The 2017 Primera División season was the 36th professional season of Venezuela's top-flight football league. Zamora were the defending champions, but did not qualify to the Serie Final, after being eliminated by Monagas in the quarter-finals of the Torneo Apertura and by Deportivo Lara in the quarter-finals of the Torneo Clausura.
Monagas were the champions, defeating Deportivo Lara in the Serie Final, 2–1 on aggregate.
Teams Stadia and locations
Relegated to 2017 Segunda División17Ureña18Llaneros19Petare20Estudiantes de Caracas
Promoted to 2017 Primera División1Metropolitanos2Atlético Socopó
Team City Stadium Capacity Aragua Maracay Olímpico Hermanos Ghersi Páez 14,000 Atlético Socopó Socopó Rogelio Matos 7,500 Atlético Venezuela Caracas Brígido Iriarte 10,000 Carabobo Valencia Misael Delgado 10,400 Caracas Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Deportivo Anzoátegui Puerto La Cruz José Antonio Anzoátegui 37,485 Deportivo JBL Maracaibo José "Pachencho" Romero 40,800 Deportivo La Guaira Caracas Olímpico de la UCV 23,940 Deportivo Lara Cabudare Metropolitano de Cabudare 47,913 Deportivo Táchira San Cristóbal Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo 38,755 Estudiantes de Mérida Mérida Metropolitano de Mérida 42,200 Metropolitanos Caracas Brígido Iriarte 10,000 Mineros Ciudad Guayana Polideportivo Cachamay 41,600 Monagas Maturín Monumental de Maturín 51,796 Portuguesa Acarigua General José Antonio Páez 18,000 Trujillanosa Valera José Alberto Pérez 25,000 Zamora Barinas Agustín Tovar 29,800 Zulia Maracaibo José "Pachencho" Romero 40,800
Personnel and kits
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt main sponsor Aragua José Manuel Rey New Arrival Gobierno Bolivariano de Aragua Atlético Socopó Fernando Capobianco Kiukak Servical Atlético Venezuela Alex Pallarés Adidas FERRYJET Carabobo Wilson Gutiérrez Adidas None Caracas Noel Sanvicente Adidas Maltín Polar Deportivo Anzoátegui Charles López Academia Sport Wear Gobierno Bolivariano de Anzoátegui Deportivo JBL Frank Flores JBL Sports SHIMGE Deportivo La Guaira Pedro Depablos Adidas Traki Deportivo Lara Leonardo González Adidas Brijot Deportivo Táchira Francesco Stifano Adidas SIMMONDS EQUIPMENTS Estudiantes de Mérida José Nabor Gavidia Puma Arand Supplies Metropolitanos Daniel de Oliveira Joma Seguros Venezuela Mineros Juan Tolisano Sport Jugados Gobernación de Bolívar Monagas Jhonny Ferreira Adidas Banplus Portuguesa Carlos Moreno Mundo Creativo Alivenza Trujillanos Horacio Matuszyczk Kiukak SUCASA Zamora Alí Cañas Uhlsport PDVSA Zulia Carlos Maldonado Uhlsport PDVSA
Managerial changes
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTorneo AperturaPortuguesa Horacio MatuszyczkSacked22 February16th Carlos Moreno24 FebruaryTrujillanos Darío MartínezSacked21 February17th Cristian Ferlauto21 FebruaryAtlético Socopó Giovanny PérezSacked26 March17th Alberto Valencia6 AprilEstudiantes de Mérida Juan Cruz RealResigned3 April15th José Nabor Gavidia4 AprilDeportivo JBL Frank FloresMutual consent7 April17th José Cortina Henríquez12 AprilAtlético Venezuela Ignacio GonzálezMutual consent29 May11th Alex Pallarés30 MayDeportivo Anzoátegui Nicolás LarcamónSigned by Deportes Antofagasta12 June4th, QF Charles López8 JulyZamora Francesco StifanoResigned15 June3rd, QF Luis Vera20 JuneTorneo ClausuraDeportivo La Guaira Eduardo SaragóMutual consent7 JulyPre-season Pedro Depablos8 JulyDeportivo JBL José Cortina HenríquezSacked13 JulyPre-season Juan Escobar13 JulyZulia Daniel FaríasSigned by The Strongest15 August15th Miguelángel Acosta15 AugustZulia Miguelángel AcostaEnd of caretaker spell18 August13th Carlos Maldonado18 AugustZamora Luis VeraSacked22 August18th Alí Cañas23 AugustDeportivo JBL Juan EscobarSacked28 August12th Frank Flores28 AugustTrujillanos Cristian FerlautoMutual consent11 September17th Horacio Matuszyczk11 SeptemberAtlético Socopó Alberto ValenciaSacked18 September16th Fernando Capobianco18 SeptemberDeportivo Táchira Santiago EscobarMutual consent11 October9th Francesco Stifano11 OctoberMetropolitanos Rafael SantanaMutual consent3 November9th Daniel de Oliveira4 NovemberCarabobo Julio César BaldiviesoSacked3 December3rd, SF Wilson Gutiérrez14 DecemberAragua Antonio FrancoSacked11 December17th José Manuel Rey12 December
Torneo Apertura
The Torneo Apertura was the first tournament of the season. The regular season started on 28 January and finished on 21 May 2017.
