2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season


The 2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season is the 19th season and 37th and 38th tournament of El Salvador's Primera División since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Santa Tecla F.C. the defending champions of the Apertura and Clausuray. The league will consist of 12 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 22 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top eight teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.
The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2018 CONCACAF League. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF League. Should the final of both tournaments features the same two teams, the semifinalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.

Team information

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2016–17 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2016–17 Segunda División.
UES were relegated to 2017–18 Segunda División the previous season.
The relegated team was replaced by the 2016–17 Segunda División playoffs promotion winner. Independiente won the Apertura 2016, while Audaz won the Clausura 2017 title. C.D. Audaz won the playoffs by the score of 1-0.
C.D. Chalatenango were stripped of their license after suffering financial trouble.
A.D. Chalatenango were formed by business leaders and by the local government, they purchased the license and debts of CD Chalatenango .

Promotion and relegation

Promoted from Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2017.
Relegated to Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2017.
TeamChairmanHead CoachCaptainKitmakerShirt sponsor
Águila Pedro Arieta Jorge Daniel Casanova Deris UmanzorJomaTigo, Canal 4, Pollo Campesto
Alianza Adolfo Salume Jorge Rodríguez Rodolfo ZelayaLottoCanal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Veca airlines, Brahva
Audaz Juan Pablo Herrera German Pérez Levi MartinezMacaCanal 4, Vitasym, Acodjar de R.L.
Chalatenango Rigoberto Mejia Ricardo Serrano Héctor CruzNilCanal 4, Eurofarm, Grupo de MC
Dragón Abelio Diaz Henry Vanegas Manuel GonzálezRush Atletic WearCanal 4, GRS, Lemus
FAS Guillermo Morán Cristian Álvarez Néstor Raúl RenderosMilánPilsener, Tigo, Canal 4
Firpo Modesto Torres Ramón Sánchez Jhonny RíosKelmeDial Fm, Pilsener, Tienors Galo, Lemus
Isidro Metapán Rafael Morataya Edwin Portillo Milton MolinaMilanCanal 4
Limeño Martín Herrera Hugo Ovelar Francisco Jovel ÁlvarezNilUNAB, Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres
Pasaquina Óscar Ramírez Omar Sevilla Carlos ArévaloNilCanal 4, Innova sport
Sonsonate Pedro Contreras Garabet Avedissian Carlos CarrilloRush Atletic wearProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1
Santa Tecla José Vidal Hernández Ernesto Corti Diego ChavarriaKelmePowerade, DLC, Canal 21, Pilsener,Claro, Plaza Merliot, Pollo Indio, Petrox, Dizucar, Bolívar, Toledo, The Moustache

Notable events

Point deduction

Pasaquina was docked 6 points for failing to pay over players' wages. However, this was later changed to a fine and Pasaquina were able to keep their points.

Sale of Luis Angel Firpo

In August 2017, Familia Galo, owners of Luis Angel Firpo, announced that they were putting the team up for sale.
The Modesto Torres group was one of three known groups to have submitted a preliminary bid for the club. The other two groups were Julio Sosa group, former president of Aguila, and an unnamed Mexican group.
The sale was completed on September 16, to the Modesto Torres group for an unknown amount.

Change of Ownership of Aguila

After weeks of protest from fans and criticism from players and the media for Aguila late payment for players, poor recruitment and lack of success. The Arieta group announced on 30 December 2017 that they were selling their operating rights for Aguila and would announce the names of the new owners in the new year.

Primera division boycott

In October 2017, eleven clubs voted to boycott FESFUT and leave the primera division, causing round 12 to be suspended. A few days later Limeno, Pasaquina, Audaz and Chalatenango voted to return to the Primera division. Following negotiations held by The El Salvador government between FESFUT and the other Primera division clubs, they returned to the primera division. As a protest of the decision to return to the primera division, Lisandrohl Pohl and Vidal Hernandez resigned as president and vice president

Sale of Luis Angel Firpo for the second time

Owing to financial problem and complaints from fan bases, the Modesto Torres group put Luis Angel Firpo up for sale, the second time for the year.

Notable death from Apertura 2017 season and 2018 Clausura season

The following people associated with the Primera Division have died in end of 2017 and mid 2018.

Before the start of the season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Sonsonate Eraldo CorreiaSackedMay 2017 Garabet AvedissianMay 2017th
FAS Emiliano PedrozoMoved to become assistant coachMay 2017 Cristian ÁlvarezMay 2017th
Metapan Alvaro Misael AlfaroMoved to become assistant coachMay 2017 Edwin PortilloMay 2017th
Chalatenango N/ANew team formed2017 Ricardo SerranoMay 2017N/A

During the Apertura season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table
Águila Jorge Daniel CasanovaSackedAugust 2017 Osvaldo EscuderoAugust 201710th
Sonsonate Garabet AvedissianResignedAugust 2017 Ruben AlonsoAugust 201710th
Dragon Henry VanegasSackedSeptember 2017 Efrain BurgosSeptember 201711th
Pasaquina Omar SevillaResignedSeptember 2017 Manuel Carranza MurilloOctober 2017th
Chalatenango Ricardo SerranoSackedSeptember 2017 William Renderos IrahetaSeptember 2017th
Firpo Juan Ramón SánchezSackedOctober 2017 Eraldo CorreiaOctober 2017th
Dragon Efrain BurgosSackedNovember 2017 Abel BlancoNovember 201712th

