2024–25 Primera División de El Salvador
Primera División tournament
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2024–25 Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the Liga Pepsi, was the 26th season and 50th and 51st Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Aguila and Alianza are the defending champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournament respectively. The league will consist of 11 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 20 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top six teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.
Alianza (2025 Clausura)
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 July 2024 – 21 December 2024 (Apertura), 18 January 2025 – 24 May 2025 (Clausura) |
| Champions | Once Deportivo (2024 Apertura) Alianza (2025 Clausura) |
| CONCACAF Central American Cup | Once Deportivo |
| CONCACAF Central American Cup | Alianza |
| CONCACAF Central American Cup | Aguila |
| Matches | 94 |
| Goals | 225 (2.39 per match) |
| Top goalscorer |  Gustavo Moura (14 goals Apertura 2024)  Jonathan Urrutia (9 goals Clausura 2025) |
| Highest scoring | FAS 3-4 Águila |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 11 May 2025. | |
The champions of Apertura and Clausura will qualify for the CONCACAF Central American Cup, the third team to qualify is the team with better aggregate record. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF Central American Cup. Should the final of both tournaments features the same two teams, the semi-finalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF Central American Cup.
Teams
Promotion and relegation
A total of 11 teams will contest the league, including 10 sides from the 2023–24 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2023–24 Segunda División.
Cacahuatique was promoted to the Primera División on July 1, 2024, after defeating Titan in a playoff match by a score of 4–3 in penalties, after the team were tied 1–1 after 120 minutes.[1]
Santa Tecla was relegated to the 2024–25 Segunda División.[2]
Jocoro withdrew from the league.
Notable events
Changes for 2024-2025 Season
On the 13th of June, 2024 The President of the Primera Division Samuel Gálvez announced changes for the Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2025 included the final being played over two legs instead just one game, the finals will be held at the finalist stadiums. The four foreign players quota will remain. One reserve or under 17 player must be played for 90 minutes per game.[3]
Jocoro sold spot in primera division to Titan
It was announced on July 13, 2024, that Titan had made agreement with Jocoro to acquire their spot in the Primera division.[4]
Primera division denys Joroco selling of spot, Only 11 teams will participate
FESFUT announced with Jocoro failure to meet the requirement to register in the Primera Division, they would lose their spot and therefore could sell their spot to Titan. Despite protest and pleas from Titan board to be allowed to take the spot and give a slight extension to the club for meet the requirement, on June 18, 2024, FESFUT President Humberto Sáenz Marinero announced the league will proceed with only 11 teams. [5]
FESFUT denied double legged final
On 29 September, it was announced by FESFUT that they had denied primera division decision to have two legged grand final, the grand final will remain one legged final. [6]
Announcement no team will be relegated 2024–2025 season
On 24 October 2024 it was announced by the primera division that no team will be relegated for the 2024–2025, after Jocoro FC license being suspended, and only 11 teams participating in the league, the league stated that one team will be promoted to make it even 12 teams again and no team will be relegated.[7]
Grand Final to be played at Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González
On December 3, 2024, It was announced that the final will be playing in the Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González for the first time since 2004.[8]
FEFSUT announces the banning of multiclub ownership
On April 30, 2025, FESFUT announced the banning of Multi club ownership [9]
Notable death from Apertura 2024 season and 2025 Clausura season
The following people associated with the Primera Division have died between the middle of 2024 and middle of 2025.
