Real Zaragoza

The Real Zaragoza is a Spanish football club from the city of Zaragoza, in Aragon, which currently competes in the Second Division of Spain. Despite having nine consecutive seasons in the second division, it continues to be one of the teams with the most titles and most important in the history of Spanish football. It was founded in 1932, after an agreement to form a single club that would take over from the Iberia Sport Club and Zaragoza Club Deportivo, the two most important clubs in the city. It would be born under the name of Zaragoza Football Club and the colors of the Aragonese Football Federation, blue and white, on its main clothing, as signs of identity. The origin of this idea, of a unique club and a benchmark in the city, dates back to 1903, with the creation of the Zaragoza Foot-Ball Club, the first football club founded in Zaragoza and Aragon. Since 1992 its legal entity is that of a sports limited company.

It is the tenth team in the historical classification of the First Division of Spain, having competed 58 seasons in that category. It also ranks seventh among Spanish clubs in the list of official titles, with six Cup championships, one Super Cup, one Fairs Cup and one European Cup Winners' Cup; making these last titles one of the only seven Spanish clubs champions of European competitions.

On September 10, 2009, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) published the classification of the best European clubs of the 20th century, with Real Zaragoza occupying position number 35 due to the European championships won in the 20th century, the 1964 Fairs Cup and the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup.

In June 2014, according to a survey carried out by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS), it was the eighth team that aroused the most sympathy in Spain (1.3%). In that same year, it was not among the 200 most important clubs of the moment according to the IFFHS world club ranking, published in July. The Aragonese team was sold in April 2022 to Jorge Mas Santos, also president of Inter Miami.

History

Background and origin

The origins of football in the Aragonese capital date back to November 1903, when a group of students and university students established the so-called Foot-ball Club [sic] in the premises of the painter Emilio Fortún's academy..], which, like most football societies at the time, had prominent British components. Chaired by José Pedro Navarro Marín, they played their matches on some land in the Campo del Sepulcro until its rapid dissolution in 1904 due to a lack of followers. At the gates of a new decade, the practice of foot-ball was relegated to collegiate activity with sporadic matches at Campo de Los Huertos, until in January 1910 a first Zaragoza Foot -ball Club —in a white shirt and black pants, and with a diverse university student body— tried to relaunch its development, to end up disappearing before the end of the year and after just a handful of matches against the main representatives of Huesca and Pamplona.

It was university soccer that allowed a sport that in other parts of the country already enjoyed great prestige to advance very slowly, which even played a Spanish Championship in which the champions of the corresponding Regional Championships faced each other with their clubs regularized and established at the request of the civil governments, dependent on their own federations, and even on a world estate, FIFA. Zaragoza, and Aragón, were lagging behind. New clubs were emerging and disappearing almost instantly but none found stability, and in those, World War I broke out. Spain, as a neutral territory not very open to the continent, is a port for many soldiers, especially Germans returning from the African campaigns, giving a great boost to the implementation of football in the city and the region. They were the dates of the birth of the first great society in Zaragoza, the Iberia Sport Club (1917). "Los avispas" —because of their gualdinegro uniform— played their matches in the Campo de Torrero, corresponding to an unofficial attempt for a regional championship between the not many existing teams. As a clear dominator, he was the one who promoted efforts to establish a federation and thus aspire to greater needs. The Sociedad Atlética Stadium was the next proper name in Zaragoza (1919), and already established the first Aragon Regional Championship, the first great rivalry. Both alternate the title of best club in the region, although it is "the athletics" who debuted in the national competition in 1924. The defeat at the first opportunity, resounding and without palliatives against Football Club Barcelona, accounts for the existing abyss between Zaragoza and the rest of the country.

Instant of the Zaragoza Sports Club, predecessor Real Zaragoza. Floral offer to the bust of the evil Pichichi (1927).

But soccer endures in the region, and advances, and already had a third important club, the Zaragoza Football Club. Aware of this great difference and after a new debacle at the state level, Zaragoza and Atlético decided to merge and thus form the Real Zaragoza Sports Club. Known as "los tomates" because of their red shirt, they bring renewed airs to football in Zaragoza. His disputes with Iberia began to take shape and both competed in the 1927 Cup —when participation was also opened to the regional runners-up. Still far from any hint of success, the two were eliminated in their group, losing all their matches. At the same time, other clubs are also joining to give strength to football in the region, and thus Club Patria-Aragón is the next club of substance, in a white uniform.

At the gates of professionalization, the differences with the rest of the national clubs do not diminish and have signs of increasing even more with the establishment of the National League Championship, divided into three categories, where the Aragonese shortlist hardly survives. Without glories or praise, with the exception of its regional contest, the decade of the 1930s is reached. Soccer disputes the patriotic fervor of bullfighting, while internationally Olympic soccer prepares its first World Cup for teams. With the clubs dragging debts, Patria-Aragón was the first to disappear, warning the rest of the clubs of the only way left: either together, or dead. Thus, before the disappearance of Real Zaragoza (which lost its monarchical allusion with the establishment of the republic) and the Iberia Sport Club —which was also languishing—, they decided to dissolve to create together a new entity that would represent all of Zaragoza, and with a name and new colors in keeping with the town, thus resulting in the Zaragoza Football Club, in honor of that city's first team.

With everything arranged and agreed, not only by the leaders involved, but also at the federation level, this new entity takes the place of the Iberians in the national category to continue with the activity inherited from the historic clubs. A trick for retain the category in the eyes of the Spanish Federation, since for legal purposes it is as if it had been a change in the name. Its new colors: blue and white, "the color of the champion"; the new shield, one representative of the city with gualdinegros borders in honor of the Iberians.

The first steps and the premiere in Primera. "The Alifantes"

Chaired by José María Gayarre and directed by the Portuguese Filipe dos Santos, the Zaragocistas finally see the proximity of the first successes. In his premiere in the Third Division, he is close to achieving promotion, which was first snatched from him by the Center de Sports Sabadell Football Club, and by Club Valladolid Deportivo a year later. However, a restructuring in the league system led to the momentary disappearance of the Third Division, thus allowing several more teams to rise, including Zaragoza. The expansion of the First Division to twelve contenders caused a domino effect that led to a Second Division of 24 teams (10 the previous season). Divided into three subgroups, they were close to being able to play the promotion phase to the highest category, but once again the Sabadell team got in the way. They did get something, being known as "the alfantes" due to their physical might.

These are moments in which not only football is experiencing convulsive moments, but also the whole of society, at the gates of the outbreak of the Civil War. Paradoxically and as it happened in the past, the armed conflicts brought good omens to Aragonese football. On this occasion, the expected promotion to the highest national category, the First Division. Under the direction of Pepe Planas and the international Manuel Olivares (coach-player) Aragonese football wrote its name in capital letters. Not yet golden, as he was still orphaned by titles in the Spanish Championship. With the beginning of the war, sports competitions were paralyzed and it was not until 1939 when they were officially resumed. Those "alifantes" who carried out the feat were Lerín (goalkeeper), Gómez, Alonso, Pelayo, Municha, Ortúzar, Ruiz, Ameztoy, Olivares, Arnanz, Primo, Bilbao (reserve forward), Uriarte (reserve defense), and Inchausti (goalkeeper substitute).

Their first match took place on December 3, against another recently promoted team, Club Celta, and ended with a 3-2 victory. Bilbao and Doro Elorriaga. It was an atypical championship after the fight, where Athletic de Madrid or Athletic-Aviación was champion, which happened in that impasse of the war of being relegated de facto to the top of Spanish football thanks to its merger with the independent entity Club Aviación Nacional de Zaragoza —as it is—, a military group that enjoyed the sympathy and favor of the government, in addition to financial support, which allowed it to reinforce itself with some of the best footballers of the time and rewrite their history, close to disappearance. Another surprise was left by Football Club Barcelona, saved on the last day of disputing the relegation promotion, and the Zaragoza club itself, seventh-ranked and deserving therefore to preserve the category. Unfortunately, this was lost the following year after being promoted to Club Deportivo Castellón.

