Bryan Ruiz will take charge of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense as interim head coach, stepping into the role following the departure of Ismael Rescalvo, according to club announcements and regional sports reports. The former club captain will lead the men’s first team alongside assistants Javier Delgado and Wilmer López for an immediate two-match stretch that includes a crucial regional tournament fixture and a domestic league encounter.
Alajuelense Names Bryan Ruiz Interim Coach After Ismael Rescalvo Departure
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense moved swiftly to stabilize its coaching staff less than a day after confirming the exit of Spanish manager Ismael Rescalvo, Juan Rescalvo, and physical trainer Robert Tejero, as reported by regional outlets like Observador. The club acted following a 3–1 defeat against Cartaginés, a result that stretched Alajuelense’s winless run in the domestic Apertura tournament to four consecutive matches.
The sequence leaves the rojinegros sitting in sixth place in the national championship standings with 11 points, trailing the league leaders by seven points. To navigate the immediate crisis, club leadership turned to internal leadership with deep roots in the institution. Bryan Ruiz, who has been managing the club’s Under-21 squad and previously served as an assistant to Alexandre Guimaraes, takes the reins for his first managerial opportunity at the senior professional level.
High-Stakes Debut in the Copa Centroamericana
The interim coaching staff faces an intense baptism by fire starting Monday afternoon at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento, where training sessions open ahead of a pair of high-stakes matches, according to NCR Noticias. The first test arrives on Thursday, when Alajuelense hosts Honduran side Marathón in the second leg of the Copa Centroamericana quarterfinals.
That international fixture carries immense weight for the club. The series is tied 2–2 following the first leg in Honduras. Following the continental showdown, Ruiz, Delgado, and López will guide the squad into a domestic league match against Inter San Carlos.
Familiar Faces Join the Technical Area
Bryan Ruiz will not shoulder the transition alone. The club appointed two other figures—Javier Delgado and Wilmer López—to form a three-pronged technical team closely identified with Alajuelense’s history.
While the men’s team undergoes this temporary restructuring, the club’s organizational adjustments also touch the women’s division. Alajuelense announced that María Fernanda Barrantes will step in to direct the women’s first team for upcoming fixtures while Wilmer López focuses on his duties with the men’s technical staff.
What Comes Next for the Rojinegros
Club management has framed the appointment strictly around the upcoming matches against Marathón and Inter San Carlos, leaving open whether the trio will remain in charge or if leadership will seek a permanent external manager once the immediate schedule clears. Alajuelense hosts Marathón on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. local time, before returning attention to domestic competition.
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