Ecuador national football team
The Ecuador national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Ecuador) represents Ecuador in international football competitions, and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation (Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol). They play their home matches at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito.
| Nickname(s) | La Tricolor (the Tricolor) La Tri Los Amarillos (the Yellows) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confederation | CONMEBOL (South America) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Jorge Célico | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain | Gabriel Achilier[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most caps | Iván Hurtado (168) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Agustin Delgado Enner Valencia (31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIFA code | ECU | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FIFA ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest | 10 (July 2012) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest | 71 (November 2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elo ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest | 11 (27 March 2013) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest | 120 (December 1959) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| First international | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Bogotá, Colombia; 8 August 1938) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biggest win | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Quito, Ecuador; 22 June 1975) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biggest defeat | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 22 January 1942) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Round of 16 (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copa América | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 27 (first in 1939) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Fourth place (1959, 1993) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONCACAF Gold Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Group stage (2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ecuador has qualified for three FIFA World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2014. Their best performance came in 2006 when they advanced to the Round of 16, eventually eliminated by England. They are one of two countries in South America not to have won the Copa América, the other being Venezuela. Their best performance in the continental tournament was fourth in 1959 and 1993, both times on home soil.
History
From a historical viewpoint, Ecuador have been one of the more struggling footballing nations in South America. Despite their past irregularities, however, Ecuador has risen to be a serious South American competitor in recent years.
Discarding an invitation to participate in the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay, their first participation in a World Cup qualifying campaign was in the 1962 campaign, eventually being well beaten by Argentina over two games. However, the 1966 qualifying campaign pitted the side, regarded as one of the finest teams Ecuador has ever produced, against 1962 hosts and third-place finishers Chile and a weakened Colombia side. Ecuador, featuring stars such as Washington Muñoz, Alberto Spencer, Carlos Alberto Raffo, Enrique Raymondi and Jorge Bolaños, forced a play-off in Peru before being eliminated by Chile. Other talented players to have represented Ecuador include José Villafuerte in the 1970s and 1980s.
The 1998 World Cup qualifiers saw the format for qualifying in CONMEBOL changed to a league home-and-away system. This difference made a huge impact on Ecuador's performance as they clinched several important home wins during the campaign. At the end, they achieved a very respectable 6th-place finish, just under Peru and Chile (which qualified by goal differential). The campaign also marked the emergence of several players, such as Agustín Delgado, Álex Aguinaga, Iván Hurtado, Ulises de la Cruz and Iván Kaviedes, who would set the stage for Ecuador's achievements in the next decade.
This remained the closest they had come to appearing in a finals until the qualification tournament for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Led by Colombian born manager Hernán Darío Gómez, they finished second to Argentina, and one point ahead of Brazil who went on to win the World Cup. Agustín Delgado, with 9 goals, finished joint top scorer in qualifying with Hernán Crespo of Argentina. They were drawn into Group G with Italy, Mexico and Croatia. Although they were knocked out at the group stage, they achieved a 1–0 victory over Croatia, who had come third at the previous edition of the World Cup.
A disappointing showing at the 2004 Copa América in Peru led to the resignation of Gómez, who was replaced by another Colombian, Luis Fernando Suárez. He led them successfully through the latter stages of the qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, finishing third to make the finals. In Germany, they were drawn into Group A with the hosts, Poland, and Costa Rica. Wins over Poland and Costa Rica earned La Tri qualification to the knockout stages for the first time.
Another disappointing showing at yet another Copa América in 2007 and three successive defeats in the beginning of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign led to the end of Suarez's time in the national team. He was replaced in 2008 for Sixto Vizuete, who had previously gained recognition for winning the 2007 Pan American Games with the U-18s. Vizuete became one of the few Ecuadorians to coach the U-23 national team, and senior team, but Ecuador finished the qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in 6th place, being eliminated from the finals for the first time since 1998. They managed to turn it around in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign where they finished in the top 4, enough to record a third World Cup appearance. On Friday, 6 December 2013 they were drawn into a balanced group compromising of top seeds, Switzerland, former champions France, and minnows Honduras.
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup record
| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| Did not enter | Declined participation | ||||||||||||||
| Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| Did not enter | Declined participation | ||||||||||||||
| Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |||||||||
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 21 | ||||||||||
| Group Stage | 24th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 20 | ||
| Round of 16 | 12th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 19 | ||
| Did not qualify | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 26 | |||||||||
| Group Stage | 17th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 16 | ||
| Did not qualify | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 26 | 29 | |||||||||
| To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
| Total | Round of 16 | 3/21 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 143 | 47 | 33 | 63 | 167 | 199 | |
Copa América record
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Pan American Games record
Minor tournaments
- 1995 Korean Cup – Winner
- 1999 Canada Cup – Winner
Bolivarian Games
- Bolivarian Games Football
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Gold Medal (2): 1965. -
Bronze Medal (2): 1938.
