Deportivo de La Coruña
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| Full name | Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Depor El Turco Blanquiazules (The Blues and Whites) SuperDepor |
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| Founded | 1906 | |||
| Ground | Riazor (Capacity: 34,600) |
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| Chairman | Augusto César Lendoiro | |||
| Manager | Miguel Ángel Lotina | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2009-10 | La Liga, 10th | |||
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 Current season |
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Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña (English: Royal Sporting Club of La Coruña) is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain; founded in 1906 and currently playing in La Liga. Since the Spanish football league system was established in 1928, it has spent all but two seasons in the top two tiers, remaining in the top flight since 1991.
Depor has won the league title once, in 1999-00 season, finishing as runner-up on five occasions. The club has also won the Spanish Cup twice, (1995 and 2002) and three Spanish Super Cups. The Blues and Whites have been a regular on top positions in La Liga in the last 20 years, being on the top half of the table 16 out of 19 seasons. As a result, the club has been a regular side at European competitions, playing the UEFA Champions League five seasons in a row, and reaching the semi-finals in 2004.
Deportivo play their home games at the 34,600 capacity Riazor since 1944 when the stadium was built. Traditional home kit consists in blue and white shirts (striped) with blue shorts and socks. The club has a long-standing rivalry with regional opponents Celta de Vigo, and matches between the two sides are known as the Galician derby.
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History
Foundation and first steps
In 1902 Jose María Abalo, a youngster who returned to his hometown after studying in England, introduced football to A Coruña. The game gained rapid popolarity and several teams were formed on an informal basis.
It was in December 1906, when members of Sala Calvet gymnasium formed Deportivo de la Coruña, naming Luis cornide as first president. In May 1907 Alfonso XIII of Spain granted the club with the 'Real' (royal) denomination. Depor started playing at Corral de la Gaiteira (piper's yard), but soon moved to Old Riazor, a new ground near the Riazor beach.
The team played friendly matches regularly and competed in local leagues, but failed to achieve success in the Copa del Rey by its first years of history.
In 1920, the Olympics in Antwerp, saw the debut of the Spanish national team. A good run for the Spanish side increased football popularity, and so many teams gained professional status, as well as the league was formed and planned for the 1928-29 season.
1928-1948 Segunda Division and first spell in the top flight
In 1928, Depor failed to qualify for the first ever Primera División and took part in the Segunda División where it finished 8th out of 10. The team keep battling next years in a division that was going to suffer many structural and geographical changes. In 1932, Depor defeated Real Madrid in the Cup, which had gone unbeaten through the entire season in the league.
In 1936, the Spanish civil war broke out, so official competitions were abandoned until the 1939-40 season. That year, The Herculeans made a brilliant season qualifying for promotion stage. The final game was against archrivals Celta de Vigo who were fighting for avoid relegation. Celta won by 1-0 and remained in the top flight as Depor's expectations of promotion were denied. By the way, next season another brilliant campaign led the club to a final match against Murcia. Depor won by 2-1 and achieve promotion to La Liga for the first time in their history.
The first season in the top flight finished with a remarkable 4th place. Following seasons, marked 9th, 12th and 14th position in 1945 which led the club to relegation. Instant promotion was achieved next year but Depor were relegated again by the end of the 1946-47 season. Once again, the team gained promotion next season, in 1948.
This decade saw Depor's entrance in the top flight, so the club decided to build up a new ground, Riazor which is still their home. It was opened on 28th October, 1944 with a league game against Valencia. By this era, the key player of the team was Juan Acuña, club's keeper. Xanetas as he was known by locals picked up four Zamora Trophies between 1942 and 1951, what makes him the second most awarded keeper ever in the Spanish league.
1948-1957 'Golden Decade'
The club ended the 1948-49 season in 10th place. Next season would see the first great achievement in the league, Depor finished as runners-up just one point behind Atlético de Madrid under the managerial of Argentinian Alejandro Scopelli, with brought to the club a group of South American players as Julio Corcuera, Oswaldo García, Rafael Franco and Dagoberto Moll who made the team more competitive and able to remain top flight status for 9 seasons in a row until 1957. It was a great period for the club, as honoured managers like Helenio Herrera and players as Pahiño and local guy Luis Suarez (the only Spanish player to get the Golden Ball) passed for Riazor.
