The 2021–22 Liga Primera de Nicaragua season was to be divided into two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura. The season will determine the 77th and 78th champions in the history of the Liga Primera de Nicaragua, the top division of football in Nicaragua. The Apertura tournament is to be played in the second half of 2021, while the Clausura is to be played in the first half of 2022.
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Apertura: Diriangén Clausura: Diriangén |
| Relegated | Real Madriz |
| CONCACAF League | Diriangén Real Estelí FC |
| Matches played | 196 |
| Goals scored | 459 (2.34 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Apertura: Lucas dos Santos(11 goals) Clausura:  Luis Manuel Galeano (14 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Apertura: Deportivo Walter Ferretti 5–0 ART Municipal Jalapa (21 October 2021) Clausura: Diriangén F.C. 8–0 H&H Export |
| Biggest away win | Apertura: UNAN Managua 3-5 Real Madriz Clausura: Real Madriz 0–3 Juventus Managua UNAN Managua 0–3 Diriangén F.C. Juventus Managua 0–3 Real Esteli F.C. |
| Highest scoring | Apertura: H&H Export 4-8 Deportivo Walter Ferretti Clausura: Diriangén F.C. 8–0 H&H Export |
← 2020–21 2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 24 May 2022. | |
Teams edit
Team information edit
A total of ten teams contested the league, including nine sides from the 2020–21 Primera División, and one side from the 2020–21 Segunda División.
Junior Managua finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División. The champions from the Segunda División, UNAN Managua, were promoted in their place.
The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Chinandega FC, faced the second-place team from the Segunda División, HyH Export de Sébaco, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. HyH Export de Sébaco won 5–3 over two legs, meaning Chinandega FC relegated from the Primera División.[1]
Promotion and relegation edit
Promoted from Segunda División as of July, 2021.
- Champions: UNAN Managua
- Promotion playoff winner: HyH Export de Sébaco
Relegated to Segunda División as of May, 2021.
- Last Place: Junior Managua
- Promotion playoff loser: Chinandega FC
Stadiums and locations edit
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART Jalapa | Jalapa | Estadio Alejandro Ramos Turcio | 2,000 |
| Diriangén | Diriamba | Estadio Cacique Diriangén | 8,500 |
| Juventus Managua | Managua | Estadio | 7,000 |
| HYH Sebaco | Matagalpa | Estadio Municipal de Matagalpa | 1,800 |
| Managua | Managua | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol (UNAN) | 15,000 |
| Ocotal | Ocotal | Estadio Roy Fernando Bermúdez | 7,000 |
| Real Estelí | Esteli | Estadio Independencia | 4,800 |
| Real Madriz | Somoto | Estadio Solidaridad Augusto Cesar Mendoza | 2,000 |
| UNAN Managua | Managua | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol (UNAN) | 15,000 |
| Walter Ferretti | Managua | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol (UNAN) | 15,000 |
Personnel and kits edit
| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART Jalapa | TBD | Leonidas Rodriguez
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Diriangén | TBD | Flavio da Silva
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Juventus Managua | TBD | Oscar Blanco
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| HYH Sebaco | TBD |  Carlos Javier Martino
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Managua | TBD | Emilio Aburto
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Ocotal | TBD | Mario Alfaro
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Real Estelí | TBD |  José Luis Trejo
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Real Madriz | TBD |  Héctor Medina
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| UNAM Managua | TBD | Daniel Garcia
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| Walter Ferretti | TBD | Henry Urbina
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
Other news edit
New ball provider edit
VOIT will be providing and major ball sponsor for 2020-2021 [2][permanent dead link]
Managerial changes edit
Pre-season Apertura 2021 edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estelí | Holver Flores
|
Cotract Ended | June 2021 | José Luis Trejo Montoya
|
June 2021 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
| HyH Export de Sébaco | Jorge Luis Vanegas
|
Cotract Ended | June 2021 | Carlos Javier Martino
|
June 2021 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
During the Apertura season edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managua F.C. | Emilio Aburto
|
Sacked | August 2021 |  Juan Cortés
|
September 2021 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
Pre-season Clausura 2022 edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madriz | Héctor Medina
|
Contract Ended | December 2021 | Roberto Chanampe
|
January 6, 2022 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
| ART Municipal Jalapa | Leonidas Rodriguez
|
Contract Ended | December 2021 | Jose Ramon Romero
|
31 December 2021 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
| UNAN Managua | Daniel Garcia
