Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D. (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈraʝo βaʎeˈkano ðe maˈðɾið]),[lower-alpha 1] often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas. Rayo was founded on 29 May 1924, and currently compete in Segunda División following relegation from La Liga. Home games are held at the 14,708-seater Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium.[2]
Full name | Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, SAD | |||
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Nickname(s) | Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes) Los Vallecanos (The Vallecans) | |||
Founded | 29 May 1924 | |||
Ground | Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Vallecas, Madrid, Spain | |||
Capacity | 14,708[1] | |||
Owner | Raúl Martín Presa | |||
President | Raúl Martín Presa | |||
Head coach | Andoni Iraola | |||
League | Segunda División | |||
2019–20 | Segunda División, 7th of 22 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Rayo has competed in one European competition, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season. The club made it to the quarter-finals before losing to fellow Spanish club Alavés 4–2 on aggregate.
History
Rayo Vallecano saw the light of day on 29 May 1924 in the hometown of Prudencia Priego, wife of the club's first president Julián Huerta. Greatly inspired by River Plate (a Football club from Argentina), in 1949, after an agreement with Atlético Madrid, a red diagonal stripe was added to the team's kit, and the club reached Tercera División for the first time in its history.[3]
One of the perennial yo-yo clubs of Spanish football, and always in the shadow of the two biggest clubs in the city (Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid), Rayo Vallecano spent many years during the 1980s and 1990s moving back and forth between La Liga and Segunda División. The 1983-84 season was the worst during the 1980s. The club finished in the last position in Segunda División and was relegated to Segunda División B.[4] They appeared to have consolidated their top flight status after gaining promotion in 1999, and the team's most successful season came in 2000–01 when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, going out only to eventual runners-up Alavés;[5] Rayo finished ninth in the previous campaign, but entered the competition via the fair play draw.[6]
First spells in the new Segunda Division and Below
However, the club shortly thereafter fell on hard times, enduring successive relegations in 2003 and 2004. For 2005–06 manager Míchel, a Real Madrid legend in the 1980s and '90s, was hired.[7]
Rayo finished the 2006–07 season in second place in Segunda División B, winning the promotion play-off semifinal but losing in the final to Eibar (1–2 aggregate).[8] The following campaign, the team returned to division two after a four-year absence after a victorious run in the playoffs, disposing of Benidorm in the semi-final and Zamora in the last game 2–1 on aggregate.[9]
A Familiar Sight in the Segunda
In the first season back in the second tier of Spanish football, Rayo finished comfortably, often either in or just outside the promotion places. That same year, its women's team was crowned league champions for the first time, thereby qualifying for the UEFA Women's Champions League, but was eliminated 2–5 on aggregate in the round-of-32 by Russia's WFC Rossiyanka.
In 2010–11, Rayo Vallecano ranked in second position and returned to the top flight after an eight-year absence, only trailing champions Real Betis in spite of very serious economic problems.[10][11][12] In late March 2012, in support of the 2011–12 Spanish protests, the squad decided to take one day off from training to join the demonstrations.[13]
Branding Abroad in the Americas
In August 2015, Rayo Vallecano purchased the majority of Oklahoma City FC, a NASL expansion franchise which had yet to officially play a game renaming the club to Rayo OKC, despite the stadium increasingly needing work. It was the first ever entry of a Spanish club into the American sports market and mirrored a 2013 sponsorship agreement with Qbao in terms of expanding the club's profile overseas.[14][15] Rayo OKC folded after a year or so due to Rayo Vallecano's relegation from the Primera División and a dispute between the co-owners of Rayo OKC, led to less finance for the U.S. side.
Back in the Second Tier
In May 2016, Rayo Vallecano were relegated to the Segunda División, finishing 18th in the 2015–16 La Liga season. This ended their five-year streak in La Liga, their longest ever stay in the top-flight.[16]
Rayo's first season back in Segunda División was a poor one, with both problems on the field and off, it led to them to finish in 12th position. Rayo went through 3 different managers in the 2016–17 Segunda División season and finally settling on club legend Míchel.[17] He revived the club from the relegation places to 12th, almost making the playoffs.
