# 2009 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A

The 2009 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol de la Serie A was the 51st season of the Serie A, Ecuador's premier football league. The season began on January 31 and ended on December 7. Deportivo Quito successfully defended their title for their fourth overall.
Owing to a change in sponsorship from Pilsener to Credife Archived 2010-01-23 at the Wayback Machine, the tournament will be called the Copa Credife Serie A for the next three years until 2011.

## Format

For 2009, a new format was introduced and approved by Ecuadorian Football Federation. The new tournament was divided into four stages, as opposed to the usual three. All matches were scheduled to be played on Sundays, but some were moved at the clubs' requests.
The First Stage was a double round-robin tournament in which the twelve teams played against each other teams twice: once at home and once away. At the end of the stage, the top-four teams with the most points qualified to the Third Stage; the top three earned bonus points (3, 2, & 1 respectively). The top-two teams also qualified to the 2009 Copa Sudamericana.
In the Second Stage, the teams were divided into two groups of six. Groups were formed by draw, but did not have no more than one team from each provincial organization (the exception being Pichincha). The teams played within their groups in a double round-robin tournament and in a local derby (Spanish: clásico). The derbies were played on the third and seventh match day of the stage.
* Group 1
* Pichincha team 1
* Pichincha team 2
* Guayas team 1
* Manabí team 1
* Tungurahua team 1
* Azuay team or Chimborazo team
* Group 2
* Pichincha team 3
* Pichincha team 4
* Guayas team 2
* Manabí team 2
* Tungurahua team 2
* Azuay team or Chimborazo team
Clásicos
* Pichincha team 1 vs. Pichincha team 3
* Pichincha team 2 vs. Pichincha team 4
* Guayas team 1 vs. Guayas team 2
* Manabí team 1 vs. Manabí team 2
* Tungurahua team 1 vs. Tungurahua team 2
* Azuay team vs. Chimborazo team
At the end of this stage, the two-top teams from each group qualified to the Third Stage; the top team in each group earned one bonus point for the Third Stage. The two teams with the fewest points in the First and Second Stage aggregate table were relegated to the Serie B for the next season.
In the Third Stage, the eight qualified teams were placed into two groups of four depending on their position on the aggregate table.
* Group 1: 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th
* Group 2: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Fourth Stage.
The Fourth Stage will consist of two head-to-head match-ups: one by the top-finisher of each group in the Third Stage, and the other by the runners-up. The match between the top finishers in the Third Stage will determine the national champion; the other will determine who finished third and fourth. The national champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher will each have a berth in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. The Ecuador 1 berth will go to the national champion, Ecuador 2 will go to the runner-up, and Ecuador 3 to the third-place finisher.

