Liga Nacional de Honduras
Liga Nacional de Honduras, officially known as the Liga Betcris de Honduras for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football league in the country.
Founded in 1964, it features historic clubs such as Olimpia, Motagua, Real España, and Marathón.
History and facts
The Honduran top division was founded in 1964 and has grown to become one of the strongest leagues in Central America. The competition uses a Apertura and Clausura system, producing two champions each season.
The biggest rivalry in the league is the Clásico Nacional between Olimpia and Motagua. These two clubs dominate the league historically.
Honduran clubs also take part in the CONCACAF Central American Cup, and historically in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
League system
Liga Nacional is the top tier of football in Honduras.
The lowest-ranked club in the aggregate table is relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.
Table 1. Honduran football structure
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Liga Nacional | 1 |
| Liga de Ascenso | 2 |
| Liga Mayor | 3 |
Below the third tier are regional amateur leagues.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Liga Nacional champions by titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Olimpia | 37 |
| Motagua | 18 |
| Real España | 12 |
| Marathón | 9 |
| Platense | 1 |
Olimpia is the undisputed giant of Honduran football.
Teams with most participation
Table 3. Clubs with most Liga Nacional seasons
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Olimpia | 75+ |
| Motagua | 70+ |
| Real España | 65+ |
| Marathón | 60+ |
| Vida | 55+ |
These clubs form the foundation of modern Honduran football history.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums in Honduras
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Olimpia / Motagua | Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés | 35,000 |
| Real España | Estadio Morazán | 18,000 |
| Marathón | Estadio Yankel Rosenthal | 10,000 |
| Vida / Victoria | Estadio Ceibeño | 20,000 |
| Platense | Estadio Excélsior | 10,000 |
Players
Famous Honduran players
- David Suazo
- Rambo de León
- Maynor Figueroa
- Wilson Palacios
- Jerry Bengtson
- Carlos Pavón
Liga Nacional timeline
1964
Liga Nacional is officially founded.
1997
Apertura/Clausura format adopted.
2000s
Motagua and Olimpia dominate the decade.
2020
COVID-19 impacts competition and scheduling.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Fútbol_Profesional_de_Honduras
https://fenafuth.org
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Fútbol_Profesional_de_Honduras
https://fenafuth.org
https://www.rsssf.org