1957-1973 Yo-yo era
After 9 seasons in the highest tier, the team fell to Segunda Division in 1957 and stayed there five seasons until 1962 when Depor were promoted into the top flight. Here started a yo-yo era that led the club to be known as the elevator team. Promotions were achieved in 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 and 1971. Subsequent relegations occurred during 1963, 1965, 1967, 1970 and 1973. The club failed to establish at any tier, so happiness and sadness were mixed every season.
Depor had one of the best youth systems at the time in Spain as youngsters like Amancio Amaro, Severino Reija, Jose Veloso or Jaime Blanco started their careers at Riazor, being part in the future of the Spanish national team and some of them along with before cited Luis Suárez playing in giant teams. Unfortunately, the difficult financial situation of the club led to forced solds of these players, and the team couldn't consolidate in the top flight. However, this yo-yo era was not that bad if it's compared with the period that would come after relegation from Primera Division in 1973.
1973-1988 Dark times
After falling down in 1973, the team struggled in Second Division but couldn't avoid another relegation and were condemned to the third tier (Tercera Division) for the first time in their history. However, Depor got instant promotion next season and established in the second tier for the rest of the decade. In 1980 a season to forget led Depor to newly created Segunda División B, third tier again just for the second time in their history. Fortunatley, the team got promotion next season. Notably, Depor was relegated and promoted along with arch-rivals Celta who played during the 1980-81 season the most attended games ever in Spain's third tier.
The club continued to play in the Second Division, having little chances of being promoted into the top flight. In 1987-88 season, Depor struggled and could only got into safety after Vicente Celeiro scored a goal during added time against Racing de Santander on the last day. This fact is often marked as the end of club's dark times and the beginning of a new era.
During all this period, the club was heavily influenced by financial difficulties and bad programmed seasons with managers being sacked almost every year. In 1988 summer, an open and popular club's assembly, proclaimed a new board of directors headed by Augusto César Lendoiro. Depor had a debt estimated in 600 millions of pesetas, were out of the top flight from 15 years and lacked of established structures at economic and sporting level. It was hard to imagine the great times to come.
1988-present. Resurgence and great success
Arsenio Iglesias, former player and manager was again at the club by the time and in 1988-89 season Depor made a good run in the Copa del Rey reaching the semifinals but losing there to Real Valladolid. Next year, the team competed very well in the league and qualified for promotion play-off but expectations were denied again, this time by CD Tenerife. 1990-91 season saw Depor finishing as runners-up and finally achieving the dreamed promotion to La Liga after 18 years outside it. Additionally, club's economy started to work and social support increased specially by youth groups.
1991-92, first season in the top flight Depor struggled all campaign long, but were forced to taking part in the play-off for safety, beating Real Betis in a two-legged round. With Arsenio Iglesias taking his 4th spell as manager and experienced players added to the side as López Rekarte, Paco Liaño, Claudio Barragán, José Luis Ribera, Adolfo Aldana, Donato (most of them veterans being former players of great teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atlético de Madrid), along with promising younsters as local boy Fran and Brazilians Bebeto and Mauro Silva upgraded team's level and made possible dreaming with great achievements just two years after promotion.
1992-93 Deportivo experienced a great time, being in top positions all season and finishing third after the two spanish giants, qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history. That year the club provided Pichichi Trophy winner (Bebeto) and Zamora Trophy winner (Paco Liaño). Also, Depor made a historic comeback against Real Madrid at Riazor, losing 0-2 by half-time but winning the game 3-2 and starting a run of 18 seasons to 'los blancos' whithout a win at Coruña.
