Alianza F.C.
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| Full name | Alianza Fútbol Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) |
Los Albos Paquidermos (Elefantes Blancos) | |||
| Founded | 1958 (as Atlético La Constancia) | |||
| Ground |
Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador | |||
| Capacity | 57,000 | |||
| Chairman | Lisandro Pohl | |||
| Manager | Rubén Alonso | |||
| League | Primera Division | |||
| Clausura 2014 | Primera Division, 5th | |||
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Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador. The team currently plays in the Primera Division, which is the highest tier league in the country.
Founded in 1960, Alianza was almost immediately successful, winning its first championships in the 1966 and 1967 Salvadoran seasons. Even more significantly, Alianza was the first Central American and Salvadoran club to win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1967, and is currently one of only three Salvadoran teams to have done so.
History
The Beginning
Atlético La Constancia were formed in 1958 by the workers of the local industry. Although small in terms of financial status, they were able to reach the Liga de Ascenso (second division) final in 1958. However they lost 2–0 in a two legged series against Águila. The club however purchased a spot in the first division at the expense of Once Municipal. After promotion to the first division, they were able to gain the sponsorship of the Intercontinental Hotel and the president of the Intercontinental Hotel, Peruvian Mr. Axel Hochkoeppler, and Enrique Sol Meza, the industrialist and president of Alianza F.C. decided to name the club Alianza F.C. in honor of Alianza Lima. Hernán Carrasco Vivanco joined the club as the coach and began getting the players to play an exciting game of football and alongside a strong advertisement campaign Salvadorans (in particular San Salvador residents) began to change their allegiance from Juventud Olimpica and began to embrace Alianza. One of Alianza greatest triumphs happened in 1966, when they defeated Santos, containing the great Pelé, at the Estadio Nacional Flor Blanca they were helped mostly from their foreign players Argentines Dante Juárez, Juan Verón and Santiago all on loan at the time.
Orquesta Blanca
After their achievement of defeating Santos, Alianza won their first title in the very same year. Hernán Carrasco had the team playing some such cohesion and fast, they were labelled Orquesta Blanca by fans and media alike. No other Salvadoran team had that success defeating a World and Americas Champion. The team won fifteen straight games when they reached the final and thanks to goals by the Chilean Miguel "el Chueco" Hermosilla and Mario Monge and despite a goal by "el Tabudo" Méndez for Águila, they were able to win 2–1 becoming champions for the first time. "The Orquesta Alba" were able to win twenty games, draw ten games and only lose six games scoring eighty three goals and conceding thirty nine goals. The team was made up by many great players, including Edgar "Pata Gorda" Morales, Roberto "la Burra" Rivas, Alberto "Pechuga" Villalta, Raúl "Araña" Magaña, Guido Alvarado, Salvador Mariona, Mario Monge, Luis "Cascarita" Tapia, Miguel "el Chueco" Hermosilla, Ricardo Sepúlveda and Jorge "el Conejo" Liévano. In the 1967 season the club signed Gualberto "el Pulpo" Fernández who replaced the departing Raúl Magaña, and also signed "el Chino" Flores, "Tancho" Ángel, "el Ruso" Quintanilla and the Chilean Hernán Álvarez. On 20 August 1967, the club were able to win their second title defeating Sonsonate F.C. 5–1, Tapia scored a double while Monge, Cabezas and Flores scored one goal each. Alianza's success continued defeating Club América (2–0), Flamengo (3–2) and tying (0–0) with Peñarol.
Alianza F.C. became the first El Salvadoran club to win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1967, when they defeated Jong Colombia over a three-leg series. Despite losing the first leg, Alianza was able to win the second leg 3–0 thanks to goals by Odir Jacques, Tapia and Leonardo Salas. With the series tied at one all and the away goals wasn't invented yet the teams played another leg to decide the winner: Alianza won the leg 5–3 with Tapia and Flores scoring a double while Odir Jacques scored the other goal.
Decline and title drought
With a new decade starting Carrasco and several of the Orquesta Alba players either left or retired. Despite a new era of great players coming through the ranks including international players including Brazilians Camargo, Taneses and Nilton Rodarte, Peruvian Fernando Alva, Uruguayan Julio Cesar Cortés "el Pocho", Chileans Hugo Ottensen and domestic players including Miguel "la Mica" González, Herbert Machón, "Míchel" Cornejo, Armando Cortez Sandoval, Roberto "el Cuchillo" Guerra, Jaime "la Chelona" Rodríguez and Carlos "el Cacho" Meléndez. The club failed to win another championship despite reaching the final four times, finishing runner-up four times (1971, 1973, 1975–76 and 1978–79). The club lowest point came when they came close to relegation in 1975, only surviving relegation by defeating Sonsonate on the last day of the championship. The club came from the wilderness to challenge for the title on Christmas Day 1985, however they lost 5–2 against city rivals Atlético Marte.
