Club Deportivo y Social Vida, or simply Vida, is a Honduran professional football club based in La Ceiba, Atlántida.

Vida
Full nameClub Deportivo y Social Vida
Nickname(s)Cocoteros (The Coconuts)
Los Rojiblancos (The Red-and-Whites)
Founded14 October 1940; 84 years ago (1940-10-14)
GroundEstadio Nilmo Edwards,
La Ceiba, Honduras
Capacity18,000
OwnerLuis Cruz
ManagerHéctor Vargas
LeagueLiga de Ascenso
2024 AperturaLiga de Ascenso 2 of 5 Group Stage A

The club has won two domestic league titles and has finished second four times.

History

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Salvavida

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The club that is today known as Vida was founded on 14 October 1940, as a result of a split in the board of directors of Atlántida. Gregorio Ramos, one of the Atlántida directors, decided to found his own team. Since it was initially sponsored by the brewery Cervecería Hondureña, SA, the club took the name Salvavida, a brand of beer that the brewery produced.[1]

Later on, the relationship between Cervezería Hondureña and Salvavida was coming to an end. According to club legend, the wife of one of the club directors (Vida Code de Castañeda) fell into a river or a lake while the team was walking by. The cry of "un salvavida para vida" (a lifesaver for Vida) went up. This was supposedly the inspiration for the modern name, Vida.

1940s and 1950s

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During the 1940s, most of the club's players were employees of team president Gregorio Ramos, who was also owner of Lavanderia Ramos. He also was the president of the team and contributed economically and handled the team affairs. The training was carried out in a small field located that was property of the Standard Fruit Company (DOLE). Another source of players were students from the local public school, Instituto Manuel Bonilla and those from the amateur soccer club Deportes Diablos Negros. The most notable stars of these years were the famous Talon Arzú, Alberto "Campion" Amaya, Héctor "Jet" Castillo McKenzie, Quiro Brooks, Cristóbal Craka Brooks, and the Spaniard Rafael "El Fafa" from Navarre.

Vida's rise to prominence

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Vida's breakthrough came in the 1960s, with the energy provided by rising stars such as Salvador Hernández, Nilmo Edwards, and the brothers Morris and Junia Garden. In 1961, Vida finished runners-up in the national tournament, losing out only to Olimpia. They won the whole thing in 1964, beating out Salamar of San Lorenzo in Tegucigalpa.

In 1964, when the previously amateur Honduran league officially turned professional, the city of La Ceiba was offered one place. Vida prevailed in a play-off against two local rivals, Victoria and Atlántida, to earn the city's slot in the new top flight. The previously amateur players were awarded salaries drawn from ticket sales, and the old field where Vida used to play was converted into a genuine stadium, the Estadio Ceibeño. With the stadium built, Vida moved to Campo Vida located in the neighborhood La Isla as their training ground (which is still preserved to this date, and used for youth league teams in La Ceiba).

CDS Vida: The glory years (1965–1985)

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From 1965 to 1975, Vida was a frequent finisher in the Top 4 of the Honduran Major League Soccer. Their best season during this stretch was 1971, when they finished second to Olimpia. Their success continued throughout the 1970s, as they were a regular qualifier for the quadrangular playoff, but it was the early 1980s that saw the club's greatest run of success.

It started in 1981, when Vida finished third in the first phase to qualify for the playoffs. In the quadrangular, they finished level with Motagua at the top of the table, and prevailed 2–0. Then, in the championship against regular season winners Atlético Morazán, Vida triumphed 4–1 on aggregate. They won a second title in 1983, then narrowly finished as runners-up to Olimpia and Marathon in 1984 and 1985.

During the 1980s, the team's notable players were Enrique "Palanca" Mendoza, Matilde Lacayo, Dennis "La Bomba" Hinds, Cipriano Dueños (national scoring Champion in 1986) and Roberto "Macho" Figueroa (a key player in the Honduras National team that earned the berth to the World Cup Spain 1982, sold to Real Murcia after the tournament).

Decline and descent into obscurity

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Vida's decline began in 1986. The club had finished first in the regular season and third in the quadrangular play-offs; by most accounts a respectable year. However, shortly after the end of the playoffs, the club was rocked by a match-fixing scandal. Specifically, the accusation was that they deliberately threw the title to Olimpia.

Vida never recovered, and it took many years before they even appeared a top-flight challenger. Even after the Apertura and the Clausura were adopted, Vida has struggled. They have not reached a final since their glory days.

Relegation

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On 2024, Vida gets relegated to the Liga De Ascenso for the first time in its history after losing against Lobos UPNFM 3-1 in the Relegation Final.

