Football in Ecuador
Encyclopedia
Association football is the most popular sport in Ecuador
, in line with the majority of South America.
. In addition, there are 18 provincial association throughout the country.
, and one in Pichincha for clubs in Quito
and Ambato. Both held their inaugural tournaments in 1922. Both leagues stayed amateur until 1952, when the Guayas league held their first professional tournament. The Pichincha league, called Interandino followed suit in 1954. Both leagues stayed as the top-flight leagues in the country until 1967, when the status of top-flight was ceded to the national tournament.
. After a two year hiatus, the national tournament returned in 1960 and has continued into the present. The Costa and Interandino Championships ceased to exist as a top-level tournament in 1967.
, when they reached the finals of the 1990 and 1998 Copa Libertadores; they lost both. In 2001, Emelec
became the second club to reach the finals of an international tournament at the 2001 Copa Merconorte, which they also lost. In 2008, LDU Quito became the first club to win an international title by becoming the 2008 Copa Libertadores champion. LDU Quito also went to win the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Sudamericana
, both in 2009. To date, those are the only international club titles won by an Ecuadorian team.
Although without any major tournament achievements until the current millennium, Ecuador was never short of footballing talent,producing players such as Alberto Spencer
, Jose Villafuerte
and Carlos Raffo
. Ecuador has qualified for the World Cup twice in 2002 and 2006 but it has yet to win a Copa America
.Their best finish in Copa América
was fourth in 1993
(they also finished fourth in the 'extra' South American Championship in 1959
).
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, in line with the majority of South America.
Governing body
The governing body of football in Ecuador is the Ecuadorian Football Federation , also known as FEF or Ecuafútbol. It runs all national football tournaments and manages the national football teams. Its seat is in GuayaquilGuayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
. In addition, there are 18 provincial association throughout the country.
Club football
Club football is the most popular spectator sport in the country. The top-flight league in the country is the Serie A, followed by the Serie B. Both contain a small number of clubs compared to other leagues across the continent (12 each). Both tournaments are organized by FEF. But, for a considerable part of its history, club football was regionalized.Regional leagues
The first amateur tournaments in Ecuador were organized by two regional leagues: one in Guayas for clubs in GuayaquilGuayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, and one in Pichincha for clubs in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
and Ambato. Both held their inaugural tournaments in 1922. Both leagues stayed amateur until 1952, when the Guayas league held their first professional tournament. The Pichincha league, called Interandino followed suit in 1954. Both leagues stayed as the top-flight leagues in the country until 1967, when the status of top-flight was ceded to the national tournament.
National tournament
No national tournament existed until 1957 when the winners of both regional championships played against each other for the title. The first national title was won by EmelecClub Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec is a Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil that is best known for their professional football team. The football team plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of professional football in the country....
. After a two year hiatus, the national tournament returned in 1960 and has continued into the present. The Costa and Interandino Championships ceased to exist as a top-level tournament in 1967.
International participation
While typically a competitive country, clubs from Ecuador have had little international success. The first club to reach the finals of an international tournament was BarcelonaBarcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club is an Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil, known best for its professional football team. They currently play in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of football in the country, and hold the distinction of being the only team to have never been relegated.With...
, when they reached the finals of the 1990 and 1998 Copa Libertadores; they lost both. In 2001, Emelec
Club Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec is a Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil that is best known for their professional football team. The football team plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of professional football in the country....
became the second club to reach the finals of an international tournament at the 2001 Copa Merconorte, which they also lost. In 2008, LDU Quito became the first club to win an international title by becoming the 2008 Copa Libertadores champion. LDU Quito also went to win the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Sudamericana
2009 Copa Sudamericana
The 2009 Copa Sudamericana de Clubes is the 8th edition of the CONMEBOL's secondary international club tournament. Internacional were the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season...
, both in 2009. To date, those are the only international club titles won by an Ecuadorian team.
National team
The Ecuadorian national football team is controlled by the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol and represents Ecuador in international football competitions. It was for a long time one of the weaker teams in CONMEBOL, but it has recently had more success, making their first World Cup qualification in 2002, and qualifying again for the 2006 World Cup in which they made it to the last 16, losing to England by 1 goal.Although without any major tournament achievements until the current millennium, Ecuador was never short of footballing talent,producing players such as Alberto Spencer
Alberto Spencer
Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera was an Ecuadorian football player, regarded as the best of his country. He is probably best known for his still-standing record for scoring the most goals in the Copa Libertadores, the most important club tournament in South America...
, Jose Villafuerte
Jose Villafuerte
José Villafuerte is an Ecuadorian footballer.Villafuerte spent almost his entire career with El Nacional through the 1970s and 1980s, winning 7 championships in 10 years...
and Carlos Raffo
Carlos Alberto Raffo
Carlos Alberto Raffo is a former Argentine football striker who played international football for Ecuador.-Club career:...
. Ecuador has qualified for the World Cup twice in 2002 and 2006 but it has yet to win a Copa America
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
.Their best finish in Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
was fourth in 1993
Copa América 1993
The 1993 Copa América was the 36th Copa América, CONMEBOL's football tournament for national teams. It was held in Ecuador between June 15 and July 4. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, but for the first time two nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited to take part in the tournament. Mexico and...
(they also finished fourth in the 'extra' South American Championship in 1959
South American Championship 1959 (Ecuador)
The 1959 South American Championship held in Ecuador was an extra South American Championship for the year. The tournament was contested between five teams; Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Peru did not participate and Brazil attended with a team from Pernambuco...
).