C.D. Marathón


Club Deportivo Marathón is a Honduran football club founded in November 25 of 1925, based in San Pedro Sula, which currently plays in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras.

History

Club Deportivo Marathón was founded on 25 November 1925 in San Pedro Sula by Eloy Montes and a group of his friends. Ever since, Marathón has become one of the most prestigious clubs in Honduras, winning multiple titles. The Club Deportivo Marathon has its own sporting venue that has different fields for both first-division team to the bottom and even a tennis cement based foosball lit for night games. The venue has since improved through the years by the support of Friends of the Marathon Group and the different boards that have led to the computer.

First title (1979)

The club would get its first title in their history in 1979. Under orders from Ángel Ramón Rodríguez, Marathon was looking for their first championship in Honduras for the 1979 tournament. With figures like Roberto "Robot" Bailey, Arturo "Pacharaca" Bonilla, Francisco Javier Toledo, Celso Güity, Efraín "Pucho" Osorio, Ramón "Albañil" Osorio, René "Maravilla" Suazo, Jorge Alberto "Cuca" Bueso, Félix Carranza, Jorge Phoyoú, Alberto Merelles, Juan Carlos Wéber and others, the club remained in first place in the regular rounds, having secured their classification to the final.

Second title (1985)

It took six years for Marathon to get a new title. This was achieved in 1983. At that time, Gonzalo Zelaya of La Ceiba was the team coach. In the regular season, Marathon was second in their group behind Club Deportivo Olimpia on goal difference.
In the final round, Marathon was the champion with 4 wins, 1 draw and only 1 loss to rivals: Life, Motagua and Olimpia.
In the deciding match in San Pedro Sula, in the Estadio Francisco Morazán, Marathon faced the Life. With a goal by Roy Padilla Bardales, the emerald table won 1–0 and was crowned for the second time in its history.

Third title (2002)

Marathon had a drought of nearly 17 years without any National League title. However, at the beginning of the new century, the club began having a resurgence. This is due to that, in 2001, the Honduran coach Jose de la Paz Herrera began a renovation project on campus. Forming a team without much fame, Mr. Uclés led the Marathon again at the top; turning it again into a big team.
In his second tournament Marathon, led by Chelato's team went to the final, losing against Motagua on penalties.However, the great work of Marathon was applauded and recognized by several journalists, hobbyists and technicians in the country its offensive and attractive football.
For the Clausura 2002, Marathon finally got what they desired: a championship. Finishing third in the regular rounds with 29 points, Marathon faced in the semifinals to Platense of Puerto Cortés.. In the first leg, Marathon won in San Pedro Sula 2–1 with a brace from Enrique Centeno Reneau; Platense pulled by Clifford Laing. In the first leg, Marathon tied 0–0 at Puerto Cortés and qualified for the final. For this occasion, Marathon faced Olimpia in the final, who defeated Victoria hurriedly in the semi-finals. In the first leg played in San Pedro Sula in the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Marathon defeated Olimpia 4–1 with a penalty from Nigel Zuniga, and goals from Enrique Centeno Reneau and Óscar Vargas. The beating caused many to consider Marathon champions of Honduran football again. The then coach of Olimpia, Edwin Pavon, clarified that the end was virtually doomed. In the second leg at Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino Tegucigalpa, Marathon had great support, almost seven thousand fans club traveled to the Honduran capital to support the team. Even had fans of teams like Motagua and Real Spain that joined the "green" invasion of the capital. Olimpia started winning 1–0 with annotation Gustavo Fuentes 7 minutes. It seemed that the capital team was going to go up. However, Marathon intelligently controlled the game. Finally, they ended up sinking the Olympia in their own field, to his own supporters who turned against their own team. With a smart, driven and practical football, Marathon were crowned champions of Honduras.

