Questions about Central American domestic leagues

[Michigan Bayern Fan]

Its about this time each year that I grow curious about the level of play in the Central American domestic leagues. Although a lot of MLS fans are ecstatic tonight about DC's big win, I feel that Olimpia is a quality side. It is interesting and exciting for MLS clubs to compete against the best clubs in the region in the Concacaf Champions' Cup. It allows us the opportunity to reflect and see how far we have come in the past 11 years.

One of my biggest criticisms of MLS is the competition format; eight of 13 clubs make the post-season playoffs which renders the majority of the regular season meaningless. It is these lack of meaningful regular season games which hurts MLS clubs in international competition. Central American leagues turn out quality sides each year, so my assumption is that they play intense, meaningful games each week in domestic competition.

Which leads me to the following questions:

Do these leagues use a playoff system or are championships awarded on points like in Europe?

Is there promotion and relegation?

Do the leagues follow a European calendar (start in August, finish in May)?

How many teams are in the top flight and how many times do they play each opponent?

What are the top five leagues, in order? I have been told in the past that after Mexico, the Costa Rican league is best, followed by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama.

Historically, what are the top five clubs? I have often heard of Saprissa and Alajuelense of Costa Rica, but I have also heard of Olimpia of Honduras, Municipal of Guatemala, and FAS of El Salvador.

Are there a lot of foreigners in these leagues or are they predominantly stocked with domestic players?

Thanks for the info.

MBF

[FenoFutbol]

Its about this time each year that I grow curious about the level of play in the Central American domestic leagues. Although a lot of MLS fans are ecstatic tonight about DC's big win, I feel that Olimpia is a quality side. It is interesting and exciting for MLS clubs to compete against the best clubs in the region in the Concacaf Champions' Cup. It allows us the opportunity to reflect and see how far we have come in the past 11 years.

One of my biggest criticisms of MLS is the competition format; eight of 13 clubs make the post-season playoffs which renders the majority of the regular season meaningless. It is these lack of meaningful regular season games which hurts MLS clubs in international competition. Central American leagues turn out quality sides each year, so my assumption is that they play intense, meaningful games each week in domestic competition.

Which leads me to the following questions:

Do these leagues use a playoff system or are championships awarded on points like in Europe?

Is there promotion and relegation?

Do the leagues follow a European calendar (start in August, finish in May)?

How many teams are in the top flight and how many times do they play each opponent?

What are the top five leagues, in order? I have been told in the past that after Mexico, the Costa Rican league is best, followed by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama.

Historically, what are the top five clubs? I have often heard of Saprissa and Alajuelense of Costa Rica, but I have also heard of Olimpia of Honduras, Municipal of Guatemala, and FAS of El Salvador.

Are there a lot of foreigners in these leagues or are they predominantly stocked with domestic players?

Thanks for the info.

MBF

Big ones have always been.

CR = Saprisa, Alajuela, Heredia I think
Hon = Olimpia, Motagua, I cant think of the other one.
Guate = Municipal, Comunicaciones then idk
ES = Fas, Aguila, Alianza

Nicaragua has almost not history in soccer, so does Belice, and Panama is coming strong now.

Right now the level of playing is better in Honduras and Costa Rica, but I think the best payed league is Guatemala.

ES at some point had great teams, but I think everybody knows that we have beein in declain lately.

I used to watch Alajuela vrs Aguila, Olimpia vrs Aguila in my home town, San Miguel... awesome futbol, back then it pretty even, and the staduims always packed.

Fas and Firpo have been the big ones lately in ES, but Aguila and Alianza have more history.

For now Im enjoying whats in there, I was surprised on how DC United beat Olimpia... wow, Gomez is flying high right now. Argetines are going to def give a better face to MLS.

