F.c. Motagua

Motagua

Full name	Futbol Club Motagua
Nickname(s)	Ciclón Azul (Blue Cyclone) Aguilas (eagles) Azul Profundo (Deep Blue) Los Mimados (The Loved Ones)
Founded	29 August 1928; 95 years ago (1928-08-29)
Ground	Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés
Capacity	35,000
President	Eduardo Atala
Coach	Diego Vásquez
League	Liga Nacional
2022 Clausura	Regular phase: 4th Final phase: Winners
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

F.C. Motagua was founded as Club Deportivo Motagua on 29 August 1928. The club competes in the Honduran top division playing its home games at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés. The club is one of the most successful and renowned in Honduras.

The club was founded on 29 August 1928. Three previous clubs, América, Honduras Atlética and Águila, were in the process of falling apart. Marco Antonio Ponce and Marco Antonio Rosa called a meeting and proposed that the clubs unite to form a new club, Motagua (named for a nearby river). After the success of the meeting, a board of directors was appointed.

The first game, played on 25 November 1928, was against Tejeros del España at La Isla. Constantine Gálvez "Tatino" was the captain and Daniel Bustillo was the manager. The team fought to a 1–1 draw.

The first international game was played on 9 April 1939 against Costa Rican side Orión at the San Felipe field in Tegucigalpa; Motagua were managed by Honduran coach Lurio Martínez and won the match 3–0 with three goals from "Gorgojo" Ramos.

Professional Era

The team debuted professionally in the 1965–66 season. It took them only three years to win their first-ever championship. Under the leadership of manager Rodolfo Godoy, Motagua surged past two-time defending champions Olimpia to win the 1968–69 title, with 39 points to the Olimpia's 36. Godoy's club completed the double that season by winning the first-ever Honduran Cup.

This was the beginning of a long run at or near the top of the table for Motagua; they finished second behind Olimpia in 1969–70, then won the 1970–71 crown. That last season ended with Motagua and Olimpia level on points, with Motagua hoisting the crown on goal difference. They would likely have won a third championship in 1972–73, as they led the table halfway through the season. However, the season was cancelled at its midway point, and the records expunged.

The rest of the 1970s remained a good time for Motagua. They won titles in 1973–74 and 1978–79, while finishing second in 1974–75 and 1976–77. The club had become established as one of the nation's strongest, and when the Honduras national football team qualified to the World Cup Finals, they featured five Motagua players.

However, the 1980s were not as strong. Between 1979 and 1992, the club was locked out of the Honduran crown. It wasn't until the end of the 1991–92 season that the drought was over. They claimed that title by beating Real España 1–0 in the championship playoffs. With the drought broken, Motagua began winning titles regularly. They claimed the Honduran Cup in 1993 and 1995, then claimed an unexpected championship in the 1998 Apertura, beating Real España 5–2 on aggregate in the championship final. They repeated as champions that October, beating Olimpia 1–0.

They did it again in 1999–2000, beating Olimpia on penalties in both the Apertura and Clausura finals. They added another title in the 2002 Apertura, beating Marathón on penalties in a thrilling 5–3 shootout. After a drought of nearly five years, Motagua returned to the top with a title in the 2006 Apertura (over Olimpia) and 2011 Clausura (again over Olimpia).

In 2013, a new golden age began. Diego Vásquez, a veteran Honduran keeper who had played in two stints for Motagua, took over. In just his second full season, Vasquez steered Motagua to the 2014 Apertura crown, beating Real Sociedad 2–1 in the championship final (Rubilio Castillo's header was the winner). Three near misses followed, but in 2016–2017, Vasquez would lead the team to new heights.

It started with the 2016 Apertura. After taking 4th in the regular season, Motagua battled their way through the quarterfinals and semi-finals (beating Olimpia). Then they held off Platense 2–1 on aggregate to win the Apertura title. In the Clausura, they finished 2nd in the regular season, then stormed to the title, crushing Honduras Progreso 7–1 on aggregate.

Vasquez, who remains Motagua's manager, is the longest tenured manager in the history of Honduras's top-flight; he has managed 200 consecutive matches with Las Aguilas.