Club rivalries

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Clásico Ceibeño

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El Clásico Ceibeño (La Ceiba derby) is a football match played between Victoria and CDS Vida, both teams from La Ceiba, Honduras.

Achievements

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Domestic

1981–82, 1983–84
Runner-up (3): 1971–72, 1984–85, 1985–86
1961–62

League and play-off performance (1994–present)

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Season Position G W D L GS GA PTS Playoff Pl. W D L GS GA PTS
1994–95 7th 27 8 9 10 38 41 33 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1995–96 8th 27 5 14 8 25 37 29 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1996–97 8th 27 7 7 13 21 33 28 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1997–98 Apertura 8th 20 7 2 11 31 33 23 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1997–98 Clausura 7th 20 5 8 7 26 26 23 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1999 Apertura 9th 18 4 4 10 22 33 16 did not qualify - - - - - - -
1999–00 Apertura 6th 18 6 4 8 18 30 22 Quarter-finals 2 0 1 1 3 4 1
1999–00 Clausura 10th 18 3 5 10 18 30 14 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2000–01 Apertura 6th 18 6 5 7 22 24 23 Quarter-finals 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
2000–01 Clausura 9th 18 4 6 8 22 31 18 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2001–02 Apertura 6th 18 3 11 4 20 23 20 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2001–02 Clausura 9th 18 3 10 5 16 21 19 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2002–03 Apertura 7th 18 4 7 7 19 29 19 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2002–03 Clausura 5th 18 7 4 7 24 30 25 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2003–04 Apertura 3rd 18 8 5 5 24 20 29
Semi-finals
2 1 0 1 3 4 3
2003–04 Clausura 9th 16 2 7 7 13 25 13 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2004–05 Apertura 5th 18 6 4 8 20 23 22 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2004–05 Clausura 7th 18 5 7 6 16 19 22 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2005–06 Apertura 9th 18 4 6 8 22 25 18 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2005–06 Clausura 5th 18 6 9 3 21 21 27 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2006–07 Apertura 10th 18 3 2 13 17 39 11 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2006–07 Clausura 6th 18 6 4 8 21 23 22 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2007–08 Apertura 8th 18 4 8 6 18 22 20 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2007–08 Clausura 10th 18 4 6 8 18 29 18 did not qualify - - - - - - -
2008–09 Apertura 10th
18
1
6
11
11
25
9
did not qualify
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2008–09 Clausura 4th
18
6
8
4
18
19
26
Semi-finals
2
1
0
1
1
2
-1
2009–10 Apertura 7th
18
4
6
8
22
33
18
did not qualify
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2009–10 Clausura 3rd
18
8
4
6
25
20
28
Semi-finals
2
0
2
0
3
3
2
2010–11 Apertura 6th
18
7
4
7
26
23
25
did not qualify
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2010–11 Clausura 3rd
18
7
5
6
23
18
26
Semi-finals
2
1
0
1
3
3
3
2011–12 Apertura 4th
18
7
5
6
19
21
26
Semi-finals
4
1
0
3
4
8
3
2011–12 Clausura 6th
18
5
9
4
24
25
24
Quarter-Finals
2
0
1
1
1
2
1
2012–13 Apertura 7th
18
5
6
7
24
35
21
did not qualify
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2012–13 Clausura 9th
18
4
7
7
17
29
19
did not qualify
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

All-time table

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(From 1965/66 to 2007/08)

Seasons Points Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
43 1629 1302 387 468 447 1375 1568 -193

Performance (1997–98 – present)

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Team Games Won Drawn Lost Scored Against Points Difference
Real España 44 13 21 10 57 60 60 -4
Platense 42 15 10 17 46 50 55 -4
Universidad 34 14 10 10 38 34 52 +4
Victoria 42 11 14 17 46 71 47 -24
Marathón 42 8 10 24 42 83 34 -41
Motagua 44 5 13 26 34 69 28 -35
Atlético Olanchano 16 7 4 5 28 26 25 +2
Olimpia 44 2 16 26 41 85 22 -44
Real Maya / Patepluma 12 5 4 3 17 15 19 +2
Hispano 12 4 4 4 14 16 16 -2
Broncos 10 3 2 5 16 17 11 -1
Deportes Savio 12 2 5 5 8 15 11 -7
Independiente 4 2 2 0 12 4 8 +8
Broncos-UNAH 4 2 2 0 5 4 8 +4
Valencia 8 1 5 2 6 7 8 -1
Honduras Salzburg 4 2 1 1 6 5 7 +1
Federal 4 2 1 1 6 5 7 +1
Palestino 4 2 0 2 7 7 6 +0
Real Comayagua 4 1 2 1 6 6 5 +0

