2009 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A

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 (). The derbies were played on the third and seventh match day of the stage.

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.

DISPLAY FIXES FOR CERTAIN TEAMS

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Managerial changes

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

Results

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

Results

Group 2

Standings

Results

Inter-group clásicos

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.

References

References

1. (October 2010). "El Campeonato Cambió De Nombre". [[El Comercio (Ecuador).
2. (2008). "Federación Ecuadoriana de Futbol, el portal del futbol de ecuadoriano". [[Ecuadorian Football Federation]].
3. (2009). ""Mostaza" Merlo ya no sera DT amarillo". [[El Universo]].
4. (October 2010). "El español Benito Floro dirigirá al Barcelona". [[El Comercio (Ecuador).
5. (September 2016)
6. (October 2010). "El Presidente chulla sacó del Quito a Carlos Sevilla". [[El Comercio (Ecuador).
7. (October 2010). "Fossati asegura estar listo para tocar el 'techo' con Liga". El Comercio.
8. (October 2010). "La goleada ante Nacional paraguayo le costó el puesto al DT Jorge Célico". El comercio.
9. (October 2010). "Juan Carlos Burbano asumió el mando militar". El Comercio.
10. (October 2010). "Célico es el DT del Técnico ambateño". El Comercio.
11. (October 2010). "Macará despidió a Mario Jacquet, Víctor Marchesini es el nuevo DT". El Comercio.
12. (October 2010). "Dragan Miranovic renunció al Olmedo". El Comercio.
13. (2009). "Barcelona oficializo salida del DT Floro". [[El Universo]].
14. (2009). "Remezón en el Manta Fútbol Club". [[El Comercio (Ecuador).
15. (2009). "Manta contrata a Fabián Bustos como nuevo DT". [[Ecuadorian Football Federation]].
16. [http://www.futbolecuador.com/stories/publica/8582 futbolecuador.com – Lo mejor del fútbol ecuatoriano]
17. (2009). "Llop tiene un gran reto con Barcelona". [[El Universo]].
18. (2009). "Contraatque". [[El Universo]].
19. (October 2010). "Presidente del Deportivo Cuenca confirmó salida de Duró y Vélez lo sustituye". El Comercio.
20. (October 2010). "Vélez está al frente del Dep. Cuenca". El Comercio.
21. (September 2018). "ESPOLI busca DT tra la salida del Brasileno Roberto Abruzzese". [[Ecuadorian Football Federation]].
22. (September 2018). "Estratega ecuatoriano Homer Valencia asume como nuevo DT de ESPOLI". [[Ecuadorian Football Federation]].
23. (February 19, 2010). "Ecuador 2009". [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
24. Sánchez Pineda, Joselo. (November 30, 2009). "AER premió a Marcelo Elizaga como el mejor jugador de la temporada 2009". [[Ecuadorian Football Federation]].
25. "El Comercio".