup
  5. 1 2 Cup

Honors

Championships won by Alajuelense Femenil:

International

National

Managers

Primera División managers:

Players

Roster[67]
No.Nat.Pos.NameAgePrevious team
1Costa RicaGKNoelia Bermúdez28 yearsSpain Deportivo de La Coruña
31Costa RicaGKGabriela Valverde36 yearsCosta Rica A.D. Coronado FF
22Costa RicaGKFabiola Murillo30 yearsCosta Rica C.S. Herediano FF
2Costa RicaDFMaria Jose Brenes29 yearsCosta Rica Saprissa FF
3Costa RicaDFGabriela Guillén31 yearsIceland Þór/KA
4Costa RicaDFPaula Coto25 yearsCosta Rica C.S. Herediano FF
5Costa RicaDFKeylin Gómez19 yearsCosta Rica C.S. Herediano FF
14Costa RicaDFFabiola Villalobos25 yearsCosta Rica Sporting F.C.
19Costa RicaDFValerie Sandoval21 years
21Costa RicaDFSofia Arguedas17 years
26Costa RicaDFSharon Lobo17 years
6PanamaMFNatalia Mills30 yearsSpain Cordoba CF
7Costa RicaMFViviana Chinchilla28 yearsItaly Pink Bari
8Costa RicaMFMariela Campos32 yearsCosta Rica C.S. Herediano FF
10Costa RicaMFShirley Cruz37 yearsUnited States OL Reign
16Costa RicaMFMarilenis Oporta25 yearsCosta Rica Sporting F.C.
17Costa RicaMFMarian Solano17 years
20Costa RicaMFAlexandra Pinell20 yearsCosta Rica A.D. San Carlos FF
30Costa RicaMFSarah Benavides18 years
35Costa RicaMFMaria Paula Arce19 yearsCosta Rica A.D. Chorotega FF
9MexicoFWCaroline Miranda28 yearsMexico Deportivo Toluca F.C.
11PanamaFWKenia Rangel27 yearsPanama Atlético Nacional
13Costa RicaFWSheika Scott16 yearsCosta Rica Municipal Pococi
18JapanFWKyoka Koshijima23 yearsUnited States Keiser Seahawks
21Costa RicaFWAlexa Herrera18 yearsCosta Rica C.S. Herediano FF
25Costa RicaFWSianyf Agüero19 years

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alajuelense Fútbol Femenino.