## Teams

Twelve teams competed in the 2009 Serie A season, ten of whom remained from the 2008 season. Deportivo Azogues and Universidad Católica were relegated last season to the Serie B after accumulating the fewest points in the First and Second Stage aggregate table. They were replaced by Manta and LDU Portoviejo, the 2008 Serie B winner and runner-up, respectively. This was Manta's second spell and second season in the Serie A, having previously played in the 2003 season. LDU Portoviejo were playing in their 22nd season in the league. Their last appearance was in 2001.
| Team | Home city | Home ground | Manager |
| Barcelona | Guayaquil | Monumental Banco Pichincha | Juan Manuel Llop |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Cuenca | Alejandro Serrano Aguilar | Paúl Vélez |
| Deportivo Quito | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | Rubén Darío Insúa |
| El Nacional | Quito | Olímpico Atahualpa | Julio Asad |
| Emelec | Guayaquil | George Capwell | Gabriel Perrone |
| ESPOLI | Quito | La Cocha (in Latacunga) | Homero Valencia |
| LDU Portoviejo | Portoviejo | Reales Tamarindos | Oswaldo Morelli |
| LDU Quito | Quito | Casa Blanca | Jorge Fossati |
| Macará | Ambato | Bellavista | Víctor Marchesini |
| Manta | Manta | Jocay | Fabián Bustos |
| Olmedo | Riobamba | Olímpico de Riobamba | Héctor González |
| Técnico Universitario | Ambato | Bellavista | Jorge Célico |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Pre-season changes |||||||
| Barcelona | Reinaldo Merlo | Sacked | December 9, 2008 | Benito Floro | December 18, 2008 | N/A |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Paúl Vélez | Replaced | December 14, 2008 | Guillermo Duró | November 18, 2008 | N/A |
| Deportivo Quito | Carlos Sevilla | Sacked | December 15, 2008 | Rubén Insúa | December 18, 2008 | N/A |
| LDU Quito | Edgardo Bauza | Resigned | December 22, 2008 | Jorge Fossati | January 9, 2009 | N/A |
| El Nacional | Jorge Célico | Sacked | January 28, 2009 | Juan Carlos Burbano (interim) | January 29, 2009 | N/A |
| First Stage changes |||||||
| Técnico Universitario | Giovanni Mera | Sacked | March 13, 2009 | Jorge Célico | March 30, 2009 | 12th |
| Macará | Mario Jacquet | Sacked | April 7, 2009 | Víctor Marchesini | April 7, 2009 | 6th |
| Olmedo | Dragan Miranovic | Resigned | May 18, 2009 | Héctor González (care-taker) | May 19, 2009 | 9th |
| Barcelona | Benito Floro | Sacked | June 1, 2009 | Flavio Perlaza (interim) | June 1, 2009 | 10th |
| Manta | Carlos Pico | Resigned | July 6, 2009 | Fabián Bustos | July 9, 2009 | 11th |
| El Nacional | Juan Carlos Burbano | Resigned | July 12, 2009 | Julio Asad | July 16, 2009 | 6th |
| Barcelona | Flavio Perlaza | Replaced | June 18, 2009 | Juan Manuel Llop | June 18, 2009 | 11th |
| Second Stage changes |||||||
| ESPOLI | Paulo Massa | Resigned | ? | Roberto Abruzzese | September 8, 2009 | 5th in B |
| Deportivo Cuenca | Guillermo Duró | Resigned | September 16, 2009 | Paúl Vélez | September 17, 2009 | 3rd in A |
| Third Stage changes |||||||
| ESPOLI | Roberto Abruzzese | Mutual | October 7, 2009 | Homero Valencia | October 7, 2009 | N/A |

## First stage

The first stage ran from January 31 to July 12. The top-two teams qualified to the 2009 Copa Sudamericana. The top-four teams qualified to the Third Stage.

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Emelec | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 43 | Third Stage and the 2009 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 2 | LDU Quito | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 44 | 20 | +24 | 42 | Third Stage and the 2009 Copa Sudamericana First Stage |
| 3 | Macará | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 34 | Third Stage |
| 4 | Olmedo | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 33 | Third Stage |
| 5 | ESPOLI | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 33 | |
| 6 | El Nacional | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 29 | |
| 7 | Deportivo Quito | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 21 | −3 | 28 | |
| 8 | LDU Portoviejo | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 35 | −13 | 28 | |
| 9 | Barcelona | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 26 | |
| 10 | Deportivo Cuenca | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 26 | |
| 11 | Técnico Universitario | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 42 | −13 | 24 | |
| 12 | Manta | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 23 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | CUE | QUI | NAC | EME | ESP | LDP | LDQ | MAC | MAN | OLM | TEC |
| Barcelona | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| Deportivo Quito | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| El Nacional | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 |
| Emelec | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| ESPOLI | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| LDU Portoviejo | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| LDU Quito | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Macará | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 |
| Manta | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Olmedo | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | — | 0–1 |
| Técnico Universitario | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |
* 1 2 The matches were played at Estadio 9 de Mayo in Machala.
* ↑ The match was played at Estadio Olímpico in Ibarra.

## Second stage

The Second Stage began on July 19 and ended on October 3. The top-two teams from each group qualified to the Third Stage.