The modernization of the club. From Torrero to La Romareda

Instant from the old camp of Torrero, opened in 1923. (photo of the Spanish selection).

Over the next two decades, the 1940s (called "The Black Age") and the 1950s (characterized by the lineup dubbed "The Millionaires& #34;) Real Zaragoza wanders without shame or glory through the Championship, alternating promotions and relegations.

In February 1941 the name of the club was made Spanish by legal imperative and the "Zaragoza Foot-ball Club" was renamed "Zaragoza Club de Fútbol", a name that would last a decade.

On March 30, 1951, in an Extraordinary General Assembly, several modifications to the Statutes were approved, among which the change of name of the Club from being "Zaragoza Club de Fútbol" to "Real Zaragoza Club Deportivo". For this reason, the Club's shield was also modified, bearing the royal crown ever since. This right to the Real name had previously been acquired by the Stadium. In April 1922, thanks to the BOE publishing the consent of the Royal Family, the Stadium was renamed Real Sociedad Atlética Stadium. This right to the name of Real would be essential so that, after several mergers, the Zaragoza team would have that treatment.

In September 1957, a new stadium was inaugurated where the city team would play, selling the previous Torrero field, and also clearing the debt that the club contracted at that time. The new stadium would be municipally owned, as it still is today, and would accommodate the team's growing fans.

With the economic injection that the sale of the old Torrero field meant, Real Zaragoza paid off its debts, built La Romareda and began with a successful transfer policy, which created another of the mythical teams in the club's history, "The Magnificents".

It is in the 60s, the club lives its best years, in the 1961-1962 season the Peruvian striker Juan Seminario obtains the Pichichi Trophy as top scorer in the Spanish Soccer League, scoring 25 goals, being the only Zaragoza player who has won this award.

From “the Magnificent” 1960s to “the Zaraguayos” 1970s

A year later the mythical team of "Los Magníficos" appears, a striker made up of Canario, Santos, Marcelino, Villa and Lapetra, who led the team to four Cup finals del Generalísimo, (in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966) of which they won two (1964 after beating Atlético de Madrid 1-2 with goals from Lapetra and Villa; and 1966 against Athletic Club with goals again from Villa and Lapetra), to two Fairs Cup finals (1964 and 1966) of which they would win the first against Valencia CF with goals from Villa and Marcelino, and to a semifinal of the European Cup Winners' Cup (1965, being defeated there against West Ham Utd).

José Ángel Zalba, a man who presided over Real Zaragoza for more years.

In the 70s and led by José Ángel Zalba, another team appeared that marked an era in the Club: "Los Zaraguayos", named after the Uruguayan and Paraguayan players who were in their ranks; "Hub" Blanco, Soto, "Lobo" Diarte, Ocampos and "Nino" Arrúa, the latter considered at that time one of the best players in America, establishing himself as the leader of the team. Although their game made them famous, under the guidance of coach Luis Cid "Carriega", they did not win any title, being a cup runner-up in 1976, their best moment.

It was at this time that the best results were obtained in the Spanish First Division, third in the 1973-74 season and runners-up in 1974-75 (the 6-1 that endorsed the then current champion is still remembered league; Real Madrid, in that season).

The 1980s

In 1982 the seated general decks were built so that La Romareda could host 3 matches of the first phase of the 1982 World Cup in Spain. The teams that play in Zaragoza are Yugoslavia, Honduras and Northern Ireland.

An Unexpected Cup (1986)

In the 1980s, the sporting career was quite regular, the most notable events being the victory in the Copa del Rey in 1986. On April 26, 1986, Real Zaragoza won its third Spanish Cup, the first with the denomination of Copa de S.M. the king. After eliminating Real Madrid in the semifinals, Real Zaragoza faced FC Barcelona in the final at the Vicente Calderón Stadium and a free kick by Rubén Sosa hit the wall, diverting the ball's trajectory and rendering Urruticoechea's stretch useless. Barcelona tried to annul that advantage, but Luis Costa's men were proclaimed Cup Champions.

Roberto, Luis Costa and Juan Señor on the return of the 87 Recopa against the Ajax de Cruyff.

European Cup Winners' Cup

They reached the semifinals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, where they were defeated by Ajax Amsterdam. The then president Ángel Aznar, in just two years modified the structures of the club, giving a great boost to the club, economically and sportingly.

In 1988 Miguel Beltrán left the presidency of the club and José Ángel Zalba took over the presidency of Real Zaragoza again, qualifying for the UEFA Cup that season.

Sports Aragon

Deportivo Aragón had a sensational season, qualifying in the middle of the table in the Second Division B, putting in good performances in the Copa del Rey and managing to be proclaimed the Spanish Amateur Champion.

The 90s

1990/91: The promotion against Murcia and the beginning of the foundations towards Paris

The 1990s began with Zaragoza on the verge of relegation, in which the young coach of the subsidiary Víctor Fernández replaced the Uruguayan Ildo Maneiro midway through the competition in a risky bet made by the president (Víctor had never coached a soccer team in a division professional nor was he a professional footballer, in addition to being younger than some members of the squad). The season gets complicated and the handy club ends up in relegation promotion positions, which they would play against Real Murcia, whom they left in Second Division, by sentencing in the second leg at La Romareda.

1992/93: Real Zaragoza became SAD and presidency of the Sólans family (1992-2006)

In September 1992, Real Zaragoza became a Sociedad anónima deportiva (S.A.D.) and the then president of Pikolin, Alfonso Solans was elected president and this led to a period of presidential stability.

The team managed to qualify for the 1992-93 Copa del Rey final, played on June 26, 1993; The final was played against Real Madrid, at the Valencia Club de Fútbol stadium, a stadium then called Estadio Luis Casanova. The victory went to the Madrid team, which won 2-0. Said game was an armed robbery perpetrated by the braid Urío Velázquez, who that afternoon was Real Madrid's number 12 player

1993/94: An unforgettable 1994

On April 20, 1994, Zaragoza once again played the Copa del Rey final against Celta and the Vicente Calderón venue. The match ended goalless and the title had to be decided in a penalty shootout with a 5-4 win for the whites. It was the club's fourth cup title.

In that league season (1993/94) the team finished in third position. Real Zaragoza had great matches and memorable results, such as 6-3 against FC Barcelona (the Catalan team had not conceded six goals for 32 years), 4-1 against Real Madrid or 0-4 against Atlético de Madrid.

1994 became an unforgettable year in the history of the club, which ended it with 14 months without knowing a defeat in its fiefdom and co-leader of the League.

1994/95: The Winners' Cup in Paris

Nayim today.

The following year, the greatest feat of Real Zaragoza in its entire history was achieved: the European Cup Winners' Cup. It was the second European trophy in its history and the most prestigious. On May 10, 1995, at the Parque de los Príncipes stadium in Paris, the final was played against English Arsenal (the current champion). The starting eleven for the Maño team were: Cedrún, Belsué, Cáceres, Aguado, Solana, Nayim, Poyet, Aragón, Pardeza, Higuera and Esnáider; and since then they have been nicknamed "The Heroes of Paris". The Zaragoza team was supported by nearly 20,000 Aragonese fans. When the last minute of the second part of extra time or the last minute of the game was running before going to the penalty shootout, that is, minute 119, Nayim fired a parabolic shot from almost 50 meters before which the advanced English goalkeeper, David Seaman, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Miguel Pardeza, due to his status as captain, was in charge of lifting the title, the second European title won by the Aragonese club, but the most important in its history. As soon as the final was over, thousands of people from Zaragoza gathered in the Plaza de España to celebrate the victory. Many fans continued the party until the afternoon of the following day. The Real Zaragoza expedition was met upon arrival at the airport by a crowd that tirelessly followed them throughout the route through the streets: from La Romareda to the balcony of the City Hall, the crowd cheered and sang along with the players. In the Plaza del Pilar there were more than 150,000 people.