Fourth title (2003)

Just after 13 months, Marathon would again win another title. In the Clausura 2003, the "Greens" were directed by the Brazilian Flavio Ortega. Ortega replaced the Argentine Miguel Angel Lemme, who left in the middle of the tournament. Flavio Ortega lifted the team to finally put it in second place in the regular turns. In the semi-finals, Marathon faced Real España. In the first leg both teams tied 1–1; Henry Jimenez pushed Real España 1–0, but Pompilio Cacho tied for the Emeralds. In the return game, played at the Olympic Stadium in San Pedro, Real España came back to draw 1–1. Real España returned to win from a goal by Honduran George Fonseca, however, midfielder Narciso Fernández tied the game for a Marathon Olympic goal. Marathon entered the final for better position in the regular season. Marathon faced Motagua in the final. The Motagüenses eliminated Olimpia in the semi-finals, giving them even more strength to meet the final. In the final round played at the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Marathon surprised to win 1–0 with a goal from Emil Martinez. With this, the Emeralds had a big advantage for the final round. In the return game, Marathon had a huge number of fans at the Estadio Olímpico, the second largest in the history of La Liga Nacional. Motagua would have won with goals from Luis "Tanque" Oseguera in the 39th minute, however the forward Pompilio Cacho scored the equalizer at the end of the first half. In the second half, Marathon were up 2 goals; both scored by Brazilian Denilson Costa. With this, Marathon were champions.

Fifth title (2004)

The team won its fifth title in Apertura 2004. The former club player Nicolás Suazo guided them to win the championship against Olimpia in Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino. After winning the first game in San Pedro Sula, the verdolagas got the tournament after beating Olimpia in overtime thanks to two goals from Uruguayan Edgardo Simovic

Sixth title (2007)

On 22 December 2007, Marathón won its sixth title in the history of Honduran Liga Nacional. Under the guidance of the Uruguayan coach Manuel Keossian, the club beat Motagua in San Pedro Sula by 2–0 score after a 0–0 draw on the first leg in Tegucigalpa. Mitchel Brown and Erick Scott scored the winning goals for the club.

Seventh title (2008)

On 13 December 2008, Marathón won its seventh title in his history on Liga Nacional and the fifth one on the new century. With Manuel Keosseian again as the coach, the club beat Real España in Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano by 1–0 score in the first leg. In the second leg, both teams finished in a 1–1 draw on Estadio Francisco Morazán. Mario Berríos scored the tie goal.

Eighth title (2009)

Marathon faced Olimpia in the final, they had lost 1–0 in the first leg in Tegucigalpa and needed a win in order to crown themselves as champions in the return leg in San Pedro Sula. The game ended 2–0 in favor of the Verdolagas with goals from Guatemala's Guillermo Ramírez and the Honduran striker Jerry Palacios, who with this goal was crowned top scorer of the tournament. This led the Marathon to win their eighth and until now last league.

Ninth title (2018)

On May 19, 2018, Marathon was the new champion after 6 years on Liga Nacional of Honduras. Marathon faced Motagua 5–4 in penalties in the stadium of Yankel Rosenthal in San Pedro Sula. Under the guidance of the coach Hector Vargas, the club maintain their leadership during the entire tournament and ended up successful.

Stadium

Marathon plays its home games in Estadio Yankel Rosenthal, which is located in San Pedro Sula. Marathon Club is the only team in Honduras to have its own stadium. Estadio Yankel Rosenthal is a multi-purpose stadium located in Colonia La Sabana in San Pedro Sula, Honduras has a capacity of 15,000 fans. The project, which was scheduled to be completed in full for 2007, was postponed to 2009 due to financial problems.

Club rivalries

Clásico Nacional

El Clásico Nacional is a Honduran national football derby played between Olimpia, since one team was from Tegucigalpa and Marathón, the other one from San Pedro Sula. When Olimpia won its first national title in September 1928. At that time, Olimpia representing the central zone, won at a final series of three matches to Marathón, champion of the north. Following this end, he created a huge rivalry between these two teams to which he called the National Classic.

Clásico de las M's

El Clásico de las M's or El Derbi de las M's , is a derby football match played between Motagua from Tegucigalpa and Marathón from San Pedro Sula, two of the most successful and popular football teams in Honduras.

Clásico Sampedrano

El Clásico Sampedrano is a Honduran football match played at least 4 times a year in the Liga Nacional de Futbol de Honduras by two teams: Marathón and Real España. These two teams are from San Pedro Sula, hence the name.

Nicknames

Marathon has many nicknames including: Sinfonía Verde, Panzas Verdes, Verdolagas, Esmeraldas, Monstruo Verde.

Support

The Club Deportivo Marathon as one of the big four teams in la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras being the second team to Honduras in terms of number of fans, being beaten only by Club Deportivo Olimpia.

Ranking mundial de clubes – IFFHS

In 2009, the Club Deportivo Marathon enconto according to the IFFHS as the best and only club Honduras has positioned at 234 in the world with 82.0 points. as the top club Deportivo La Coruna, Osasuna, Espanyol, River Plate, Racing, Boca Juniors, Club Atlético Peñarol, Cagliari, among others.

