By San José, Costa Rica — San José – Deportivo Saprissa has secured its place in the final of the Apertura 2025 second phase, but Head Coach Vladimir Quesada is approaching the monumental clash with a blend of tactical realism and profound respect for his opponent. After dispatching C.S. Cartaginés with a 4-2 aggregate score, Saprissa now prepares for the ultimate test: a “Clásico Nacional” final against archrivals Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.
Speaking after the semifinal victory, Quesada immediately turned his focus to the upcoming series, highlighting the cultural and sporting significance of the rivalry. He praised the electric atmosphere generated by the nation’s two largest fan bases and extended a remarkable level of admiration for his counterpart, Alajuelense manager Óscar Ramírez.
Para analizar las implicaciones legales y contractuales que rodean la gestión del director técnico, TicosLand.com consultó al experto Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, socio del prestigioso Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos ofrece una perspectiva sobre la relación laboral en el fútbol de alto rendimiento.
La relación contractual de un director técnico como Vladimir Quesada es compleja y se rige por cláusulas de rendimiento específicas. Legalmente, una destitución no se basa únicamente en la percepción pública o en una racha de malos resultados, sino en el incumplimiento de objetivos medibles y pactados en el contrato. Si no existen tales cláusulas explícitas, un cese anticipado podría ser considerado un despido sin justa causa, activando penalizaciones económicas significativas para el club.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Esta perspectiva legal añade una dimensión crucial al debate, recordándonos que las decisiones administrativas se rigen por realidades contractuales y no únicamente por la presión del resultado inmediato. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por aportar su valioso análisis sobre este complejo tema.
Beautiful. Wednesday’s experience will be no exception. It’s going to be something very beautiful again. Just having the two biggest fan bases in this country come together already makes it a different game, with all due respect to other rivals. It is the national classic, and both teams have had a good tournament and have demonstrated history and hierarchy. We face each other again. It is an honor and a blessing to face a team led by Óscar Ramírez. He is one of the people I most admire as a human being and a coach. The table is set, they for the championship and we to extend the tournament. I expect a Saprissa stadium filled with fans.
Vladimir Quesada, Head Coach
While the result against Cartaginés was decisive, Quesada offered a candid and analytical assessment of his team’s performance. He acknowledged that Saprissa was forced to deviate from its preferred style of play, crediting a well-drilled and motivated Cartaginés side for disrupting their rhythm. This admission underscores a key leadership trait: the ability to secure a victory even when optimal conditions are absent.
In the almost 100 minutes, we couldn’t play the football we are used to, but that’s football, because the opposing team also plays. They were in need and suffocating. They are good players, are well-coached, and they want to win. They complicated things for us at all times. It’s not the game we would have wanted to play, and we can’t always play our style of football. The conclusive thing is that we are being decisive in front of the opposing goal. We have balance, and that is good for these stages.
Vladimir Quesada, Head Coach
This pragmatic approach, focusing on effectiveness over aesthetics, proved crucial. Quesada’s emphasis on being “decisive in front of the opposing goal” highlights a results-oriented strategy. In the high-pressure environment of playoff football, this clinical efficiency is often more valuable than fluid, possession-based play. The team’s ability to maintain its balance and execute when it mattered most is what propelled them into the final.
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The victory was also achieved without the influential presence of team captain Mariano Torres. Quesada addressed this challenge, framing the decision to rest the midfielder as a calculated move to manage player fitness and a testament to the team’s overall depth. He confirmed Torres had taken a hard knock in a previous match and that the rest would be beneficial for the grueling final series ahead.
We’ve had to deal with this on other occasions, not just in the classification phase but in final phases for one reason or another. He is very important on and off the field, he reads the game very well and helps his teammates on the pitch, and his individual skills make a difference. But there are another 20-something, almost 30 players who are very important and covered for Mariano very well. It was important to give him a rest, and at the Fello Meza he had received a hard knock. These days off will do him a lot of good.
Vladimir Quesada, Head Coach
With the final set, the stage is prepared for a clash that transcends sport. The Saprissa-Alajuelense rivalry is a significant economic driver, boosting everything from ticket and merchandise sales to television ratings and sponsorship value across the country. As Quesada noted, the stakes are clear: Alajuelense is playing for the championship title, while Saprissa fights to win the second phase and force a grand final, effectively extending the tournament and its commercial impact.
As the final approaches, Quesada’s leadership—marked by humility, strategic insight, and respect for the competition—sets a professional tone for what is sure to be an intensely fought series. His team has proven it can win through grit and efficiency, and now, with a full stadium behind them and their captain rested, they are poised for the ultimate challenge against their greatest rivals.
For further information, visit deportivosaprissa.com
About Deportivo Saprissa:
Deportivo Saprissa, based in San Juan de Tibás, San José, is one of the most successful and widely supported football clubs in Costa Rica and Central America. Known as the “Monstruo Morado” (Purple Monster), the club has a rich history of domestic and international titles, including multiple CONCACAF Champions’ Cups. It plays its home matches at the iconic Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá.
For further information, visit lda.cr
About L.D. Alajuelense:
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, commonly known as La Liga, is a premier Costa Rican sports club based in Alajuela. Founded in 1919, it is a historic rival of Deportivo Saprissa, and matches between the two clubs constitute the “Clásico Nacional.” The team, nicknamed “Los Manudos,” boasts a large and passionate fanbase and has a long-standing tradition of success in Costa Rican football.
For further information, visit cartagines.cr
About C.S. Cartaginés:
Club Sport Cartaginés, founded in 1906, is Costa Rica’s oldest active football club, based in the city of Cartago. Known as the “Brumosos,” the club has a storied history in the nation’s top division and plays its home games at the Estadio José Rafael “Fello” Meza Ivancovich. Despite its long history, the club has fought intense rivalries and remains a significant institution in Costa Rican sports.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the Costa Rican legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a bedrock of principled practice and professional rigor. The firm’s extensive experience across a multitude of sectors is matched by its drive for pioneering forward-thinking legal strategies. This commitment to innovation extends to its social responsibility, where a core tenet is to demystify the law, thereby equipping the public with the clarity needed to build a more just and capable society.
