The 2019–20 Primera División de El Salvador (also known as the Liga Pepsi) is the 21st season and 41st and 42nd Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Santa Tecla and TBD are the defending champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments respectively. The league will consist of 12 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 22 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.
The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF League. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF League. Should the final of both tournaments features the same 2 teams, the semifinalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.
Teams
A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2017–18 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2018–19 Segunda División.
Firpo were relegated to 2019–20 Segunda División the previous season.
The relegated team was replaced by the 2018–19 Segunda División playoffs promotion winner. El Vencedor won the Apertura 2018, while San Pablo won the Clausura 2019 title, El Vencedor won the playoff match 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2019.
Champions: El Vencedor
Relegated to Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2019.
Last Place: Firpo
Personnel and sponsoring
TeamChairmanHead CoachCaptainKitmakerShirt Sponsors Águila Jose Alexander Menjivar Daniel Messina Andres Quejada Umbro Mister Donut, Canal 4, Tigo, Pilsener Alianza Adolfo Salume Wilson Gutierrez Marvin Monterroza Umbro Canal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Pepsi Independiente TBD Omar Sevilla Carlos Carrillo PS Acodjar de R.L. INJIBOA, Laya S.A. De C.V., Electrolit, Perlitas Chalatenango Rigoberto Mejia Juan Ramón Sánchez Henry Noe Reyes Nil Lemus, Premiun Center, Arjona Import & Export Co Jocoro F.C. Leonel Hernández Juan Andrés Sarulyte Giuviny Esquivel Milan Haciendo Regalo de Dios, Caja de Credito Jocoro FAS Guillermo Moran Guillermo Riviera Xavier Garcia Joma Pilsener, Tigo, Canal 4, Hospital Cader, Sol El Vencedor Marlon Claros Nelson Mauricio Ancheta Joel Almeida Innova Sports TBD Isidro Metapán Rafael Morataya Victor Coreas Milton Molina Milan Canal 4, Arroz de San Pedro, Agroamigo, Morataya Limeño Martín Herrera Alvaro Misael Alfaro Francisco Jovel Álvarez Innova Sports GSR, Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres Once Deportivo José Antonio Salaverría Juan Dieguez Christian Sánchez Rush Claro, Mister Donut, Pepsi, La Geo, Alcasa Sonsonate Pedro Contreras Ruben da Silva Jorge Morán Milan ProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1 Santa Tecla José Eduardo Amaya Osvaldo Escudero Rodrigo Rivera Maca Pilsener, Tigo, Plaza Mertio, Pala-grip, Ferreteria Sumersa
Managerial changes
Before the start of the season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Chalatenango Alvaro Misael Alfaro Resigned due to Contract dispute May 2019 Juan Ramon Sanchez July 2019 th (Clausura 2019) Santa Tecla Sebastian Abreu Interimship Finished May 2019 Rodolfo Gochez May 2019 th (Clausura 2019) Alianza Jorge Humberto Rodriguez Resigned June 2019 Wilson Gutierrez June 2019 th (Clausura 2019) Jocoro Guillermo Rivera Resigned, went on to become El Salvador under 23 coach June 2019 Nelson Ancheta June 2019 10th (Clausura 2019) El Vencedor Giovanni Trigueros Contract finished June 2019 Victor Coreas June 2019 Promoted Independiente Pablo Quiñonez Contract finished July 2019 Juan Cortes Diéguez July 2019 Bought the spot of Audaz Once Deportivo None No previous coach, new club July 2019 Pablo Quiñonez July 2019 Bought the spot of Pasaquina
During the Apertura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table Jocoro Nelson Ancheta Sacked August 2019 Oscar Eduardo Alvarez (Interim) August 2019 11th (Apertura 2019) Santa Tecla Rodolfo Gochez Sacked August 2019 Leonel Carcamo (Interim) August 2019 10th (Apertura 2019) Jocoro Oscar Eduardo Alvarez Interimship over September 2019 Marvin Benitez September 2019 12th (Apertura 2019) FAS Erick Dowson Prado Sacked September 2019 Guillermo Rivera September 2019 9th (Apertura 2019) Santa Tecla Leonel Carcamo interimship finished September 2019 Marco Sanchez September 2019 10th (Apertura 2019) Independiente FC Juan Cortez Diéguez Sacked September 2019 Omar Sevilla October 2019 11th (Apertura 2019) Aguila Carlos Romero Sacked October 2019 Santos Noel Riviera (Interim) October 2019 10th (Apertura 2019) Aguila Santos Noel Riviera Interimship finished October 2019 Daniel Messina October 2019 10th (Apertura 2019) Limeno William Renderos Iraheta Resigned due to personal reason November 2019 Manuel Carranza Murrillo (Interim) November 2019 3rd (Apertura 2019)
Between Apertura and Clausura seasons
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table Limeno Manuel Carranza Murrillo Interimship finished December 2019 Alvaro Misael Alfaro December 2019 3rd and Quarterfinal (Apertura 2019) Once Deportivo Pablo Quinonez Contract not renewed December 2019 Juan Cortez December 2019 12th (Apertura 2019) Isidro Metapan Edwin Portillo Sacked December 2019 Victor Coreas January 2020 th (Apertura 2019) Jocoro Marvin Benitez Sacked December 2019 Juan Andres Sarulyte January 2020 11th (Apertura 2019) El Vencedor Victor Coreas Sacked December 2019 Nelson Mauricio Ancheta January 2020 th (Apertura 2019) Santa Tecla Marco Sanchez Sacked December 2019 Osvaldo Escudero January 2020 6th (Apertura 2019)
During the Clausura season
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureReplaced byPosition in table Jocoro F.C. Juan Andres Sarulyte Resigned due to difference with president February 2020 Jose Romero February 2020 10th (Clausura 2020) Jocoro F.C. Jose Romero Resigned March 2020 Carlos Romero March 2020 10th (Clausura 2020) C.D. FAS Guillermo Rivera Sacked March 2020 Jorge Humberto Rodriguez March 2020 6th (Clausura 2020) Independiente Omar Sevilla Sacked March 2020 William Renderos Iraheta March 2020 4th (Clausura 2020)
Notable events
Change to Playoff The league voted to change top qualify to the next round to the top six, with first and second spot qualifying directly to the semi-finals, while teams from 3 to 6 have to playoff
Audaz giving their spot On 28 of June, 2019 the only remaining member of the Audaz had taken the license from the previous board, he then gave charge to Independiente F.C.