### Group 1
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | LDU Quito | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 22 | Third Stage |
| 2 | Deportivo Cuenca | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 18 | Third Stage |
| 3 | El Nacional | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 15 | |
| 4 | Barcelona | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 15 | |
| 5 | Macará | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 12 | −1 | 12 | |
| 6 | LDU Portoviejo | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 20 | −12 | 11 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | CUE | NAC | LDP | LDQ | MAC |
| Barcelona | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Deportivo Cuenca | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| El Nacional | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| LDU Portoviejo | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| LDU Quito | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 |
| Macará | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | — |

### Group 2
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportivo Quito | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 23 | Third Stage |
| 2 | Manta | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 13 | +4 | 21 | Third Stage |
| 3 | Emelec | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 18 | |
| 4 | Olmedo | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 18 | |
| 5 | ESPOLI | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 13 | |
| 6 | Técnico Universitario | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 24 | −11 | 7 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | QUI | EME | ESP | MAN | OLM | TEC |
| Deportivo Quito | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Emelec | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
| ESPOLI | 0–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| Manta | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Olmedo | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 |
| Técnico Universitario | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | — |

### Inter-group clásicos

| Home Team | Results | Away Team |
| El Clásico del Astillero |||
| Emelec | 2–2 | Barcelona |
| Barcelona | 0–0 | Emelec |
| El Clásico Capitalino |||
| LDU Quito | 0–0 | Deportivo Quito |
| Deportivo Quito | 3–0 | LDU Quito |
| El Clásico de las Fuerzas del Orden |||
| El Nacional | 4–0 | ESPOLI |
| ESPOLI | 3–2 | El Nacional |
| El Clásico Manabita |||
| LDU Portoviejo | 0–0 | Manta |
| Manta | 3–2$^1$ | LDU Portoviejo |
| El Clásico Ambateño |||
| Técnico Universitario | 0–2 | Macará |
| Macará | 1–1 | Técnico Universitario |
| El Clásico del Austro |||
| Deportivo Cuenca | 0–0 | Olmedo |
| Olmedo | 1–1 | Deportivo Cuenca |
Source: 1. The match was played at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha in Guayaquil. Colours: Blue=home team win; Yellow=draw; Red=away team win.

## Aggregate table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | LDU Quito | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 62 | 30 | +32 | 64 | Placed in Third Stage Group 1 |
| 2 | Emelec | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 61 | Placed in Third Stage Group 2 |
| 3 | Olmedo | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 51 | Placed in Third Stage Group 2 |
| 4 | Deportivo Quito | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 51 | Placed in Third Stage Group 1 |
| 5 | Macará | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 46 | Placed in Third Stage Group 1 |
| 6 | ESPOLI | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 46 | Placed in Third Stage Group 2 |
| 7 | El Nacional | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 44 | Eliminated |
| 8 | Deportivo Cuenca | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 44 | Placed in Third Stage Group 2 |
| 9 | Manta | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 44 | Placed in Third Stage Group 1 |
| 10 | Barcelona | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 33 | 37 | −4 | 41 | Eliminated |
| 11 | LDU Portoviejo | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 30 | 55 | −25 | 39 | Relegation to Serie B |
| 12 | Técnico Universitario | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 65 | −23 | 30 | Relegation to Serie B |

## Third stage

The Third Stage began on October 16 and is scheduled to end on November 22. The winners of each group will advance to the Fourth Stage to contest the national title. Both teams will have earned a berth to the 2010 Copa Libertadores and enter in the Second Stage of the competition (their exact berths will be determined in the Fourth Stage). The group runners-up will also advance to the Fourth Stage to contest the third-place match.

### Group 1
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportivo Quito | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 15 | Championship Playoff and the 2010 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 2 | LDU Quito | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 9 | Third-Place Playoff |
| 3 | Macará | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 7 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Manta | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 5 | Eliminated |
* 1 2 3 Includes bonus points earned in earlier stages: LDU Quito (3 points), Deportivo Quito and Macará (1 point each).

#### Results

| Home \ Away | QUI | LDQ | MAC | MAN |
| Deportivo Quito | — | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| LDU Quito | 0–1 | — | 0–0 | 4–0 |
| Macará | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 |
| Manta | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | — |

### Group 2
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Deportivo Cuenca | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 16 | Championship Playoff and the 2010 Copa Libertadores Second Stage |
| 2 | Emelec | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 10 | Third-Place Playoff |
| 3 | Olmedo | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 7 | Eliminated |
| 4 | ESPOLI | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | Eliminated |
* ↑ Includes bonus points earned in earlier stages: Emelec (3 points).