1995/96: The beginning of the decline

1996/97: The end of an unrepeatable era

On two days in November 1996, two events occurred that marked the end of the Recopa victory cycle. On the 7th, Víctor Fernández was dismissed and on the 29th, Alfonso Solans Serrano died, being to date the only president who died in office. Víctor Espárrago, was dismissed in January, since Zaragoza was sunk in the relegation places at that time and his position was taken over again by Luis Costa. A 1-2 victory in Logroño was the start of the recovery.

Seasons 1997/98 and 1998/99: In no man's land

In the summer market Fernando Morientes and Dani were sold to Real Madrid, Gustavo Poyet would leave.

1999/00: Qualification denied for the Champions League

In the last season of the decade (1999/2000), Chechu Rojo's Real Zaragoza arrived with options to win the League on the last day, finally finishing fourth, in Champions League position. UEFA demanded that one of the places be awarded to Real Madrid for being the current European champion (1999/2000) and having finished fifth. The Spanish federation gave in to these demands and relegated Zaragoza to play in the UEFA Cup. Five years later, the same situation was repeated in England, but in that case, the English federation stood firm and got UEFA to include five English teams in the Champions League.

In that same season, Real Madrid had been defeated by the wasp team in the domestic championship by a historic 1-5 win at the Bernabéu.

The 2000s

2000/01: The year of Wisla, Esnaider and the fifth Cup

In the first season of the century XXI, 2000-2001, the Aragonese team was saved from relegation in the last matchday after drawing 1-1 against Celta de Vigo. Curiously, it was the same rival he had to face on June 30, 2001 in the final of the Copa del Rey that took place at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville. In the final, the favorite was the Galician team coached by Víctor Fernández and who took the lead in minute 5 through Mostovói, but Aguado and Jamelli with a penalty turned the score around in the first half. Already in the second, with Celta focused on attack and with some good chance wasted to tie, Yordi in the last moments of the clash scored the final 3-1. It was the fifth Spanish Cup won by the Aragonese team and the second that coach Luis Costa added to his record.

The 2000s

2001/02: Downhill, 24 years later

Excited by the Fifth Cup, Real Zaragoza made the largest transfer investment in its history that summer, more than 25 million euros in just three transfers: the most expensive in its history, Goran Drulić (who would be seriously injured in the preseason), Mate Bilić and Luciano Galletti. The bench would occupy it again a season later, Txetxu Rojo, but in January he was dismissed —the Aragonese team had been eliminated by Logroñes from 2nd B in the Cup and by the Swiss Servette in the UEFA Cup— and returned Luis Costa, accompanied by the transfer of Milošević in the winter market. After matchday 31, Zaragoza suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Bernabéu that placed them in 19th place in the standings. Costa resigned and was replaced by Marcos Alonso.

On the penultimate matchday, after losing to Celta by 0-1, relegation was already imminent. Thousands of fans who already wanted to invade the field of play during the match, waited at the gates of the stadium for the players, who remained there for 3 hours and had to leave by bus escorted by the police. Only César Lainez left by his own foot and was fired with a warm ovation.

On the penultimate day, the relegation was mathematically consummated in El Madrigal, where they were defeated 2-1. At the end of the game, Toro Acuña and other players hit some fans who invaded the field. The images of the aggression went around the world. The only positive aspect of the last day, in the match against FC Barcelona, which was tied, was the debut of Cani, who in his first action of the match hit Dutch winger Reiziger with a pipe.

Real Zaragoza finished the League in last position and with it put an end to 24 years of uninterrupted stay in the First Division. In the last 12 days he only added 5 points.

2002/03: First Time!

The following season Paco Flores would return the team to the First Division.

2003/04: The sixth Cup won against the white galaxy

Luciano Galletti scored the goal given by the Copa del Rey 03-04 to Zaragoza.

For the new season in Primera, Flores would continue to lead the bench. Very successful signings were made in the summer market, three of which would become myths of Zaragoza: David Villa, Gabriel Milito (who had been rejected by Real Madrid after a medical examination) and Sávio.

On March 17, 2004, Zaragoza managed to proclaim itself champion of the Copa del Rey at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium for the sixth time in its history after defeating Real Madrid from the Galacticos 2-3, thanks to a goal by Luciano Galletti in the 112th minute of the second part of extra time. The other two Zaragoza goals were the work of Dani and Villa from a penalty. That triumph was dubbed the "Galacticide" for its devastating effect on the last great Real Madrid.

2004/05: The season of the ninth and last title

David Villa.

Alberto Zapater active legend of the Real Zaragoza of the years 2000 and 2010.

On August 24 of that same year, they won the Spanish Super Cup in Valencia and again against all odds and with an adverse result (they lost 0-1 at La Romareda) after beating the Che team 3-1. It was his first Super Cup and his ninth title in his record.

With a new title that traveled to the city of Ebro and after becoming the first leader of the League after the dispute of the first day, it seemed to indicate that the wasp team wanted to aim for more ambitious goals for the new season that had started; 2004/05 but it ended up being a season of chiaroscuro. The positive aspects were that the youth player Zapater earned a place in the 11th gala, the 5-1 victory over the eternal rival, Osasuna and having beaten Anelka's Fenerbahçe in the UEFA round of 32, the negatives had been the terrible role played by the goalkeeper Luis García, the brutal injury that Luis Figo caused to César Jiménez that two seasons later would lead him to leave the pitch, the elimination in the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup against Austria of Vienna and the farewell to a new legend of the Maño group: César Láinez.

2005/06: A dream career that ended in a nightmare

The summer market was marked by the departure of David Villa —the Guaje scored 39 goals in his two seasons— to Valencia for 12 million euros and the arrival to replace him of Diego Milito —brother of Gaby-. Sergio García and Ewerthon also arrived on the banks of the Ebro.

On the thirteenth day of the league, Zaragoza was defeated by Sevilla 0-2 at La Romareda —being the only team that had won a single match at that time— with which there were more and more doubts about the continuity of Víctor Muñoz leading the team

In the quarterfinals, their rival was Ronaldinho's Barça. In the first leg, played on January 26 at the Blanquillo stadium, Zaragoza defeated the Catalan team 4-2, breaking their 18-game winning streak. In the second leg, the Aragonese team lost 2-1.

In the semifinals, on February 8, 2006, Zaragoza beat Real Madrid 6-1, on a night where Diego Milito scored 4 goals and Ewerthon the other two. After the match, Íker Casillas appealed to the match back to the "spirit of Juanito", but Zaragoza qualified for the final after losing 4-0 at the Bernabéu -another goal would have eliminated him-.

On April 12, 2006, the blanquillo team played their eleventh Copa del Rey final against RCD Español at the Santiago Bernabéu. But he could not raise his seventh cup as the Catalan team defeated him 4-1.

2006/07: Víctor returns, Aimar arrives and the most sinister era in the club's history begins

Diego Milito.

Andrés D'Alessandro.

On May 26, 2006, then-president Alfonso Soláns sold his majority shareholding package to the Soriano businessman Agapito Iglesias, who, with the help of a checkbook, wanted the club to be one of the leading teams in the League. However, the presidency was occupied by the then Minister of Economy of the Government of Aragon, Eduardo Bandrés —who came to have an annual salary of 400,000 Euros—.

The bench was occupied again, 9 years later, by Víctor Fernández. That summer, the star signing was Pablo Aimar, who brought together more than 4,000 fans on the day of his presentation at the Blanquillo stadium, whom he Juanfran, Diogo and Sergio Fernández would accompany. Andrés D'Alessandro and Gerard Piqué arrived on loan.

Since the seventh day of the 2006/07 League, the Aragonese team has never dropped below the top six, managing for the eleventh time in its history via the League to qualify for Europe (specifically the extinct UEFA Cup). In this campaign (2006/07) it should be noted that Diego Milito was two goals away from drawing with the pichichi: Real Madrid player Ruud van Nistelrooy —25 goals—, in addition the Argentine striker would be the protagonist for being the author of the goal that gave the blanquillos victory 1-0 against Atlético de Madrid, on the day the club celebrated its 75th anniversary (March 18, 2007).