1993-94 Depor made a fantastic season again, leading the table almost every year and coming to last day on top to face mid-table Valencia CF, knowing a win would ensure first league tittle in club's history. Just one point below, Johan Cruyff's Barcelona were accused of paying Valencia players to win Depor. The game was very close, but near its end Serer commited a penalty on Nando and Riazor went into crazyness. Regular taker Donato had been substituted, so Serbian defender Miroslav Dukic took it but unluckily Valencia's keeper González caught the ball. Gonzalez celebrated the fact very effusively even when Valencia had no expectations that season. This was seen by Depor fans as another prove of Barcelona's cheat paying players of Valencia. Sadly, what became clear was that Deportivo saw their dreamed league title being denied. After the frustration passed, the fans recognised the great season the club had achieved: Paco Liaño picked his second Zamora Trophy receiving just 18 goals in 38 games; Depor made his debut in European competitions beating Aalborg BK and Aston Villa but losing to Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 16. All over Spain, Depor were known as 'SuperDepor' and hailed for fighting for league tittle against the giants.
1994-95 started with manager Arsenio Iglesias stating he would leave the club after the end of the season, though Depor made another great campaign finishing again as runners-up, this time to Real Madrid. UEFA Cup led Herculeans to be beaten again by a German side, Borussia Dortmund. But this season still hid a great surprise for the club. Depor made a fantastic run in Copa del Rey and got into the final for the first time in their history. Ironically, after past season's controversy, Valencia were the opponents. On 24th June 1995, at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the final was levelled 1-1 when on 83th minute referee Garcia-Aranda suspended the game due to water collapsing the pitch after a strong storm. It was decided that the game would resume three days later. Seven minutes of magic for Depor, because a header from Alfredo Santaelena gave the club their first ever major tittle.
Kit and Badge
The official badge depicts a knights belt encircling the original banner of Sala Calvet Gymnasium. The crown in the centre represents the clubs Royal decree and the diagonal blue stripe its identity as a Galician club (Galician flag).
Deportivo La Coruña have always played in their famous blue and white stripes, but it was not until 1912 that the club made these colours official for matches. Deportivo continues to wear blue and white striped shirts with blue shorts and socks, yet their second and third kits change annually according to commercial interests. Their current shirt sponsors are Estrella Galicia, with Lotto manufacturing the kits.
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Honours
Men's section
Regional titles
- Galician Championship:[1] 1926-27, 1927–28, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1936–37, 1939–40, runners-up 1924-25, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1938–39
- Galician Cup: Runners-up 2007-08
National titles
- La Liga
- Winners: 1999-00
- Runners-Up: 1949-50, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2001–02
- Copa del Rey
- Winners: 1995, 2002
- Supercopa de España
- Winners: 1995, 2000, 2002
- Segunda División
- Tercera División
- Winners: 1974-75
International titles
- UEFA Intertoto Cup:
- Winners: 2008
Women's section (disbanded)
- Women's Spanish Cup: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Indoor football section
- Spanish League: 2007-08, 2009-10
- Spanish Cup: 2007-08, 2009-10
Current squad
The numbers are established according to the official website:www.canaldeportivo.com
As of 11 August 2009 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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From Deportivo de La Coruña B
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Statistics
- Seasons in Primera División: 40
- Seasons in Segunda División: 37
- Seasons in Segunda División B: 1
- Seasons in Tercera División: 1
- Participations in UEFA Champions League: 5
- Participations in UEFA Cup: 5
- Participations in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1
- Participations in Intertoto Cup: 2
Latest seasons
