Alajuelense Fútbol Femenino

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. 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.

, 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.

, IFFHS ranked the club 5th in CONCACAF and 36th in the world, the highest rankings for any club from Central America or Costa Rica. , it was also the only club in Costa Rica to field a women's team at all levels of competition.

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. A women's side affiliated with Alajuelense reportedly played in the 1996 Campeonato de ANAFA.

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. 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. 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. Other players followed, including Fabiola Sánchez, Priscila Chinchilla, Lixy Rodríguez, Fernanda Barrantes, María Paula Salas, and Noelia Bermúdez.

On 9 December 2019 the team secured its first championship in the Primera División by winning the Torneo Clausura, qualifying it for the national final against ' rivals Saprissa FF. Alajuelense drew the first match of the national final 1–1 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, 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.

Success and records

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

The newly rebranded Alajuelense team won its second championship in 2021 by winning the first phase 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. In the national final against Herediano, Alajuelense drew 2–2 on goals by Kenia Rangel and Marta Cox, drew in regulation of the second leg 1–1 on a goal by , 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.

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. The club ended 2021 by winning the Super Copa 5–1 against Saprissa FF.

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. Alajuelense defeated Sporting F.C. in the national championship semi-finals before defeating Saprissa once again in the finals, 4–1 on aggregate.

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. Alajuelense became the first club to win the tournament with a perfect record, scoring 28 total goals. The trophy was Alajuelense's sixth, setting a record for most total cups won by a Costa Rican women's club.

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.

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.

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

.

Honors

Championships won by Alajuelense Femenil:

International

* UNCAF Women's Interclub Championship (2): 2022, 2023

National

* Costa Rican Women's Premier Division (7): 2019, 2021 Apertura, 2021 Clausura, 2022 Apertura, 2022 Clausura, 2023 Apertura, 2023 Clausura
* Short Championship (1): 2019 Clausura
* Super Copa Costa Rica (2): 2021, 2023

Managers

Primera División managers:

* (2019–2020)
* Wilmer López (2020—)

Players

Current squad

''As of 21 August 2024''.

See also

* Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
* Costa Rican Women's Premier Division

References

External links

*

uniffut.com
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Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
Association football clubs established in 2019
Women's football clubs in Costa Rica
2010s establishments in Costa Rica