CF Villarreal's ascent from third division also-rans to Champions League regulars is the stuff of fairytale.
El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine) were playing in the Spanish third division for much of the 1980s and spent almost the entire 1990s in the second tier, only gaining promotion late in that decade.
Local ceramics magnate Fernando Roig took over in 1997 when the club was in the secong division, with large debts and a stadium of just 3,500. Roig has now stated his desire for Villarreal to become Spain's third force behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. How quickly things change.
Under former coach Manuel Pellegrini Villarreal came within a penalty kick of a possible Champions League final appearance in 2006, and have finished in the European places regularly over the recent seasons.
Relying on home grown talent (their youth academy is built on an old orange grove), a sprinkling of Spanish internationals and several inspired purchases from South America, Villarreal have prided themselves on an exciting passing game which is easy on the eye.
Quick Facts:
- Founded: 1923
- Home Ground (Capacity): El Madrigal, Villarreal (25,000)
- Nicknames: El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine)
- Home Colors: Yellow
- First Division/La Liga Titles: None
- Spanish Cup/Copa del Rey Titles: None
- European Cup/Champions League: None
- Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup, Europa League: None
The Team:
- Current Coach: Miguel Angel Lotina
- Top Goalscorer 2009-2010: Giuseppe Rossi (32 in all competitions)
- Captain: Gonzalo Rodriguez
- 2010-2011 League Finish: 4th
Villarreal Squad:
1 César ·2 Gonzalo ·3 Oriol ·4 Musacchio ·5 Marchena ·6 Ángel ·7 Nilmar ·8 De Guzmán ·9 M. Ruben ·10 Cani ·11 Pérez ·12 Zapata ·13 D. López ·14 Mario ·15 Catalá ·16 Castellani ·17 Camuñas ·18 Wakaso ·19 Senna (c) ·20 Borja ·21 Bruno ·22 Rossi ·23 Martinuccio
A Little History:
Founded in 1923, Villarreal played in regional leagues until the Spanish Civil War brought the game to a halt.
Once the war was over the club returned to the regional leagues and finally gained promotion to the National 3rd Division in 1956 where they stayed until the 1960-61 season when the Yellow Submarine was relegated.
After coming agonizingly close to promotion on more than one occasion, Villarreal made it back into the National 3rd Division in the 1966-67 season.
After a period of consolidation, Villarreal were promoted to the National 2nd Division, but the 1970s was a poor decade where they briefly found themselves back in the regional leagues.
Villarreal climbed the leagues and finally realized their dream of playing in the Primera Liga on 24th May 1998, defeating Compostela on away goals in a play-off. They were immediately relegated but earned quickly earned promotion back to the top flight.
The Yellow Submarine finished an incredible seventh in their debut season, and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2004 as they continued to acclimatize to life in the Spanish top flight.
Villarreal have boasted the talents of Juan Roman Riquelme, Diego Forlan, Juan Pablo Sorin and Robert Pires since establishing themselves as a top flight force. A few years ago it was unthinkable that such a club could entice players of this caliber.
A third place finish in the 2004-05 season was bettered in 2007-08 when under Chilean coach Pellegrini Villarreal ended the season in second place behind a majestic Barcelona side.
It was Pellegrini who took Villarreal to that Champions League semi-final in 2006. Trailing Arsenal 1-0 from the first leg, Riquelme had the chance to send the tie into extra-time but his late penalty miss in the second leg meant that the Gunners progressed.
Money may be the driving force behind Villarreal's meteoric rise, but unlike other clubs, they have gone about things the right way, investing in club infrastructure, youth and players who fit the system.
The transition from lower league also-rans to Champions League regulars has happened remarkably fast and Roig's dream does not seem unrealistic.
