Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras

Liga Salva Vida (Honduran National Professional Football League), commonly known as Liga Salva Vida (Liga Salva-Vida for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of football in Honduras. The league season is divided into Opening (autumn) and Closing (spring). One team is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso (the team with fewest points in Opening and Closing) and one team is promoted from Liga de Ascenso. The top four clubs participate in play-offs to decide the champion.[1] The winners of the Opening and Closing competitions participate in the CONCACAF Champions League.[2] [3]

Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras
Founded10 May 1964 (1964-05-10)
Country Honduras
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLiga de Ascenso
Domestic cup(s)Honduran Cup
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF League
Current championsOlimpia (31st)
Most championshipsOlimpia (31)
TV partnersTVC, Canal 11, TDtv, Teleceiba
WebsiteOfficial Website
Current: 2020–21 Honduran Liga Nacional

History of the League

In the 1930s, football experienced a surge in popularity in the country. In 1948 with the birth of the Francisco Morazán Major Football League, the idea to organize football began to take shape.

Olimpia, Federal, Motagua, Argentina and Real España are the pioneers of the Liga Mayor.[4] In 1948 the first championship began in the recently inaugurated Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino[5] as Victoria were made champions by beating Motagua; and three years later, in 1951, they repeated the trick. Due to the high support the League received at this time, the Confederacy Sports School Extra of Honduras (F.N.D.E.H.) was founded.

The cancellation of the court of the Francisco Morazán Stadium of San Pedro Sula was the catalyst that caused the sport's leaders of the northern and central parts of Honduras to join forces and caused the disappearance of the F.N.D.E.H.

On 8 March 1951, Juan Manuel Galvez gave life to the F.N.D.E.H. when he signed the presidential decree I number 97 and he vouched for the execution of the first Sports Congress that was carried out in the installations of the abandoned "National Gymnasium Rubén Callejas Valentine".

Old logo (2007–2012)

A decade after the creation of the F.N.D.E.H. and under the leadership of Hémerito F. Hernández, and also under Féderico Bunker Aguilar who had pioneered CONCACAF's creation at the same time, the idea to create the First National League of Football took shape between 1962 and 1963. Thanks in part to the aid of executives such as Alejandro Talbott that had studied in Mexico, the structure of that country's league was copied. On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April 1964 the 15th National Congress created the league. The 15th National Congress also started the National Non Amateur Football League of Honduras, LINAFUTH, that was founded 10 May, that year.

The president of the Sports Confederacy was Oscar Kafati and the secretary was journalist Andrés Torres Jr. Several teams sent delegates. These included Olimpia, Troya, España, Honduras de El Progreso, Vida, Marathón, Motagua, La Salle, and Atlético Español Glidden. Those delegates were chosen to be to the first Provisional board of directors that remained headed by: President Oscar Lara Mejía, Secretary: José T. Castañeda, Treasurer: Jesus J. Handal, Fiscal: Humberto Soriano Aguilar and vocal: Oscar Kirckonell, Alfredo Bueso, René Bendeck.

The first round of the first professional national championship was on 18 July 1965, with the following results: Olimpia 3–0 Marathón; España 1–0 Troya; Honduras 3–0 Atlético Español; Vida 4–1 Motagua; and Platense 6–2 La Salle. Jorge "Burro" Deras of Honduras Progreso was the first scorer of the league in the 5th minute against Atlético Español.[6] Platense was the first professional champion of Honduras winning the two rounds; and Atlético Español finished last, but there was no relegation. Enrique Fúnez was the first top-scorer with 14 goals.[7]

2018–19 teams

Team Home city Stadium Capacity
Honduras Progreso El Progreso Estadio Humberto Micheletti 5,000
Juticalpa Juticalpa Estadio Juan Ramón Brevé Vargas 20,000
Marathón San Pedro Sula Estadio Yankel Rosenthal 15,000
Motagua Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000
Olimpia Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000
Platense Puerto Cortés Estadio Excélsior 10,000
Real España San Pedro Sula Estadio Francisco Morazán 20,000
Real de Minas Danlí Estadio Marcelo Tinoco 5,000
UPNFM Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000
Vida La Ceiba Estadio Nilmo Edwards 18,000

Current Format

Two tournaments per year with identical format, each crowning one champion:

  • Apertura (Opening): from July to December
  • Clausura (Closing): from January to May

10 clubs participating. The League format consist of a round-robin tournament with each club playing each other twice. The top six advance to the playoffs where the clubs ranked 3rd and 4th play in a home and away series against the clubs ranked 6th and 5th respectively. The playoff winners advance to the semifinals and play against the clubs ranked 1st and 2nd. The winners of the semifinals face in a double header to crown the champion.[8]

Relegation-Promotion

Relegation is decided by the addition of both apertura and clausura tournament tables. The last team of the aggregated table is relegated to Liga de Ascenso de Honduras. Promotion is decided in Liga de Ascenso de Honduras. Up to 2004 the champions were awarded automatic promotion. Since then, the season was divided into apertura and clausura, where champions face each other to decide promotion.