- Manuel Ayala (ex Luis Angel Firpo player)
- Joel Estrada (ex FAS player)
- Jose Leandro Linares (ex FAS and Gatos de Monterrey player)
- Juan Ramon Martinez (ex Aguila, Atletico Marte, Juventud Olimpica and Once Municipal player)
- Eder Renderos (ex Luis Angel Firpo, UES and Audaz player)
- Julio Leiva (Guatemalan ex Aguila player) [10]
- Amadeo Machado (ex Aguila and Luis Angel Firpo player)
- Domingo Albil (Argentinian ex FAS, Alianza and Sonsonate player) [11]
- Héctor Alcides Piccioni (Argentinian ex FAS player) [12]
- Luis Ernesto Tapia (Panamanian ex Alianza, Atletico Marte, UES and Juventud Olimpica player) [13]
- Gerson Menjívar (ex Atletico Marte player) [14]
- Óscar "Chino" Portillo (ex Dragon Player) [15]
- Amilcar Humana (ex Aguila and Dragon Player)
- Manuel Antonio Solis Chinito (ex FAS player)
- Norberto Huezo (ex UES, ANTEL, Atletico Marte, Cojutepeque, FAS) [16]
- Armando Osma Rueda (Colombian ex Aguila coach)
- Ovido Mendez (ex Luis Angel Firpo player)
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguila |  Ernesto Corti |
Contract finished, | May 27, 2024 | Daniel Messina[17] |
May 27, 2024 | 4th and Quarterfinalist (2024 Clausura) |
| Fuerte San Francisco |  Nelson Ancheta |
Contract Finished | May 27, 2024 |  Jorge Martinez Merino [18] |
June 29, 2024 | 11th (2024 Clausura) |
| Dragon | Manuel Acevedo |
Mutual Consent | June 7, 2024 | Marvin Benítez |
June 7, 2024 | 9th (2024 Clausura) |
| Isidro Metapan | Carlos Martinez Che |
Returned to assistant coach role | June 18, 2024 | Hector Omar Mejia |
July 3, 2024 | 7th and Semi-Finalist (2024 Clausura) |
| Cacahuatique |  Pablo Quiñones |
Mutual Consent | July 4, 2024 | Daniel Corti |
July 9, 2024 | None (2024 Clausura) |
During the Apertura season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAS | Ricardo Preza [19] |
Sacked | August 20, 2024 |  Agustin Castillo |
August 20, 2024 | 7th (2024 Apertura) |
| Municipal Limeno | William Renderos Iraheta |
Sacked | September 19, 2024 | Abel Flores (Interim) |
September 20, 2024 | 7th (2024 Apertura) |
| Dragon | Marvin Benítez |
Resigned | September, 2024 | Pablo Quiñones [20] |
September, 2024 | 12th (2024 Apertura) |
| Municipal Limeno | Abel Flores (Interim) |
Interimship ended | October 5, 2024 | Guillermo Rivera[21] |
October 5, 2024 | 6th (2024 Apertura) |
| Platense | Jorge Abrego |
Mutual Consent | October 11, 2024 | David Hernández (Interim) |
October 11, 2024 | 11th (2024 Apertura) |
| Fuerte San Francisco | Jorge Merino [22] |
Mutual Consent | October 16, 2024 | Ruben Alonso |
October 18, 2024 | 9th (2024 Apertura) |
Between the Apertura and Clausura season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alianza | Jorge Rodríguez[23] |
Contract finished and did not renew | December 12, 2024 | Ernesto Corti[24] |
December 15, 2024 | 5th (2024 Apertura) |
| Municipal Limeno | Guillermo Rivera |
Contract finished and not renewed | December 23, 2024 | Jose Romero |
December 23, 2024 | 7th (2024 Apertura) |
| Once Deportivo | Erick Prado[25] |
End of contract | December 28, 2025 | Fabio Larramendi [26] |
January 7, 2025 | 5th & Champion (2024 Apertura) |
| Isidro Metapan | Hector Mejia |
Contract Finished | December 4, 2025 | Erick Prado |
January 4, 2025 | 5th (2024 Apertura) |
During the Clausura season
Clausura seasons
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAS | Agustin Castillo[27] |
Sacked | February 24, 2025 |  David Caneda (Interim) |
February 24, 2025 | 8th (2025 Clausura) |
| Once Deportivo | Fabio Larramendi [28] |
Sacked | March 11, 2025 | Guillermo Rivera |
March 12, 2025 | 11th (2025 Clausura) |
| Cacahuatique | Daniel Corti [29] |
Sacked | March 25, 2025 | Victor Coreas[30] |
March 26, 2025 | 6th (2025 Clausura) |
| Dragon | Pablo Quiñones [31] |
Sacked | March 27, 2025 | Manuel Meme Gonzalez (Interim) |
March 27, 2025 | 9th (2025 Clausura) |
| Fuerte San Francisco | Ruben Alonso[32] |
Sacked | April 19, 2025 | Rolando Torres (Interim) |
April 21, 2025 | 9th (2025 Clausura) |
Apertura