After this season, it would begin the darkest time in the history of the club with the Duo Bandrés-Agapito—which during its eight seasons brought players, had 10 coaches and descended to the team to Second on two occasions—which turned to a serious, beloved and respected institution, on a team with the sunk reputation as it was implicated in the footing of a match with the Levante, caused an unprecedented social fracture of 107 million

2007/08: A Champions team that dropped to Second Division

The following season, in a year 2007 in which the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Aragonese club was celebrated — various events were organized to celebrate it, highlighting the commemorative exhibition that was held at the Palacio de Sástago in Zaragoza from October to December— and in the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of La Romareda, it had the most expensive squad in the history of the institution with players of the stature of Andrés D'Alessandro, Pablo Aimar, Sergio García, Diego Milito and the incorporations in that summer market of Oliveira, Gabi, Roberto Ayala and Matuzalém.

The league season begins with Víctor Fernández in charge of the team and with the great aspiration of qualifying for the first time in the club's history to the Champions League, but the team is relegated to the Second Division, in a season where they reached being four coaches on the bench (Fernández, Garitano, Irureta and Manolo Villanova) and with failures such as the elimination in the first phase of UEFA against Aris de Thessaloniki or only winning a single away game in the League.

2008/09: Return to the All-Star League with the flashes of Ander Herrera

Brazilian Ewerthon scored 28 goals in the Second Division 2008/09.

Three days later, Miguel Pardeza resigned as sports director

"I leave with a calm, sad and clean conscience"

Miguel Pardeza 20 May 2008

Zaragoza spent a single season (2008/09) in the hell of Segunda, since they achieved promotion on June 13, at La Romareda after beating Córdoba 3-1.

The 2010s

2010 (1): The miracle occurred in the winter market

Ander Herrera another great pearl of the zaragocist quarry at his stage as a Manchester United player.

On December 12, after losing at home against Athletic Club by 1-2 on matchday number 12 and therefore occupying relegation places for the first time, Marcelino García Toral was dismissed. The Asturian coach was replaced by José Aurelio Gay, in what at first was going to be provisional, but who was finally the tenant of the bench until the end of the season. However, his debut could not have been worse, as the team was defeated 6-0 at the Bernabéu. On the 28th of that same month, it was announced that the "hero of Paris" Nayim would be the second coach. Two days later, the team's president, E. Bandrés resigned and Agapito Iglesias took the reins of the presidency, becoming the entity's 28th president. Zaragoza revolutionized the European winter market by bringing 7 new players to the squad, which were: Roberto, Jarošík, Contini, Edmílson, Eliseu, Colunga and Suazo. On matchday 19, Zaragoza was in nineteenth position with only 14 points. The numbers did not invite optimism since in "the halfway point of the League" the Zaragocistas had only won 3 games, tied 5 and lost 11 games. The scale of goals conceded and scored was not very encouraging either, 20 goals for 41 against. In the second round the results were improved, and the numbers harvested as well. They added 26 points, achieving victory in 7 games, drawing in another 5 and none of the three points were added in six games. However, their permanence was sealed in Jerez, on the penultimate day despite being defeated 3-2. The winter signings were essential to remain in the First Division.

2010/11: The arrival of Vasco Aguirre

At the start of the 2010/11 season, José Aurelio Gay and Nayim continued in charge as assistant coach, but due to poor results -7 points in 11 games- the technical team was dismissed by the board of directors and would take his position the Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who together with Manuel Vidrio as second, carried out a second round of merit, where 28 points were achieved, with notable results such as the 4-0 win against Valencia CF, and the victory for the fourth time in Zaragocista history to Real Madrid in their stadium. Salvation occurred on the last day, in a memorable match against Levante in the City of Valencia, which saw the largest displacement in the history of football in Spain for a match league, where more than 11,000 Zaragocistas attended. This party is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor for an alleged rigging. A double by captain Gabi -who would also be the team's top scorer this season- gave the team a 1-2 victory and their permanence in the First Division, condemning Deportivo de La Coruña to relegation. Supposedly, the Levante players received 965,000 euros for letting themselves win. of both teams (some as defendants) who intervened in the match.

2011/12: "The Miracle#34; by Jimenez

Acknowledgement of the staff at the end of the match between Granada CF and Real Zaragoza in La Romareda (Temporada 2011/12).

Once again on the last day the blanquillo team achieved permanence, repeating the feat in the last league match against Getafe CF, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez which was filled by the fans of Real Zaragoza, once again beating the record in displacement league, with 13,000 blanquillos in the stands. The match ended with a zero-goal victory to two for the visitors, and goals from Apoño from a penalty and Postiga. Manolo Jiménez's team would manage to remain in extremis in the top flight for the third time in a row. Zaragoza, who depended on themselves to achieve the miracle, when facing two direct rivals for relegation on the last day such as Rayo and Granada CF, changed the position in the qualifying table for Villareal CF, who due to a goal de Falcao del Atlético in El Madrigal sent the Castellón club to the Second Division. After an exceptional second round, Manolo Jiménez, replacing the dismissed Aguirre -who left the team 12 points from permanence- the Andalusian coach would get 33 points in 22 games and save a team that was relegated days ago.

The Infamous Beast Decade: 2013-2023

2012/13: Third decline in eleven years

Celebration of the goal of Hélder Postiga against the Athletic Club in La Romareda (Temporada 2012/13).

After dealing with relegation throughout the second round and for four consecutive years in general, since its return to the First Division in 2009, its second relegation in the seven years in which its largest shareholder Agapito Iglesias has been in charge. Despite having options to save themselves in the last games of the season, as happened in the previous three years that they managed to maintain the category, the defeat at home against Atlético by 1-3 -repeating the bad image of the club in their own stadium- and Celta's triumph against RCD Español leave the team in the Second Division, also bottom when Mallorca won their match against Valladolid in the final day.

Alignments of Real Zaragoza and RCD Mallorca keeping a minute of silence in memory of the deceased in labor accidents for World Day of Safety and Health at Work, before facing in La Romareda (Temporada 2012/13).

The bad run of the blanquillo team during the second half of the championship meant that, in the last day, they did not depend on themselves to save the category. Although two wins against Mallorca (3-2) and Rayo (3-0) at La Romareda brought the chances of avoiding relegation for the fourth consecutive year in the final days of the season closer, a new defeat (1-2), this time, at home, against Athletic Club in the last minutes, and a win (4-0) received by Betis at the Benito Villamarín, made the options depend on their own performance in the last game of the competition against Atlético de Madrid vanished again, having to lead Deportivo de La Coruña and Celta de Vigo by at least one point for having lost goal difference against the team from Vigo.

A disastrous runoff. The bad results were chained, and even Zaragoza's own negative records were equaled, such as the maximum number of games (15) without winning, and being the worst local in the season, losing more than half of the games in its stadium. getting only 12 points in the entire second round of the competition, the team was left as red lantern, with a total of 34 points in 38 games, three points even less than when they were relegated, also as bottom team, in the 2001/02 season.

In the Second Division, the club will have to assume much more complicated debt management, due to much lower box office and television revenues.

2013/14: Another year in Segunda, and the march of Agapito

Paco Herrera was chosen to lead the team in Segunda. On June 19, his transfer to Real Zaragoza for the 2013/14 season became official. On March 17, he was dismissed from his position due to the irregularity of the results. He is replaced by Víctor Muñoz, who fails to improve sports management, and the team ends up far from the promotion positions, ensuring its permanence with only a week's advantage.

This season there is a large drop in the number of season ticket holders, mainly due to the price of season tickets and discontent with the club, both institutionally and sportingly.

In the institutional panorama, the board of directors is partially renewed with the incorporation of Jesús García Pitarch as general director, the former Blanquillo players Moisés in the technical secretariat, and José Ignacio Soler as director of the youth academy, and Jordi Bruixola as director of communication. In addition, Luis Carlos Cuartero, Paco Checa and José Guerra continue as directors, as well as the maximum owner Agapito Iglesias in his position as CEO, and Fernando Molinos in the presidency of the entity.

At the end of the season, all of the directors and positions mentioned would leave the institution when the shareholding change occurred, except (a priori) the directors Checa, Guerra and Cuartero.

