Ecuadorian Championship. Regional League
The Regional League of the Ecuadorian Championship is a vibrant tier of professional football, featuring ambitious clubs from Ecuador's provinces. It acts as a launchpad for talents aiming for Serie A glory, showcasing the raw passion and unpredictability of regional Ecuadorian soccer.
History and foundation
Formally known as Serie B, the league kicked off in 1971 alongside the top-flight Professional League established in the 1960s. Early dominance came from powerhouses like LDU Quito and Emelec, but provincial sides soon rose. The 1999 playoff triumph of Macará to Serie A remains iconic. Reforms in the 2010s by the Ecuadorian Football Federation expanded it to 12 teams, boosting rivalry. Fun fact: In 1988, legendary goalkeeper José Sebastián Fran honed his saves here before national fame.
Tournament format
Comprised of 12 teams in a double round-robin format—44 matches total— the winner earns direct promotion to Serie A. Places 2-5 enter playoffs for the second spot, while the bottom two face relegation to the third division. The season spans February to December, pausing for Copa Libertadores.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game hover at 2.4, favoring counterattacks and set pieces. All-time top scorer Héctor Hurtado netted 156 goals. Standouts include dribbling wizard Fabián Bustos from Guayaquil and current star Miguel Ángel Zamora with 28 goals in 2022. The league birthed talents like Enner Valencia, who started here en route to West Ham.