Achievements

Domestic
International
SeasonPositionGPWDLGFGAPTSPlayoffsPl.WDLGSGAPTS
1994–956th279711343334First round2020112
1995–964th27999323136First round2011020
1996–975th2710710312937First round2101223
Apertura 19974th20884302432First round2002240
Clausura 19984th20794292830First round2010111
1998–997th18495161621Did not qualify------–
Apertura 19998th18387162217Did not qualify------–
Clausura 20005th18648242222Semi-finals4130435
Apertura 20009th18468202518Did not qualify------–
Clausura 20013rd18936302030Semi-finals4121445
Apertura 20012nd18873282231Runners-up4211657
Clausura 20023rd18855272129Champions4211637
Apertura 20023rd18774221628Semi-finals2101123
Clausura 20032nd181035331733Champions4220648
Apertura 20034th18846211628Semi-finals2011351
Clausura 20043rd16745221425Runners-up4211547
Apertura 20043rd181044231734Champions43108510
Clausura 20052nd18765242227Runners-up4031345
Apertura 20053rd18783302629Runners-up4301749
Clausura 20069th182511162711Did not qualify------–
Apertura 20064th18864302030Semi-finals2101233
Clausura 20072nd181143321636Runners-up4202566
Apertura 20071st181035271635Champions4211417
Clausura 20082nd18936302330Runners-up4112674
Apertura 20082nd18954262032Champions4211327
Clausura 20092nd181044422334Semi-finals2002260
Apertura 20091st181152321638Champions4202546
Clausura 20107th18477232419Did not qualify------–
Apertura 20102nd18873261831Semi-finals2011241
Clausura 20114th18747211725Semi-finals2101113
Apertura 20112nd18945321931Semi-finals2011010
Clausura 20123rd18873251931Runners-up6231426
Apertura 20124th18657212623First round2020221
Clausura 20134th18594262124First round2011241
Apertura 201310th18459203017"Did not qualify"------–
Clausura 20145th18666222524Runners-up22403110
Apertura 20147th18576202522"Did not qualify"------–
Clausura 20153rd18855202329First round2101343
Apertura 20155th18666262224First round2020002
Clausura 20166th18747252025First round2101213
Apertura 20165th18666222224First round2101333
Clausura 20175th18837262227First round2101113
Apertura 20171st181116272134Semi-finals2101343
Clausura 20181st181143352337Champions4220428

Other facts

All-time table


SeasonsPointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference
552048141252347941217911491+300

36 game average Torneo Apertura y Clausura 2007/08

International competition

CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League

All time top scorers

Bold players are still active
#PlayerGoalsYears
1 Gilberto Machado781979–1991
2 Emil Martínez662001–2004, 2006–2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014–2016
3 Justin Arboleda602017–2019
4 Arturo Bonilla571972–1985
5 Pompilio Cacho Valerio561995–2003, 2005–2006
6 Roberto Bailey471978–1983
7 Mauro Caballero421965–1978
8 Jorge Bueso421979–1989
9 Nicolás Suazo421989–1994
10 Mario Berríos402000–2017
11 Ciro Paulino Castillo351983–1991, 1992–1997
12 Arnulfo Echeverría341969–1972
13 Diego Reyes332014–2016
14 Flavio Ortega301968–1972
15 Mitchel Brown302007, 2009, 2012, 2014
?? Edgardo Simovic282004–2005
?? Carlos Oliva252001–2002, 2006–2009
?? Denilson Costa242003–2005
?? Luis Ramírez242005, 2009, 2012, 2014
?? Jerry Palacios202008–2010, 2012

All time appearances

#PlayerAppearancesYears
1 Mauricio Sabillón4861998–2009, 2010–2016
2 Mario Berríos4742000–2017
3 Arturo "Pacharaca" Bonilla2661972–1985
4 Gilberto Machado2611979–1991
¿? Mario Beata2291992–1998, 2006–2010, 2012

Marathón's logos

Since 1925, Marathón uses a specific logo for the institution.

Uniforms

The historic colors for the club are green and red, in some cases, white. More recently it has promoted black. The uniform of the team has been sponsored by Joma.

Kit evolution

Current squad

Apertura 2018

Reserve squad

Former coaches