Title success
After 20 years, In 1986 Alianza won its third league title under Ricardo Sepúlveda, a member of "The Orquesta Alba". Thanks largely to a 3–1 penalty shoot-out win over C.D. Águila after the game finished 0–0, with Carlos Reyes scoring the winning penalty. Their success began to build again with another title in 1989 under their legendary technician Carrasco and mainly based on the outstanding performance of Chilean Raúl Toro who scored the winning goal against Luis Ángel Firpo. Another title was obtained in the 1993–94 season after defeating FAS 2–1. Alianza's goals were scored by Milton Meléndez and Argentine Sergio Bufarini. Their achievement were due to the masterful tactics of the Uruguayan Gustavo Faral. Alianza's international championship drought ended in 1997, when they defeated Deportivo Saprissa to win the UNCAF Club Championship. Their strong momentum lead them to achieve another two domestic titles, both of these achievements were under the watchful eyes of the technician Juan Carlos Masnik and were helped by the heroic players such as Horacio Lugo, Marcelo Bauza and Uruguayan Alejandro Curbelo and Adrián de la Cruz.
Honours
Domestic honours
Often known as: Albos, Blancos, Hector Joaquin Canales El Duende Albo, (hijo de uno de los grandes baluertes del Futbol Salvadoreño Hector El Pato Canales) una de sus figuras Principales, muy querido por la Aficion Salvadoreña, jugo junto a Jorge "el Mágico" González, Pajaro Huezo, Jaime La Chelona, Contratado por los Diplomats de Washington, en 1988 por dos temporadas quedando Campeones en la Liga, el siguiente año se formo la MLS, pero Alianza no dejo ir a Kin Canales de su equipo.
- Primera División: 10
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(10): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1996–97, Apertura 1998, Apertura 2001, Clausura 2004, Clausura 2011.
International honours
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1
- (1): Winners (1): ::1967
- UNCAF Club Championship: 1
- (1): Winners (1): ::1997
- Runner-up (1): 1980
Championship Tournament
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(1)*Copa Santa Ana: 1
- 1977
- Roberto Championship "Burra" Rivas
- (0)*Roberto Championship "Burra" Rivas: 0
- 2013slope
Records
- Alianza F.C. was the first Salvadoran team to win CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Alianza F.C. are the last Salvadoran team to win UNCAF Club Championship
- Alianza F.C. are the last Salvadoran team to win an international competition, this being the UNCAF Club Championship in 1997.
Shirt sponsorship
Shirt manufacturer
- Lotto Sport Italia
Sponsors
- Maseca
- pan sinai
- MK Mediocamentes
- Canal 4
- lotto
Stadium
Alianza Futbol Club has forged its entire history in the Estadio Nacional de la Flor Blanca (Now Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González), in which achieved three titles during the 1960s. However it was damaged in the 2001 earthquakes and Alianza moved to the Estadio Cuscatlán. Since the 2013–14 season; Alianza FC return to Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González.
- Estadio Nacional de la Flor Blanca (1960–01)
- Estadio Cuscatlán (2002–12)
- Estadio Nacional de la Flor Blanca (2013)
- Estadio Cuscatlán (2013–14)
- Estadio Nacional de la Flor Blanca (2014)
- Estadio Cuscatlán (2015–present)
Players
Alianza is the first Salvadoran team to form an under-17 team for the new Under-17 League competition that will begin in April 2014.
Current squad
As of Clausura 2012:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Squad Changes for the Clausura 2015
In:
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Matías Córdoba - Transferred from Brown de Adrogué - Jorge Drovandi - Transferred from Sportivo Las Parejas
- Jonathan Philippe - Transferred from Brown de Adrogué
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Ramón Martínez de Paz - Transferred from TBD - Gabriel Nuñez - Transferred from Querétaro (Under 20)
- Rudy Valencia - Transferred from Águila
- Emerson Veliz - Transferred from Pasaquina
Out:
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Yeison Murillo - Transferred to TBD - Hugo Alejo - Transferred to Alianza "B"
- Maikon Orellana - Released
- Bladimir Osorio - Transferred to Dragón
- Elman Rivas' - Loaned to UES
- Otoneil Salinas - Transferred to Dragón
- Victor Turcios - Retired
Retired numbers
2 – Roberto Rivas, defender (1960–70)
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2014 | Lotto | Alba | Tigo |
| 2014– | Adidas | HTC |
Presidential history
Alianza have had numerous presidents over the course of their history, some of which have been the owners of the club, others have been honorary presidents, here is a complete list of them.
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Personnel
Current technical staff
| Head Coach |  Rubén Alonso |
| Assistant Coach and Reserve Coach | Antonio García Prieto |
| Assistant Coach and Fitness coach | Gabriel Valenzuela |
| Physical/Fitness coach |  TBD |
| Goalkeeper coach | Schafik |
| Director of Sports | Milton Melendez |
Head coaches of Alianza
- List of Head Coaches of Alianza F.C.
Coaches
1960s – 1970s
1980s
1990s
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2000s to date
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References
- ↑ Brasileño Jacques fuera del Alianza - El Diario de Hoy (Spanish)
External links
- (Spanish) Official Website
- (Spanish) Old Website
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