Overall, between both amateur and professional seasons, Motagua has won 27 titles. They have won 16 professional titles. The club has participated in all Honduran top division seasons since its inception in 1965 and is one of the few unrelegated teams.

Colours and badges

Home: 1928–present	Home: 1984	Home: 1988	Away: 2003	Away: 2007–09	Away: 2010–11	Away: 2011–12
Alternative: 2011–13	Away: 2013–14	Away: 2014–15	Away: 2015–16	Alternative: 2014–16	Away: 2017–18	Alternative: 2017–18

1980's–2016	1990's	2010–13	2013–14

Motagua's traditional colour is dark blue representing the blue waters of the Motagua River. This is because at the time the club was founded, the Motagua River was in dispute between Honduras and Guatemala. Since 2011, Motagua has worn pink jerseys for all their games during the month of October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Motagua badge has a blue eagle. This is because one of the three clubs that united to become Motagua was named CD Águila, or Eagle in Spanish.

Stadium

Motagua plays their home matches at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa. The stadium is named after Honduran football player and manager Chelato Uclés. The stadium is divided into Sol Norte, Sol Sur, Sol Centro, Preferencia, Silla and Palco. The Motaguan supporters "La Revo" are located at Sol Norte and the "Macro Azurra" sits in Sol Centro.

Traditions

There are some traditions within the Motagua institution.

Debuting players– When a new player debuts, he must shave his head. This is optional, most of the players that do shave are recently promoted from the reserve team or are young of age.

Supporters

Motagua has many supporters throughout Honduras. Motagua has one Barra Brava and three other supporters' groups. The barra brava is "Los Revolucionarios del Motagua 1928", who call themselves "La Revo". This fan group has "bandas" or smaller groups inside La Revo such as (from Tegucigalpa) "Los Fuser", "Los Dementes", "Escuadron 57", "Comando 21", "Los Poltershe", "Irreverentes", "Capone", "Infernales", "Danger's", "Anarkia", etc. (from Comayagua) "C26", (from San Pedro Sula) "Los Del Norte", (from La Ceiba) "Revo Ceiba", (from Choluteca) "Revo Choluteca", (from El Progreso) "Revo Progreso", (from Siguatepeque) "Revo Sigua". All of the "bandas" hang "mantas" or huge pieces of cloth saying their banda's name inside the stadium. They also hang one with the barra's website and many of Che Guevara. Matches from Motagua against Olimpia it's illegal to hang these mantas because some of the members go to steal them and cause great scandal so police prefer banning this. La Revo don't cause many scandals between other barras bravas in Honduras only with Olimpia's Ultra Fiel. Throughout 2006–07 La Revo had problems with Marathon's Furia Verde but they came to peace under the same belief in all of Honduras. "Por Una Honduras Libre De Chucos" which translates to "For a Honduras free of Dirtbags" (Chucos being Olimpia). Marathon, Real España and Motagua's barra bravas all have a manta with this phrase.

Another of the biggest fan group is named "Macro Azurra" which is supported by the club. They can be easily be spotted in the stadium because they generally always have blue ballons. This group is bigger in the northern territory and is sponsored by the club and by FedEx^{[citation needed]}

There are also two smaller groups one being "Fortaleza Azul" and "JAH" which stands for "Justicia Amor y Humildad" which means "Justice Love and Humbleness". JAH is a religious based fan group which was founded by seven members of the Jehová es Nuestro Pastor church. JAH say that their trips are paid by God.

Sponsorship

Superclásico

El Clasico Capitalino (The Capital's Classic) or Superclásico Hondureño (Honduran Super Classic) is played between Motagua and Club Deportivo Olimpia. Their matches are also known as El Clasico Local (The Local Classic) in Tegucigalpa. There is a huge rivalry between the clubs and their fans; (La Ultra Fiel [of Olimpia] and La Revo [of Motagua]).

Clásico de las M's

El Clásico de las M's (The M's Classic) or El Derbi de las M's (The M's Derby), is a derby football match played between Motagua from Tegucigalpa and C.D. Marathón from San Pedro Sula, two of the most successful and popular football teams in Honduras.

