C.D. Motagua

Motagua

Full name	Club Deportivo Motagua
Nickname(s)	Ciclon Azul (Blue Cyclone), Aguilas Azules (Blue Eagles), Los Mimados (The Loved Ones)
Founded	29 August 1928
Ground	Estadio Nacional Tegucigalpa (Capacity: 35,000)
Owner	Pedro Atala
Coach	Ramón Maradiaga
League	Liga Nacional
2009–10 C	Runner-up
All-time top scorer	Angel Obando (77)
Supporters groups	La Revo 1928 Macro Azurra
Honours	LINA (11) UNCAF (1)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

See also: 2010–11 C.D. Motagua season

Club Deportivo Motagua is a Honduran football club, located in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, and plays in the Honduran top division at the Estadio Nacional. The club is one of the most successful and renowned of Honduras. The club was founded 29 August 1928.

History

Foundation

The club was founded on 29 August 1928 as the idea of Marco Antonio Ponce and supported by Marco Antonio Rosa at a meeting held in the house of Mrs. Marta Vélez de Ramos; located next to the Bank of London and Montreal, taking advantage of the disintegrated clubs America, Honduras, Atlético and Aguila. That day, they decided to call all members of these clubs to form Motagua. In the same meeting the Board of directors headed by Marco Antonio Rose and the doctor Alejandro Lara followed by another group of personalities were elected. This board of directors supported the female basketball, baseball and athletics teams.

First Game

The first game was against Tejeros del España of the Guanacaste neighborhood, held on 25 November 1928 in the football field La Isla. The final result was 1–1. The referee of the encounter was Herasmo Velásquez and the Motagua team captain was Constantine Gálvez "Tatino".

First Coach: Daniel Bustillo

Club History

Bagde used in the 1980s and 1990s.

The "blues", were founded on 29 August 1928 as an idea of the poet Marco Antonio Ponce and supported by Marco Antonio Rosa, and is a fusion of the disintegrated teams America, Honduras, Atlético and Aguila; and being inspired by the Motagua River which in those days was being disputed between Guatemala and Honduras, thus gave rise to its name, and is nowadays one of the teams with most achievements, popular and oldest of Honduras.

The metropolitan club is one of the best in Honduras and Central America and has already accumulated several championships, being also a well-known competitor in international tournaments like the CONCACAF Champions League, where it has participated in many occasions but still has not been able to reach a final; In 1986 it had its best finish getting the fifth place.

The team debuted professionally in the 1965–66 season, it was on 18 July in La Ceiba against Vida, where they lost 1–4. Three years later they got their first professional championship under the management of coach Rodolfo Godoy. This year Motagua also won the first ever Honduran Cup, winning the double that season.

The so-called "Mimados" (spoiled) repeated in 1970–71 and 1973–74, these being one of the best times of the club. Unfortunately in 1972–73 the championship was declared null, depriving Motagua to get another title that was almost conquered.

After having achieved the regular season in 1978–79, Motagua qualified to the final stage falling behind España and being forced to play the finals series where they raise their fourth cup.

When the Honduras national football team qualified to the 1982 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, most of the players came from Motagua and Real España, a total of five Motagua players attended to the World Cup. Also worth mentioning that the first goal for Honduras in the mentioned cup was converted by one of these players, Héctor Zelaya against the host Spain in that remembered 1–1 draw.

They spent 13 long years until the 1991–92 season to lift another trophy in one of the most special moments in Motagua's history breaking the drought of wins. In 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998 obtained four second places in the discontinued Honduran Cup.

In 1997–98 the league brought the innovative Apertura and Clausura system, and Motagua is able to achieve both titles, being this the first time to get two leagues in a row, only two years later successfully achieved the 1999–2000 Apertura and Clausura. In January 1999 it won the 1997–98 Honduran Super Cup to Platense.

In 2000 again Motagua contribute to the National team offering 6 players to the U-23 National team, and Honduras achieves for the first time the right to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The last league title came in the 2006–07 Apertura season after defeating neighbors Olimpia. One year later in December 2007, they won their first international competition at the Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2007 winning it undefeated.

In their football record, Motagua was crowned in 27 opportunities, this number includes amateur and professional tournaments, and is one of the clubs that has given more glory to Honduran football by forming players of high level contributing to the different National teams, as well as in foreign clubs.

League and cups performance

All time top scorers

• As of 2009–10 Clausura

No.	Player	Goals
1	Angel Obando	77
2	Oscar Hernández	68
3	Luis Reyes	54
4	Amado Guevara	53
5	Jairo Martínez	50
6	Mario Artica	46
7	Edwin Castro	40
8	Juvini Carreño	38
9	Salvador Bernárdez	37
10	Francisco Ramírez	36

Records

• As of 2009–10 Clausura

Performance at Copa Interclubes UNCAF

Appearances in International Tournaments

All-time record vs. opponents

Domestic level

• As of 2009–10 Clausura

• Other teams statistics missing.
• Games decided in penalty kicks are counted as ties.
• Postseason matches are included.

