Real Zaragoza
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| Full name | Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Blanquillos, Maños |
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| Founded | 1932 | |||
| Ground | La Romareda, Zaragoza, Aragon (Capacity: 34,596) |
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| President | Agapito Iglesias | |||
| Manager | José Aurelio Gay | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2009-10 | La Liga, 14th | |||
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Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Zaragoza in Aragon. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have this season gained promotion from the 2008-09 Liga Adelante, back into the Spanish top-flight where they have spent the majority of their 78 year history. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th hightest ranked team in overall league points. They are ranked 6th overall for cup wins with 6 victories in the Copa del Rey, and also have a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (forerunner to the UEFA Cup/Europa League), and a Spanish Supercup. Traditionally, they play in white shirts and socks with royal blue shorts for home games, with black and yellow away kits. The home stadium is called La Romareda and seats 34,596 spectators.
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History
Real Zaragoza was originally formed out of two rival teams: Iberia SC and Real Zaragoza CD. By the 1930s, the team was making headway in La Liga, but the Civil War put a brake on a lot of the progress made.
On 8 September 1957, the team left their original stadium (the Torrero) for their current home La Romareda.
The Golden Era
Beginning in 1960/61 season, Zaragoza entered a period of great prosperity, showcasing some of the greatest players playing Spain during that time, and earning their 1960's title of Los Magníficos. While they failed to capture the league title, they did succeed in finishing in the top 5 every year from the 1960/61 season up until the 1968/69 season, finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th, respectively. They also won their first two Copa del Rey titles and their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Real Zaragoza side of this era contained Los Magníficos ("The Greats"), an attacking line of Canario, Santos, Marcelino, Villa and Lapetra. Other notable players included Reija and Violeta in defence. Fans of the side had to wait until the 1980s to experience another victory in the cup competition. One of the highlights was Juan Seminario winning the Pichichi (top scorer) in La Liga (with 25 goals in 30 matches) for the 1961-62 season.
70's to the end of the century
The next 30 years provided Zaragoza with many highs and lows. They managed some very respectable results in the league, including a 3rd placed finish in 1973/74, and their first 2nd place finish the following year, losing the title to Real Madrid on the last matchday. They also won two more Copa del Rey titles, as well as being the finalists twice.
On 10 May 1995, Real Zaragoza won the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup against Arsenal in Parc des Princes in Paris, eliminating some european giants such as Feyenoord Rotterdam and Chelsea FC along the way. With the score tied at 1-1, the two teams entered extra time. In a last ditch effort, midfielder Mohammed Ali Ammar "Nayim" hit a half-volley from just past the halfway line, putting it just beyond the reach of David Seaman, making the score 2-1.
The 21st century
The Zaragoza side on the new century had two more historic Copa Del Rey wins as well as becoming finalist yet again. The first in 2001 was a 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo.
In late May 2006, Agapito Iglesias bought Alfonso Solans' shares and took the control of Real Zaragoza. Agapito promised to build one of the strongest team in Spain and Europe. In his first year owning Real Zaragoza, Agapito bought Pablo Aimar for €11 million to reinforce the midfield. In a poll in 2007, Zaragoza fans voted Aimar the teams greatest ever player.
Thanks to Diego Milito's 23 goals in 2006-07 (he finished third to Roma's Francesco Totti and Real Madrid's Ruud van Nistelrooy- 26 and 25 goals, respectively- for the European Golden Shoe), Real Zaragoza managed a very respectable 6th place finish, qualifying for Europe. Despite having a nearly unchanged squad from the previous campaign, the 2007-08 season would finish with this Zaragoza team becoming one of the most disappointing and underachieving teams in La Liga history. They crashed out in the first round of the UEFA Cup. By the turn of the year, they found themselves slipping further and further down the table. Gaffer Víctor Fernández was sacked, and three different managers, culminating with former Zaragoza standout Manolo Villanova, were brought in from January to May in a desperate attempt to change the club's fortunes. Largely due to earning a dismal 8 points from 18 away fixtures (despite having managed 34 from all their games at La Romareda), they went into their final fixture of the season needing a win to guarantee their Primera División survival. Kickoff was delayed for over an hour due to a torrential downpour, but not even the rain could keep Zaragoza from relegation as they fell to RCD Mallorca 3-2, despite two goals from Ricardo Oliveira.