Pasaquina their spot On 3 of July, 2019 Pasaquina failed to meet the requirements that FESFUT had placed for clubs to be allowed to play in the Primera division, the club failed to pay off any outstanding debts. The club will be forced to sell their spot in Primera division.
New club registered in the Primera Division On 12 July 2019, a group of investors raised the capital and necessary funds to purchase the spot of Pasaquina. The club will be located the Ahuachapan department and will be called Once Deportivo de Ahuachapan.
Clubs moving stadium Several clubs announced that due to their home stadium not meeting new CONCACAF standards, minimal crowd numbers or/and their previous stadium not finishing their renovations in time. Jocoro will be playing at Jose Ramon Flores Berrios which is located at the La Union. FAS will be playing at the Estadio Cuscatlan which is located at San Salvador. El Vencedor will be playing at the Estadio Sergio Torres Rivera which is located at Usulutan. Independiente announced that while their home stadium is going through renovations they would be playing at the Estadio Sergio Torres Rivera which is located at Usulutan.
Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Since March, the season has been affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. On 13 March, following an emergency meeting between the Primera division, FESFUt, Segunda and Tecera division, it was unanimously decided to suspend professional football in El Salvador until at least 18 April 2020.
Season suspended, new champion and relegation In a historic meeting FESFUT declared to the public that the rest of Clausura 2020 season will be cancelled. Once Deportivo will be crowned champion due to leading the competition prior the suspension of the season, Along with Alianza (Apertura 2019 champion) and FAS (Apertura 2019 runner up) qualified for CONCACAF Competition. Jocoro who were bottom of the aggregate table prior to the suspension of the season will be forced to play promotion/relegation playoff against Platense.
Clausura title retracted, no relegation At the FESFUT extraordinary meeting on 29 April 2020, it was decided that the Clausura 2020 season title originally awarded to Once Deportivo would be retracted and the title would not be awarded. However, they would remain the third representative of El Salvador in the 2020 CONCACAF League. Moreover, no promotion and relegation would be applied for this season.
FESFUT decided on 30 May 2020, to name Municipal Limeno, who were third in the aggregate table after Alianza and FAS, the final and third representative of El Salvador in the 2020 CONCACAF League, removing the spot awarded to Once Deportivo.
Notable death from Clausura 2019 season and 2020 Apertura season The following people associated with the Primera Division have died between the middle of 2019 and middle of 2020.
Óscar Enrique Sánchez (Guatemalan, ex Aguila player) Walter Martínez (Honduran, ex FAS player) Miguel Hermosillo (Chilean, ex Alianza player) Edwin Beltrán (ex Dragon player) Roger Mayorga (Nicaraguan, ex Aguila player) Francisco “Paco” Frances Ortiz (ex FAS, Aguila, Marte and Juventud Olimpica player) Victor Emmanuel Rodriguez (ex Chalatenango player) Leonardo Salas (Chilean, ex Alianza player) Maximiliano Belloso Cubas Catan (ex FAS, Once Municipal and Alianza player) Jurandir dos Santos (ex Excelsior, Sonsonate, Alianza Player)
Apertura
Results
Records Best home records: Alianza FC (29 points out of 33 points) Worst home records: Once Deportivo (4 points out of 33 points) Best away records : Alianza FC(19 points out of 33 points) Worst away records : Jocoro FC (9 points out of 33 points) Most goals scored: Alianza and FAS (38 goals) Fewest goals scored: Once Deportivo (21 goals) Fewest goals conceded : Alianza F.C. (18 goals) Most goals conceded : Once Deportivo (42 goals)
Top goalscorers
No. Player Club Goals 1 Nicolas Munoz El Vencedor 19 2 Bryan Gil CD. FAS 15 3 Armando Polo Santa Tecla F.C. 15 4 Clayvin Zuniga CD Municipal Limeño 13 5 Raúl Peñaranda Alianza F.C. 11 6 Diego Areco Jocoro FC 10 7 Craig Foster Chalatenango 10 8 Michell Mercado El Vencedor 7 9 Tardelis Pena Independiente 7 10 David Diaz AD. Isidro Metapan 6
Scoring First goal of the season: Ricardinho for Santa Tecla against Chalatenango, 15 minutes (26 July 2019) First goal by a foreign player: Ricardinho for Santa Tecla against Chalatenango, 15 minutes (26 July 2019) Fastest goal in a match: 2 minutes TBD for TBD against TBD (24 February 2019) Goal scored at the latest goal in a match: 90+2 minutes Armando Polo goal for Santa Tecla against Chalatenango, (July 26, 2019) First penalty Kick of the season: Ricardinho for Santa Tecla against Chalatenango, 15 minutes (26 July 2019) Widest winning margin: 5 goals Santa Tecla 5–0 Independiente (September 1, 2019)