Historic

Most goals

  • As of 2018–19 Apertura
  • Bold players are still active
No.PlayerGoals
1 Wilmer Velásquez196
2 Denilson Costa155
3 Román Castillo112
4 Juan Cárcamo101
Jerry Bengtson101
5 Claudio Cardozo100
6 Marcelo Ferreira98
7 Francisco Ramírez95
8 Luciano Emílio89
Luis Ramírez89
Roger Rojas89
11 Prudencio Norales88
12 Danilo Tosello86
Rony Martínez86
14 Óscar Hernández84
Ney Costa84
16 Ángel Obando83
Eduardo Bennett83
18 Pompilio Cacho81
Carlos Pavón81
20 Oswaldo Altamirano80

Statistics (1965–66 – present)

Champions by year

Amateur Era[9]

SeasonChampionRunners-up
1947VictoriaMotagua
1948MotaguaVictoria
1949HibuerasOlimpia
1950–51MotaguaSula
1951–52SulaMotagua
1952AduanaFederal
1953FederalAduana
1954–55AbacáAduana
1955–56HibuerasOlimpia
1957–58OlimpiaHibueras
1958–59OlimpiaIndependiente
1959OlimpiaMarathón
1960–61OlimpiaEspaña
1961OlimpiaIndependiente
1962VidaSalamar
1963–64OlimpiaEspaña
1964OlimpiaPlatense

