Puerto Rico national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Puerto Rico women's national football team.
Puerto Rico
Nickname(s) El Huracán Azul (The Blue Hurricane)
Association Puerto Rican Football Federation
Confederation CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach Carlos Cantarero
Captain Emmanuel D'Andrea
Most caps Andrés Cabrero, Héctor Ramos (32)
Top scorer Héctor Ramos (18)
Home stadium Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel
FIFA code PUR
First colors
Second colors
FIFA ranking
Current 145 Increase 6 (24 November 2016)
Highest 97 (March 1994)
Lowest 202 (November 2004)
Elo ranking
Current 181 Increase 1 (10 July 2016)
Highest 171 (21–25 May 1993)
Lowest 201 (3 February 2001, 21 July 2002)
First international
 Cuba 1–1 Puerto Rico 
(Havana, Cuba; November 12, 1940)
Biggest win
 Puerto Rico 9–0 Saint-Martin 
(Port-au-Prince, Haiti; September 9, 2012)
Biggest defeat
 Netherlands Antilles 15–0 Puerto Rico 
(Caracas, Venezuela; January 15, 1959)

The Puerto Rico national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Puerto Rico) is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (FPF). Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of CONCACAF.

History

1940–1990

Puerto Rico's first international match was against Cuba in 1940 in which they drew 1–1. They did not record a win until a 3–0 result in 1970 against the Bahamas. In 1972 Puerto Rico recorded a 1–0 win against Panama in a friendly. Wins between the '80s and '90s were mainly against the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Martinique.[1]

Chris Armas Years (1993–1994)

Chris Armas played for Puerto Rico in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. In the tournament Puerto Rico established a 4-game win streak without conceding a goal.[1] The competition was not then recognized by FIFA and so his five matches were considered friendlies. As a result, he was later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States of America,[2] for whom he has since been capped over fifty times.

1995–2007

Puerto Rico did not record a win, and had only 4 draws. During this time the team dropped down in the FIFA Rankings to 202nd.[1]

Puerto Rico playing against Spain.

2008–2015

Over the past few years Puerto Rico has begun to emerge as a contender, like they were in the 1990s. In 2008, they drew with Trinidad and Tobago. They also won for the first time since 1994 when they beat the Dominican Republic in the first round of World Cup qualifiers. Although they lost the first leg 4–0 to Honduras, they fought a 2–2 tie in the home leg in the second round. The Puerto Rican Football Federation has announced plans that would allow them to participate in the next editions of the Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup.[3]

Puerto Rico were supposed to make their debut in the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games in 2010 on home soil in Mayagüez, but due to the controversy of CONCACAF not approving the stadiums, the team couldn't compete in the football event. The team was supposed to play in Venezuela instead but due to the lack of teams, the male event was cancelled.[4]

Puerto Rico faced World and European champion Spain in a friendly on August 15, 2012, losing 2–1 in the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. On June 5, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against Bermuda their last friendly before the World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup ending in a 1–1 draw. After losing to Grenada 2–1 in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers round 2 Puerto Rico's Interim coach Jose 'Cukito' Martinez resigned and a few days later the Uruguayan Carlos Avedissian solved his visa problems and could finally arrive as the head coach of the national team. On December 11, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against MLS team New York City FC losing 2–1.

2016–present

On May 22, 2016, Puerto Rico played a friendly match against the United States for the first time ever ending in a 3–1 loss. They advanced for the first time to the third round of the 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification when they defeated Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda in the second round, only two games away for reaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time. The team played three friendlies, two against Dominican Republic and one against India, prior to the third round matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Curacao. Puerto Rico lost the decisive match against Curacao after being 2-0 up front for which Curacao as head of group advanced to the Gold Cup.

Tournament results

Caribbean Cup

Gold Cup

Pan American Games

World Cup

Coaching staff

Role Name Start date
Head coach Spain Carlos Cantarero July 29, 2016
Assistant coach Spain David Guillemat August 19, 2016
Goalkeeper coach Panama Omar Dimas
Fitness coach

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification against Antigua and Barbuda and Curaçao in October 2016[5]

Caps and goals updated as of October 11, 2016 after the match against Curaçao.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Cody Laurendi (1988-08-15) August 15, 1988 0 0 United States Oklahoma City Energy
1GK Matthew Sánchez (1994-08-04) August 4, 1994 14 0 United States Loyola Greyhounds
1GK Marcos Rivera 0 0 Puerto Rico Bayamón
2DF Jason Hernandez (1983-08-26) August 26, 1983 3 0 United States New York City
2DF David Cabán (1993-03-30) March 30, 1993 4 0 Sweden Ånge
2DF Elliot Vélez (1988-04-24) April 24, 1988 8 0 Puerto Rico Criollos de Caguas
2DF Juan Vélez (1989-12-05) December 5, 1989 10 0 Puerto Rico Criollos de Caguas
2DF Marcos Martínez (1992-03-27) March 27, 1992 11 0 Puerto Rico Club Atlético Fajardo
2DF Jacob Conde (1992-10-13) October 13, 1992 3 0 Unattached
2DF Emmanuel D'Andrea (1995-01-20) January 20, 1995 16 1 Spain Manlleu
3MF Joseph Marrero (1993-04-09) April 9, 1993 27 6 Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
3MF Jorge Rivera (1996-03-24) March 24, 1996 7 1 Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
3MF Jeremy Hall (1988-09-11) September 11, 1988 6 0 United States Tampa Bay Rowdies
3MF Manolo Sanchez (1991-11-10) November 10, 1991 6 1 United States San Antonio
3MF Andrés Cabrero (1989-01-04) January 4, 1989 32 4 Finland Kultsu
3MF Juan Coca (1993-05-31) May 31, 1993 15 2 Finland Kultsu
4FW Héctor Ramos (1990-05-04) May 4, 1990 32 18 Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
4FW Mike Ramos (1991-01-29) January 29, 1991 5 1 United States Kitsap Pumas
4FW Luis Betancur (1995-03-30) March 30, 1995 2 1 United States FIU Golden Panthers
4FW Olvin Ortiz (1990-11-28) November 28, 1990 7 2 Puerto Rico Yabuco

