About

Club de Alto Rendimiento Especializado Independiente del Valle, known simply as Independiente del Valle, is a professional football club based in Sangolquí that currently plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, and it is represented on Walkouts for collectors and fans; the club was founded on 1 January 1958 and has become a global exporter of young talent.

The team is rooted in Sangolquí and competes in the Ecuadorian Serie A, playing home fixtures at the modern Estadio Banco Guayaquil, which opened in March 2021 and seats around 12,000 spectators.

After a runners-up finish in 2013 the club secured its first national crown in 2021, leaving them with one Serie A title to date, and their continental breakthrough came with a run to the 2016 Copa Libertadores final, a sequence that included notable victories over River Plate and Boca Juniors.

Independiente del Valle's profile is underpinned by a renowned academy that has produced players such as Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Kendry Páez, and the club is recognised in global listings, including an IFFHS placement that reflects its recent rise in reputation.

Collectors will find that there are few recorded post-1970 anniversary releases attributed to the club, a gap that makes authenticated milestone shirts scarce for this era and explains why verified provenance is prized in the market.

Season magnets are clear: shirts from the 2019 Copa Sudamericana campaign are chased because that was the club’s first international title, and later winners' seasons such as 2022 and the 2023 Recopa attract interest for match provenance and final-issued details that are often documented on sleeves and neck tags.

The club's 2016 campaign also created an iconic kit story, collectors seeking the white away shirt tied to Libertadores away legs and decisive knockout wins, while fans and dealers note Marathon-era inner codes and CONMEBOL sleeve or back-neck tags as key provenance markers; framed retail shirts and player-issue variants from these runs are regularly sought.

Signed retail demand is significant, with shoppers collecting not only match-worn items but also fanshop and retail shirts, especially early runs and region-specific releases; look for final-issued shirts that are often numbered, and insist on exact photo proof where available, Free worldwide shipping is offered and Walkouts lists authenticated pieces from the 2016 and 2019 runs for inspection.

Collector Highlights

Iconic home kits

  • 2019 Black/blue Sudamericana champions
  • 2022 Black/blue Sudamericana champions
  • 2023 Black/blue Recopa champions

Iconic away kits

  • 2016 White Libertadores away finalists

Collector seasons

  • 2019 Sudamericana first international title
  • 2022 Sudamericana second crown
  • 2023 Recopa vs Flamengo winners

Honours

Independiente del Valle have built a modern honours list that punches far above traditional expectations. Domestically, the club broke through with a first Ecuadorian Serie A title in 2021, a landmark that reflected the steady rise of a well-run side anchored in youth development. On the continental stage, their greatest triumphs came in the Copa Sudamericana, lifting the trophy twice, first in 2019 and again in 2022, the latter secured by defeating Sao Paulo in the final. The club also reached the Copa Libertadores final in 2016, underlining their ability to compete with the region’s elite. Adding further silverware, Independiente captured the Recopa Sudamericana in 2023 with victory over Flamengo. Recognition has followed beyond trophies, with the club ranked 146th by IFFHS with 130 points. From domestic consistency to knockout pedigree across South America, Independiente del Valle’s record now stands as one of the continent’s most compelling development-driven success stories.

Legends & Leadership

Junior Sornoza is a recent key player of the 2010s who embodies Independiente del Valle’s academy-first identity, influencing league and continental campaigns with creativity and leadership that helped set standards for the teams that followed.

Moisés Caicedo is a recent key player of the late 2010s whose rapid rise from the youth ranks to first-team prominence showcased the club’s pathway, contributing energy and resilience in midfield during high-profile domestic and international fixtures.

Kendry Páez is a recent key player of the early 2020s, representing the next wave of homegrown talent and underlining the academy’s reputation for producing technically gifted youngsters ready for senior responsibility.

Miguel Ángel Ramírez is a manager of the late 2010s who guided the first team during a period of accelerated continental progress, reinforcing the club’s commitment to integrating academy graduates and competing confidently beyond Ecuador.

Stadium

Independiente del Valle host their matches at Estadio Banco Guayaquil, a modern ground that opened in March 2021 with a capacity of 12,000. Purpose-built for the club, it delivers an intimate matchday experience where the stands feel close to the action and supporter choreography fills the venue with colour. The club have also used Estadio Rumiñahui, a name still associated with earlier chapters of their rise, giving supporters a sense of continuity between past and present homes. Local rivalry adds extra crackle when the Clásico de los Puentes against Aucas comes to the Quito area, with flags and drums sharpening the atmosphere. Whether hosting domestic fixtures or continental nights, the stadium has quickly become a focal point for the team’s identity, balancing comfort and compact intensity to give Independiente del Valle a distinctive home advantage.

Also known as
Estadio Banco Guayaquil
Capacity
12000
Local derby
Clásico de los Puentes Aucas Quito area

Authentication & Provenance

  • Verification CONMEBOL sleeve/Back-Neck tags
  • Suppliers Marathon check inner codes
  • Provenance final-issued shirts numbered

FAQ

Q: Which competition does Independiente del Valle play in and where are they based? A: The club competes in the Ecuadorian Serie A and is based in Sangolquí, within the Quito area of Ecuador.

Q: What are the club's standout achievements? A: Independiente del Valle have lifted the Copa Sudamericana twice, in 2019 and 2022, reached the Copa Libertadores final in 2016, claimed a first national league title in 2021, and won the Recopa in 2023 against Flamengo.

Q: What is the home stadium and its capacity? A: Home matches are staged at Estadio Banco Guayaquil, which opened in March 2021 and holds 12,000 spectators. The club have also used Estadio Rumiñahui.

Q: Who are some notable academy graduates? A: The academy has produced leading talents including Junior Sornoza, Cristian Ramírez, Gonzalo Plata, Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho and Kendry Páez.

Q: How do you verify the authenticity of signed items? A: Autographs are supported by a Certificate of Authenticity or equivalent Letter of Authenticity, with photo proof where available.