Zaragoza 2032 Foundation

Finally, on July 24, 2014, the shares sold to the group of Aragonese businessmen returned to the hands of Agapito Iglesias, who, with one day to go before a decisive meeting with the Tax Agency, sold 72% of said shares to the Zaragoza 2032 Foundation chaired by Christian Lapetra, donating another 18% to the same foundation in order to allocate it to the club's season ticket holders and shareholders, as the owner and largest shareholder of Real Zaragoza until then cited in his statement.

2014/15: At the gates of promotion and another year in the Second Division

Thus, the season begins to hit the ground running for Real Zaragoza, which, led by the new sports director Martín González, will have to undertake new signings in the last weeks of the term, with free and loaned players, due to the LaLiga restriction that would impose a maximum budget and professional records, specifically eighteen, having to register players like Diego Rico or Álvaro Tierno in the subsidiary, even though they were really first-team players. High-performing footballers arrive, such as Mario Abrante, Eldin Hadžić, Jaime Romero, Pedro Sánchez, Ruiz de Galarreta and Borja Bastón (the top scorer for Real Zaragoza and second in the Liga Adelante), and others who, as the days go by, They also discover good additions such as Bono and Vullnet Basha. In addition to the preseason redone with the few remaining first-team players, Víctor Muñoz had to use players from the subsidiary and youth teams, a quarry from which the current Zaragoza pearl will emerge and the best player of the season for many, such as Jesús. Vallejo.

In a rather irregular season in which the team was not placed in the direct promotion positions for a single day, it would become increasingly clear that the objective of this team would be to get into the play positions -off. Víctor Muñoz was dismissed in the first third of the season, replacing him with Ranko Popović, a Serbian coach unknown to the white fans but who managed to get a good performance out of some of the aforementioned footballers. Finally, participation in the play-offs was ensured on the last day, obtaining sixth place, a hard fight until the last moment with Ponferradina. After an embarrassing start in the play-off semifinal at La Romareda against Girona FC that endorsed a 3-0 loss that was difficult to overcome in the second leg, against all odds, Real Zaragoza recovered their starting goalkeeper in the final part of Bono, who inexplicably met Morocco in the first leg, contributed in an essential way to turning the tie around with a formidable 1-4. The play-off final would be played against Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, achieving a good result in the first leg played again at La Romareda with a 3-1 victory, which in the hope of many placed the whites practically once again in the elite. However, a very mediocre game in Gran Canaria, with the Canaries focused on the comeback, left Real Zaragoza just 7 minutes behind the First Division by conceding the final 2-0 that put them off promotion.

2015/16: Winter revolution and third year in Segunda

After the hard setback of the previous campaign, Zaragoza begins the 2015/2016 season with many new names such as Marc Bertrán, Cezary Wilk, Manu Herrera, Ángel Luis Rodríguez Díaz, Alfredo Ortuño, Erik Morán, among others, to try again direct promotion to the First Division. Jesús Vallejo is also on loan from Real Madrid, who was bought by this team for 5,100,000 euros, which allows Zaragoza to have a better margin of maneuver when it comes to signing. This, together with the popularity of the Maño team and the ability of Martín González, make Zaragoza have a team to climb, becoming considered the best in the Second Division, despite the great restrictions imposed by the National Professional Football League.

The team starts the campaign very irregularly, alternating their positions from 7th to 18th, until reaching the end of the first half of the season, they put in some meritorious performances and are placed at the top of the table. table, becoming 2nd, firmly believing in direct promotion; but as the season progresses and the midpoint of the season draws away, Zaragoza performs at a much worse level than previously shown, falling several positions in the table and having a points deficit with direct promotion and the important playoffs. In the midst of a crisis and falling significantly down the table, the Zaragoza management dismissed Ranko Popović and Martín González, replacing them with Lluís Carreras and Narcís Julià respectively. This second reformed the team in the winter market, rescinding the contract with Mario Abrante and Aria Hasegawa, rescinding the loan with Alfredo Ortuño and loaning Jorge Luis Díaz. At the same time, it brings in unknown but quality players, such as Juan Culio, Alberto Guitián, Javi Ros or the very young Cameroonian striker, Jean Marie Dongou. They replace the departed and the injured, which were many, including long-term starters Jaime Romero and Cezary Wilk, and offer a very different role to that of the previous team. Along with Lluis Carreras' possession strategy, Zaragoza is climbing the table, defeating rivals of great importance and making La Romareda an impregnable fortress. Thus, Zaragoza settles in the playoffs, close to direct promotion (3 points) just 7 days from the end. However, a 6-2 defeat against Llagostera on the last day condemned the team to not being able to play the promotion play-offs, remaining in eighth position in the Second Division, equal on points with Osasuna and Alcorcón but with the worst goal average of the three.

2016/17: Zaragoza's worst season in Segunda in 70 years

Alberto Zapater, in his return to La Romareda, on the day of his presentation, over 5,000 spectators.

After Luis Milla, who would only last eleven games on the Zaragoza bench, Raül Agné was sacked on matchday number 30, after the defeat against Sevilla Atlético. César Láinez would take the team three points from relegation, and would achieve permanence in the penultimate day of the league. On the other hand, the calendar year of 2017 was also the worst in history, with only four games won out of twenty played.

The 2020s

2020 (1): The COVID-19 pandemic

On March 8, 2020, on matchday 31, the Maño team beat Málaga 0-1 and placed second in the standings, one point behind the leader and 5 behind third place. The following week, the COVID-19 pandemic began to advance in Spain. As different European countries were registering cases of contagion and deaths, sports organizations began to become aware of the problem. As of March 10, the League matches will be played behind closed doors (without an audience) to stop the spread of the pandemic. Concern and infections did not cease, and there were cases in soccer players and managers of various clubs. Given the panorama, La Liga decided to suspend the competition on March 12 pending new events, as UEFA had already done with the Champions League and the Europa League, and CONI and FIGC with the Italian championship, to cite cases of similar magnitude. This suspension, initially for two days, was later extended indefinitely on March 23, resuming on June 13, in a match against Alcorcón at La Romareda, in which the white team lost 3-1.

From that match on, Real Zaragoza became the second worst team to return to the competition, the most thrashed in the Second Division in this period —22 goals in 10 games— and the first to lose five consecutive games at La Romareda in the club's history. In their last league game, they beat Ponferradina 2-1 at home, finishing third in the standings. But on that last day there was another stoppage due to a COVID-19 contagion at Deportivo-Fuenlabrada that extended the season for another month. Luis Suárez, the team's top scorer and the emblem of the club this year, returned to Watford and left an empty lead in which Javi Puado was not present (the team's other defensive reference) in a playoffs where Elche eliminated the white team by 0 -1. A goal from Nino at the end of the second leg at La Romareda, on one of the few occasions for the Elche team in the match.

2020-22: JIM's stage

The new and eighth season in the Second Division (2020/21) began with Rubén Baraja on the bench (the eleventh since the arrival of Fundación 2032 in the summer of 2014) and without an audience in the stadiums.

The coach from Valladolid is dismissed after directing the club from the bench in ten games with a devastating balance —only 10 points were added— and is replaced by Iván Martínez, coach of Zaragoza B, but his results were just as poor —they managed to 3 points out of 24 in play—although an improvement was noted in the team's attitude despite the poor quality of the squad. The quarry took center stage, players who later have been very important such as Ivan Azón, Francho or Francés were the soul in the following season of the León team. The arrival of Juan Ignacio Martínez JIM (December 14) occurred when the Maño team added eleven points out of a possible 54 on the field (although he had 13 in the table thanks to the improper alignment of Alcorcón) and after the unfortunate dismissal of the sports director, Lalo Arantegui (December 3), who was replaced by Miguel Torrecilla.. With the arrival of the coach from Alicante, the Maño team achieved four wins, a draw and a defeat in six league games. The only positive news of this fateful season was that fourteen months and 433 days later the public returned to the blanquillo fiefdom , about 500 people to witness the match between Deportivo Aragón and Barbastro of the Third Division.

