Hankook Verdes
Encyclopedia
Hankook Verdes are a Belize association football club which competes in the Belize Premier Football League. They are based in Benque Viejo del Carmen
, a town situated on the border of Guatemala
. The club was established in 1976 as Real Verdes Football Club and changed their name to Hankook Verdes in 2004. The club is one of the oldest active professional football teams in Belize and has been in existence since the inception of the Football Federation of Belize
. Their home games are played at Norman Broaster Stadium
.
The club has established an excellent reputation for the development of many past and current members of the Belize national football team
, despite not having won any club championships at the national level until 2008.
In 1985, Hankook Verdes was the first team to represent Belize
in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Throughout the history of Belizean football, Real Verdes has represented its country more than any other club in Belize. The list of CONCACAF
opponents includes professional teams such as Cruz Azul, Pumas, Santos Laguna
(Mexico
); Real España, Club Deportivo Platense
, Universidad NAH (Honduras
); Club Xelajú MC
, CSD Municipal
, Comunicaciones
, (Guatemala
); and Luis Ángel Firpo
(El Salvador
). Hankook Verdes has the most UNCAF Club Tournament appearances of any Belize Football Club.
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Benque Viejo del Carmen is a town in the Cayo District in the country of Belize.-History:The town was established in the 19th century, mostly by immigrants from Guatemala. During the first years of the 21st century, the town experienced a rapid boom in population...
, a town situated on the border of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The club was established in 1976 as Real Verdes Football Club and changed their name to Hankook Verdes in 2004. The club is one of the oldest active professional football teams in Belize and has been in existence since the inception of the Football Federation of Belize
Football Federation of Belize
The Football Federation of Belize , formerly known as the Belize National Football Association and founded in 1980, is the governing body of football in Belize. It has been a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , CONCACAF and Union Centroamericana de Fútbol in 1986.-...
. Their home games are played at Norman Broaster Stadium
Norman Broaster Stadium
Norman Broaster Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in San Ignacio, Belize. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium to Belize Defence Force in the Belize Premier Football League of the Football Federation of Belize....
.
The club has established an excellent reputation for the development of many past and current members of the Belize national football team
Belize national football team
The Belize national football team is the national team of Belize and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize. It is affiliated to the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF...
, despite not having won any club championships at the national level until 2008.
In 1985, Hankook Verdes was the first team to represent Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Throughout the history of Belizean football, Real Verdes has represented its country more than any other club in Belize. The list of CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
opponents includes professional teams such as Cruz Azul, Pumas, Santos Laguna
Santos Laguna
Club Santos Laguna is a Mexican football club. They represent the urban area of Comarca Lagunera, which is made up of Torreón, Gomez Palacio, and Lerdo. Santos Laguna currently plays in the Primera División. The club was founded in 1982, and reached Mexico's top division after buying the franchise...
(Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
); Real España, Club Deportivo Platense
Club Deportivo Platense
Club Deportivo Platense is a Honduran football club, located in Puerto Cortés, Cortés. The club was founded on 4 July 1960.-History:According to the records available, the following people attended Club Platense: René Paíz, Roger Riera, Roberto Mejía, Roosevelt Garbut, Manuel Flores, Héctor...
, Universidad NAH (Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
); Club Xelajú MC
Club Xelajú MC
Club Social y Deportivo Xelajú Mario Camposeco, commonly known as Xelajú MC or just Xela and nicknamed Superchivos are a Guatemalan professional football club competing in the Liga Nacional, the country's top footballing division. They are located in Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango,...
, CSD Municipal
CSD Municipal
Club Social y Deportivo Municipal, also known as Municipal or Los Rojos , are a Guatemalan professional football club based in Guatemala City...
, Comunicaciones
Comunicaciones
Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones is a Guatemalan football club located in Guatemala City.The club is currently playing in the highest Guatemalan league, the Liga Nacional. Their home venue is the Estadio Cementos Progreso in the nation's capital. Nicknamed Cremas , they are the second-most...
, (Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
); and Luis Ángel Firpo
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
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,...
(El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
). Hankook Verdes has the most UNCAF Club Tournament appearances of any Belize Football Club.
Performance in International competitions
- Copa Interclubes UNCAFCopa Interclubes UNCAFThe UNCAF Club Tournament was an annual international football competition held in the UNCAF region . The competition was open to the leading domestic club teams in the region. The winners of each national league qualified automatically. It also provided qualification places for the CONCACAF...
: 4 appearances
-
- Best: First Round in 1995,1999, 2006
- 1993: Preliminary Round
- 1994: Preliminary Round
- 1995: First Round
- 1999: First Round
- 2006: First Round
- CONCACAF Champions LeagueCONCACAF Champions LeagueThe CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
: 1 appearances
-
- Best: Preliminary Round in 2008
- 2008 : Preliminary Round
Current squad
Notable former players
- Erwin Contreras
Erwin ContrerasErwin Contreras is a Belizean politician. He is the Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection in Belize. He was born in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District, Belize....
(Captain, Belize national football teamBelize national football teamThe Belize national football team is the national team of Belize and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize. It is affiliated to the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF...
, 1990–93) - Jorge GarcíaJorge GarciaJorge García is a U.S. actor and comedian. He first came to public attention with his performance as Hector Lopez on the television show Becker and later for his portrayal of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes in the television series Lost. Garcia also performs as a stand-up comedian.-Early life:García was born...
(Captain, Belize national football teamBelize national football teamThe Belize national football team is the national team of Belize and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize. It is affiliated to the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF...
, 1994–97)