Central and North America's Club of the Century The IFFHS has decided to determine the club of the century of Central and North America (including the Caribbean) and the continental rankings for the century (1901-2000), using the individual match results of the later rounds of the continental club competitions – in the same way as for Europe, South America Africa and Asia. But there were no international club competitions on this football continent during the first six decades. Part of the CONCACAF area, similar to Africa, was still comprised of colonies in the 1st half of the 20th century. And in the USA throughout the century, leagues were artbitrarily formed and disbanded, and, with them, clubs were established as prefessional entities but lacking any real foundations and again disbanded. As a result continuity and tradition are lacking in the USA and some other countries As for the other continents - all club competitions of the CONCACAF generated a corresponding number of points. Decisions by penalty shoot-outs were not taken into consideration, in such cases each team received the half of the points. And bonus points for a title or individual rounds were not awarded because they would be spurious and not related to the real performance of the individual teams. The increase in standards was reflected by the introduction of additional continental club competitions in the final decades of the 20th century. As in Africa, because of the economic circumstances and the enornous distances to the away matches, from the qualifying rounds of a competition onwards, the draw were conducted on a geographic basis. Initially there were Northern American, Central American and Caribbean Sections. The highest number of points were awarded for the matches of the CONCACAF Cup, which in 1987 became the Copa de Campiones y Subcampiones CONCACAF. Only the following results were taken into consideration: from 1962 to 1986, each of the last round of the individual sections before the CONCACAF semi-finals or finals; from 1987 to 1989 the semi-finals and finals of the northern/central section and only the finals of the Caribbean section, which were played before the CONCACAF finals. From 1990 to 1996, again the last round of the three sections, as well as the subsequent CONCACAF semi-finals and finals were included, as were, for 1997 to 2000, all results from the quarter-finals onwards. The matches of Recopa CONCACAF, played annually from 1991 to 1998, were awarded the second highest points. But, only matches from the quarter-finals (1994) onwards in this competition were taken into account. When the final of the competition was played in a mini-league without a 2nd leg, were only added the direct before played finals of the Northern American, Central American and Carribean Zones. Was played a final of a zone in a mini-league, only 50 % of the points scored were taken into consideration (4-2-0). Some competitions were for various reasons not finished and could only be partly taken into consideration. Finally, the results of the Copa Fraternidad (1970-1984) and those of the Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica (1996-1998), as well as the Torneo UNCAF (1999-2000), were taken into consideration. These three competitions were each given the same lowest points score. If a competition was played in a league (up to the finals), then only 50 % of the points were taken into consideration. But when it was played in a two leagues format (1971/72, 1979), the proportion of points awarded was reduced to 25 %. Otherwise, all matches from the second round (1980-1984) onwards were taken into consideration. The century ranking was led in 1970 by Club Deportivo Guadalajara from Mexico, ahead of CD Saprissa San Juan de Tibás San José (Costa Rica), FC Alianza San Salvador (El Salvador) and CD Cruz Azul from Mexico-City. The 1970s were dominated by CD Saprissa and CSD Comunicaciones from Guatemala-City, both of which also led the continental ranking in 1980, ahead of the outsider SV Transvaal Paramaribo from Surinam. In the 1980s surprised two teams from Surinam (SV Transvaal, SV Robin Hood) and CD Olimpia Tegucigalpa from Honduras; while CD Saprissa remained almost without points, but maintained the lead in the ranking because the Mexican clubs were not able to profit from it. The „Top 5“ for 1990 were: CD Saprissa vor SV Transvaal, CD Olimpia, CSD Comunicaciones and UNAM Ciudad de México. Strangely, although the Mexican Primera División was the strongest league in the CONCACAF area in the final decades of the 20th, its teams underestimated the club competitions of the CONCACAF and often disappointed or even did not compete. But there are no points for non-participation. A such dominance of the Mexican clubs as since of the the turn of the millenium - there was not before. Also, it’s not possible to take into consideration other competitions at an extistence of continental club competitions - analog as in other continents. The national competitions are merely a prerequisite to qualification for the continental club competitions. Intercontinental club competitions were not taken into consideration. The Club of the Century for the Caribbean (1901-2000) is SV Transvaal Paramaribo from Surinam, ahead of the local rival SV Robin Hood and Jong Colombia Boca Sami from the Netherlands Antilles. The long-time lack of interest in the CONCACAF club competitions by the North American clubs - many of which were not long-standing - is reflected in the placings of its clubs. Its best-placed club is Washington DC United on 18th place, ahead of Los Angeles Galaxy (31st). The greatest disappointment were the Mexican clubs, of which the best-placed are Necaxa FC (7th), CD Cruz Azul (8th) and CF América (10th), are all from Mexico-City. With a clear lead - as also the victors on the other continents - CD Saprissa San Juan de Tibás San José from Costa Rica became Central & North America's Club of the Century, ahead of the two clubs from Guatemala (CSD Comunicaciones) and Honduras (CD Olimpia) level of points.
CONCACAF Cup (1962- 1986) & Copa de Campeones y Subcampeones CONCACAF (1987-2000): Recopa CONCACAF (1991-1998): Copa Fraternidad (1970-1984) & Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica (1996-1998) & Torneo UNCAF (1999-2000):
Central and North America's Club of the Century
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