Results
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
First leg
Second leg
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Final
2–2 on aggregate. Monagas won on away goals.
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Edder FaríasCaracas132 Víctor AquinoDeportivo Táchira113 Anthony BlondellMonagas104 Juan García ReyesAragua9 Aquiles OcantoCarabobo Jesús HernándezDeportivo Lara Luis GonzálezMonagas8 Richard BlancoMineros8 Zamir ValoyesDeportivo La Guaira Tommy TobarCarabobo
Top assists
RankPlayerClubAssists1 Yohandry OrozcoZulia102 Aquiles OcantoCarabobo73 Evelio HernándezCaracas6 Zamir ValoyesDeportivo La Guaira5 Víctor AquinoDeportivo Táchira5 Eduard BelloCarabobo Richard BlancoMineros Pedro RamírezDeportivo Táchira
Awards
Team of the Tournament
The Asociación FUTVE chose the team of the Torneo Apertura.
PositionPlayerClub GK Beycker Velásquez Deportivo Anzoátegui RB Samuel Barberi Monagas CB Lucas Trejo Monagas CB Rubert Quijada Caracas LB Óscar González Monagas DM Ricardo Martins Deportivo Anzoátegui RM Luis González Monagas LM Yohandry Orozco Zulia RW Anthony Blondell Monagas LW Aquiles Ocanto Carabobo CF Edder Farías Caracas Coach Jhonny Ferreira Monagas
Player of the Tournament The best player of Torneo Apertura was Monagas winger Anthony Blondell, chosen by the Asociación FUTVE.
Torneo Clausura The Torneo Clausura was the second tournament of the season. The regular season started on 15 July and finished on 29 October 2017.
Results
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
First leg
Second leg
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Final
1–1 on aggregate. Deportivo Lara won 4–3 on penalties.
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Anthony BlondellMonagas132 Tommy TobarCarabobo123 Lucas GómezDeportivo Lara104 Carlos EspinozaEstudiantes de Mérida9 Gustavo BritosMetropolitanos6 Jesús GonzálezDeportivo Lara8 Tulio EtchemaitePortuguesa8 Manuel ArteagaDeportivo La Guaira7 Víctor AquinoDeportivo Táchira Fernando AristeguietaCaracas
Awards
Team of the Tournament
The Asociación FUTVE chose the team of the Torneo Clausura.
PositionPlayerClub GK Carlos Salazar Deportivo Lara RB Ángel Faría Mineros CB Anthonys Matos Mineros CB Henri Pernía Deportivo Lara LB Daniel Carrillo Deportivo Lara CM Jesús Gómez Estudiantes de Mérida CM Carlos Sierra Deportivo Lara RM José Caraballo Deportivo Lara LM Brayan Hurtado Mineros CF Anthony Blondell Monagas CF Tommy Tobar Carabobo Coach Leonardo González Deportivo Lara
Player of the Tournament The best player of Torneo Clausura was Deportivo Lara goalkeeper Carlos Salazar, chosen by the Asociación FUTVE.
Serie Final The Serie Final is held between the champions of the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura to determine the champions of the season. The draw to determine the order of the legs was held on 4 December 2017.