Motagua–Real España

The Motagua–Real España derby is not as fierce as the other two already mentioned as these both teams have a good relationship with each other from the players, to the board and the fans; however they had played seven intense league finals, four won by Real España and three by Motagua. It is one of the most even all-time series in the league.

Short Lived

One smaller rivalry, which might be called extinct, was against Universidad (also known as UNAH). The club named Universidad, represented the Honduran National Autonomous University in Tegucigalpa, and therefore shared the city with Motagua. This inspired a local derby until UNAH was relocated to Choluteca. UNAH, in various occasions left Motagua out of the play-offs, intensifying the rivalry. This derby can now be called extinct since Universidad were relegated to the Liga de Ascenso. The club was eventually sold to, and renamed, Universidad Pedagogica Nacional-Francisco Morázan (also known as UPNFM) (National Pedagogical University-Francisco Morázan).

Motagua is the second most successful club in Honduras having won 18 domestic leagues since the inauguration of the Honduran Liga Nacional in 1965–66.

→ National level

• Honduran Liga Nacional

Winners (18): 1968–69, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1997–98 A, 1997–98 C, 1999–2000 A, 1999–2000 C, 2001–02 A, 2006–07 A, 2010–11 C, 2014–15 A, 2016–17 A, 2016–17 C, 2018–19 A, 2018–19 C, 2021–22 C
Runners-up (14): 1969–70, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2002–03 C, 2007–08 A, 2009–10 C, 2014–15 C, 2015–16 A, 2017–18 A, 2017–18 C, 2020–21 C

• Honduran Cup

Winners (1): 1968
Runners-up (4): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998

• Honduran Supercup

Winners (2): 1999, 2017

• Honduran Amateur League

Winners (2): 1948, 1950–51
Runners-up (2): 1947, 1951–52

→ Regional level

• Francisco Morazán Major League

Winners (5): 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1954

→ International level

• CONCACAF League

Runners-up (3): 2018, 2019, 2021

• UNCAF Interclub Cup

Winners (1): 2007
Third place (1): 2002

Performance by year

International performance

League records

• As of 2021–22
• Click 'show' to expand details

All time top scorers

• As of 2020–21 Apertura

No.	Player	Goals
1	Rubilio Castillo	99
2	Ángel Obando	77
3	Amado Guevara	72
4	Óscar Hernández	59
5	Luis Reyes	54
6	Jairo Martínez	53
7	Carlos Discua	52
8	Mario Blandón	48
9	Roberto Moreira	43
10	Geovanny Castro	40