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águila | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 18 | +18 | 41 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 2 | Cacahuatique | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 40 | |
| 3 | Luis Ángel Firpo | 20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 39 | |
| 4 | Isidro Metapán | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 21 | +10 | 35 | |
| 5 | Alianza | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 16 | +10 | 32 | |
| 6 | Once Deportivo | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 32 | |
| 7 | Municipal Limeño | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 27 | |
| 8 | FAS | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 28 | +1 | 23 | |
| 9 | Fuerte San Francisco | 20 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 34 | −19 | 15 | |
| 10 | Dragón | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 30 | −20 | 13 | |
| 11 | Platense | 20 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 28 | −17 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Apertura 2024 Records
Records
- Best home records: TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Worst home records: TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Best away records : TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Worst away records : TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Most goals scored: TBD (00 goals)
- Fewest goals scored: TBD (00 goals)
- Fewest goals conceded : TBD (00 goals)
- Most goals conceded : TBD (00 goals)
Scoring
- First goal of the season:
Gustavo Souza for Firpo against Platense, 6 minutes (Month day, 2024) - First goal by a foreign player: Gustavo Souza for Firpo against Platense, 6th minutes (A, 2024)
- Fastest goal in a match: 5 Minutes
Luis Enrique Vasquez for Once Deportivo against Platense (August 2, 2024)
- Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 94 minutes
- First penalty Kick of the season:
Julian Grueso for Cacahuatique against Firpo, 43rd minutes (August 4, 2024) - Widest winning margin: 4 goals
- First hat-trick of the season:
Emiliano Villar for FAS against Alianza (November 16, 2024) - First own goal of the season: Ronald Aparicio (Platense) for Aguila (August 26, 2024)
- Most goals in a match: 7 goals
- Most goals by one team in a match: 5 goals
- Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
- Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals
- Most goals by one player in a single match: 4 goals
- Emiliano Villar for FAS against Alianza (November 16, 2024)
- Players that scored a hat-trick':
- Emiliano Villar for FAS against Alianza (November 16, 2024)
Top Goalscorer (Apertura 2024)
| No. | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gustavo Moura [33] |
LA Firpo | 14 |
| 2 | Emiliano Villar |
FAS | 11 |
| 3 | Emerson Mauricio |
Alianza | 9 |
| 4 | Alexander Marquez |
Cacahuatique | 8 |
| 5 | Blas Sosa |
Aguila | 8 |
| 6 | Yair Delgadillo |
Isidro Metapan | 7 |
| 7 | Mauricio Cerritos |
LA Firpo | 6 |
| 8 | Javier Ferman |
Municipal Limeno | 6 |
| 9 | Steven Guerra |
Isidro Metapan | 6 |
| 10 | Juan Carlos Argueta |
Isidro Metapan | 5 |
| 10 | Isaac Esquivel |
Isidro Metapan | 5 |
Playoff
Quarterfinals
First legs
| Once Deportivo | 2-1 | LA Firpo |
|---|---|---|
Carlos Anzora  (pen.), 11' Kemal Malcolm 72' |
Alberto Henríquez 35' |
| Alianza | 1-1 | Isidro Metapan |
|---|---|---|
| Ányelo Rodríguez (pen.), 6' |
Isaac Esquivel 87' |
| Municipal Limeno | 0-1 | Cacahuatique |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Jorge Lara 38' |
Second legs
| Isidro Metapan | 0-0 | Alianza |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil |
1-1. Isidro Metapan won 5-3 on penalties
| LA Firpo | 0-1 | Once Deportivo |
|---|---|---|
| Styven Vasquez 42' |
Josue Rivera 16' |
Once Deportivo won 3-2 on Aggregate
FAS won 2-1 on Aggregate
| Cacahuatique | 0-1 | Municipal Limeno |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Bryan Paz 9' |