At the start of the 2017–18 Segunda División season, the club appointed recently retired goalkeeper for Rayo - David Cobeño as the sporting director of the club.[18] Rayo secured their return to the Primera Division with a 1-0 over Lugo on the 41st game of the season.[19] That season the club won Segunda División with 76 points in 42 games.[20]
Return to La Liga
In the 2018–19 La Liga Season, Rayo played city rivals Getafe in a South City derby and lost 2–1.[21] Rayo almost achieved their best ever result eventually losing to Barcelona[22] On 4 May 2019, Rayo was relegated back to the Segunda Division after losing 4–1 to Levante UD.[23] In that season the club finished in the last, 20th position in La Liga.[24]
Back in the Segunda Division
In their first season back in second division, Rayo finished seventh, just one point shy of the play-offs.
Club background
- Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo (29 May 1924 – 13 November 1947)
- Agrupación Deportiva Rayo Vallecano (13 November 1947 – 1995)
- Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (1995 – Present)
N.B. Affiliate of Club Atlético de Madrid in 1949–50
Honours
National Titles
- Second Division (1): 2017-18
- Third Division (4): 1955-56, 1964–65, 1984–85, 2007-08
Regional Titles
- Workers Federation of Soccer (1): 1931-1932
- First Regional Division (1): 1948-1949
- Second Regional Division (1): 1940-1941
- Copa de Castilla (5): 1952-1953, 1967-1968, 1970-1971, 1972-1973, 1981-1982
- Madrid Cup (2): 1952-1953, 1966-1967
- Copa Ramón Triana (2): 1971-1972, 1973-1974
Season to season
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- 18 seasons in La Liga
- 35 seasons in Segunda División
- 5 seasons in Segunda División B
- 11 seasons in Tercera División (third level before 1977–78)
European history
Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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2000–01 UEFA Cup | Qualifying round | Constel·lació Esportiva | 6–0 | 10–0 | 16–0 |
First round | Molde | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
Second round | Viborg | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) | |
Third round | Lokomotiv Moscow | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |
Fourth round | Bordeaux | 4–1 | 2–1 | 6–2 | |
Quarter-finals | Alavés | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | |
Current squad
- As of 5 February 2021[25]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve team
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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Current technical staff
Position | Staff |
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Manager | Andoni Iraola |
Assistant manager | Juan Luna Eslava |
Fitness coach | Julio Muñoz Saldaña |
Scout | Rubén Reyes |
Fitness coach | Miguel García |
Goalkeeping coach | Pedro Moncayo |
Goalkeeping coach | Jorge Ramírez Fernández |
Last updated: May 2018
Source: Rayo Vallecano
Notable former players
Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.
Coaches
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Club presidents
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Stadium
Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas is a football stadium located on Calle Payaso Fofó 1, Vallecas. Opened on 10 May 1976, at first it was called "New Stadium Vallecas", but in January 2004, 13 years after the arrival of the Ruiz-Mateos family in 1991, it changed denominations, as the wife was also named by her husband, businessman José María, the first woman president of an elite football team.
It has a capacity of 14,708 spectators in an all-seated format, and dimensions of 102×64 m. Additionally, one of the goal ends does not have a grandstand, just a big wall with information panels.
In June 2009, the club announced plans for the construction of a new stadium.
Anthem
Although most people recognise the supporting songs by ska-punk band Ska-P (Rayo Vallecano and Como un rayo), Rayo Vallecano has an official anthem which played at their home stadium before matches.
Miscellaneous info
- Rayo Vallecano was Laurie Cunningham's last club – he was killed in a car crash just outside Madrid in 1989, after a sole season. He had recently won an F.A. Cup winners medal with Wimbledon F.C. in England the previous year. He also had represented neighbours Real Madrid for four years.
- Spanish anti-fascist band Ska-P are outspoken supporters of the club and have dedicated two songs to it, named Como un Rayo and Rayo Vallecano.
- In March 2014, Huawei agreed to sponsor Rayo Vallecano for two league matches against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.[26]
- In 2014, 85-year-old Vallecas resident Carmen Martínez Ayuso was evicted from her house after living there since the 1960s. Rayo Vallecano and particularly coach Paco Jémez were touched by her story, and subsequently offered to fund Martínez for the foreseeable future.[27]
- Rayo's players are often involved in charity work, one instance of this is that the current club captain Roberto Trashorras, amongst other players, regularly helps out at a homeless shelter.
Club culture and support
Rayo's ultras, the Bukaneros, are known for their left-wing views and often display political messages and other protests, mainly against the commercialisation of football. Rayo's ultras often display anti-racism and anti-fascist messages, however, are often ostracised by the government because they are branded as an ultras, this occurred following the death of Deportivo La Coruña fan known as 'Jimmy' who died following clashes between fans, with the Bukaneros not involved at all in the clashes.