Between Apertura and Clausura seasons

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
C.D. Dragon Abel Blanco/ Santos RiveraMoved back to Assistant coachNovember 2017 Diego PizarroNovember 201712th
Audaz German PérezSackedNovember 2017 Misael AlfaroDecember 2017Th
Limeno Hugo OvelarContract finishedDecember 2017 Emiliano BarreraDecember 2017Th
Santa Tecla Ernesto CortiContract finishedDecember 2017 Rubén da SilvaDecember 2017Th

During the Clausura season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table
Pasaquina Manuel Carranza MurilloSackedFebruary 2018 Francisco Robles 'Interim'February 201810th
C.D. Audaz Alvaro Misael AlfaroResignedFebruary 2018 Rafael Tobar and Emerson Umaña 201812th
C.D. Aguila Osvaldo EscuderoSackedFebruary 2018 Marvin Benitez 20184th
C.D. Sonsonate Ruben AlonsoResignedFebruary 2018 Juan Ramon Sanchez201812th
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo Eraldo CorreiaSackedFebruary 2018 Victor Giron and Francisco Jovel 201812th
C.D. Chalatenango William Renderos IrahetaSackedFebruary 2018 Geovany Portillo 201812th
C.D. AudazRafael Tobar and Emerson Umaña Moved to become assistant coachesFebruary 2018 Carlos RomeroMarch 201812th
C.D. Aguila Marvin Benitez Interim finished, moved to be assistantMarch 2018 Miguel Aguilar ObandoMarch 20184th
A.D. Isidro Metapan Edwin PortilloResignedMarch 2018 Agustin CastilloMarch 201810th
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo Victor Giron and Francisco Jovel Interimship finishedMarch 2018 Giovanni TriguerosMarch 2018th
C.D. Municipal Limeno Emiliano BarreraSackedMarch 2018 Wilfredo Molina InterimMarch 2018th
C.D. Municipal Limeno Wilfredo Molina InterimBack to assistant coachMarch 2018 Víctor CoreasMarch 2018th
C.D. Dragon Diego PizarroSackedApril 2018 Santos Rivera InterimApril 2018th

Apertura 2017

League table

Results

Scoring

Source :
RankPlayerTeamGoals
1 Gustavo GuerreñoAlianza12
1 Armando PoloSonsonate12
3 Lorenzo FrutosSanta Tecla9
3 José GutierrézPasaquina9
5 James CabezasÁguila8
5 Daley MenaAudaz8
5 Christian SánchezIsidro Metapán8
8 Nicolás MuñozFirpo7
8 Jimmy TullochIsidro Metapán7
10 Gilberto BairesSanta Tecla6
10 Zé PauloSonsonate6
10 Luis HinestrozaAlianza6
10 Javier LezcanoÁguila6
10 Luis PalaciosPasaquina6

Individual awards

Playoffs


Quarterfinals


First leg
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Second leg
3-3. Isidro Metapan advanced as the higher seeded team.
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1-1. FAS advanced as the higher seeded team.
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Alianza won 4-0 on aggregate.
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0-0. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.

Semifinals


First leg
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Second leg
2-2. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.
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2-2. Alianza advanced as the higher seeded team.

Final


Clausura 2018

League table

Results

Records

  • Best home records: Santa Tecla F.C.
  • Worst home records: C.D. Dragon
  • best away records : Alianza F.C.
  • worst away records : Sonsonate
  • Most goals scored: Santa Tecla F.C.
  • Fewest goals: C.D. Dragon
  • Fewest goals conceded : Santa Tecla F.C.
  • Most goals conceded : A.D. Isidro Metapan

    Scoring

  • First goal of the season: Daniel Luna for Pasaquina against Audaz, 9 minutes
  • First goal by a foreign player: Javier Lescano for Aguila against Chalatenango, 35 minutes
  • Fastest goal in a match: 4 minutes
  • * Gustavo Guerreño for Alianza F.C. against FAS
  • Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+3 minutes
  • * Elias Dandi goal for Isidro Metapan against Firpo
  • First penalty Kick of the season: Javier Lescano for Aguila against Chalatenango, 35 minutes
  • Widest winning margin: 4 goals
  • * Santa Tecla F.C. 4–0 C.D. Audaz
  • First hat-trick of the season: Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against C.D. Chalatenango
  • First own goal of the season: Nelson Moreno for C.D. Aguila
  • Most goals in a match: 6 goals
  • * TBD 4–2 TBD
  • Most goals by one team in a match: 4 goals
  • * C.D. FAS 4–2 Firp
    Santa Tecla F.C. 4-0 C.D. Audaz
    Limeno 4–2 A.D. Isidro Metapan
  • Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
  • * TBD 5–2 TBD
  • Most goals scored by losing team: 2 goals
  • * Firpo 2–4 C.D. FAS
    C.D. Audaz 2-3 C.D. FAS
    C.D. Chalatenango 2-3 A.D. Isidro Metapan
    C.D. Chalatenango 2-3 Limeno
  • Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
  • * Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against C.D. Chalatenango

    Top goalscorers

Individual awards

Playoffs


Quarterfinals


First leg

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Second leg
Audaz won 4-3 on aggregate.
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Aguila won 1-0 on aggregate.
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Alianza won 5-0 on aggregate.
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1-1. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.

Semifinals


First leg
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Second leg
Santa Tecla won 5-2 on aggregate.
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Alianza won 5-2 on aggregate.

Final


List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2017–18 season. The following players:
  1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
  2. Have not been capped for the El Salvador national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace
A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player is released and it's before the close of the season transfer window.
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Aggregate table

Relegation playoff