1-1. Cacahuatique won 3-1 on penalties
Semi-finals
First legs
| FAS | 2-1 | Isidro Metapan |
|---|---|---|
| Emiliano Villar 35' Jonathan Nolasco 68' |
Roberto Domínguez 45' |
| Once Deportivo | 1-1 | Cacahuatique |
|---|---|---|
| Kemal Malcolm 58' |
Wilker da Silva 19' |
Second legs
| Isidro Metapan | 0-0 | FAS |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil |
FAS won 2-1 on aggregate
| Cacahuatique | 1-1 | Once Deportivo |
|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Hernandez 36' |
Miguel Murillo 20' |
2-2. Once Deportivo won 5-3 on penalties
Final
| FAS | 1-2 | Once Deportivo |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan Ríos 51' |
Josue Rivera 64' Jomal Williams 95' |
|
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| Apertura 2024 champions |
|---|
| 1st title |
Clausura
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Águila | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 37 | 17 | +20 | 43 | Advance to Playoffs |
| 2 | Luis Ángel Firpo | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 34 | 16 | +18 | 39 | |
| 3 | Alianza | 20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 39 | |
| 4 | Isidro Metapán | 20 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 35 | |
| 5 | Municipal Limeño | 20 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 27 | |
| 6 | Cacahuatique | 20 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 27 | |
| 7 | Fuerte San Francisco | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 24 | |
| 8 | FAS | 20 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 23 | −6 | 22 | |
| 9 | Platense | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 25 | −7 | 20 | |
| 10 | Dragón | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 17 | 30 | −13 | 14 | |
| 11 | Once Deportivo | 20 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 40 | −28 | 8 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Clausura 2025 Records
Records
- Best home records: TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Worst home records: TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Best away records : TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Worst away records : TBD (00 points out of 33 points)
- Most goals scored: Aguila (37 goals)
- Fewest goals scored: Once Deportivo (12 goals)
- Fewest goals conceded : Alianza (11 goals)
- Most goals conceded : Once Deportivo (40 goals)
Scoring
- First goal of the season: Carlos Salazar for Alianza against Limeno, 46 minutes (January 19, 2025)
- First goal by a foreign player: Carlos Salazar for Alianza against Limeno, 46 minutes (January 19, 2025)
- Fastest goal in a match: 27 Seconds
- Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 93 minutes
- Dixon Rivas goal for Aguila against Isidro Metapan (February 26, 2025)
- First penalty Kick of the season: Bryan Paz for Platense against LA Firpo, 20th minutes (January 20, 2025)
- Widest winning margin: 4 goals
- Dragon 4-0 Once Deportivo (February 16, 2025)
- First hat-trick of the season: Styven Vasquez for LA Firpo against Once Deportivo (February 26, 2025)
- First own goal of the season: Diego Chevez (Cacahuatique) for Aguila (March 16, 2025)
- Most goals in a match: 6 goals
- Aguila 4-2 Cacahuatique (, 2025)
- Most goals by one team in a match: 4 goals
- Alianza 4-0 Cacahuatique (March 24, 2025)
Dragon 4-0 Once Deportivo (February 16, 2025)
Dragon 4-0 Cacahuatique (2025)
- Alianza 4-0 Cacahuatique (March 24, 2025)
- Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
- Most goals scored by losing team: 2 goals
- Platense 2-3 Limeno (, 2025)
Dragon 2-3 Isidro Metapan (, 2025)
Cacahuatique 2-4 Aguila (March 16, 2025)
- Platense 2-3 Limeno (, 2025)
- Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
- Styven Vasquez for LA Firpo against Once Deportivo (February 26, 2025)
- Rafael Tejada for FAS against Platense (March 8, 2025)
- Carlos Salazar for Alianza against Cacahuatique (March 23, 2025)
- Players that scored a hat-trick':
- Styven Vasquez for LA Firpo against Once Deportivo (February 26, 2025)
