C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo

Luis Ángel Firpo
Full name Club Deportivo Luis Ángel Firpo
Nickname(s) Pamperos
Los Toros
Los Ultralempinos
Founded September 17, 1923
Ground Estadio Sergio Torres,
Usulután, El Salvador
(Capacity: 5,000)
Chairman Enrique Escobar
Manager Nelson Mauricio Ancheta
League Primera Division
Clausura 2011 Primera Division 4th
Home colours
Away colours

Club Deportivo Luis Ángel Firpo is an football club based in Usulután, El Salvador that plays in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional. It has been one of the most successful clubs in El Salvador, having won 9 titles, firstly in 1989. Only FAS and Águila hold more league titles than Firpo, just one fewer that Alianza. Firpo's success was at one of its highest ever during the decade of the '90s, having disputed 9 out of 11 finals, winning 5 and losing 4.

Contents

Overview

Club Deportivo Luis Ángel Firpo is the oldest club in El Salvador. The club was founded on September 17, 1923 by a group of local citizens. Originally named Tecún Umán, the club was soon renamed in honor of Luis Ángel Firpo, a famous Argentine boxer, who almost became the first Latin heavyweight champion by knocking Jack Dempsey out of the ring on September 24, 1923.

Some of the greatest Salvadoran football players, including Mauricio Cienfuegos and Raúl Díaz Arce, have played for L.A. Firpo at some point in their careers. The team has won a total of nine Primera División de Fútbol Profesional championships in 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999 Clausura, 2000 Clausura, 2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura. Their most recent title came June 1, 2008 after defeating C.D. FAS 1–0. The game ended 0–0 after the first 90 minutes, so the game went to extra time, where Firpo took the advantage by winning and converting a penalty in the dying seconds of extra time to claim its second consecutive, and ninth title overall.

The team plays its home games at Estadio Sergio Torres in Usulután. The team's mascot is the bull, a reference to the nickname of the team's namesake who was called "El Toro de las Pampas", which translates to "The Wild Bull of the Pampas" Furia Pampera was the first to have two different representative locations; Usulután (Furia Usulután) and San Salvador (Furia SS).

History

Early history

On September 17, 1923, a group of Usulután citizens, mostly of European descent decided to form a team which represent their community passion for football. The club first elected Gustavo Denys as their first club chairman. They decided to choose red and blue as their teams colours. Originally named Tecún Umán, the club was soon renamed in honor of Luis Ángel Firpo, a famous Argentine boxer, who almost became the first Latin heavyweight champion by knocking Jack Dempsey out of the ring on September 24, 1923. The members of C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo acquired land near Sergio Torres creek to develop and build a stadium. Slowly but surely the team gained prestige in 1941–1942, when it labeled the best team in the eastern zone of El Salvador. After defeating Chinameca Sporting Club and Corona F.C. they succeed in participating in the triangular series, but were no match to Quequeisque of Santa Ana.

Luis "el Loco" Regalado was the first Firpo player to earn selection to El Salvador's national football team, he was followed by Ricardo and Miguel Zamora, Leonidas and Lázaro Quinteros, along with Ramón and Mario Águila. Their first football manager was Manuel "el Zancudo" Segurado.

In the early '40s, although Firpo were decently skilled football team, its leadership, was not economically stable. In the '50s despite being bi-champions along with Atlético Marte they were relegated. However, due to the command of Narciso Romagoza, they returned to the first division the very next year. The team discovered some great talents such as Félix Quinteros and Roberto Aguila, however due to poor economic stability they lost both players and were relegated in 1962. In 1967, Firpo were promoted once again thanks to the efforts of Francisco Contreras, Daniel Martínez, Napoleón Regalado, Ramón Tenorio, Raúl Corcio Zavaleta and Miguel Deras. The acquisition of Chilean Andrés Paretti and Julio Escobar breathed fresh air into the team. Once again poor management and financial control lead to Firpo being demoted once again. In 1972 Firpo returned to first division and has stayed there ever since.

Team success and heartbreak

The team first great joy came in the 1988–1989 season, after finishing third on the table (with 12 wins, 16 draws, 8 loses) despite this amazing effort, the team's leadership dismissed their Argentinian coach Juan Quarterone and replaced him with the former Luis Ángel Firpo player, Chilean Julio Escobar. The club won their first title after 66 years, They beat Cojutepeque F.C. 4–3 on penalties in the final at the Estadio Cuscatlán, after a 1–1 draw in normal time. The same team roster reached the 1990 final, however they were outplayed by Alianza F.C. and were defeated. In the 1991 final, Firpo defeated C.D. Águila under the direction of Juan Carlos Masnick, winning their second title in just three years.

International representation

At the beginning of the nineties they participated in their first international tournament, the and surpassed expectation by defeating Pumas UNAM 1–0 in the first round however they lost in the second round by penalties against Alajuelense. For the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League, they were eliminated in the group stage, after having qualified directly into the round as El Salvador's champions. They once again participated in the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, however they were eliminated in the preliminary round by D.C. United.

