Alajuelense Third football shirt 2017

2017 Alajuelense third football shirt. Third shirt used by Alajuelense during the second semester of 2017 (i.e. the Apertura 2017 tournament).

Alajuelense used this shirt during a few preseason friendlies and debuted in competition in a match against Municipal Grecia for the second round of the tournament. Alajuelense won said match by a 3-0 scoreline with goals by Jonathan McDonald, José Luis Cordero and Trinitarian international Jamille Boatswain. The sponsorship arrangements for this shirt were updated three weeks after the aforementioned match and are to be seen in play.

Alajuelense made international headlines when the new Chairman (or in this case, Club President) Fernando Ocampo unveiled the signing of the renowned former Real Madrid gaffer Benito Floro at the end of 2016. Floro barely had time to prepare as the Verano 2017 started on the first Saturday of January and was marred with missing players due to international duty. This eventually proved costly to Alajuelense as the team slumped during most of the tournament. Floro had plenty of time to prepare for the Apertura 2017 (with the added responsibility of qualifying for the inaugural CONCACAF League later stages), however public opinion rapidly became against him after Honduran powerhouse Olimpia unceremoniously booted Alajuelense out on the Round of 16. Decreasing quality of play, public opinion towards him further eroding, and failure to win the following three local fixtures caused him to be sacked and being quickly substituted by club legend Wilmer López ahead of the Clásico against Saprissa.