Orión F.C.
 | |||
| Full name | Orión F.C. Sociedad Anónima Deportiva | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Azulgranas", "Orionistas" | ||
| Founded | June 26, 1926 | ||
| Ground |
Estadio Cuty Monge Desamparados, Costa Rica | ||
| Capacity | 27,500 | ||
| Chairman |
 Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes | ||
| Head Coach |
 Carlos De Toro | ||
| League | Primera División de Costa Rica | ||
|
| |||
Orión F.C. is a Costa Rican football club, based in Desamparados.[1]
It was founded in 1926 and has most recently played in Costa Rica's First Division in 2012. They were crowned national league champions twice.[2]
History
The Orion F.C. football club was founded on June 26, 1926.[3] Playing in First Division 36 tournaments, the club secured two Costa Rican national championships and six runners-up, ranking sixth in Costa Rican football history. In 1931 Orión was national runner-up after losing in the finals against Herediano. In 1938 Orión, led by national hero Ricardo Saprissa, won its first championship title in a final match against Sociedad Gimnástica, and its second against Herediano in 1944, ending the season undefeated. They received more runner-up finishes in 1940 (Cartaginés), 1945 (Alajuelense), 1949 (Alajuelense again), 1951 (Herediano) and the last consolation trophy in 1964 before the Saprissa.[4]
Years in the darkness
Orion F.C. dropped to Costa Rica's Second Division in 1968.[3] In 1998, following twenty years of fruitless efforts and a disappointing match against Siquirres La France (3–3) the team descended to the Third Division and its president Manolo Gómez Mora decided to lower the flag of the historic football and retire Orion F.C. as a football club.
The club resurfaced in 2006–2007 through efforts initiated by its current president, Juan Luis Hernández. It was given the opportunity to compete in the Liga Ascenso (Second Division) after acquiring the franchise of Asociación Deportiva Puntarenense-Parrita (ASODEPU).[3][5]
Over their 80 year history the club has allied with Orion HS, Orion, Peripherals, Orion-Tibas, Orion-Carthaginian among others. The team began the 2009–2010 season playing in the Estadio Municipal in the city of Orotina. In January 2010 relocated its head office to the Estadio Lito Monge in Curridabat.
Primera Division return
In April 2011 Brujas' Primera División franchise was transferred to Orión, who continued to play at the Cuty Monge stadium[6] and acquired by Spaniard Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes.[7] and returned to the top tier after 43 years of absence. In summer 2012 they lost a promotion/relegation playoff to Carmelita[8] but later unsuccessfully filed a complaint with FIFA over irregularities with other clubs in a bid to stay in the top tier.[9]
Honours
- Champion (2): 1938, 1944
References
- ↑ Orión F.C. apostó al técnico más rendidor – Diario Extra (Spanish)
- ↑ Torneos y títulos en la Primera tica – Nación (Spanish)
- 1 2 3 Orión vuelve a las canchas de la Segunda – Nación (Spanish)
- ↑ "Costa Rica – List of Champions and Runners Up" Juan Pablo Andrés and Gerardo Coto for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
- ↑ ACTA 09– 2006/07 Comité Director Liga de Ascenso – Liga de Ascenso
- ↑ Franquicia del Brujas FC será cedida por 5 años – Nación (Spanish)
- ↑ Juan Luis Hernández toma control de Brujas – Nación (Spanish)
- ↑ Verdolagas sin tiempo que perder – Nación (Spanish)
- ↑ FIFA no intervendrá en el caso de Orión – Nación (Spanish)