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Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe Other Comp. Notes Manager 1985-86 2D 6 38 17 11 10 54 37 45 3rd round Jesús Aranguren 1986-87 2D 2 34 16 11 7 46 33 43 3rd round Eusebio Ríos 1987-88 2D 16 38 8 15 15 35 47 31 3rd round Eusebio Ríos & Arsenio Iglesias 1988-89 2D 10 38 16 8 14 43 35 40 semi-final Arsenio Iglesias 1989-90 2D 4 38 19 6 13 45 38 44 1st round Marco Antonio Boronat 1990-91 2D 2 38 8 15 15 60 32 48 last 16 promoted Arsenio Iglesias 1991-92 1D 17 38 8 15 15 37 48 31 semi-final Marco Antonio Boronat & Arsenio Iglesias 1992-93 1D 3 38 22 10 6 67 33 54 4th round Arsenio Iglesias 1993-94 1D 2 38 22 12 4 54 18 56 last 16 UC last 16 Arsenio Iglesias 1994-95 1D 2 38 20 11 7 68 42 51 winner UC last 16 Arsenio Iglesias 1995-96 1D 9 42 16 13 13 63 44 61 last 16 CWC semi-final SSC John Toshack 1996-97 1D 3 42 21 14 7 57 30 77 last 16 John Toshack & Carlos Alberto Silva 1997-98 1D 12 38 12 13 13 44 46 49 quarter-final UC 1st round Carlos Alberto Silva & José Manuel Corral 1998-99 1D 6 38 17 12 9 55 43 63 semi-final Javier Irureta 1999-00 1D 1 38 21 6 11 66 44 69 last 16 UC last 16 Javier Irureta 2000-01 1D 2 38 22 7 9 73 44 73 last 32 UCL quarter-final SSC Javier Irureta 2001-02 1D 2 38 20 8 10 65 41 68 winner UCL quarter-final Javier Irureta 2002-03 1D 3 38 22 6 10 67 47 72 semi-final UCL 2nd group stage SSC Javier Irureta 2003-04 1D 3 38 21 8 9 60 34 71 last 16 UCL semi-final Javier Irureta 2004-05 1D 8 38 12 15 11 46 50 51 last 32 UCL group stage Javier Irureta 2005-06 1D 8 38 15 10 13 47 45 55 semi-final IT final Joaquín Caparrós 2006-07 1D 13 38 12 11 15 32 45 47 semi-final Joaquín Caparrós 2007-08 1D 9 38 15 7 16 46 47 52 last 32 Miguel Ángel Lotina 2008-09 1D 7 38 16 10 12 48 47 58 last 16 UC last 32 IT Miguel Ángel Lotina 2009-10 1D 10 38 13 8 17 35 49 47 quarter-final Miguel Ángel Lotina
Color:
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Runners-Up |
| Bronze | 3rd place (Semi-final) |
Historic matches
La Liga
| Season | Home | Score | Away | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3–2 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 1993-94 | Deportivo La Coruña | 4–0 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 1993-94 | Valencia | 1–3 | Deportivo La Coruña | Mestalla |
| 1993-94 | Oviedo | 2-5 | Deportivo La Coruña | Carlos Tartiere |
| 1994-95 | Celta Vigo | 0-2 | Deportivo La Coruña | Balaídos |
| 1994-95 | Albacete | 2-8 | Deportivo La Coruña | Carlos Belmonte |
| 1995-96 | Deportivo La Coruña | 5-0 | Albacete | Riazor |
| 1995-96 | Rayo Vallecano | 0-6 | Deportivo La Coruña | Vallecas |
| 1995–96 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3–0 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 1995–96 | Salamanca | 0-5 | Deportivo La Coruña | Helmántico |
| 1998–99 | Deportivo La Coruña | 4–0 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 1999-00 | Deportivo La Coruña | 5-2 | Sevilla | Riazor |
| 1999-00 | Deportivo La Coruña | 1-0 | Celta Vigo | Riazor |
| 1999–00 | Deportivo La Coruña | 5-2 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 1999–00 | Deportivo La Coruña | 2-0 | Espanyol | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña | 1-0 | Celta Vigo | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Barcelona | 2-3 | Deportivo La Coruña | Camp Nou |
| 2001-02 | Celta Vigo | 0-2 | Deportivo La Coruña | Balaídos |
| 2001–02 | Deportivo La Coruña | 5-0 | Mallorca | Riazor |
| 2001–02 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3-0 | Real Madrid | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3-0 | Celta Vigo | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña | 6-0 | Alavés | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | Barcelona | 2-4 | Deportivo La Coruña | Camp Nou |
| 2003-04 | Barcelona | 0-2 | Deportivo La Coruña | Camp Nou |
| 2003-04 | Celta Vigo | 0-5 | Deportivo La Coruña | Balaídos |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3-0 | Celta Vigo | Riazor |
| 2004-05 | Real Madrid | 0-1 | Deportivo La Coruña | S. Bernabéu |
| 2005-06 | Celta Vigo | 0-3 | Deportivo La Coruña | Balaídos |
| 2007-08 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3-1 | Valladolid | Riazor |
European tournaments
| Season | Home | Score | Away | League | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 |  Aston Villa |
0–1 |  Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Cup | Villa Park |
| 1994-95 | Deportivo La Coruña |
4–1 |  Rosenborg |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 1994-95 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 |  Borussia Dortmund |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 1999-00 | Deportivo La Coruña |
