Olympia Sports Club
The Club Deportivo Olimpia, founded in 1912, is the most successful soccer club in Honduras, with the most national and international cups. It was founded on June 12, 1912 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with the name «Nacional Olimpia».
The Club Deportivo Olimpia is the most successful team in the National Professional Soccer League of Honduras. They have won the league title 36 times, which represents 51% of the championships played. The club has finished second on 20 occasions and third on 12 occasions.
Symbols of the Olimpia Club
The colors of Club Olimpia are red, blue and white. The club’s mascot is the lion, which represents the strength and determination of the team. The club’s anthem was composed by maestro José Ángel Bueso Pineda.
Championships
Club Olimpia is the winningest team in the National Professional Soccer League of Honduras, with 36 titles. The club’s first title was achieved in the 1956-57 season. The last title was achieved in the 2022-23 season.
Cups won
Club Olimpia has won 10 Honduran Cups. The first Cup title was achieved in the 1957-58 season. The last title was achieved in the 2022-23 season.
Club Olimpia in the National League
The Club Olimpia had an outstanding role in the inaugural tournament of the National League in 1965, being runner-up. However, in the following year, under the direction of Mario Griffin Cubas, they became champions, achieving their first two-time championship in 1967. In 1969, the team was crowned undefeated, establishing a mark that lasts. In 1972, with Carlos Viera as coach, Olimpia won its fourth title. After six years, in 1978, Olimpia became champion for the fifth time.
In the 1980s, Olimpia dominated the League, becoming champion five times, including the «Campeonísimo» title in 1982 and 1984. In 1986, Néstor Matamala led the team to its third «Campeonísimo» title. In 1987, under the direction of Carlos Padilla Velásquez, Olimpia won the title again by beating C.D. Marathon. Despite losing the final in 1988, Olimpia came back strong in 1989 with a team led by Estanislao Malinowsky, winning its sixth title.
In the 90s, although the competition intensified, Olimpia won three titles. In 1995, Flavio Ortega led the team to victory, and the following year, in 1996, Olimpia was crowned again by beating Platense. In 1999, the team won its fourteenth title, marking the return of Wilmer Velásquez and the emergence of David Suazo.
With 14 titles, Olimpia closed the 20th century as the most successful team in the history of the National League, consolidating its position as a benchmark in Honduran soccer.
Performance in the National League
Club Olimpia has participated in 29 editions of the Uncaf Interclub Cup, which it has won on 3 occasions. The club has participated in 15 editions of the Concacaf Champions Cup, which it has won once. The club has participated in 11 editions of the Concacaf Champions League, in which it has reached the round of 16 on 3 occasions.
Current status of the club at the national level
Club Olimpia is the largest team in Honduras. It is the club with the most titles and the one with the most fans. The club is in a good moment nationally, having won the league title in the last 3 seasons.
The Olimpia Club at an international level
Club Olimpia has performed well internationally in recent years. In the 2022-23 season, the club reached the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League.
Club Olimpia in Concacaf
The Olimpia Sports Club has won the Concacaf Champions and Runners-up Cup on two occasions. The first victory was in 1972, beating Deportivo Toluca in the semifinals with an aggregate score of 2-1. In the final series, Olimpia was crowned by defeating SV Robinhood of Suriname with an aggregate score of 2-0, thus earning the right to play the Inter-American Cup against Independiente of Argentina. That year’s team had outstanding players such as Crisanto Norales, «Maravilla» Suazo, and Estanislao Malinowsky as technical director.
In 1988, under the direction of Estanislao Malinowsky, Olimpia won its second title in the Concacaf Champions Championship. In the round of 16, they defeated Cruz Azul of Mexico, being the only Honduran club to win at the Azteca stadium. In the semifinals, they beat Costa Rica’s Liga Deportiva Alajuelense with an Olympic goal from Nahúm Espinoza. In the final against Defense Force of Trinidad and Tobago, Olimpia won both matches 2-0, securing the right to play in the Inter-American Cup against Nacional de Montevideo of Uruguay.
Club World Cup
Club Deportivo Olimpia, throughout its history, has won numerous titles in both Honduras and Concacaf, standing out for its success even more than the national team. Their most significant achievement was qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2001. In that tournament, coached by Edwin Pavón, Olimpia defeated Deportivo Toluca in an even 1-0 match, highlighting the performance of goalkeeper Donaldo González. Then, they defeated Pachuca with a resounding 4-0, becoming the first Central American team to qualify for the Club World Cup.
Despite the effort made on and off the field to participate in the Club World Cup, the tournament was canceled due to disagreements between the participating clubs, financial problems of some teams and the bankruptcy of the main sponsor, ISL Worldwide. As a result, Olimpia received financial compensation from world football authorities.
National and international fans
Club Olimpia has a great fan base in Honduras. The club has followers throughout the country, especially in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. The club also has an important fan base abroad, especially in the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Classic rivalry with Club Motagua
Club Olimpia has a great rivalry with Club Motagua, with which it competes in the Honduran soccer classic. The rivalry between both clubs is one of the most intense in Central America.
Important information about Club Olimpia
It is the most winning team in Honduran soccer, with 36 National League titles, 10 Honduran Cups, 3 Uncaf Interclub Cups, 1 Concacaf Champions Cup and 3 Concacaf Central American Tournaments. strong>
- Historic place in league: 1st
- Seasons in 1st: 65 Seasons (all)
- Best place in the league: 1st
- Worst place in the league: 7th (1981-1982)
- Biggest win in favor:
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- In national tournaments: Olimpia 10:2 La Salle (August 29, 1965)
- In international tournaments: Coke Milpross 1:8 Olimpia (Concacaf Champions Cup 1987)
- In international tournaments: Plaza Amador 1:7 Olimpia (Concacaf League 2017)
- Biggest win against:
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- In national tournaments: Marathon 5:0 Olimpia (1985-86)
- In international tournaments: UNAM Pumas 5:0 Olimpia (Concacaf Champions Cup 1989)
- Player with the most goals: Wilmer Velásquez (196)
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Relevant data:
- The only Central American team to have played at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay.
- First Central American team to have won against a Mexican rival at the Azteca Stadium (2-1 against Cruz Azul in 1988).
- The only Central American team to have defeated Boca Juniors (2-1).
- The only Central American team to have played at the Libertadores de América Stadium in Argentina.
- The only Central American team to have played at the Rose Bowl Stadium in the United States of America.
- The only Central American team to have played with the Associazione Calcio Milan of Italy
First Central American team qualified for a Club World Cup: 2001
Nicknames or nicknames: Los Albos, El Viejo León, Los Merengues, El León, Rey de Copas, La Pimpa
The most outstanding players of Club Olimpia
- Wilmer Velásquez, the top scorer with 196 goals scored
- Carlos Pavón
- David Suazo
- Carlos Sánchez
- Jerry Bengtson
- Jorge Claros
- Mario Iván Guerrero
The most outstanding coaches of Club Olimpia
- José Rafael Ferrari
- Carlos Padilla Velásquez
- Flavio Ortega
- Mario Zanabria
- Carlos Restrepo
- Ramón Maradiaga
The most prominent leaders of the Olimpia Club
- José Rafael Ferrari
- Rafael Ferrari
- José María Reyes
- Carlos Soto
- Manuel C. Atala
- Juan E. López
- Manuel J. Mejía