Real Zaragoza got promoted for the 2009-10 season after their final game. They drew 2-2 away to Rayo Vallecano with goals from David Generelo and ex-Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavón.
Rivalries and Friendships
What is to be considered Zaragoza's derby match of every season, are the encounters with CA Osasuna. The two teams are relatively close to one another, both representing the largest teams from their respective regions of Aragon and Navarra. CA Osasuna's city of Pamplona is 145 km away from Zaragoza, and matches in both stadiums usually involve a high number of travelling fans. Songs chanted at the expense of Osasuna can be heard on almost any match day in La Romareda, let alone during the derby.
There is also an Aragon derby, between Real Zaragoza and SD Huesca. Opinions are divided on whether this is a friendly match or a meeting of fierce competition, although it is difficult to determine which, and with good reason; the two teams have only ever played in the same division on two occasions, the most recent of which was the 2008/09 season. Outside of competition the two clubs share a good business relationship, with a history of many players being sent back and forth between them.
Zaragoza have a friendly relationship with CD Numancia, the current second division club from Soria. This may be due to the fact that the two cities are relatively close, with Soria being the capital of the nearby province of the same name, in the Castile and Leon region.
Honours
Winners
- Copa del Rey: 6
- 1963-64, 1965-66, 1985-86, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2003-04
- Spanish Supercup: 1
- 2004
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1
- 1963-64
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1
- 1994-95
- Segunda División: 1
- 1977-78
Players
- As of 31 August 2010
Current squad
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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Seasons
Recent seasons
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Season Leg. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe Notes 1997-98 1D 13 38 12 12 14 45 53 48 1998-99 1D 9 38 16 9 13 57 46 57 1999-00 1D 4 38 16 15 7 60 40 63 2000-01 1D 17 38 9 15 14 54 57 42 Winner UC 1st Round 2001-02 1D 20 38 9 10 19 35 54 37 UC 2nd Round Relegated 2002-03 2D 2 42 20 12 10 54 40 72 Promoted 2003-04 1D 12 38 13 9 16 46 55 48 Winner 2004-05 1D 12 38 14 8 16 52 57 50 2nd round UC Last 16 2005-06 1D 11 38 10 16 12 46 51 46 Runners Up 2006-07 1D 6 38 16 12 10 55 43 60 2007-08 1D 18 38 10 12 16 50 61 42 UC 1st Round Relegated 2008-09 2D 2 36 18 11 7 62 38 65 Promoted
Season to season
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Statistics
- 56 seasons in La Liga
- 16 seasons in Segunda División
- 4 seasons in Tercera División
- Best league position: 2nd (74-75 season)
- Worst place in the league: 20th (season 01-02)
- Overall La Liga historical classification: 9th
- Most matches: Aguado (473), Violeta (471), Juan Manuel Villa (382).
- Most minutes: Aguado (33,480), Violeta (29,042), Señor (26,984).
- Most Goals all-time: Marcelino (117), Murillo (113), Pichi Alonso (112).
- Most Goals in a season: Ewerthon (28), Juan Seminario (25).
- Foreign players with most appearances: Gustavo Poyet (239), (63 goals).
- Highest red cards: Aguado (18), Cuartero (8), Belsué (6).
- Biggest wins achieved:
- At home: 8.1 Real Zaragoza Sevilla FC (1987/88)
- Away: Elche 2.7 Real Zaragoza (1960/61)
- Worst defeats:
- At home: Real Zaragoza 1-7 Real Madrid (1987/88)
- Away: Athletic Bilbao 10-1 Real Zaragoza (1951/52)
Honours as a player
Pichichi Trophy
- Juan Seminario: 24 goals 1961-1962
Coaches
Chronology of coaches
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see also Category:Real Zaragoza managers
See also
Sporting Media in Zaragoza: HeraldoEl periódico de AragónDiario EquipoAragon Sport
References
- ↑ "Eidur Gudjohnsen among four new signings for Stoke". BBC Sport. 2010-08-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/8957431.stm. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
External links
- (Spanish) Real Zaragoza Official Website
| Preceded by Ferencvárosi TC |
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Winner 1963/64 Runner up: Valencia CF |
Succeeded by Valencia CF |
| Preceded by Arsenal |
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Winner 1994/95 Runner up: Arsenal |
Succeeded by Paris Saint-Germain |
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