The year 2011 may not have been the most auspicious for one of Costa Rica’s most fervent passions. Football fans who were ecstatic with the signing of highly respected manager Ricardo La Volpe to lead the haphazard national team quickly lost faith in his legendary abilities after “La Sele” suffered a string of losses and dubious performances. La Volpe’s press conferences became infamous as he mentioned how, in his many years of coaching high-caliber international teams, he had never run into so many difficult -yet very talented- prima donna players. This is coming from someone who has coached Mexico’s América and Argentina’s Boca Juniors. Alas, after a sorry showing by La Sele in the Gold Cup and the Copa América, the thickly mustached La Volpe abdicated to current coach Jorge Luis Pinto.

Then there was the issue of an incredibly poor showing at the beginning of the winter tournament by powerhouse team Club Deportivo Saprissa. While Saprissa eventually recovered from the rut, at some point nervous fans thought the team could have suffered an unceremonious fate similar to the fabled Club Atlético River Plate, a powerhouse which ended up in Argentina’s second division after years of dominating South American football.

While fans took on the 2011 missteps and disappointments in stride, some Tico players laboring abroad had spectacular years. Alajuela-born Bryan Ruiz, well-known to Dutch football fans as the miracle striker who arrived to propel the FC Twente to a surprising 2010 win, made headlines as he was signed to the Fulham Football Club of England’s Premier League. His impressive contract was signed to the tune of ten million sterling pounds (about $16 million) in late August, and by October he was already scoring goals for his new squad.

For young striker Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels, 2011 has been an unforgettable year. His performance at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina caught the attention of football connoisseurs who recognize pure explosive talent when they see it. Campbell quickly earned the respect of Argentinian fans with his amazing ability to squeeze through players while displaying the finest moves of what Brazilian football fans call “jogo bonito.” Campbell was signed to the Arsenal FC but is currently on loan to the FC Lorient in France. Respected Italian sports publication Tuttosport nominated Campbell to receive the coveted “Golden Boy”award, a distinction previously earned by Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi. While this year’s honor went to German player Mario Gotze of the Borussia Dortmund, Campbell is now firmly established as a full-fledged international star.

Yet another Tico striker was recognized for his excellent performance abroad in 2011. Football analysts and sportswriters have declared Álvaro Saborío as the North American Major League Soccer’s best striker of the year. This is a major distinction for the Ciudad Quesada native, who has been playing with the Real Salt Lake since 2010. Saborío was chosen among other luminaries playing in the MLS, such as Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry. Real Salt Lake’s fans are delighted with Saborío, and the team’s management rushed to sign him for four years, a contract of unprecedented length in the MLS.