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK José Arroyo (1996-04-04) April 4, 1996 0 0 United States Nittany Lions v.  Antigua and Barbuda; June 4, 2016
GK Johnny Santana (1989-04-23) April 23, 1989 2 0 Puerto Rico Criollos de Caguas v.  India; September 3, 2016
GK Christopher Echevarría (1994-11-19) November 19, 1994 1 0 Puerto Rico Metropolitan v.  India; September 3, 2016
DF Patrick Lopez (1993-07-12) July 12, 1993 1 0 Unattached v.  United States; May 22, 2016
DF Javier Lalondriz (1987-06-18) June 18, 1987 5 0 Puerto Rico Criollos de Caguas v.  India; September 3, 2016
DF Joan Morales (1988-12-08) December 8, 1988 14 0 Puerto Rico Criollos de Caguas v.  India; September 3, 2016
DF Alberto Montesino (1993-06-21) June 21, 1993 2 0 Puerto Rico Atléticos de Levittown v. New York City, December 11, 2015
DF Carlos Rosario (1994-01-30) January 30, 1994 7 0 Puerto Rico Bayamón v.  Guyana; March 29, 2016
DF Alexis Rivera (1982-10-29) October 29, 1982 31 0 Puerto Rico Bayamón v.  India; September 3, 2016
DF Christian Abreu 1 0 Puerto Rico Guayanilla Pumas v.  Antigua and Barbuda; June 4, 2016
DF Victor Pinto (1992-01-02) January 2, 1992 3 0 Puerto Rico Club Atlético Fajardo v.  Dominican Republic; August 30, 2016
DF Luis Lorenzo (1993-03-03) March 3, 1993 1 0 Puerto Rico Club Atlético Fajardo v.  Dominican Republic; August 28, 2016
MF Alex Oikkonen (1994-10-15) October 15, 1994 8 2 Finland Kultsu v. New York City, December 11, 2015
MF Darren Rios (1995-10-14) October 14, 1995 1 0 United States FIU Golden Panthers v.  United States; May 22, 2016
MF Carlos Clark (1997-01-01) January 1, 1997 3 0 United States Albany Great Danes v.  Antigua and Barbuda; June 4, 2016
MF Michael Fernández (1994-02-09) February 9, 1994 7 0 Puerto Rico Bayamón v.  United States; May 22, 2016
MF Samuel Soto (1992-08-11) August 11, 1992 16 0 Puerto Rico Metropolitan v.  Dominican Republic; August 28, 2016
MF Andony Burgos 2 0 v.  Dominican Republic; August 28, 2016
FW Reid Strain (1994-01-04) January 4, 1994 2 0 Costa Rica Aserrí v.  Guyana; March 29, 2016
FW Karlos Ferrer (1998-01-28) January 28, 1998 3 0 Puerto Rico Metropolitan v.  India; September 3, 2016
FW Dennis Beltré 2 0 Puerto Rico Don Bosco v.  Guyana; March 29, 2016
FW Ricardo Rivera (1997-04-17) April 17, 1997 2 0 v.  Dominican Republic; August 30, 2016

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2016

Records

Most capped players

As of September 3, 2016
Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.
# Name Career Caps Goals
1 Héctor Ramos 2010– 32 18
Andrés Cabrero 2008– 32 4
2 Alexis Rivera 2004–2016 31 0
3 Joseph Marrero 2011– 27 6
4 Noah Delgado 2008–2012 23 3
5 Cristian Arrieta 2010– 22 5
6 Chris Megaloudis 2008–2012 20 6
7 Andrés Pérez 2011–2015 19 0
8 Richard Martinez 2008–2012 17 0
Tyler Wilson 2010–2012 17 0
9 John Krause 2010–2012 16 1

Top goalscorers

As of September 3, 2016
# Name Career Goals Caps
1 Héctor Ramos 2010– 18 31
2 Joseph Marrero 2011– 6 25
Chris Megaloudis 2008–2012 6 20
3 Cristian Arrieta 2010– 5 22
4 Andrés Cabrero 2008– 4 31
5 Josh Hansen 2010–2012 3 9
Noah Delgado 2008–2012 3 22
Petter Villegas 2008–2011 3 14
Raphael Ortiz 2000–2010 3 11
6 Juan Coca 2012– 2 12
Alex Oikkonen 2011– 2 8
Olvin Ortiz 2016– 2 5
Isaac Nieves 2004–2010 2 9

Managers

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Puerto Rico – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Michael (February 2001). "Now You See Him". Soccer Digest. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  3. ↑ "Primerahora.com". Primerahora.com. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Toma forma nuestra sele en busca del pase a la Copa Oro 2017

External links

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