|
Contract Ended | December 2021 | Edward Urroz
|
December 2021 | TBD (Apertura 2021) |
During the Clausura season edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deportivo Walter Ferretti | Henry Urbina
|
Changed roles in the club | February 2022 | Luis Diaz Gonzalez
|
February 2022 | TBD (Clausura 2022) |
| Real Madriz | Roberto Chanampe
|
Mutual consent | March 2022 | Miguel Angel Sanchez
|
March 2022 | TBD (Clausura 2022) |
| ART Municipal Jalapa | Roman Romero
|
Resigned | March 2022 | Hector Medina
|
March 2022 | TBD (Clausura 2022) |
| Diriangén F.C. | Flavio Da Silva
|
Resigned | April 2022 | Tyrone Leiva
|
April 2022 | TBD (Clausura 2022) |
Apertura 2021 edit
Finals edit
- Qualified teams
Final edit
First leg edit
| Diriangén | 1-0 | Real Estelí |
|---|---|---|
Erick Tellez  22' |
Nil |
Second leg edit
| Real Estelí | 0-0 | Diriangén |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil |
| Apertura 2021 champions |
|---|
| Diriangén 29th title |
Clausura 2022 edit
Personnel and kits edit
| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART Jalapa | TBD | Jose Ramon Romero
|
TBD
|
Nil | Alcaldia de Jalapa |
| Diriangén | TBD | Flavio da Silva
|
TBD
|
Joma | Ftiness Force, JK Wireless, Claros, Betcris, Proplasa |
| Juventus Managua | TBD | Oscar Blanco
|
TBD
|
Nike | AT&T |
| HYH Sebaco | TBD | Carlos Javier Martino
|
TBD
|
Nil | Imponciones Loaisiga, HH Green Coffee, Siles Plantaes, Fachento |
| Managua | TBD | Juan Cortés
|
TBD
|
Joma | Alcadia de Managua, Havelino, Fetesa |
| Ocotal | TBD | Mario Alfaro
|
TBD
|
Nil | Nil |
| Real Estelí | TBD | José Luis Trejo
|
TBD
|
Voit | Cafe Ox, Victoria Frost, Havoline, Fuente Fura |
| Real Madriz | TBD | Roberto Chanampe
|
TBD
|
Mannate Sport | Arie´s Gym |
| UNAM Managua | TBD | Daniel Garcia
|
TBD
|
Joma | Nil |
| Walter Ferretti | TBD | Henry Urbina
|
TBD
|
Nil | Claro, MC mi close, Opticas MO, Ramos Laboratories |
Finals edit
Quarterfinals edit
| Deportivo Walter Ferretti | 1-0 | H&H Sebaco * |
|---|---|---|
| Ezequiel Ugalde 40' |
Nil |
Walter Ferretti progressed. * Originally ART Jalapa had qualified however due to using five foreign players on the field at one time, which exceeded the rule which only allowed 4 players. ART Jalapa were stripped the victory therefore allowed H&H Sebaco to overtake them on the table
| Managua | 4-3 | Juventus Managua |
|---|---|---|
| Peralta 2' 42' Quinto 66' Morillo 75' |
Junior Arteaga 34' 46' Dávila 67' |
Managua FC progressed.
Semi-finals edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Ferretti | 4-3 | Real Estelí | 2–3 | 2-0 |
| Diriangén | 2-1 | Managua | 1-1 | 1–0 |
| Walter Ferretti | 2-3 | Real Estelí |
|---|---|---|
| Francisco Ramos 9' Taufic Guarch 23' |
Henry Niño 13' Igor Neves 60' Brandon Ayerdis 75' |
| Real Estelí | 0-2 | Walter Ferretti |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Francisco Ramos 77' Bismarck Montiel 124' |
Walter Ferretti won 4-3 on aggregate.
Diriangen won 2-1 on aggregate.
Finals edit
Final edit
First leg edit
| Walter Ferretti | 0-2 | Diriangén |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Jaime Moreno 7' 27' |
Second leg edit
| Diriangén | 0-2 | Walter Ferretti |
|---|---|---|
| Nil | Guarch 12' Ugalde 71' |
2-2. Diriangen won 4-2 on penalties.
| Clausura 2022 champions |
|---|
| Diriangén 30th title |
Aggregate table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diriangén | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 79 | 37 | +42 | 73 | CONCACAF League preliminary round[a] |
| 2 | Real Estelí (Q) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 78 | 42 | +36 | 70 | |
| 3 | Walter Ferretti | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 76 | 49 | +27 | 58 | CONCACAF League round of 16[b] |
| 4 | Managua (Q) | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 57 | 37 | +20 | 58 | |
| 5 | Juventus Managua | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 45 | |
| 6 | H&H Sebaco | 36 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 69 | −13 | 41 | |
| 7 | Deportivo Ocotal | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 31 | 51 | −20 | 40 | |
| 8 | UNAN Managua | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 37 | |
| 9 | Municipal Jalapa (O) | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 25 | 59 | −34 | 37 | Relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Real Madriz | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 34 | 61 | −27 | 34 | Relegated to Segunda División |
List of foreign players in the league edit
This is a list of foreign players in the 2020–21 season. The following players:
- Have played at least one game for the respective club.
- Have not been capped for the Nicaragua national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace
A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player/s is released, and it is before the closing of the season transfer window.
|
ART Jalapa
Diriangén
Juventus Managua
HYH Sebaco
Managua
|
Ocotal
Real Estelí
Real Madriz
UNAM Managua
Walter Ferretti
|
(player released during the Apertura season)
(player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons)
(player released during the Clausura season)