The 2021/22 season is full of ups and downs in which the Aragonese team fell far short of the goal that was set in summer. The start of the league was not good in terms of results, since the feelings were positive, except in front of goal. The lack of goals for the white forwards was joined by a streak of 9 consecutive matchdays drawing, the club's all-time record. After finding victory again and knocking down Éibar in the Romareda, the team finished the first round in the bottom half of the table. In winter a revolution came with the departure of important players like Eguaras or Igbekeme and the almost unprecedented Javi Ros and Clemente. In his place came Jaume Grau, Eugeni and Sabin Merino. The start of the top 2 was really positive and the playoff pipe dream seemed to be getting closer. At that moment the figure of Iván Azón emerged, who became the main offensive weapon of the JIM team. But after a good run, some heart problems for Jaume Grau and injuries to Francho and Petrovic left Zaragoza in the draw, returning the defeats. Finally, JIM's team managed to save the season, finishing in 10th place and with 12 victories, after a season in which the quarry was once again the highlight of the blanquillo team.

Fifteen years after the 2006/07 season, the white team has either been in the silver category or struggling not to descend.

2022-23: Sale of the Club

The numerous protests carried out by the fans the previous season and the wear and tear of the employers forced the sale of the club's shares by César Alierta. On May 24, 2022, the sale of Real Zaragoza to several American businessmen and investors becomes official. This investment group is headed by Jorge Más Santos (new president of the entity), also a shareholder of the Inter Miami club of Major League Soccer.

The company that owns the majority shareholding of the club will become Gloval Tavira, so that the owners of Real Zaragoza for all purposes will be Pablo Jiménez de Parga, director of Atlético de Madrid, and Joseph Oughourlian, owner of Racing Club de Lens and president of Grupo PRISA. Among the minority shareholders we find the president of the club, Jorge Más Santos, and Mark Affolter and Mike Miller, from the Ares Management group.

Among the new directors of the club, other figures stand out such as Mariano Aguilar, representative of soccer players, or Gustavo Serpa, owner of the Millionaires Football Club of Colombia, through the company Amber Capital, whose founder is Joseph Oughourlian.

In this new stage, Raúl Sanllehí is appointed CEO of the entity. Raúl previously worked in other clubs such as F.C. Barcelona or Arsenal F.C.. Miguel Torrecilla is renewed for a season as sports director and coach Juan Carlos Carcedo is signed to take the reins of the team. Juan Carlos has extensive experience as Unai Emery's assistant coach and comes from U. D. Ibiza. The first milestone of this new work team was the renewal of several homegrown players, including Alejandro Francés, Iván Azón, Francho Serrano and Marc Aguado.

Due to the involvement of all these companies, a network of synergies is created, through which Real Zaragoza obtains a preferential position for obtaining soccer players from clubs with shared ownership. An example is the incorporation of Giuliano Simeone or Víctor Mollejo, from Atlético de Madrid.

Shield

The club's shield is inspired by the city's.

On March 26, 2007, Real Zaragoza presented a new commemorative shield for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the club's foundation. One year later, in July 2008, the commemorative shield of the 75th Anniversary, with some tweaks, was adopted as the new shield of Real Zaragoza. This fact generated controversy, since the change of shield was rejected by a large part of the Zaragoza fans. As a measure to definitively settle this controversy, the club called a referendum during the season ticket campaign for the 2011-2012 season, in which the subscribers would decide if the team would retake the previous shield, which dated from the 1990s, or keep the new one. Voting closed on September 18, after finishing the match on the fourth day of league. A total of 7,739 Zaragoza subscribers of the 23,309 who had the right to vote participated in said vote, among which, a total of 6,951 subscribers (89.1%) opted for the coat of arms prior to the 75th anniversary, while only 788 subscribers (10.9%) voted to maintain the new one. This forceful result reflects the popular opposition that the new emblem had had since its establishment.

The chosen shield began to appear on the club's website from the day after the consultation was completed, being progressively incorporated until the beginning of the 2012-2013 season, in which it already appears on sports kits.

First shield with crown wall and gualdinegros ribs (1932-41). Royal crown adoption and chromatic adjustments to the city (1951-61).

Clothing

For almost all of its history, Zaragoza has worn a white shirt, blue shorts and white socks as its starting kit. These colors were chosen by the founders of the club coinciding with the blue and white of the Aragonese Football Federation, as a symbol and identity of the Aragon team. For them they are known as "the blanquillos". As for the alternative or substitute uniforms, variations have been used between the so-called "wasp", alluding to one of the teams that founded the club, the Iberia Sport Club, with a Gualdinegra shirt and black pants; while other years a "tomato" uniform was used —in reference to the other original club, Zaragoza Club Deportivo—, with a red shirt and blue pants.

Since 2021 the sponsor is Green Botanic Pharmacie and the uniforms are made up of the classic colors and designs that the team has been using in recent years, run by the sports brand Adidas:

• Uniform holder: white shirt with details and ribs in blue, blue trousers with white details corresponding to the sports brand, and white stockings with details in blue.
• Alternative uniform: black sleeve jersey, black pants with white details, and black stockings with yellow details. Homenajea a la tradicional indumentaria avispa del dicho Iberia.
• Third uniform: t-shirt and tomato red pants with details and ribs in yellow, and yellow stockings with red details. It is inspired by the historic uniform of the Zaragoza of 1925 and the Stadium, combining the colors of Aragon in homage to its flag.

First

see evolution

Actual

Infrastructure

Stadium

North Grade of La Romareda.

The La Romareda stadium was inaugurated with a match between Real Zaragoza and Club Atlético Osasuna on September 8, 1957, under the presidency of Cesáreo Alierta. The result of the match was 4-3 in favor of the locals, with goals from Ramón Vila —twice and author of the first goal—, Wilson Jones and Joaquín Murillo, and José Luis Areta, Sabino Andonegui and José Glaría for the visitors. The capacity at the time was 32,416 spectators, 16,000 of them seated.

The field underwent various reforms in 1977, when the new north and south covered stands were built, expanding to hold 43,524 spectators; while in 1982 —with a view to the 1982 World Cup to be held in Spain— the general covers for the seated public were built, which is why its capacity was reduced to 39,900 spectators. It was also a sub-venue for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. The last remodeling works were carried out in 1994 to adapt it to the UEFA regulations that require all seats to be seated —without people standing—, leaving the current 34,596 localities.

On February 1, 2008, four of the five municipal political groups of the city announced an agreement to build the new field in an area close to the third municipal beltway, the San José neighborhood, next to the Príncipe Felipe Pavilion and the future suburban station of Miraflores. On July 29, Joaquín Sicilia from Aragon was appointed to design the so-called New San José stadium, which would have a capacity of 43,000 spectators —with the possibility of expanding it to 50,000—. With an initial cost of 103.5 million euros —according to City Council calculations—, the construction projected for mid-2009 and completed in 24 months did not take place. In February 2011, its postponement sine die was announced due to the economic crisis in the country and the debts that the City Council and club had at that time.

In January 2012, Madrid's Bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, in which Zaragoza was designated as a sub-venue, could have unblocked the works of the future stadium, so a year later the City Council studied a comprehensive reform of the La Romareda stadium to replace the new project. Budgeted between 19 and 25 million euros and with the aim of being an Olympic sub-venue, the Olympic Committee finally designated Tokyo as the venue,

Faced with the difficulties of moving forward with the project, in September and after the defeat of Madrid's candidacy, the then municipal sports manager, Roberto Fernández, opted not to put aside the remodeling of the Zaragoza field, but to take advantage of "make a decision for the next 6 or 7 years" and undertake "a comprehensive reform that could cost between 10 and 15 million euros".

Finally, in 2020 the idea of the necessary remodeling or new project was resumed. Budgeted between 70 and 90 million euros to start in 2021, this time it was an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2, a pandemic global virus that reached Europe from Asia that caused infections, deaths and a strong economic setback, which prevented the matter from being undertaken. Again paralyzed sine die by the health crisis with economic repercussions —and that the team fails to return to the highest category— they did not augur a good future in this regard.