Good luck to everyone, my Aguila would be back soon, and we will be back in the game again, playing them big boys. :cool:

[Antonio81]

Costa Rica has 10 leagues in the first division. Alajuelense and Saprissa are easily the strongest, with Heredia not far behind. Saprissa had serious economic problems a few years ago until Mexican billionaire Vergara(also owner of CD Chivas Guadalajara and Chivas USA) bought the club and poured money into it, and limited the roster to only Costa Rican nationals. The bulk of the Costa Rican national team that doesn´t play in Europe, MLS or the MFL play with Saprissa and Alajuela, while 3 or 4 play with Heredia.

While those three would probably do very well in MLS or the MFL, and have come out on top repeatedly in CONCACAF competitions, the next two teams Brujas and Puntarenas would probably be at the bottom of MLS, while the rest would probably be USL-1 teams.

As far as El Salvador, Aguil, FAS, and Luis Angel Firpo would probably be the top teams, Municipal and Communicaciones in Guatemala, Olimpia in Honduras, Arabe Unido in Panama, and Real Esteli and Diriamba in Nicaragua. Belize´s league isn´t fully professional.

Costa Rica is slightly ahead of the rest(Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) while Panama is slighty below them. Belize and Nicaragua are miles below.

The leagues are all very uneven with a few teams dominating the rest(unlike in Mexico and America, were there´s parity). Jamaica is similar, with its best team Portmore Utd. getting a result against DC United, and many of the rest losing badly to USL teams.

[Popol Vuh]

Info about the Guatemalan league here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Guatemala).

[Azuran]

Here's some info about the Honduras League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Futbol_de_Honduras).

I really need to update that.

Also, here's a link to the current season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras_Clausura_2006-07).

7th place makes me sad. :(

[scarshins]

Jamaica is similar, with its best team Portmore Utd. getting a result against DC United, and many of the rest losing badly to USL teams.

DC United has never lost to a Carribbean team.

honest mistake or lie?

I suspect we'll have a low-scoring snoozefest next week at RFK, in which Olimpia will have very little possession of the ball.

This board sure can get tiring in some ways.

[Antonio81]

DC United has never lost to a Carribbean team.
honest mistake or lie?

DC beat Portmore 1-0 a few years ago in a game where Portmore maintained much of the possession. Jamaica does not have one fully professional team while DC United has paid players up to 500k a year.

I suspect we'll have a low-scoring snoozefest next week at RFK, in which Olimpia will have very little possession of the ball.

This board sure can get tiring in some ways.
The snoozers will get a rude awakening(as always) when they hit the Alajelense/Saprissa stadiums and meet real live barras, where they never win.

[scarshins]

DC beat Portmore 1-0 a few years ago in a game where Portmore maintained much of the possession.

Lemme offer the olive branch of "we can pretend you made a mistake".

maybe it was an exhibition? maybe you're confusing DC with some other MLS team?

Because I don't recall DC ever playing Portmore, and the records don't recall it either...

Harbour View did OK couple of years ago... lost both games 1-2 but they were competitive.

[scarshins]

Still waiting for evidence of the famous DC-Portmore game.

You know, the one that DC either lost, or won, 1-0, depending on which post you look at. The one where Portmore controlled possession.

Take your time, records of it may be difficult to locate.

[ZeekLTK]

The snoozers will get a rude awakening(as always) when they hit the Alajelense/Saprissa stadiums and meet real live barras, where they never win.

Well not this year, since neither of those two qualified to the Champions Cup.

[Antonio81]

http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20050310/sports/sports1.html

I confused Harbour View with a Portmore friendly that had been played in Lockhart years ago.

Harbour played well against DC in DC, although eventually losing by one goal. None of the Carribbean leagues are fully professional.

I was making a point about the level of parity in the US and Mexico in comparison to the rest of CONCACAF.

[Antonio81]

Well not this year, since neither of those two qualified to the Champions Cup.

Last year would be champions Saprissa were screwed out by Jamaican referree Peter Prendergast(the same one who rediculously sent of Bruce Arena in a WC Qualifier and Gold Cup semi-final) who missed 3 clear penaltys commited by Toluca.