International level

• As of 3 August 2010

Opponent	First Meeting	Last Meeting	G	W	D	L	F	A	PTS	+/-
Alajuelense	25 – Apr – 1992	22 – Dec – 2002	4	0	1	3	3	11	1	-8
Alianza	?? – ??? – 1979	03 – Apr – 1997	4	0	3	1	5	6	3	-1
Arabe Unido	18 – Dec – 2002	18 – Dec – 2002	1	0	0	1	1	2	0	-1
Arsenal	19 – Aug – 2008	04 – Sep – 2008	2	0	0	2	1	6	0	-5
Atlético Marte	04 – May – 1986	18 – May – 1986	2	1	0	1	4	2	3	+2
Aurora	?? – ??? – 1979	20 – Nov – 1997	3	0	1	2	3	6	1	-3
Cartaginés	05 – May – 1974	19 – May – 1974	2	2	0	0	3	0	6	+3
Comunicaciones	27 – Jul – 1986	20 – Dec – 2002	15	4	9	2	15	15	21	0
Juventus	26 – Jun – 1993	18 – Jul – 1999	4	2	2	0	9	2	8	+7
Los Angeles Galaxy	16 – Mar – 2003	16 – Mar – 2003	2	0	1	1	2	3	1	-1
Luis Angel Firpo	24 – Feb – 1999	25 – Jul – 1999	2	1	0	1	2	2	3	0
Marathón	01 – Nov – 2002	01 – Nov – 2002	1	1	0	0	2	1	3	+1
Municipal	21 – Jun – 1974	30 – Oct – 2007	8	3	2	3	7	9	11	-2
NY Pancyprian-Freedoms	10 – Apr – 1983	26 – Apr – 1983	2	1	0	1	3	4	3	-1
Olimpia	?? – ??? – 1979	?? – ??? – 1979	2	1	1	0	2	1	4	+1
Pachuca	11 – Mar – 2008	19 – Mar – 2008	2	0	1	1	0	1	1	-1
Pembroke Hamilton	31 – Aug – 1986	06 – Sep – 1986	2	1	0	1	3	5	3	-2
Real España	29 – Nov – 1997	29 – Nov – 1997	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Real Estelí	07 – Aug – 2007	16 – Aug – 2007	2	2	0	0	5	1	6	+4
San Francisco	18 – Sep – 2007	26 – Sep – 2007	2	2	0	0	2	0	6	+2
Santiagueño	?? – ??? – 1979	?? – ??? – 1979	2	0	0	2	2	6	0	-4
Saprissa	25 – Apr – 1969	05 – Dec – 2007	15	1	5	9	7	24	8	-17
Tauro	17 – Aug – 2001	23 – Oct – 2002	2	1	0	1	2	2	3	0
Toronto FC	27 – Jul – 2010	03 – Aug – 2010	2	0	1	1	2	3	1	-1
Totals			84	23	28	33	85	112	97	-27

• Friendly matches not included.
• Games decided by penalty shootout are counted as ties.

Achievements

Motagua is the second most successful club in Honduras having won 11 tournaments since the inauguration of the professional League in 1965–66. ^[1]

Domestic

• Honduran Liga Nacional:
  • Winners (11): 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1997–98 A, 1997–98 C, 1999–00 A, 1999–00 C, 2001–02 A, 2006–07 A
  • Runners-up (9): 1969–70, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2002–03 C, 2007–08 A, 2009–10 C
• Honduran Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1968
  • Runners-up (4): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998
• Honduran Super Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1997–98

International

• Copa Interclubes UNCAF:
  • Winners (1): 2007
  • Third place (1): 2002

Other

• Honduran Liga Amateur:
  • Winners (1): 1949–50
  • Runners-up (2): 1947–48, 1950–51

The Club

Colours and badge

Home: 1928 - present

Home: 1988

Away: 2003

Away: 2007 - 2009

Away: 2010 - present

Motagua's traditional colour is dark blue representing the blue waters of the Motagua River. This is because that at the time the club was founded, the Motagua River was in dispute between Honduras and Guatemala

The Motagua badge has a blue eagle. This is because one of the desitengrated club that united to become Motagua was Aguila which translates to Eagle.

