Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded on 18 March 1932, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at La Romareda, which seats 34,596 spectators.
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| Full name | Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Blanquillos, Maños | |||
| Founded | 1932 | |||
| Ground | La Romareda, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain | |||
| Capacity | 34,596 | |||
| Owner | Agapito Iglesias | |||
| President | Fernando Molinos | |||
| Manager | Manolo Jiménez | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2011–12 | La Liga, 16th | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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The club spent the majority of its in La Liga, winning the Copa del Rey six times and the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, amongst other trophies. Traditionally, team colours are white shirts and socks with royal blue shorts.
History
Real Zaragoza was originally formed from two rival teams: Iberia SC and Real Zaragoza CD. In 1939, after three years without football due to the Spanish Civil War, the team made its first appearance in La Liga.
On 8 September 1957, the team left its original stadium, El Torrero, for La Romareda.
The golden era
Beginning in the 1960–61 season, Zaragoza entered a period of great prosperity, showcasing some of the greatest players playing in Spain during that decade, which earned for themselves the designation of Los Magníficos. While the team failed to capture the league title, it did succeed in finishing in the top five every year until 1968–69, with two third-place finishes, and also won its first two Copa del Rey titles and the 1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Zaragoza's famous attacking line included Canário, Eleuterio Santos, Marcelino, Juan Manuel Villa and Carlos Lapetra; Peruvian Juan Seminario, who started his career in Spain with Los Maños before moving to FC Barcelona, won the Pichichi Trophy in the 1961–62 campaign, scoring 25 goals in 30 games as the team finished in fourth position.
'70s to the end of the century
The next 30 years provided Zaragoza with many highs and lows. The club finished third in 1973–74 and a best-ever second in the following season, losing the title in the last round to Real Madrid. Two seasons were spent in Segunda División during the decade, with promotion befalling at the first attempt on either occasion.
In 1986, Zaragoza won its third Spanish Cup, defeating Barcelona 1–0. The club finished the 1990–91 season in 17th position, thus having to appear in the promotion/relegation playoffs against Real Murcia: on 19 June 1991, after a 0–0 away draw, a 5–2 home win meant the team managed to maintain its top level status.
On 10 May 1995, one year after winning the domestic cup against Celta de Vigo, Real Zaragoza won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Arsenal at the Parc des Princes in Paris, after having disposed of the likes of Feyenoord and Chelsea along the way. With the score tied at 1–1, the two teams entered extra time and, in the 120th minute, midfielder Nayim hit a half-volley from just past the halfway line, putting it beyond the reach of David Seaman for the final 2–1.[1]
The 21st century
The 2000s brought a further two Spanish Cups to Zaragoza's trophy cabinet, including the 2003–04 edition against Real Madrid, in Barcelona (3–2 after extra time). In late May 2006, Agapito Iglesias bought Alfonso Solans' shares and took control of the club, promising to build one of the strongest teams in Spain and Europe. In his first year, he bought Pablo Aimar from Valencia CF for €11 million.
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 - in the European Golden Shoe race), Real Zaragoza finished in sixth position, thus qualifying to the UEFA Cup. The following season, however, ended in relegation - for the second time in the decade - with the side also being eliminated in the first round in European competition; legendary club manager Víctor Fernández returned for a second spell as coach, being sacked in January 2008[2] as the club had four managers during the campaign; in the last round, a brace from Ricardo Oliveira proved insufficient in a 2–3 away loss against RCD Mallorca, with the team totalling 42 points to CA Osasuna's 43.
Real Zaragoza achieved promotion from the second division at the first attempt. In the last game, on 20 June 2009, the team drew 2–2 at Rayo Vallecano, with goals from youth graduate David Generelo and ex-Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavón, only trailing champions Xerez CD in the table.
Seasons
Recent seasons
Season Leg. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe Notes 1997–98 1D 13 38 12 12 14 45 53 48 Semifinals 1998–99 1D 9 38 16 9 13 57 46 57 3rd Round 1999–00 1D 4 38 16 15 7 60 40 63 Last 16 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 1st Round UC 2nd Round Relegated 2002–03 2D 2 42 20 12 10 54 40 72 2nd Round 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 Quarterfinals 2007–08 1D 18 38 10 12 16 50 61 42 Last 16 UC 1st Round Relegated 2008–09 2D 2 42 23 12 7 79 42 81 2nd Round Promoted 2009–10 1D 14 38 10 11 17 46 64 41 Last 32 2010–11 1D 13 38 12 9 17 40 53 45 Last 32 2011–12 1D 16 38 12 7 19 36 61 43 Last 32
Season to season
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- 58 seasons in La Liga
- 16 seasons in Segunda División
- 4 seasons in Tercera División
Current squad
As of 31 January 2013
Note: Flags indicate national team as 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 defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
Domestic competitions
- Copa del Rey (6): 1963–64, 1965–66, 1985–86, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2003–04; Runner-up 1962–63, 1964–65, 1975–76, 1992–93, 2005–06
- Supercopa de España (1): 2004; Runner-up 1994, 2001
- Segunda División (1): 1977–78
European competitions
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1): 1963–64; Runner-up 1965–66
- UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 1995
Pichichi Trophy
- Juan Seminario: 24 goals (1961–62)
Records
Club
- Best La Liga position: 2nd (1974–75)
- Worst La Liga position: 20th (2001–02)
- Overall La Liga historical classification: 9th
- Greatest home win: Real Zaragoza 8–1 Español (1978–79), Real Zaragoza 8–1 Sevilla (1987–88)
- Greatest away win: Elche 2–7 Real Zaragoza (1960–61)
- Greatest home defeat: Real Zaragoza 1–7 Real Madrid (1987–88)
- Greatest away defeat: Athletic Bilbao 10–1 Real Zaragoza (1951–52)
Player
- Most matches: Xavier Aguado (473)
- Most minutes: Xavier Aguado (33,480)
- Most goals all-time: Marcelino (117)
- Most goals in one season: Ewerthon (28, 2008–09)
- Foreign player with most appearances: Gustavo Poyet (239)
- Red cards: Xavier Aguado (18)
Notable players
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Managers
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References
- ^ "1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal". UEFA.com. 1 June 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Garitano succeeds Fernández at Zaragoza; ESPN Soccernet, 14 January 2008
External links