All-time record vs. opponents

Domestic level

International level

• Updated 9 August 2023

Opponent	First meeting	Last Meeting	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Alajuelense	25 Apr 1992	29 Sep 2011	6	0	1	5	5	16	−11
Alianza	1979	4 Nov 2020	7	1	5	1	10	8	+2
América	5 Aug 2015	20 Oct 2015	2	0	1	1	1	5	−4
Árabe Unido	18 Dec 2002	18 Dec 2002	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
Arsenal	19 Aug 2008	4 Sep 2008	2	0	0	2	1	6	−5
Atlanta United FC	18 Feb 2020	25 Feb 2020	2	0	1	1	1	4	–3
Atlético Marte	4 May 1986	18 May 1986	2	1	0	1	4	2	+2
Aurora	1979	20 Nov 1997	3	0	1	2	3	6	−3
Belmopan Bandits	31 Jul 2018	7 Aug 2018	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3
Cartaginés	5 May 1974	19 May 1974	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3
Cibao	17 Aug 2022	24 Aug 2022	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3
Comunicaciones	27 Jul 1986	14 Dec 2021	18	4	10	4	20	23	–3
Forge	24 Nov 2021	1 Dec 2021	2	0	2	0	2	2	0
Herediano	4 May 1975	1 Nov 2018	4	2	0	2	4	6	−2
Juventus	26 Jun 1993	18 Jul 1999	4	2	2	0	9	2	+7
LA Galaxy	16 Mar 2003	20 Oct 2011	4	0	1	3	2	6	−4
Luis Ángel Firpo	24 Feb 1999	25 Jul 1999	2	1	0	1	2	2	0
Managua	20 Aug 2019	27 Aug 2019	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
Marathón	1 Nov 2002	2 Nov 2021	3	3	0	0	6	1	+5
Morelia	25 Aug 2011	22 Sep 2011	2	0	0	2	0	6	−6
Municipal	21 Jun 1974	4 Aug 2011	10	4	2	4	11	11	0
NY Pancyprian-Freedoms	10 Apr 1983	26 Apr 1983	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1
Olancho	17 Aug 2023	17 Aug 2023	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Olimpia	11 Feb 1979	11 Oct 2022	5	1	2	2	2	4	–2
Pachuca	11 Mar 2008	16 Mar 2023	4	0	3	1	1	2	−1
Pembroke Hamilton	31 Aug 1986	6 Sep 1986	2	1	0	1	3	5	−2
Portmore United	23 Aug 2018	30 Aug 2018	2	2	0	0	5	2	+3
Real España	29 Nov 1997	29 Nov 1997	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Real Estelí	7 Aug 2007	9 Dec 2020	3	2	1	0	7	3	+4
San Francisco	18 Sep 2007	26 Sep 2007	2	2	0	0	2	0	+2
Santiagueño	1979	1979	2	0	0	2	2	6	−4
Saprissa	25 Apr 1969	26 Nov 2019	17	1	6	10	7	25	−18
Seattle Sounders FC	17 Feb 2022	24 Feb 2022	2	0	1	1	0	5	−5
Sporting San Miguelito	9 Aug 2023	9 Aug 2023	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Tauro	17 Aug 2001	14 Sep 2022	6	2	2	2	5	4	+1
Tijuana	21 Feb 2018	27 Feb 2018	2	0	1	1	1	2	−1
Toronto	27 Jul 2010	3 Aug 2010	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1
UANL	5 Apr 2023	13 Apr 2023	2	0	0	2	0	6	–6
Universitario	23 Sep 2021	30 Sep 2021	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
Verdes	2 Aug 2023	2 Aug 2023	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5
Walter Ferretti	27 Aug 2015	24 Sep 2015	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3
Waterhouse	25 Sep 2019	2 Oct 2019	2	1	1	0	2	0	+2
Totals			144	43	47	54	150	184	–34

• Friendly matches not included.
• Games decided by penalty shootout are counted as ties.

First-team squad

As of 23 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF   HON Kevin Álvarez 3 DF   HON Carlos Meléndez 4 DF   HON Luis Vega 5 DF   HON Marcelo Pereira (captain) 6 DF   HON Riky Zapata 7 FW   PAN Jorge Serrano (on loan from Independiente Chorrera) 8 MF   HON Walter Martínez 10 FW   HON Yeison Mejía 11 FW   ARG Agustín Auzmendi 12 DF   HON Marcelo Santos 14 DF   HON Carlos Argueta 15 MF   HON Edwin Maldonado 16 FW   HON Carlos Mejía

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF   HON Wesly Decas 19 GK   ARG Jonathan Rougier (vice-captain) 22 FW   HON Edwin Munguía 23 MF   HON Juan Delgado 24 MF   HON Antony García 25 GK   HON Marlon Licona 26 MF   HON Denis Meléndez 32 MF   HON Jonathan Núñez 33 MF   HON Héctor Castellanos 50 FW   HON Aarón Barrios — FW   ARG Rodrigo Gómez — FW   HON Rubilio Castillo

Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 40 FW   HON Yostin Obando 47 DF   HON Osmar Gonzales

No. Pos. Nation Player 54 FW   HON Andy Hernández 58 DF   HON Breyner Maradiaga

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW   HON Jairo Róchez (at Lobos UPNFM) — GK   HON Enrique Facussé (at Internacional Fútbol Club de Palmira)

Retired numbers

16 –   Edy Vásquez, retired for 2 years (2007–09) in memorian of Edy Vásquez's death.

20 –   Amado Guevara, retired.

Current technical staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Hernán Medina
Goalkeeping coach	Hugo Caballero
Fitness coach	Juan Miguel Bertani

See also Category:F.C. Motagua players