Professional Era

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird PlaceFourth Place
1965–66Platense (1)Olimpia (1)Vida (1)Troya (1)
1966–67Olimpia (1)Marathón (1)Vida (2)España (1)
1967–68Olimpia (2)Marathón (2)Honduras (1)Vida (1)
1968–69Motagua (1)Olimpia (2)Platense (1)Atlético Indio (1)
1969–70Olimpia (3)Motagua (1)Marathón (1)Vida (2)
1970–71Motagua (2)Olimpia (3)Marathón (2)España (2)
1971–72Olimpia (4)Vida (1)Motagua (1)España (3)
1972–73Abandoned
1973–74Motagua (3)Marathón (3)Olimpia (1)España (4)
1974–75España (1)Motagua (2)Olimpia (2)Marathón (1)
1975–76España (2)Olimpia (4)Motagua (2)Universidad (1)
1976–77España (3)Motagua (3)Marathón (3)Vida (3)
1977–78Olimpia (5)Real España (1)Motagua (3)Vida (4)
1978–79Motagua (4)Real España (2)Olimpia (3)Broncos (1)
1979–80Marathón (1)Universidad (1)Victoria (1)Broncos (2)
1980–81Real España (4)Marathón (4)Olimpia (4)Vida (5)
1981–82Vida (1)Atlético Morazán (1)Motagua (4)Marathón (2)
1982–83Olimpia (6)Motagua (4)Real España (1)Victoria (1)
1983–84Vida (2)Universidad (2)Marathón (4)Olimpia (1)
1984–85Olimpia (7)Vida (2)Victoria (2)Marathón (3)
1985–86Marathón (2)Vida (3)Motagua (5)Olimpia (2)
1986–87Olimpia (8)Real España (3)Vida (3)Platense (1)
1987–88Olimpia (9)Marathón (5)Real España (2)Sula (1)
1988–89Real España (5)Olimpia (5)Motagua (6)Vida (6)
1989–90Olimpia (10)Real España (4)Motagua (7)Platense (2)
1990–91Real España (6)Motagua (5)Olimpia (5)Platense (3)
1991–92Motagua (5)Real España (5)Olimpia (6)Platense (4)
1992–93Olimpia (11)Petrotela (1)Marathón (5)Real España (5)
1993–94Real España (7)Motagua (6)Vida (4)Victoria (2)
1994–95Victoria (1)Olimpia (6)Real España (3)Motagua (1)
1995–96Olimpia (12)Real España (6)Victoria (3)Motagua (2)
1996–97Olimpia (13)Platense (1)Victoria (4)Real España (6)
1997–98 AMotagua (6)Real España (7)Olimpia (7)Platense (5)
1997–98 CMotagua (7)Olimpia (7)Victoria (5)Platense (6)
1998–99Olimpia (14)Real España (8)Motagua (8)Victoria (3)
1999–2000 AMotagua (8)Olimpia (8)Victoria (6)Broncos (3)
1999–2000 CMotagua (9)Olimpia (9)Marathón (6)Federal (1)
2000–01 AOlimpia (15)Platense (2)Universidad (1)Real España (7)
2000–01 CPlatense (2)Olimpia (10)Marathón (7)Real España (8)
2001–02 AMotagua (10)Marathón (6)Olimpia (8)Platense (7)
2001–02 CMarathón (3)Olimpia (11)Victoria (7)Platense (8)
2002–03 AOlimpia (16)Platense (3)Marathón (8)Real España (9)
2002–03 CMarathón (4)Motagua (7)Real España (4)Olimpia (3)
2003–04 AReal España (8)Olimpia (12)Vida (5)Marathón (4)
2003–04 COlimpia (17)Marathón (7)Real España (5)Victoria (4)
2004–05 AMarathón (5)Olimpia (13)Real España (6)Victoria (5)
2004–05 COlimpia (18)Marathón (8)Universidad (2)Platense (9)
2005–06 AOlimpia (19)Marathón (9)Platense (2)Victoria (6)
2005–06 COlimpia (20)Victoria (1)Motagua (9)Municipal Valencia (1)
2006–07 AMotagua (11)Olimpia (14)Marathón (9)Hispano (1)
2006–07 CReal España (9)Marathón (10)Olimpia (9)Motagua (3)
2007–08 AMarathón (6)Motagua (8)Olimpia (10)Victoria (7)
2007–08 COlimpia (21)Marathón (11)Real España (7)Motagua (4)
2008–09 AMarathón (7)Real España (9)Olimpia (11)Motagua (5)
2008–09 COlimpia (22)Real España (10)Vida (6)Marathón (5)
2009–10 AMarathón (8)Olimpia (15)Real España (8)Motagua (6)
2009–10 COlimpia (23)Motagua (9)Vida (7)Platense (10)
2010–11 AReal España (10)Olimpia (16)Marathón (10)Victoria (8)
2010–11 CMotagua (12)Olimpia (17)Vida (8)Marathón (6)
2011–12 AOlimpia (24)Real España (11)Marathón (11)Vida (7)
2011–12 COlimpia (25)Marathón (12)Motagua (10)Real España (10)
2012–13 AOlimpia (26)Victoria (2)Atlético Choloma (1)Motagua (7)
2012–13 COlimpia (27)Real Sociedad (1)Platense (3)Victoria (9)
2013–14 AReal España (11)Real Sociedad (2)Deportes Savio (1)Olimpia (3)
2013–14 COlimpia (28)Marathón (13)Real Sociedad (1)Victoria (10)
2014–15 AMotagua (13)Real Sociedad (3)Real España (9)Olimpia (4)
2014–15 COlimpia (29)Motagua (10)Victoria (8)Real España (11)
2015–16 AHonduras Progreso (1)Motagua (11)Olimpia (12)Vida (8)
2015–16 COlimpia (30)Real Sociedad (4)Motagua (11)Real España(12)
2016–17 AMotagua (14)Platense (4)Real España (10)Olimpia (5)
2016–17 CMotagua (15)Honduras Progreso (1)Real España (11)Olimpia (6)
2017–18 AReal España (12)Motagua (12)Olimpia (13)Marathón (7)
2017–18 CMarathón (9)Motagua (13)Olimpia (14)Real España (13)
2018–19 AMotagua (16)Olimpia (18)Real España (12)Platense (11)
2018–19 CMotagua (17)Olimpia (19)Marathón (12)UPNFM (1)
2019–20 AOlimpia (31)Marathón (14)Motagua (12)UPNFM (2)
2019–20 C Abandoned.
2020–21 AOlimpia (32)Marathón (15)Motagua (13)Vida (10)