4–2 |  Panathinaikos |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 1999-00 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–1 | Arsenal |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–1 | Hamburger |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 | Panathinaikos |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2000-01 |  Paris Saint-Germain |
1–3 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | Parc des Princes |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 |  Galatasaray |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
4–3 | Paris Saint-Germain |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 | Leeds United |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2000-01 | Deportivo La Coruña |
0–3 | Leeds United |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2001-02 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–1 | Manchester United |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2001-02 | Manchester United |
2–3 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | Old Trafford |
| 2001-02 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2-0 | Arsenal |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2001-02 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2-0 |  Juventus |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2001-02 | Arsenal |
0–2 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | Highbury |
| 2002-03 | Bayern Munich |
2–3 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | Olympiastadion |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña |
3–1 | RC Lens |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–1 | Bayern Munich |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | AC Milan |
1–2 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | San Siro |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 |  FC Basel |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 | Manchester United |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 |  PSV Eindhoven |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 | AS Monaco |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña |
3–0 | AEK Athens |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 | Juventus |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2003-04 | Juventus |
0–1 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Champions League | Stadio delle Alpi |
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruña |
4–0 | AC Milan |
UEFA Champions League | Riazor |
| 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–1 | Newcastle United |
UEFA Intertoto Cup | Riazor |
| 2005 | Newcastle United |
1–2 | Deportivo La Coruña |
UEFA Intertoto Cup | St James' Park |
| 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 | Olympique de Marseille |
UEFA Intertoto Cup | Riazor |
| 2008 | Deportivo La Coruña |
2–0 (3)-(2) | SK Brann |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 2008 | Deportivo La Coruña |
3–0 | Feyenoord Rotterdam |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
| 2008 | Deportivo La Coruña |
1–0 | AS Nancy |
UEFA Cup | Riazor |
Stadium information
- Name - Riazor
- City - A Coruña
- Capacity - 34,600
- Inauguration - 1944
- Pitch size - 105 x 68 m
- Other Facilities: - Ciudad Deportiva de Abegondo
Players
World Cup winners
European Championship winners
Copa América winners
Africa Cup of Nations winners
Gold Cup winners
also andres guardado in gold cup 2010 Confederations Cup winners
Olympic Games winners
Other notable former players
CoachesPresidentsTriviaFor political reasons the current club board keep the city un-official name "La Coruña" (in Spanish), although the official name of the city is "A Coruña" (in Galician). Hence, if the club ever adopts the official name of the city it would be renamed "Deportivo da Coruña". StatisticsPichichi:(3) 1992-93- Bebeto 29 goals 2001-02- Diego Tristán 21 goals 2002-03- Roy Makaay 29 goals (Golden Boot) Zamora:(8) 1996-97- Jacques Songo'o 1993-94- Francisco Liaño 1992-93- Francisco Liaño (tied with Santiago Cañizares) 1953-54- Juan Ignacio Otero 1950-51- Juan Acuña 1949-50- Juan Acuña 1942-43- Juan Acuña 1941-42- Juan Acuña Deportivo de La Coruña BDeportivo de La Coruña B is the filial team of Deportivo de La Coruña. Founded in 1914 with the name of Fabril Sociedad Deportiva, it plays in Segunda División B. Its stadium is called Estadio Ciudad Deportiva de Abegondo, with a capacity of 1,500 seats. In 1993 the team was officially renamed Deportivo B, although most locals still call it "Fabril". Seasons
See also
ReferencesExternal links
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