#### Results

| Home \ Away | CUE | EME | ESP | OLM |
| Deportivo Cuenca | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Emelec | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| ESPOLI | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–3 |
| Olmedo | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | — |

## Fourth stage

The Fourth Stage will consists of two playoffs. The legs of the playoffs will be played on November 29 and December 7.

### Third-place playoff

The third-place playoff will be contested between the runners-up of each Third Stage group for a berth in the 2010 Copa Libertadores First Stage.

### Championship playoff

The championship playoff will be contested between the winners of each Third Stage group for the national title. Both teams will have already earned a berth in the 2010 Copa Libertadores Second Stage, but their exact berth will be determined here.
* Copa Credife Serie A 2009 champion
* Deportivo Quito 4th title

## Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Nationality | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Claudio Bieler | Argentine | LDU Quito | 22 |
| 2 | Gabriel Fernández | Argentine | Macará | 16 |
| 2 | Omar Guerra | Colombian | Técnico Universitario | 16 |
| 4 | Édison Preciado | Ecuadorian | Deportivo Cuenca | 13 |
| 5 | Iván Borghello | Argentine | Deportivo Quito | 11 |
| 5 | Fábio Renato | Brazilian | ESPOLI | 11 |
| 7 | Michael Arroyo | Ecuadorian | Deportivo Quito | 10 |
| 7 | Cristian Suárez | Ecuadorian | Olmedo | 10 |
| 9 | Luis Miguel Garcés | Ecuadorian | Macará | 9 |
| 9 | David Quiroz | Ecuadorian | Emelec | 9 |
| 9 | Rodrigo Teixeira | Brazilian | Deportivo Cuenca | 9 |

## Awards

The awards were selected by the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Radiodifusión.
* Best player: Marcelo Elizaga (Emelec)
* Best goalkeeper: Marcelo Elizaga (Emelec)
* Best defender: Marcelo Fleitas (Emelec)
* Best midfielder: Giancarlo Ramos (Deportivo Cuenca)
* Best striker: Claudio Bieler (LDU Quito)
* Best young player: Joao Rojas (Emelec)
* Best manager: Paúl Vélez (Deportivo Cuenca)
* Best Ecuadorian playing abroad: Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
* Best referee: Carlos Vera

## Statistics

Statistics were compiled by Quito-based newspaper El Comercio.
* Scoring
* Total goals: 527
* Average: 2.27 per game (lowest historic average)
* Total goalscorers: 160
* Top-scorer: Claudio Bieler (22 for LDU Quito)
* First goal: Gabriel Méndez (Olmedo) against José Francisco Cevallos (LDU Quito)
* Last goal: Joao Rojas (Emelec) against José Francisco Cevallos (LDU Quito)
* Total own goals: 2
* Goalkeeping
* Total goalkeepers: 32
* Field players turned goalkeeper: 2 (Patricio Urrutia, LDU Quito; Claudio Rojas, Tecnico Universitario)
* Most scored upon: Wilmar Zumba (Macara; 38 goals)
* Least scored upon: Carlos Santos (Manta; 0 in three games)
* Best average: Alexander Domínguez (11 goals in 24 matches)
* Most penalties stopped: Cristian Mora (El Nacional; 3 stopped)
* Players and Manager
* Total players: 393
* Team with the most used: LDU Quito (39 players)
* Team with the least used: Olmedo, Deportivo Cuenca, LDU Portoviejo, Macara (30 each)
* Most capped player(s): Luis Checa (Deportivo Quito) and Édison Preciado (Deportivo Cuenca) (41 games each)
* Total managers: 24
* Most changes: 3 (El Nacional, ESPOLI, Macara, Tecnico Universitario)
* Attendance
* Total: 1,129,811
* Average: 4,870 per match
* Highest attendance: Deportivo Quito v. Macara (33,250)
* Lowest attendance: Manta v. ESPOLI (54)
* Highest attendance by date: match day 13 (47,109)
* Lowest attendance by date: match day 30 (8,925)