- Rafael Tejada for FAS against Platense (March 8, 2025)
- Carlos Salazar for Alianza against Cacahuatique (March 23, 2025)
Top Goalscorer (Clausura 2025)
Playoff
Quarterfinals
First legs
| Cacahuatique | 1-2 | Alianza |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge Lara 83' |
Emerson Mauricio 47' Carlos Salazar 78' |
| Municipal Limeno | 2-1 | Isidro Metapan |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Julio 12' Jefferson Martinez 56' |
Josue Rivera 22' |
| Fuerte San Francisco | 0-0 | LA Firpo |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil |
Second legs
| Isidro Metapan | 1-2 | Municipal Limeno |
|---|---|---|
| Roberto Dominguez 95' |
Miguel Lemus  , 68' (o.g.) Sebastián Julio 70' |
Municipal Limeno won 4-2 on Aggregate
| Alianza | 4-0 | Cacahuatique |
|---|---|---|
| Narciso Orellana 5' Michell Mercado 31' Leonardo Menjivar 47' Emerson Mauricio 59' |
Nil |
Alianza won 6-1 on Aggregate
| LA Firpo | 1-1 | Fuerte San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Brayan Landaverde 69' |
Diego Ortez 29' |
1-1. Fuerte San Francisco won 4-3 on penalties
1-1. FAS won 4-3 on penalties
Semifinals
First legs
| Fuerte San Francisco | 0-1 | Alianza |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Leonardo Menjivar 54' |
Second legs
Municipal Limeno won 3-1 on Aggregate
| Alianza | 2-0 | Fuerte San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Emerson Mauricio 59' Michell Mercado 62' |
Nil |
Alianza won 3-0 on Aggregate
Final
| Limeno | 0-0 | Alianza |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil | |
| Penalties | ||
Marvin Ramos  Gerson Mayen  Jefferson Valladares Jordy Bonilla Javier Ferman |
3-4 | Carlos Salazar Julian Gruseo Anyelo Rodriguez Juan Barahona Henry Romero |
|
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| Clausura 2025 champions |
|---|
| 19th title |
List of foreign players in the league
This is a list of foreign players in the 2024–25 season. The following players:
- Have played at least one game for the respective club.
- Have not been capped for the El Salvador national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace
A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player is released and it is before the close of the season transfer window.
Águila
Gonzalo Ramirez 
- Blas Sosa
- Nicolás Femia
- Dionatan Machado
- Carlos Salazar
- Edgar Medrano
Diego Gregori
Alianza
- Mitchel Mercado
Sebastián Julio 
- Ányelo Rodríguez
- Anthony Sosa
- Ramiro Rocca
- Carlos Salazar
- Julián Grueso
Cachuatique
- Elías Umeres
- Germán Aguila
- Wilker da Silva
- Julián Grueso
- Jorge Lara
- Yerson Tobar
Dragon
- Yair Arboleda
- Kevin Moreno
- Manuel Chala
- Yerson Tobar
- Samuel Campaña
- José Miguel Medrano
- Gonzalo Ramirez
- Kevin Telmo Smaldone
Tobias Quintana
FAS
- Germán Aguila
- Edgar Medrano
- Elcarlos Junior
- Martin Correra
- Mathias Goyeni
- Emiliano Villar
- Jorge Ramos
Firpo
- Marcelo Argüello
- Wilber Arizala
- Guilherme Silva
- Jonathan Santana
- Gustavo Souza
Fuerte San Francisco
- Luis Acuña
- Camilo Delgado
- Andres Murillo Rentería
Colorado Murray 
Yosimar Rodríguez- Gabriel Negueba
- Wilker da Silva
Isidro Metapán
- Luca Orozco
- Javier Cetre
- Diego Gregori
Yair Delgadillo - Juan Mosquera
- David Livingston
Municipal Limeno
- Lucas dos Santos
- Juan Diego Lasso
German Mejia - Joel Almeida
- Aldo Magaña
- Sebastián Julio
- Nico González
Once Deportivo
- Manuel Murrillo
Kevin Martin - Kemal Malcolm
Jomal Williams
Platense
- Matheus da Silva
- Magno Costa Fernandes
- Argenis Alba
- Sandro Melgarejo
- Nayan Andrés Bello
- Jhonathon Urrutia
- Julian Silvestre
(player released beginning the Apertura season, Never played a game)
(player released during the Apertura season)
(player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons)
(player released during the Clausura season)
(Injured and ruled out for the rest of the season)
(player naturalized for the Clausura season)
(player released beginning the Clausura season, Never played a game)