Titles by club in professional era

Club Champion Runner-up Winning years
Olimpia 31 19 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01 A, 2002–03 A, 2003–04 C, 2004–05 C, 2005–06 A, 2005–06 C, 2007–08 C, 2008–09 C, 2009–10 C, 2011–12 A, 2011–12 C, 2012–13 A, 2012–13 C, 2013–14 C, 2014–15 C, 2015–16 C, 2019–20 A
Motagua 17 13 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1997–98 A, 1997–98 C, 1999–2000 A, 1999–2000 C, 2001–02 A, 2006–07 A, 2010–11 C, 2014–15 A, 2016–17 A, 2016–17 C, 2018–19 A, 2018-19 C
Real España 12 11 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2003–04 A, 2006–07 C, 2010–11 A, 2013–14 A, 2017–18 A
Marathón 9 14 1979–80, 1985–86, 2001–02 C, 2002–03 C, 2004–05 A, 2007–08 A, 2008–09 A, 2009–10 A, 2017–18 C
Platense 2 4 1965–66, 2000–01 C
Vida 2 3 1981–82, 1983–84
Victoria 1 2 1994–95
Honduras Progreso 1 1 2015–16 A
Real Sociedad 0 4
Universidad 0 2
Atlético Morazán 0 1
Petrotela 0 1
Totals 75 75

Amateur Era + Professional Era

Club Champion Runner-up Winning years
Olimpia 38 21 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959, 1960–61, 1961, 1963–64, 1964, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01 A, 2002–03 A, 2003–04 C, 2004–05 C, 2005–06 A, 2005–06 C, 2007–08 C, 2008–09 C, 2009–10 C, 2011–12 A, 2011–12 C, 2012–13 A, 2012–13 C, 2013–14 C, 2014–15 C, 2015–16 C, 2019–20 A
Motagua 19 15 1948, 1950–51, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1997–98 A, 1997–98 C, 1999–2000 A, 1999–2000 C, 2001–02 A, 2006–07 A, 2010–11 C, 2014–15 A, 2016–17 A, 2016–17 C, 2018–19 A, 2018-19 C
Real España 12 13 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2003–04 A, 2006–07 C, 2010–11 A, 2013–14 A, 2017–18 A
Marathón 9 15 1979–80, 1985–86, 2001–02 C, 2002–03 C, 2004–05 A, 2007–08 A, 2008–09 A, 2009–10 A, 2017–18 C
Vida 3 3 1962, 1981–82, 1983–84
Platense 2 5 1965–66, 2000–01 C
Victoria 2 3 1947, 1994–95
Hibueras 2 1 1949, 1955–56
Aduana 1 2 1952
Sula 1 1 1951–52
Federal 1 1 1953
Honduras Progreso 1 1 2015–16 A
Abacá 1 0 1954–55
Real Sociedad 0 4
Independiente 0 2
Universidad 0 2
Salamar 0 1
Atlético Morazán 0 1
Petrotela 0 1
Totals 92 92

At International competitions

List of Honduran Liga Nacional clubs in international competitions:

Olimpia: 35 times (1962, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 Winners, 1973, 1976, 1983, 1985 Runners-up, 1987, 1988 Winners, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Runners-up, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018, 2020 ongoing)
Motagua: 18 times (1969, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2003, 2008, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2018, 2020 ongoing)
Real España: 16 times (1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2014–15)
Marathón: 10 times (1974, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1988, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2019)
Vida: 6 times (1963, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985)
Universidad: 2 times (1980 Runners-up, 1984)
Victoria: 2 times (1996, 2013–14)
Petrotela: 1 time (1994)
Platense: 1 time (1998)
Honduras Progreso: 1 time (2016–17)
Olimpia: 3 times (2017 Winners, 2019, 2020)
Motagua: 2 times (2018 Runners-up, 2019 Runners-up)
Honduras Progreso: 1 time (2017)
Platense: 1 time (2017)
Real España: 1 time (2018)
Marathón: 1 time (2019)
Olimpia: 13 times (1979, 1981 Winners, 1996 withdrew, 1997, 1998, 1999 Winners, 2000 Winners, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 Runners-up, 2006 Runners-up, 2007)
Motagua: 8 times (1979, 1996 withdrew, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 Winners)
Marathón: 7 times (1980, 1981, 1982, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
Real España: 6 times (1981, 1982 Winners, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007)
Vida: 2 times (1981, 1982)
Broncos: 1 time (1980 Winners)
Victoria: 1 time (2006)
Olimpia: 2 times (1996 abandoned), (1997 abandoned)
Platense: 2 times (1997 abandoned), (1998 abandoned)
Real España: 1 time (1993 Runners-up)
Real Maya: 1 time (1994)
Marathón: 1 time (1995)
Motagua: 1 time (2001)
Olimpia: 2 times (1972 Runners-up), (1988 Runners-up)
Motagua: 1 time (2008)
Olimpia: 1 time (2001 canceled)

See also

References

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