Club Name: Liga Deportiva Alajuelense
Stadium: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Nickname(s): La Liga, Leones
Manager: Albert Rudé
Club Honors
League Titles: 30
CONCACAF Champions League: 2
CONCACAF League: 1 (2020)
Style of Play
Death, taxes and Alajuelense in a 4-4-2…this just isn’t your dad’s 4-4-2.
Alajuelense’s system isn’t reliant on direct service. A natural holding midfielder—or two in the most conservative cases—is replaced by two deep-lying playmakers. Both must possess the ability to play passes between the lines, or in behind the defense.
In its purest form, the attack is more of a 2-4-4. You often have to choose your preferred method of death. Fullbacks push forward and provide width in possession simultaneously. The wingers tuck in to create a forward line of four attackers. More often than not, it creates four 1v1 matchups near the top of the box.
Here is where you pick your poison.
The fullbacks can provide direct service into the area. The center backs can tease possession with the midfielders to create runs in behind. The front four can also combine with quick, 1-2 passes utilizing dynamic movements.
If that isn’t enough, Alajuelense can settle the 4-4-2 into a low block and counter. Wingers display their attacking prowess in these moments. Quick central combinations lead to passes out wide in space. The use of width and pace creates chances in front of goal.
That, of course, is assuming Alajuelense isn’t counter-pressing you to death and sparking these moments closer to goal.
Best XI
Key Players
| Player Name: Johan Venegas |
| Player Rating: ★★★★ |
| Date of Birth: 1988-Nov-27 |
| Age: 33 |
| Citizenship: Costa Rica |
| Primary Position: Striker |
| Position Style: Mobile Striker |
| PLAYER GRADES |
| 2021 Clausura: 3.70 |
| 2022 Apertura: 3.98 |
| Player Name: Alexander Lopez |
| Player Rating: ★★★★ |
| Date of Birth: 1992-Jun-05 |
| Age: 29 |
| Citizenship: Honduras |
| Primary Position: Central Midfielder |
| Position Style: Deep-Lying Playmaker |
| PLAYER GRADES |
| 2021 Clausura: 3.29 |
| 2022 Apertura: 3.81 |
| Player Name: Alexis Gamboa |
| Player Rating: ★★★★★ |
| Date of Birth: 1999-Mar-20 |
| Age: 23 |
| Citizenship: Costa Rica |
| Primary Position: Center Back |
| Position Style: Balanced Defender |
| PLAYER GRADES |
| 2021 Clausura: 4.05 |
| 2022 Apertura: 4.26 |
Squad Overview
| # | Player Name | Position | Playing Style | 2021 Grade |
| 35 | Miguel Aju | GK | Acrobatic | 3.17 |
| 23 | Leonel Moreira | GK | Reflex Dominant | 3.43 |
| 16 | Yael Lopez | RB | Attacking Fullback | 3.00 |
| 4 | Ian Smith | RB | Attacking Fullback | 3.14 |
| 27 | Ian Lawrence | LB | Attacking Fullback | 2.95 |
| 5 | Yurguin Roman | LB | Crossing Specialist | 3.44 |
| 13 | Alexis Gamboa | CB | Balanced | 4.05 |
| 22 | Giancarlo Gonzalez | CB | Stopper | 3.42 |
| 24 | Marcos Meneses | CB | Stopper | 2.90 |
| 26 | Bernald Alfaro | DM | Anchor | 3.81 |
| 33 | Jose Miguel Cubero | DM | Deep-Lying Playmaker | 2.86 |
| 18 | Rashir Parkins | DM | Destroyer | 1.75 |
| 15 | Celso Borges | CM | Deep-Lying Playmaker | 3.50 |
| 11 | Alexander Lopez | CM | Deep-Lying Playmaker | 3.29 |
| – | Fred Cedeño | 10 | Creative Playmaker | 3.00 |
| 10 | Bryan Ruiz | 10 | Creative Playmaker | 2.93 |
| 25 | Aaron Suarez | 10 | Creative Playmaker | 3.41 |
| 19 | Josimar Alcocer | Winger | Playmaking Winger | 2.83 |
| 44 | Israel Escalante | Winger | Playmaking Winger | – |
| 29 | Bryan Felix | Winger | Playmaking Winger | – |
| 99 | Freddy Gondola | Winger | Playmaking Winger | – |
| 17 | Carlos Mora | Winger | Playmaking Winger | 3.06 |
| 9 | Jurguens Montenegro | 9 | Mobile Striker | – |
| 14 | Doryan Rodriguez | 9 | Mobile Striker | 3.00 |
| 8 | Johan Venegas | 9 | Mobile Striker | 3.70 |
CRC FUTBOL 