The club is known for being the last local neighbourhood club in Spain, with the club representing the barrio and its working-class status.
The club is also known for chanting the song "La Vida Pirata" or in English "The Pirate Life" (a song about pirates, which the Bukaneros are named after).
Spanish:
La vida pirata es la vida mejor (bis)
sin trabajar (bis)
Sin estudiar (bis)
Con la botella de ron (bis)
Soy capitán (bis)
del Santa Inés (bis)
Y en cada puerto tengo una mujer (bis)
La rubia es (bis)
Fenomenal (bis)
Y la morena tampoco esta mal (bis)
Las inglesas con su seriedad (bis)
Y las francesas que todo lo dan (bis)
Si alguna vez (bis)
Me he de casar (bis)
Me he de casar (bis)
Con la del Rayo, una, una y nada más (bis).
English:
''The pirate life is the best life (bis)
without working (bis)
without studying (bis)
With the bottle of rum (bis)
I am captain (bis)
of the "Santa Inés"' (bis)
and in each port, I have a woman (bis)
the blonde is (bis)
phenomenal (bis)
and the brunette is not bad either (bis)
The English women with their seriousness (bis)
And the French women who give everything (bis)
If ever (bis)
I have to marry (bis)
I have to marry (bis)
with the one of Rayo, one, one and no more (bis).''
Notes
- In isolation, Vallecano is pronounced [baʎeˈkano].
References
- "Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial". Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- "Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial". Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- "Historia resumida del Rayo" [Brief history of Rayo] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- "Classification 2nd Division 1983-84". www.bdfutbol.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- "Alaves through as Rayo fall". BBC Sport. 15 March 2001. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- "El 'Fair Play', ¿una puerta abierta para jugar en Europa?" ['Fair Play', open door to play in Europe?] (in Spanish). Terra. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- "Michel, nuevo entrenador del Rayo" [Michel, new Rayo manager] (in Spanish). ABC. 23 June 2005. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- "El Eibar regresa a Segunda tras remontar ante el Rayo Vallecano" [Eibar returns to Segunda after coming back from behind against Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español" [Rayo return to silver category of Spanish football] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- Dona Teresa takes off mask Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine; Football Scouting, 1 March 2011
- Unpaid Rayo have sights set on La Liga payday Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine; Reuters, 30 March 2011
- Los jugadores del Rayo Vallecano seguirán sin cobrar (Rayo Vallecano players will still not be paid) Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine; El Correo Gallego, 26 February 2011 (in Spanish)
- "Rayo Vallecano players strike over Spanish austerity cuts". When Saturday Comes. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- "Rayo Vallecano set to buy Oklahoma City FC".
- "El Rayo compra la mayoría de acciones del Oklahoma City" [Rayo purchases majority of Oklahoma City shares] (in Spanish). AS. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- "La Liga: Getafe and Rayo Vallecano relegated, Sporting Gijon stay up".
- "Míchel has been appointed the new coach of Rayo Vallecano".
- "David Cobeño, new sports director".
- "Rayo Vallecano win promotion to La Liga".
- "Jornada 42 de Segunda División, Temporada 2017/2018 - liga smartbank, segunda division, campeonato nacional de liga de segunda división, segunda division española, laliga 2 española". www.resultados-futbol.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- "Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Getafe: Visitors seal win in derby".
- "Luis Suarez saves Barcelona from surprise slip-up against Vallecano".
- "Rayo Vallecano relegated to the Segunda Division". Football Espana.
- "Primera División, Temporada 2018/2019 - laliga, liga santander, la liga santander, campeonato nacional de liga de primera división, liga española". www.resultados-futbol.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- "Plantilla Rayo Vallecano de Madrid - Rayo - Web Oficial". Plantilla Rayo Vallecano de Madrid - Rayo - Web Oficial. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Huawei sponsors Rayo Vallecano for two matches, against Real Madrid and Bilbao". GSM Insider. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- Villalba, Juanjo (January 2015). "Spanish Football Team Rescues an Old Lady". Vice Magazine. 13 (1): 15.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rayo Vallecano. |
- Official website (in Spanish)
- Official Radio website (in Spanish)
- Official Community VK (in Russian)
- Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
- BDFutbol team profile
- Pasión por el Rayo – Non official Website - Rayo Vallecano News (in Spanish)
- Rayo Herald – Updated club info (in Spanish)