International competition

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CONCACAF Champions' Cup

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First Round v.   Xelajú MC – 2:2, 0:6 (Xelajú advanced 8:2 on aggregate)
Final Round v.   Toluca – 1:3, 0:1 (Toluca advanced 4:1 on aggregate)
First Round v.   Saprissa – 0:2, 0:1 (Saprissa advanced 3:0 on aggregate)
First Round v.   Brooklyn Dodgers – (Brooklyn Dodgers withdrew)
Second Round v.   Pumas UNAM – 2:2, 0:5 (Pumas UNAM advance 7:2 on aggregate)
Third Round v.   NY Pancyprian-Freedoms – 1:1, 1:2 (NY Pancyprian-Freedoms advance 3:2 on aggregate)
First Round v.   FAS – 1:1, 2:1 (Vida advance 3:2 on aggregate)
Second Round v.   América – 1:0, 0:3 (América advance 3:1 on aggregate)

Torneo Fraternidad

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  • 1981 Torneo Fraternidad
First Round v.   Juventud Retalteca – 0:1, 3:1 (Vida advance 3:2 on aggregate)
Second Round v.   Marathón – (Marathón advance)
  • 1982 Torneo Fraternidad
First Round v.   Juventud Independiente – 2:1, 1:0 (Vida advance 3:1 on aggregate)
Second Round v.   Xelajú MC – 0:0, 0:2 (Xelajú MC advance 2:0 on aggregate)

All-time top scorers

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(As of 8 February 2012)[2]

Current squad

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As of 23 June 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ARG Matías Quinteros
2 DF   HON Bryan Barrios
3 DF   USA Jonathan Bornstein (vice-captain)
4 DF   HON Hilder Colón
6 DF   HON Roger Sander
7 MF   HON Maikel García
8 MF   HON Gerson Chávez
9 FW   ARG Gabriel Tellas
10 MF   HON Marcelo Canales (captain)
11 FW   HON Josué Villafranca
12 MF   HON Henry Sánchez
13 MF   HON Cristian Manaiza
15 DF   HON Yexon Villalta
16 FW   HON Ederson Fúnez
18 DF   HON Danilo Palacios
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF   HON Clever Portillo
20 MF   HON Johan Centeno
23 FW   ARG Brian Visser
24 FW   HON Sebastián Espinoza
25 DF   HON Jefferson Palacios
26 GK   HON Áxel Padilla
27 MF   HON Lauro Chimilio
30 GK   HON Amílcar Bengoché
32 FW   HON Marvin Bernárdez
34 DF   HON Michael Rosales
35 MF   HON Dayron Suazo
- MF   HON Carlos Estrada
- MF   HON Karlet Barahona
- FW   HON Jorge Castrillo

Current technical staff

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Position Staff
Head coach   Fernando Mira
Assistant coach   Orlando Fernandes
Goalkeeping coach   José Luis Norales
Fitness coach   Henry Oliva

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Managers

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  •   Aroldo Cordón
  •   Carlos Enrique "Ronco" Wellman (1971)
  •   Roberto González (1981)
  •   Gonzalo Zelaya (1983)
  •   Roberto González (1984–85)
  •   Mario Ramón Sandoval (1995)
  •   Ariel Sena (1995–1996)
  •   Enrique Grey Fúnez (1996)
  •   Héctor Vargas (1999–00)
  •   David Medina (2001)
  •   Ricardo Ortiz (2006)
  •   Carlos Martínez (2007 – Dec 12)
  •   Jorge Pineda (Dec 2012 – April 14)[3]
  •   Ramón Maradiaga (May 2014 – Sept 15)
  •   Elvin López (201?–)
  •   Carlos Alberto Pavon Plumer (2016 – December 2019)
  •   Raúl Martínez Sambula ( - February 2019)
  •   Hector Castellon (February 2019 -)
  •   Fernando Araújo (June 2019 - )
  •   Ramón Maradiaga (August 2020 - November 2020)
  •   Nerlin Membreño (November 2020 - April 2021)
  •   Fernando Mira (April 2021 - )

Former crests

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Affiliated clubs

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References

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  1. ^ "A dar guerra" (in Spanish). Diario La Prensa. 2007-08-10. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  2. ^ Desafíe a Ismael[permanent dead link] – La Prensa (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Jorge Pineda firma con el Vida Archived 2012-12-17 at the Wayback Machine – La Prensa (in Spanish)
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