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Fixtures and results
Win Draw Loss
2019
| 21 March Friendly | United States | 1–0 | Orlando, United States | |
| 20:00 EDT (UTC−4) |
|
Report | Stadium: Orlando City Stadium Attendance: 17,422 Referee: David Gantar (Canada) |
| 26 March Friendly | Honduras | 0–0 | Harrison, United States | |
| 20:00 EDT (UTC−4) | Report | Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Jaime Fernando Fernández (Mexico) |
| 1 June Friendly | Venezuela | 1–1 | Miami Gardens, United States | |
| 20:30 EDT (UTC−4) | Rosales |
Report | E. Valencia |
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium Attendance: 12,021 Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica) |
| 9 June Friendly | Mexico | 3–2 | Arlington, United States | |
| 19:00 CST (UTC−6) |
|
Report | Stadium: AT&T Stadium Attendance: 59,000 Referee: David Gantar (Canada) |
| 16 June 2019 Copa América Group C | Uruguay | 4–0 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| 19:00 BRT (UTC−3) | Report | Stadium: Estádio Mineirão Attendance: 13,611 Referee: Anderson Daronco (Brazil) |
| 21 June 2019 Copa América Group C | Ecuador | 1–2 | Salvador, Brazil | |
| 20:00 BRT (UTC−3) |
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Report |
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Stadium: Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova Attendance: 14,727 Referee: Patricio Loustau (Argentina) |
| 24 June 2019 Copa América Group C | Ecuador | 1–1 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
| 20:00 BRT (UTC−3) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio Mineirão Attendance: 7,623 Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela) |
| 5 September Friendly | Peru | 0–1 | Harrison, United States | |
| 20:00 EDT (UTC−4) | Report |
|
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 21,428 Referee: Armando Villarreal (United States) |
| 10 September Friendly | Ecuador | 3–0 | Cuenca, Ecuador | |
| 20:00 ECT (UTC–5) | Report | Stadium: Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Referee: Nicolas Gallo (Colombia) |
| 13 October Friendly | Ecuador | 1–6 | Alicante, Spain | |
|
Report | Stadium: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero[4] Referee: Luca Barbeno (San Marino) |
| 14 November Friendly | Ecuador | 3–0 | Portoviejo, Ecuador | |
|
Report | Stadium: Estadio Reales Tamarindos Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru) |
| 19 November Friendly | Ecuador | 0–1 | Harrison, United States | |
| 20:00 (UTC–5) | Report |
|
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Juan Calderón (Costa Rica) |
2020
| 13 June 2020 Copa América Group B | Colombia | v | Bogotá, Colombia | |
| Stadium: Estadio El Campín |
| 18 June 2020 Copa América Group B | Ecuador | v | Bogotá, Colombia | |
| Stadium: Estadio El Campín |
| 22 June 2020 Copa América Group B | Venezuela | v | Bogotá, Colombia | |
| Stadium: Estadio El Campín |
| 27 June 2020 Copa América Group B | Ecuador | v | Medellín, Colombia | |
| Stadium: Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex |
| 1 July 2020 Copa América Group B | Ecuador | v | Bogotá, Colombia | |
| Stadium: Estadio El Campín |
Players
Current squad
The following 27 players were called up for the friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago on 14 November and Colombia on November 19, 2019.
Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019, after the match against Colombia.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Johan Padilla | 14 August 1992 | 3 | 0 | |
| GK | Pedro Ortíz | 19 February 1990 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 22 | GK | Brian Heras | 17 April 1995 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | DF | Xavier Arreaga | 28 September 1994 | 6 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Diego Palacios | 12 July 1999 | 5 | 0 | |
| 17 | DF | Marcos Andrés López | 4 February 1993 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | Félix Torres | 11 January 1997 | 3 | 0 | |
| 23 | DF | Bryan Carabalí | 18 December 1997 | 2 | 0 | |
| 6 | DF | Moisés Corozo | 25 October 1992 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Gustavo Cortez | 11 October 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | Franklin Guerra | 12 April 1992 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 26 | DF | Leonel Quiñónez | 3 July 1993 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | Renato Ibarra | 20 January 1991 | 46 | 1 | |
| MF | Fidel Martínez | 15 February 1990 | 30 | 7 | ||
| 10 | MF | Ángel Mena | 21 January 1988 | 20 | 4 | |
| MF | Jefferson Orejuela | 14 February 1993 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 7 | MF | Romario Ibarra | 24 September 1994 | 16 | 3 | |
| 8 | MF | Jhegson Méndez | 26 April 1997 | 15 | 0 | |
| 11 | MF | Marcos Caicedo | 10 November 1991 | 10 | 1 | |
| 21 | MF | Alan Franco | 21 August 1998 | 5 | 1 | |
| 20 | MF | Gonzalo Plata | 11 January 2000 | 4 | 1 | |
| 15 | MF | José Cifuentes | 12 March 1999 | 3 | 0 | |
| 24 | MF | Jordan Sierra | 23 April 1997 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | Pedro Perlaza | 3 February 1991 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 13 | FW | Enner Valencia | 4 November 1989 | 54 | 31 | |
| 19 | FW | Michael Estrada | 7 April 1996 | 8 | 1 | |
| 9 | FW | Joao Joshimar Rojas | 16 August 1997 | 2 | 0 | |
| 27 | FW | Alejandro Cabeza | 11 March 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up during the last twelve months.