"Zaragoza has a privileged location, a population and services to consider to house the headquarters. No one should doubt that in 2030 or before he will have a stadium to host an event of this magnitude”.

Manuel Zalba. Madrid, July 27, 2021.

Furthermore, after a series of attempts to get the Spanish Soccer Team to play a match at the stadium, the RFEF chose the stadium to host the friendly match between Spain and Switzerland on September 24, 2022, although for this, works had to be carried out in the stadium. On April 7, the mayor of Zaragoza Jorge Azcón confirmed imminent works, so that 19 years later the Romareda stadium would once again host a national match.

Club details

For statistical details of the club see Real Zaragoza Statistics

Denominations

During its history, the entity has seen how its name varied due to various circumstances up to the current one of Real Zaragoza, in force since 1992. The club was founded under the name of Zaragoza Foot-ball Club, in honor of one of the clubs original, and was formally made official in 1932.

The following are the different denominations that the club has had during its history:

• Zaragoza Foot-ball Club: (1932-1941) Regularization of the club.
• Zaragoza Club of Football: (1941-1951) After the establishment of the Dictatorship of Francisco Franco, the Castroization of Anglicisms is produced.
• Real Zaragoza Club Deportivo: (1951-1992) With the rise to the First Division the name changes in honor of the Zaragoza Sports Club (surrected from the merger of the Royal Athletic Society Stadium and the first Zaragoza Foot-Ball Club.
• Real Zaragoza, S. A. D.: (1992-Act.) Simplification of the name and conversion of the entity into an anonymous sports company.

Honours of Prizes

For more details, consult Palmarés del Real Zaragoza

Recopa de Europa del Real Zaragoza (1994-95).

Real Zaragoza has accumulated numerous national and international trophies in its almost ninety years of history. Notable among them due to their importance and internationally are a European Cup Winners' Cup —the greatest achievement in the club's history— and a Cities Cup at the Fair. They are followed by six Spanish Cup Championships and one Super Cup for a total of nine top-level titles. His record is completed with three lower division league championships and one for amateurs, as well as a Joint Trophy in the regional championships.

It is one of the fourteen Spanish clubs that have won the aforementioned Spanish Cup —sixth in the list of winners of the trophy— which gives it the right to be considered one of the historical clubs of the competition. He has played thirteen seasons in UEFA competitions, eight in the UEFA Cup —184th in its historical ranking with a round of 16 as the best participation—, and five in the extinct European Cup Winners' Cup in which he is one of the historical champions and ninth in their historical classification. His debut in UEFA competitions occurred in the 1964-65 season, when he was the winner of the Spanish Cup, where he was eliminated in the semifinals by West Ham United Football Club English, champion from the competition three weeks later.

It was not until thirty years later that he was proclaimed the winner thanks to a historic goal by the Spanish Mohamed Ali Amar Nayim from forty meters that surprised the rival goalkeeper of Arsenal Football Club. The goal came one minute from the end of extra time, that is, at 119, after having finished with a tie at one goal at the end of regulation time. The goal from Zaragoza was the work of Juan Eduardo Esnáider, one of the pillars of that team that scored 8 goals in 9 games in that edition.

As for the highest club competition in Spain, the Primera División, the Maño team is one of its historical members despite not playing in it since 2013. Even so, it occupies ninth place in its historical classification with a runner-up in 1975 as the best participation, and four third places. Despite these qualifications, they have never played in the highest continental competition, the UEFA Champions League —formerly the European Cup—, since on the date of said classifications the regulations access was only reserved for the league champion teams. In the 1999-2000 season he could have achieved his first participation —then the number of contenders for Spain expanded—, having finished fourth in the domestic championship, but his place was awarded to Real Madrid Club de Fútbol —fifth place— for being the current champion of the tournament and thus defending the title.

Note: in bold current competitions.

National titles (7)

National competition	Titles	Subcamponatos
First Division of Spain (0)		1974-1975. (1)
King’s Cup (6)	1963-1964, 1965-1966, 1985-1986, 1993-1994, 2000-2001, 2003-2004.	1962-1963, 1964-1965, 1975-1976, 1992-1993, 2005-2006. (5)
Supercopa de España (1)	2004.	1994, 2001. (2)
Second Division of Spain (1)	1977-1978.	1935-1936, 1941-1942, 1950-1951, 2002-2003, 2008-2009. (5)
Third Division of Spain (2)	1932-1933, 1933-1934.	1948-1949. (1)
Spanish Amateur Championship (1)	1940-1941.	1935-1936. (1)

International Tournaments (2)

International competition	Titles	Subcamponatos
Coup Europe (1)	1994-1995.
Cities Cup in Fair (1)	1963-1964.	1965-1966. (1)
European Super Cup (0)		1995. (1)

Regional tournaments (1)

Regional competition	Titles	Subcamponatos
Trofeo Mancomunado Guipúzcoa-Navarra-Aragón (1)	1939-1940.
Trofeo Mancomunado Castilla-Aragón (0)		1935-1936. (1)

On the other hand, the Aragon Regional Championship was not played by the club since it had not been founded on the date, and when it did, it was dissolved to enter its different clubs from other championships. regional.

Trajectory

For more details, consult Trayectoria del Real Zaragoza

Note: In bold active competitions.

From the foundation of the club to the present (1936/39, interruption due to the Spanish Civil War):

Sports organization chart

Players

Throughout the club's history, a total of 171 foreign soccer players have been part of the club, among the more than 800 that the entity has had in its history.

Template

The origin of the players indicates the previous club that owned the player's rights, despite the fact that he comes from another club on loan, if he already belongs to Real Zaragoza.

Players	Technical body		More used tactical scheme
N.o Nac. Pass. Pos. Name Age Eq. provenance Cont. INT. Porteros 1 Argentina! 0BY Cristian Alvarez 37 years No equipment 2024 Absolute 13 Spain! 0BY Alvaro Raton 30 years quarry 2023 35 Spain! 0BY Dani Rebollolo 23 years Sports Betis 2023 Defense 2 Colombia! 1DEF Gabriel Fuentes 26 years Junior of Barranquilla 2023 3 Portugal! 1DEF Jair Amador 33 years Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. 2025 6 Spain! 1DEF Alexander 20 years quarry 2025 Sub-21 15 Bolivia! 1DEF Jairo Quinteros 22 years Inter de Miami 2024 Absolute 17 Spain! 1DEF Carlos Nieto 27 years quarry 2024 Sub-19 18 Spain! 1DEF Fran Gámez 31 years R. C. D. Mallorca 2024 22 Spain! 1DEF Carlos Vigaray 28 years Deportivo Alavés 2023 24 Spain! 1DEF Lluís López 26 years R. C. D. Espanyol 2023 Sub-19 27 Spain! 1DEF Marcos Luna 20 years quarry 2026 Campers 5 Spain! 2MED Jaume Grau 26 years C. A. Osasuna 2025 8 Spain! 2MED Eugeni Valderrama 28 years F. C. Arouca 2024 10 Spain! 2MED Sergio Bermejo 25 years R.C. Vigo Celt "B" 2025 11 Argentina! 2MED Valentine's Day 27 years U. D. Almería 2023 12 Spain! 2MED Gaizka Larrazabal 25 years Athletic Club 2023 14 Spain! 2MED Francho Serrano 21 years quarry 2025 Sub-21 16 Chile! 2MED Tomás Alarcón 24 years Cadiz C. F. 2023 Absolute 21 Spain! 2MED Alberto Zapater 37 years No equipment 2023 Sub-21 23 Spain! 2MED Manu Molina 31 years U. D. Ibiza 2024 Delanteros 4 Cape Verde! 3OF THE Tiago Dias, Baby. 32 years Rayo Vallecano 2023 Absolute 7 Spain! 3OF THE Miguel Puche 22 years quarry 2025 9 Spain! 3OF THE Iván Azón 20 years quarry 2025 Sub-21 19 Senegal! 3OF THE Makhtar Gueye 25 years K.V. Oostende 2023 20 Argentina! 3OF THE Giuliano Simeone 20 years Atletico de Madrid 2023 28 Spain! 3OF THE Victor Mollejo 22 years Atletico de Madrid 2023 Sub-19 38 Spain! 3OF THE Pau Sans 18 years quarry 2027 Cessions N.o Nac. Pass. Pos. Name N. Age Lost to Cont. INT. Spain! 1DEF Angel López 20 years → C. D. Calahorra 2025 Sub-19 Spain! 2MED Marc Aguado 23 years → F. C. Andorra 2025 Nigeria! 2MED James Igbekeme 27 years → Wisla Krakow 2024 Spain! 3OF THE Marcos Baselga 24 years → C. D. Calahorra 2024 Spain! 3OF THE Luis Carbonell 20 years → C. D. Teruel 2026 Sub-19 Spain! 3OF THE Sabin Merino 31 years → C. A. San Luis 2025	Coach(s) Fran Write Deputy(s) David Generelo Javi Suárez Physical Preparer(s) Julen Masach Coach(s) of porters Mikel Insausti Assistant(s) / Analyst(s) Alex Sosa Delegate(s) Alberto Belsué Physical therapist(s) Michel Roman Doctor(s) Irenaeus of the Martyrs Legend Captain Mission quarry (club-trained) Training (association-trained) European passport Aliens Extracommunity without restriction Lost to the club Granted to another club Discarded / No chip Updated on April 18, 2023 Official web template		4-4-2 ARG! BY 1 DEF 18 DEF 24 DEF 3 DEF 17 MED 14 OF THE 20 MED 5 MED 10 MED 4 OF THE 9 Incorporation 2022-23 Giuliano Simeone ( Atletico de Madrid) Dani Rebollolo ( Betis Deportivo) Victor Mollejo ( Atletico de Madrid) Manu Molina ( U.D. Ibiza) Makhtar Gueye ( K.V. Oostende) Jairo Quinteros ( Inter de Miami) Gabriel Fuentes ( Junior of Barranquilla) Tomás Alarcón ( Cadiz C. F.) Tiago Dias, Baby. ( Rayo Vallecano) Filials with participation Marcos Luna (Debut on 15-10-2022) Dani Rebollolo (Debut on 10-12-2022) Pau Sans (Debut on 11-02-2023)