References

  1. ↑ "Alajuelense y Codea unen esfuerzos en el fútbol femenino" (Press release) (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mercedes Salas, una artífice del título de Alajuelense Codea en el fútbol femenino". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  3. ↑ Calvo, Rodrigo (18 June 2022). "Gestas y marcas históricas de Liga Deportiva Alajuelense". Buzón de Rodrigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Calvo, Rodrigo (21 December 2019). "Gestas y marcas históricas de la Liga en 100 años". Buzón de Rodrigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "Fernando Ocampo sobre apoyo de Alajuelense al fútbol femenino: 'No se trata nada más de prestar una cancha'". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 26 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "(Video) El fútbol femenino entró en la historia del centenario de Alajuelense". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Unas Leonas que hicieron historia". Centenario de Leyendas (in Spanish). 2020.
  8. 1 2 Marin, Fanny Tayver. "Shirley Cruz marca un antes y un después: en Alajuelense Codea todas tendrán contrato profesional". La Nación (in Spanish). Grupo Nación. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  9. ↑ Cubillo, Eduardo (4 June 2023). "Alajuelense logra el pentacampeonato con una remontada histórica ante Sporting FC" [Alajuelense achieves the five-time championship with a historic comeback against Sporting FC]. Mundiario (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Fonseca, Maria José (5 June 2023). "Alajuelense se convierte en el equipo más ganador del Fútbol Femenino" [Alajuelense becomes the most winning team in Women's Soccer]. Unión Femenina de Fútbol de Costa Rica. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "IFFHS". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "IFFHS". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "IFFHS". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Alajuelense construyó un semillero femenino que le alcanza para jugar en todas las categorías de liga menor". La Nación (in Spanish). 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "El fútbol femenino en Costa Rica (1924–2015)".
  16. ↑ Pastor Pacheco, José Antonio. La Fuerza de un sentimiento: Historia oficial del fútbol femenino de Costa Rica (in Spanish).
  17. ↑ "Costa Rica (Women) 2001". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  18. ↑ Leandro, Harold (14 January 2020). "Dirigente de Codea: "En el fútbol femenino lo mejor está por venir"". El Observador CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  19. ↑ TD Más [@tdmas_cr] (1 October 2017). "Codea se coronó campeón al vencer 2–6 en el global a Coronado, son las nuevas inquilinas de la primera división Femenina @allanmartinezcr" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2019 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Hernández, Camilo (2 October 2017). "Codea Alajuela conquistó el cetro y asciende a primera división..." Futbol Costa Rica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  21. ↑ "Alajuelense presentó a su nuevo gran referente del fútbol femenino, su capitana Shirley Cruz". Teletica (in Spanish). 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  22. ↑ Valverde, Kevin. "Shirley Cruz firmó un contrato profesional con la Liga: "Nos merecemos ese respeto"" (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "Alajuelense Codea ficha a la goleadora de Saprissa". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  24. ↑ Solano, Pamela. "Columbia – Alajuelense da el golpe y asegura goles para el 2020". columbia.co.cr (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  25. ↑ "Alajuelense Codea contrata a María Paula Salas, la delantera que hacía más goles en Saprissa FF". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  26. ↑ "LDA – Lixy Rodríguez es la nueva contratación de nuestro equipo Liga-Codea". lda.cr. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Noelia Bermúdez se marcha del Saprissa a las filas de las campeonas Codea Alajuelense". Teletica (in Spanish). 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  28. 1 2 "Alajuelense Codea remonta para jugar la final nacional e impone récord de asistencia en el fútbol femenino". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  29. ↑ "Codea Alajuelense gana el Torneo de Clausura y se medirá en la gran final a Saprissa". everardoherrera.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  30. ↑ "Codea Alajuela vence a Moravia CSH y disputará el title del fútbol femenino ante Saprissa". Teletica (in Spanish). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  31. ↑ "Con récord de asistencia en un partido de Liga Femenina, Alajuelense-CODEA goleó a Moravia y se coronó Campeón del Clausura". Sensación Deportiva. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  32. 1 2 "Codea Alajuelense es campeón del Clausura 2019". CRHoy.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  33. ↑ "¡Liga campeón! Alajuelense Codea se sonó a Moravia Herediano en la final del Clausura". La Teja, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  34. ↑ "Final nacional de fútbol femenino empieza con vibrante empate 1–1 entre Saprissa FF y Alajuelense Codea". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  35. ↑ "Alajuelense tiñe de rojinegro una final histórica en el fútbol femenino". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  36. ↑ "Alajuelense rompe el molde: dio premio económico a sus jugadoras por ser campeonas del fútbol femenino". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  37. ↑ Alpízar, María (19 January 2021). "Mercedes Salas: la madre del fútbol femenino y la arquitecta del proyecto en Alajuelense". El Mundo CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  38. ↑ "Se definieron los cuatro clasificados del Torneo de Apertura 2021" (in Spanish). Unión Femenina de Fútbol. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  39. ↑ "LD Alajuelense y CS Herediano consiguieron clasificarse como finalistas del Torneo de Apertura 2021" (in Spanish). Unión Femenina de Fútbol. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  40. ↑ Wilmer López dice #alajuelense mereció ganar la final femenina y que van el sábado x su 1er title (in European Spanish). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  41. ↑ Martínez, Allan (7 June 2021). "Liga Deportiva Alajuelense campeón del Torneo de Apertura 2021". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  42. ↑ "Final del Torneo de Apertura: CS Herediano y Alajuelense empataron a 2–2 en la final de ida" (in Spanish). Unión Femenina de Fútbol. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  43. ↑ "¡Invictas y bicampeonas!... Alajuelense hace historia en el fútbol femenino". La Nación (in Spanish). 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  44. ↑ Arce, Jason (26 November 2021). "Alajuelense FF se corona campeón de la Supercopa tras golear a Saprissa en Tibás". YashinQuesada.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  45. ↑ "¡Histórico title! Alajuelense tricampeón invicto del torneo femenino de Costa Rica". MSN.
  46. ↑ "Alajuelense derrota a Saprissa y celebra su tricampeonato". Teletica. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  47. ↑ "Alajuelense es indomable y reina a placer en el fútbol femenino". La Nación (in Spanish). 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  48. 1 2 Castro, Claudia (17 September 2022). "LD Alajuelense se corona campeón del Torneo Interclubes Femenino Uncaf Fifa Forward 2022". uncafut.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  49. ↑ "¡Impresionante! Las leonas tienen un promedio de 9 goles por partido". La Teja (in Spanish). 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  50. ↑ "Alajuelense y Saprissa reparten tieso y parejo en torneo femenino de Uncaf". La Teja (in Spanish). 14 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  51. ↑ "¡Qué pecado! Alajuelense humilló de la forma más dura a equipo de Belice". La Teja (in Spanish). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  52. 1 2 "Clásico es ver a Alajuelense femenino derrotar a Saprissa". La Teja (in Spanish). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  53. ↑ "Leonas de Alajuelense vencen a Saprissa y se coronan campeonas de Centroamérica". La Nación (in Spanish). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  54. ↑ "Leonas sacaron garras para ser tetracampeonas". La Nación (in Spanish). 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  55. ↑ "Alajuelense amplía su dinastía en el fútbol femenino al lograr el tetracampeonato". ESPN.com.mx (in Spanish). 19 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  56. ↑ Jimenez, Daniel (4 June 2023). "El último baile de Shirley Cruz deparó el pentacampeonato de la Liga". Teletica (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  57. ↑ "La dinastía sigue: Alajuelense llegó al pentacampeonato con épica remontada". La Nación (in Spanish). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  58. ↑ UNIFFUT [@UniffutCR] (2 December 2018). "#FutFemCR: Tabla acumulada tras jugarse las 28 jornadas de este 2018.pic.twitter.com/zBQ9v26EK6" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2019 – via Twitter.
  59. ↑ C, Ariel Delgado. "Liga Deportiva Alajuelense se corona como nuevo campeón nacional". Allan Martinez. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  60. ↑ "Costa Rica (Women) 2021". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  61. ↑ "Costa Rica – List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  62. ↑ "Codea Alajuela vence a Moravia CSH y disputará el title del fútbol femenino ante Saprissa". Teletica (in Spanish). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  63. ↑ "Liga Deportiva Alajuelense se corona súper campeón del fútbol femenino de Costa Rica". delfino.cr (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  64. ↑ González, Ericka. "DT de Codea-LDA: "Hay un antes y un después de esta historia"" (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  65. ↑ "Edgar Rodríguez, el poaseño que busca darle a Codea Alajuela otro title nacional". Teletica (in Spanish). 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  66. ↑ "Wílmer López es el nuevo técnico del equipo femenino de Liga Deportiva Alajuelense" [Wílmer López is the new coach of the Liga Deportiva Alajuelense women's team]. Delfino. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  67. ↑ "Plantilla". Unión Femenina de Fútbol. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
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