Player records
Bold indicates player has been active within one year for the National team.
Caps and goals updated as of 13 November 2019.
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Players with 50 or more caps
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Previous squads
Retired numbers
Following the death of Christian Benítez, the Ecuadorian Football Federation has retired his jersey number 11 from the national team. According to the Federation's president, Luis Chiriboga, to honor Christian Benítez the number would no longer be used by any other team player.[8] However, due to FIFA regulations the number had to be reinstated for the 2014 World Cup squad.[9]
Historic Kits
The standard Ecuadorian uniform maintains the colors of the national flag, being typically a yellow top, blue shorts, and red socks.[10] The alternate colors of the uniform are white and blue, this being based on a flag once flown by Ecuador based on the flag of Guayas. Its crest has remained the same since its inception in 1927 with variations placing Ecuador on top of the crest.[11]
|
1941–1945 |
1945–1947 |
1949–1953 |
1953–1955 |
1955–1966 |
1966–1973[12] |
1973–1983 |
|
1983–1985 |
1985–1992 |
1992–1994 |
1994–1998 |
1998–2002 |
2002 |
2003–2006 |
|
2006 |
2007–2011 |
2011–2014 |
2014 |
Kit Sponsor
| Kit provider | Period |
|---|---|
| 1985–1990 | |
| 1991–1992 | |
| 1993–1994 | |
| 1994–present |
Managers
| Manager | Career | GP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrique Lamas | 8 August 1938 – 22 August 1938 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 15 January 1939 – 12 February 1939 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2 February 1941 – 5 February 1942 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 14 January 1945 – 21 February 1945 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 30 November 1947 – 29 December 1947 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | |
| 3 April 1949 – 3 May 1949 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | |
| 28 February 1953 – 23 March 1953 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| José María Díaz Granados | 27 February 1955 – 23 March 1955 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Eduardo Spandre | 7 March 1957 – 1 April 1957 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 December 1959 – 17 December 1960 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Fausto Montalván | 10 March 1963 – 31 March 1963 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| José María Rodríguez | 20 July 1965 – 12 October 1965 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fausto Montalván | 21 December 1966 – 28 December 1966 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| José Gomes Nogueira | 22 June 1969 – 3 August 1969 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Ernesto Guerra | 29 April 1970 – 24 May 1970 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jorge Lazo | 11 June 1972 – 21 June 1972 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Roberto Resquín | 18 February 1973 – 8 July 1973 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 22 June 1975 – 20 March 1977 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | |
| Héctor Morales | 13 June 1979 – 16 September 1979 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Otto Vieira | 27 January 1981 – 14 February 1981 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 May 1981 – 14 June 1981 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ernesto Guerra | 26 July 1983 – 7 September 1983 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Antoninho Ferreira | 30 November 1984 – 31 March 1985 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Luis Grimaldi | 18 November 1986 – 4 July 1987 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 June 1988 – 19 September 1993 | 56 | 17 | 17 | 22 | |
| Carlos Torres Garcés | 25 May 1994 – 5 June 1994 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Ron | 17 August 1994 – 21 September 1994 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 May 1995 – 8 June 1997 | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | |
| 11 June 1997 – 22 June 1997 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 6 July 1997 – 16 November 1997 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| 14 October 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 28 January 1999 – 7 July 1999 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | |
| 12 October 1999 – 23 July 2004 | 66 | 24 | 18 | 24 | |
| 4 September 2004 – 17 November 2007 | 51 | 17 | 9 | 25 | |
| 21 November 2007 – 11 July 2010 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 9 | |
| 4 September 2010 – 25 June 2014 | 45 | 18 | 15 | 12 | |
| 23 July 2014 – 28 January 2015 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 16 March 2015 – 12 September 2017 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | |
| 12 September 2017 – 31 July 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 August 2018 – 31 July 2019 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
See also
Notes and references
- Núñez, Juan Santiago (16 June 2019). "Achilier: Ser capitán, una gran responsabilidad". Diario Expreso (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- Nemer, Roy. "Argentina to play Ecuador in FIFA friendly on October 13 in Spain – Mundo Albiceleste". Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Ecuador - International Appearances by Player".
- "Ecuador - International Appearances by Player".
- http://www.fichajes.com/jugador/j23232_felipe-caicedo
- "NÚMERO 11 DE ECUADOR SIEMPRE SERÁ DE CHUCHO". Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (in Spanish). ecuafutbol.org. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
- "Soccer-Ecuador to reinstate Benitez's number 11 for World Cup". reuters.com. 6 March 2014.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "SportsLogos.Net - CONMEBOL Logos - CONMEBOL Logos - the News and History of Sports Logos and Uniforms".
- http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/e/ecuador/old-ecuador-football-shirt-s34862.html
External links
- Official website of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (in Spanish)
- futbolecuador.com (in Spanish)
- FIFA profile