Achievements

Winners (9): 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999 Clausura, 2000 Clausura, Apertura 2007, Clausura 2008.
Runners-up (11): 1955–1956, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 1995–1996, 1996–1997, Apertura 2001, Primera Division de Futbol Profesional Clausura 2003, Clausura 2005, Clausura 2007, Clausura 2009
Runners-up (1): 2000

Performance in CONCACAF competitions

1993 – 3rd place
1995 – Runner-up
Best: Group stage in 2008
2008–09 : Group stage
2009–10 : Preliminary Round

Anthem

HAY VIENE EL FIRPO HAY VIENE EL Firpo.
HOY VIBRAN LOS ESTADIOS EN TODO EL SALVADOR.
ORIENTE HACE AL FIRPO EL EQUIPO GANADOR,
¡VIVA EL FIRPO, VIVA EL FIRPO!
LA GARRA Y EL CORAJE DEL BUEN Usuluteco,
SE SIENTE CUANDO EL FIRPO COMIENZA A GOLEAR.
¡VIVA el Firpo VIVA El Firpo
FIRPO ES EL EQUIPO GANADOR,
ORGULLO DE MI PATRIA EL SALVADOR
¡VIVA EL FIRPO

Stadium

C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo plays its home games at Estadio Sergio Torres in Usulután, better known throughout Central America as the Devil's Cauldron because it is close to impossible to defeat Firpo there. Located in the Barrio La Parroquia, the stadium is an exception in El Salvador's professional football: As Firpo is the only team in the First Division that plays in its own stadium. Firpo's first president, Mr. Gustavo Demis, bought two thirds of the stadium and, in 1950, the then president, Mr. Juan Boillat, bought the other third. In 1987, the stadium was renamed after the legendary former owner and president of the team. The stadium known as Usulután Stadium became known as Sergio Torres Rivera Stadium.

Their first logo contained a figure of a bull in honour of the "toro de las pampas" of the boxer Luis Ángel Firpo. However, later the board of Luis Ángel Firpo decided to replace the bull with the official coat of arms of Luis Ángel Firpo which consisted of a triangle with two half circles and containg blue and white letters of the club. On top of the coat of arms contains stars which indicate the amount of titles the team has won which currently is at 9.

Fans

Despite having a growing fan base across the country, there were no official fan groups until 1990 when Manuel Viagra founded the Furia Pampera in Usulután. They are currently the second largest fan base in San Salvador and the fourth largest nationwide.

Rivalries

Presidential history

Luis Ángel Firpo has had numerous presidents over the course of their history, some of which have been the owners of the club while others have been honorary presidents. Here is a complete list of them.[1]

 
Name Years
Gustavo Denys 1930
David Munguía Payés TBA
Santiago González TBA
Julio López Jiménez TBA
Juan Víctor Boillat TBA
Gilberto Flores Huezo TBA
José Gregorio Zelaya TBA
Humberto López TBA
 
Name Years
Sergio Torres Rivera 1982–?
Vicente Rogiero TBA
Galileo Castañeda TBA
Miguel Alcántara TBA
David Urquilla TBA
Lorenzo Campos TBA
Salvador Jiménez TBA
Ramón Aparicio TBA
Gustavo Torres TBA
Juan Torres TBA
 
Name Years
Miguel Infantozzi TBA
Virgilio Machuca TBA
Rafael Baires TBA
Napoleón Osegueda TBA
Enrique Santos TBA
Fernando Alvarado TBA
Ramiro Luna Boza TBA
Ovidio Martínez TBA
William Handal TBA
Jozsef Arguedas 2008–2010
Enrique Escobar 2011–

Elmer Antonio Landaverde

Current squad

As of Apertura 2011:
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 Dagoberto Portillo
2 DF Moisés Xavier García
4 DF Carlos Monteagudo
6 MF Henry Escobar
7 DF Allan Salazar
9 FW Anel Canales
10 MF Jaime Alas
11 FW Alex Erazo
14 DF Jorge Sánchez (captain)
No. Position Player
16 MF Óscar Jiménez
21 MF Marlon Trejo García
22 GK Dennis Salinas
23 DF Luis Hernandez
24 MF Dennis Alas
26 MF Henry Abdaly Joya
27 MF Carlos Rinaldi Medrano
28 MF Medardo Max Guevara
31 FW Marlon Martínez
FW Carlos Ayala

Squad Changes for Clausura 2012

In:

Out:

Personnel

Management

Position Name
Manager Nelson Mauricio Ancheta
Assistant Manager Ivan Ruiz
Fitness Coach Luis Ríos
Goalkeeper Coach Carlos Rivera
Club Doctor Dr. Quintanilla
knesliogiocal Miguel Angel Barrera
Utility Julio Ernesto Méndez

Notable players

Coaches

1940s

  • Manuel "El Zancudo" Segurado

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s to date

2010s to date

Others Coaches

Followers

References

External links