First leg
GK 22 Alain BarojaDF 6 Samuel BarberiDF 25 Joaquín LencinasDF 3 Lucas Trejo (c)DF 19 Óscar GonzálezMF 8 Javier GarcíaMF 7 Ángel Lezama MF 21 Vicente Rodríguez FW 20 Luis Guerra FW 17 Anthony Blondell FW 16 Christian FloresSubstitutes:GK 1 Ángel HernándezMF 5 Óscar GuillénMF 23 Agnel FloresMF 30 Ismael Romero FW 9 Juan Zárate FW 18 César Martínez FW 24 Yohanner GarcíaManager: Jhonny Ferreira GK 1 Carlos Salazar DF 2 Leminger Bolívar DF 26 Giacomo Di Giorgi DF 4 Leonardo AponteDF 27 Daniel CarrilloMF 15 Ricardo Andreutti (c)MF 5 Bernaldo Manzano MF 29 Manuel GodoyMF 17 Ely ValderreyFW 9 Lucas GómezFW 18 Jesús González Substitutes:GK 12 Jesús PadrónMF 11 Oswaldo Chaurant MF 14 Carlos Sierra FW 8 José ReyesFW 20 José MichelenaFW 23 José Caraballo FW 76 Freddy VargasManager: Leonardo González
Assistant referees: Jorge Urrego Jairo Molina Fourth official: Adrián CabelloMatch rules 90 minutes. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.
Second leg
Monagas won 2–1 on aggregate.
GK 1 Carlos SalazarDF 2 Leminger Bolívar DF 4 Leonardo AponteDF 13 Henri Pernía (c)DF 27 Daniel Carrillo MF 28 Jesús BuenoMF 23 José Caraballo MF 14 Carlos SierraMF 8 José Reyes FW 18 Jesús GonzálezFW 9 Lucas GómezSubstitutes:GK 12 Jesús PadrónMF 11 Oswaldo Chaurant MF 15 Ricardo AndreuttiFW 17 Ely Valderrey FW 20 José Michelena FW 29 Manuel GodoyFW 76 Freddy VargasManager: Leonardo González GK 22 Alain BarojaDF 15 Edwar Bracho DF 25 Joaquín LencinasDF 3 Lucas Trejo (c)DF 19 Óscar González MF 8 Javier GarcíaMF 14 Dáger Palacios MF 16 Christian FloresFW 20 Luis Guerra FW 27 Anthony Blondell FW 24 Yohanner García Substitutes:GK 1 Ángel HernándezDF 6 Samuel BarberiMF 7 Ángel LezamaMF 21 Vicente Rodríguez MF 23 Agnel Flores MF 30 Ismael Romero FW 18 César MartínezManager: Jhonny Ferreira
Assistant referees: Carlos López Luis Sánchez Fourth official: Yersinia CorreaMatch rules 90 minutes. If the aggregate score is level, the away goals rule is used to determine the winner. Penalty shoot-out if the tie persists. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.
Primera División2017 ChampionsMonagas1st title
Aggregate table
Awards
Torneo Apertura Player of the Matchday DayPlayerClubReference12 Jairo OteroAtlético Venezuela13 Aquiles OcantoCarabobo14 Darwin GonzálezDeportivo La Guaira15 Jesús VargasEstudiantes de Mérida16 Argenis GómezMineros17 Ricardo MartinsDeportivo Anzoátegui
Monthly awards MonthPlayer of the MonthReferencePlayerClubApril Aquiles OcantoCarabobo
Torneo Clausura Player of the Matchday DayPlayerClubReference1 Luz RodríguezEstudiantes de Mérida2 Tommy TobarCarabobo3 Manuel ArteagaDeportivo La Guaira4 Anthony BlondellMonagas6 Gustavo BritosMetropolitanos7 Brayan HurtadoMineros8 Carlos EspinozaEstudiantes de Mérida9 Richard BlancoMineros10 Christian NovoaCarabobo11 Jhoan MinaAtlético Socopó14 Anthony UribeZamora15 Tommy TobarCarabobo16 Jesús GonzálezDeportivo LaraQF1 Eduard BelloCaraboboQF2 Jeysen NúñezCaraboboSF1 Anthony BlondellMonagasSF2 Lucas GómezDeportivo Lara
Annual awards
Player of the Year
The best player of the 2017 season was Monagas forward Anthony Blondell, chosen by the Asociación FUTVE.
Team of the Year
The Asociación FUTVE chose the team of the season.
PositionPlayerClub GK Carlos Salazar Deportivo Lara RB Alejandro Fuenmayor Carabobo CB Lucas Trejo Monagas LB Óscar González Monagas DM Francisco Flores Mineros DM Javier García Monagas RM Eduard Bello Carabobo CM Charlis Ortiz Mineros LM Brayan Hurtado Mineros CF Tommy Tobar Carabobo CF Anthony Blondell Monagas Coach Jhonny Ferreira Monagas
References
External links of the Venezuelan Football Federation