Municipal Liberia

Municipal Liberia
Full name Asociación Deportivo Municipal Liberia
Founded 7 june 1977
Ground Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño
Liberia, Costa Rica
Capacity 6,500
Manager Orlando de León
League Segunda División de Costa Rica

Asociación Deportivo Municipal Liberia is a Costa Rican football team playing at in the Segunda División de Costa Rica.

The team its based in Liberia, Guanacaste. Their home stadium is Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño.

History

Founded on 7 June 1977, four years after Guanacasteca was founded and solely represented Guanacaste Province,[1] Municipal Liberia won promotion to the Primera División de Costa Rica in 2001 after beating Ramonense in a Promotion play-off final.[2] They made their debut in the top tier on 29 July 2001 against Saprissa.

Liberia Mía

In June 2007, the club was bought largely (90% of the shares) by Mario Sotela (linked to the Sotela-Montagne family)[3] and were renamed Liberia Mía (My Liberia) after a Sotela project located in Liberia that is called "Zoológico África Mía" (it is a special zoo based only on African animals and species).

Águilas Guanacastecas and relegation

In 2009, Liberia Mía won the Verano championship title,[4] but it proved to be a short-lived party when in July 2010, the club just renamed again to Águilas Guanacastecas (Guanacastecan Eagles),[5] were demoted to the Segunda División de Costa Rica after trading franchise rights with Barrio México.[6][7] The move was regarded by some as controversial since Barrio México club president Mínor Vargas was allegedly also involved with Liberia. Also, it was the second time a Guanacaste team was sold and moved outside the province after Guanacasteca's franchise was taken by Brujas de Escazú in 2004.

Municipal Liberia again

In summer 2011, after Barrio México was expelled from the Primera División, Liberia played in the second division as Los Coyotes del Municipal Liberia, replacing Desamparados whose franchise was bought by Liberia's new owner Manrique Sibaja.[8] The club has been playing in the second division ever since.

In February 2015, Uruguayan coach Orlando de León took charge, replacing Slovak Josef Miso after some poor performances.[9]

Player Records

Most appearances (as of June 9, 2014)[1]
# Name Career Apps Goals
1 Willy Eras 2001-2010, 2013-2014 179

Most goals (as of June 9, 2014)[1]
# Player Career Apps Goals
1 Víctor Núñez 2008-2010 32

Honors

National

Primera División de Costa Rica

Segunda División de Costa Rica

Costa Rican Third Division

Historical list of coaches

  • Colombia Luis Bonilla (2001)
  • Uruguay Orlando de León (2002)
  • Uruguay Daniel Casas (2002)
  • Costa Rica Guillermo Guardia (2002)
  • Costa Rica Rónald Mora (2003)
  • Costa Rica Carlos Campos (2003-2004)
  • Costa Rica Henry Duarte (2004)

  • Brazil Odir Jacques (2005)
  • Costa Rica Róger Flores (2005)[10]
  • Costa Rica Juan Diego Quesada (2005-2006)
  • Brazil Luis Fernández Texeira (2006)
  • Costa Rica Cristián González (2006-2007)
  • Costa Rica Benigno Guido (2007-Aug 2007)[11]

References