Fact File: Villarreal CF

Derby County will return to the iPro Stadium for the first time ahead of the new season this evening and we look at a side that has established themselves as one of Spain's leading lights...

FACT FILE:
Founded on 10 March 1923, Villarreal CF was founded by a small group of fans from Vila-real looking to promote the game of football – originally naming their new venture Club Deportivo Villarreal.Before moving to the all yellow kit that we see in the present, Villarreal originally played in white shirts and black shorts.With the start of the Spanish Civil War, the football club became disbanded after winning the First Division regional title, but came back stronger in 1942 under the name Club Atlético Foghetecaz – before settling for Villarreal CF in 1954.The club began to work its way through the Spanish divisions after they were promoted to the Tercera Liga (Third Nationwide) in 1956 – before being relegated in 1961.After floating for five years, Villarreal adopted their current club crest and went on to return to the Tercera Liga as champions that same season at the end of the 1966-67.The club’s rise continued in 1970 as they reached the national Segunda for the very first time. Two difficult seasons followed, the first seeing them narrowly avoid relegation, before they eventually returned to the Tercera Liga the following campaign.A brief spell out of the Tercera division followed – just a year – as they were promoted straight back to the Tercera at the first attempt following relegation to the regionals again.Toing and throwing, Villarreal continuously switched between Segunda B and Tercera through the late 1980s and 1990s before the back-to-back promotions to reach the Segunda A division for the first time in their history.Often languishing in midtable, the club broke into the play-offs at the end of the 1997/98 campaign where they faced Compostela, which Villarreal won on the away goals rule as they were promoted to La Liga, the pinnacle of Spanish football, for the first time – 75 years after originally being founded.Notably, life in the top flight of Spanish football began the then European Champions Real Madrid, which they lost 4-1, before the club, known as the Yellow Submarine, contested their first home game against Celta Vigo.Relegation followed at the end of the season, but returned the following year – where European football soon followed.In 2002/03, Villarreal competed in the UEFA Intertoto Cup where they reached the final before losing to fellow Spanish opponents Malaga 2-1.They did, though, go on to win the competition the following year, defeating Dutch opponents Heerenveen to qualify for the UEFA Cup the upcoming season.As well as an eighth place finish in the league, Villarreal reached the semi-finals in their maiden European adventure, before being defeated by Valencia.The 2004/05 campaign proved to be just as successful as they retained the Intertoto Cup, reached the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Cup, but notably finished third in La Liga, a record high, as the Yellow Submarine qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.Again memorable, Villarreal, defeating the likes of Everton, Inter Milan, Benfica and Rangers, reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before narrowly losing out to Arsenal over two-legs.Villarreal continued to prove to be one of Spain’s big hitters as they recorded their highest league position in 2008 by finishing second – eight points behind winners Real Madrid – which qualified them automatically for the group stages of the 2008-09 Champions League.A semi-final appearance in the Europa League followed in 2010/11 as they again missed out on a final berth, before the club’s 12 year stay in the top flight came to an end a year later as they returned to Segunda B.Villarreal returned a year later after a second place finish and they returned to European football soon after with two sixth place finishes.

TO DATE:

16 different club Presidents

43 coaches

More than 1,000 players

22 seasons in regional divisions

23 on the Third Division

4 on the Second Division B

9 on the Second Division

15 on the Spanish Top Division: the Liga BBVA

MEMORABLE PLAYERS AND MANAGERS:

Manuel Pellegrini

Ernesto Valverde