Stadium

Main article(s): Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino, Tegucigalpa

Motagua plays their home matches on estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino. The stadium is named after the Honduran president Tiburcio Carias Andino. The stadium is divided into Sol Norte, Sol Sur, Sol Centro, Preferencia, Silla and Palco. The Motaguan supporters "La Revo" are located at Sol Norte and the "Macro Azurra" sit in Sol Centro.

Traditions

There are some traditions within the Motagua institution.

Debuting players- When a new player debuts, he must shave his head. This is optional, most of the players that do shave are recently promoted from the reserve team or are young of age.

New Signings- Usually on the first day of training new players are surrounded by their teammates and are kicked.

Supporters

Motagua has many supporters throughout Honduras. Motagua has one Barra Brava and three other supporters' groups. The barra brava is "Los Revolucionarios del Motagua 1928", who call themselves "La Revo". This fan group has "bandas" or smaller groups inside La Revo such as (from Tegucigalpa) "Los Fuser", "Los Dementes", "Escuadron 57", "Comando 21", "Los Poltershe", "Irreverentes", "Capone", "Infernales", "Danger's", "Anarkia", etc. (from Comayagua) "C26", (from San Pedro Sula) "Los Del Norte", (from La Ceiba) "Revo Ceiba", (from Choluteca) "Revo Choluteca", (from El Progreso) "Revo Progreso", (from Siguatepeque) "Revo Sigua". All of the "bandas" hang "mantas" or huge pieces of cloth saying their banda's name inside the stadium. They also hang one with the barra's website and many of Che Guevara. Matches from Motagua against Olimpia it's illegal to hang these mantas because some of the members go to steal them and cause great scandal so police prefer banning this. La Revo don't cause many scandals between other barras bravas in Honduras only with Olimpia's Ultra Fiel. Throughout 2006-2007 La Revo had problems with Marathon's Furia Verde but they came to peace under the same belief in all of Honduras. "Por Una Honduras Libre De Chucos" which translates to "For a Honduras free of Dirtbags" (Chucos being Olimpia). Marathon, Real España and Motagua's barra bravas all have a manta with this phrase.

Another of the biggest fan group is named "Macro Azurra" which is supported by the club. They can be easily be spotted in the stadium because they generally have always blue ballons. This group is bigger in the northern territory and is sponsored by the club and by Fed-Ex.

There are also two smaller groups one being "Fortaleza Azul" and "JAH" which stands for "Justicia Amor y Humildad" which means "Justice Love and Humbleness". JAH is a religious based fan group which was founded by seven members of the Jehová es Nuestro Pastor church. JAH say that their trips are paid by God.

Rivalries

Motagua vs Olimpia:Their matches are known as the clasico capitalino, Clasico Local (Local Classic) or Clasico Capitalino (Capital's Classic). They are rival since both clubs are from the same city.

Motagua vs Marathón: Other rivalries include the Classic of the M's which is the matches played against Marathon.

Motagua vs Real España: The Motagua - Real Espana classic is not as fierce as the other two already mentioned as these both teams are very good with each other from the players, the board and the fans.

The smallest rivalry which might be called extinct was with Universidad since in the beginning this team was also from Tegucigalpa. Universidad in various occasions let Motagua out of the play-offs. It might be called extinct since Universidad relegate two second division and is in serious financial crisis.

Presidents

Managers

Notable former players

See also Category:Motagua players

Honduras

Current Season

Squad

First-team squad

• As of 18 August 2010

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Walter Flores 2 MF Gustavo Alvarado 3 DF Guillermo Díaz 5 DF Milton Reyes 6 MF Mauricio Weber 7 FW Georgie Welcome 8 MF Jorge Claros 9 FW Shannon Welcome 10 FW Charles Córdoba 11 FW Marcelo dos Santos 12 MF Iván Guerrero 13 MF Ronald Martínez 14 MF Luis Guzmán 15 MF Gabriel Balladares 16 DF Johnny Leverón 17 MF Ramón Amador

No. Position Player 18 MF Meller Sánchez 19 MF Emilson Cruz 20 MF Amado Guevara 22 GK Donaldo Morales 23 DF Sergio Mendoza 25 GK Marlon Licona 26 DF David Molina 28 DF Samir García 29 MF Alejandro Aguiluz 30 MF Rubén Rivera 31 FW Carlos Cruz 32 MF Jorge Escobar 33 MF Esdras Padilla 35 FW José Valladares 36 MF Javier Portillo 37 GK Eduardo Sánchez

Current technical staff

President	Pedro Atala
Vice-President	Javier Atala
Director of Football	Héctor "Lin" Zelaya
Head Coach	Ramón Maradiaga

Retired numbers

16 – Edy Vasquez, retired for 2 years in commermoration of Edy Vasquez's death.

References

External links

• Official Website
• LaRevo1928 Oficial Supporters Site