La Catedral del Fútbol

Lore & Background

The team was created in 1919 when a group of friends that used to play in a team called the 'Electra' at first and then 'Once de Abril' met at 'Salon París'. They played their first official game on August 2 of that same year against Cartaginés, winning 3–1. Alajuelense was part of the 7 teams that built and formed the National League in Costa Rica in 1921. They won their first championship in 1928.

They are the only team to win the championship with a perfect record; in 1941 they won all 6 games. In 1960, the team made a tour around the world, playing 24 games in 78 days. Alajuelense's best decade was the 1990s, during which they won 4 championships and 4 sub-championships. By the end of the 1990s and into the middle of the 2000s, they won 5 local championships, 2 Copa Interclubes UNCAF Trophies, and a CONCACAF Club Championship.

The club struggled with financial and administrative problems in the second part of the 2000s decade, but is now free of debts. On June 10, 2019, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 2023, Alajuelense participated in the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals, then defeating Cartaginés 6–1 on aggregate, Herediano 5–4 on penalties, and Real Estelí 4–1 on aggregate in the final, becoming the first champions of the CONCACAF Central American Cup.

Reader's Guide

The club plays its home matches at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, also known as 'The Cathedral.' The stadium is located in the El Llano neighborhood of Alajuela. The project to find a proper site started in 1938, land was purchased on October 7, 1940, and the first game was played on January 18, 1942. The stadium was renamed on July 20, 1966, in honor of Alejandro Morera. In 1979, enlargement began and was completed in 1984. On 8 April 2021, the team announced plans for a new stadium, with an expected opening by January 2025. The team's mascot is a Lion and Lioness; the original mascot used to be a Mango.

Did You Know?

• As of January 2026, Alajuelense is the defending champion of the Liga FPD, having secured their 31st national title in the Apertura 2025 tournament.
• Alajuelense was ranked as the highest-placed Central American club in the official CONCACAF club rankings for 2026.
• The club's most important idol is Alejandro Morera Soto, nicknamed 'el mago del balón'.