• Players with dorsals above 25 are, for all purposes, players of the Aragon Sportsman and as such, will be able to match matches with the first and second team. As the LaLiga rules require, the players of the first template will have to carry the dorsals from 1 to 25. From the 26th they will be players of the subsidiary team for the purposes of the first team.
• The teams of the Second Division of Spain are limited to having in the template a maximum of two players without community passport. The list includes only the main nationality of each player, some of the non-European players have dual nationality from some European country or their country has a European non-restriction agreement:
  • Cristian Álvarez has dual Argentine and Spanish nationality.
  • Giuliano Simeone has two Argentine and Spanish nationalities.
  • Valentin Vada has double Argentine and Italian nationality.
  • Jairo Quinteros has dual Bolivian and Spanish nationality.
  • James Igbekeme does not occupy an extra-community chip under the Cotonou Agreement.
  • Makhtar Gueye does not occupy an extra-community chip under the Cotonou Agreement.

Technical staff

The team has had seventy-four coaches. Not all were official or played official competition. The first coach was Elías Sauca, who worked as a coach in the months following the club's founding, but did not play in any official tournament. The Portuguese Felipe dos Santos is the next coach of the club and can be considered the first official coach in history making his debut in the Third Division.

After the dismissal of Ramallets in 1964, the one who was then sports director since 1961 Luis Belló (also continuing as a manager) took the role of coach in the middle of the season; He won the Fairs Cup (former European Cup comparable to the UEFA Cup) and the Generalissimo Cup in the same year. He stayed with the club until 1965 as sports director. Later, replacing Louis Hon, the famous Czechoslovakian coach Ferdinand Daučík led the club from 1965 to 1967 and would win the Spanish Cup in his first season.

In the 1977-78 season, Arsenio Iglesias managed to return Real Zaragoza to the First Division, a category that the club had lost the previous year.

From the eighties, national coaches and several from the city of Zaragoza stand out. Among them Luis Costa, who would win the Copas del Rey in 1986 and later in 2001.

In the nineties, Víctor Fernández would achieve, in addition to being runner-up and champion of the Copa del Rey in 1993 and 1994 respectively, the greatest triumph in the club's history: winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1995 against English Arsenal.

During the 2000s, the Catalan coach Paco Flores was in charge of Real Zaragoza for a little over a season and was able to move up to the team the year after the 2001-02 relegation. Another Aragonese coach who stood out was Víctor Muñoz. He directed the blanquillos for three seasons, during which his team managed to win the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid from the galacticos and the Spanish Super Cup against Valencia.

The years to come did not give the Zaragoza bench any stability, and with Agapito Iglesias as president they have only lasted, to date, one full season, from the beginning to the end, Víctor Fernández in the first season of his second stage (2006-07), and Manolo Jiménez in his second season (2012-13).

Directive

The Board of Directors is made up of the following representations and positions assigned to its members, whose main names are:

• Chairman: Jorge Mas Santos

• Counsellors: Laurence Cook, Gustavo Serpa, Juan Forcén, Emilio Cruz, Mariano Aguilar, Cristina Llop

• Director-General: Raul Sanllehi

• Sports Director: Miguel Torrecilla

• Secretary-General: Cristina Llop

• Marketing and Commercial Director: Carlos Arranz

• Financial Director: Mariano Aured

• Director of Communication: Miguel Gay

Shareholding

The club as a Sports Public Limited Company after the shareholding adjustments in the summer of 2022, has the following shareholders.

Lower Categories

For more details, see Real Zaragoza Base Soccer/Football

Regarding the technical organization chart of the Ciudad Deportiva del Real Zaragoza, the following professionals are currently in charge:

• Sports City Coordinator: Pedro Suñen.

• Director of quarry: Ramon Lozano.

• Coordinator of the Training Football: Espinosa Angel.

• Area of Methodology and Knowledge: José Luis Arjol.

Real Zaragoza's youth academy is currently made up of players from Deportivo Aragón as the first subsidiary, the youth teams Real Zaragoza División de Honor Juvenil and Real Zaragoza National Youth League, and the Cadet, Infantil and Alevín "A" and "B" respectively, who regularly train and compete at the Ciudad Deportiva del Real Zaragoza. The current director of the quarry is Ramón Lozano, and Ángel Espinosa is its coordinator.

During the 2000s, the Club Deportivo Universidad de Zaragoza was the second subsidiary of the team also known as Real Zaragoza "C".

Sports Aragon

Deportivo Aragón is the subsidiary of Real Zaragoza, the senior team in the base football structure of the Maño team, and the last step before the players move to the first team. It was founded in 1958 and currently competes in the Third Division. Its matches are played at the Ciudad Deportiva del Real Zaragoza, with a capacity for 2,500 spectators, or at La Romareda on special occasions.

Other sports sections

Basketball section

Real Zaragoza had in the past a basketball section whose team came to compete on one occasion in the first division of the Spanish Basketball League: it was in the 1960-61 season and the team was classified in eleventh position.

Soccers

Real Zaragoza is the Aragonese team with the largest number of supporters clubs. The total number of supporters clubs formally registered in the Federación de Peñas del Real Zaragoza (without including unregistered supporters clubs, bars or "casas") amounts to 170, with the following territorial distribution:

• Zaragoza capital: 61 farms (including rural neighbourhoods).
• Zaragoza province: 59 peñas (not including those of Zaragoza capital).
• Teruel province: 20 peñas (1 in Teruel capital).
• Huesca province: 17 rocks (no one in Huesca capital).
• Other Spanish Autonomous Communities: 10 peñas (2 in Castilla y León, 2 in the Valencian Community, 1 in Catalonia, 1 in La Rioja, 1 in Navarra, 1 in Castilla-La Mancha, 1 in the Community of Madrid and 1 in Andalusia).
• Other countries: 3 peñas (1 in Costa Rica, 1 in Colombia and 1 in Brazil).
• Total number of peñas170, each of them has its own name and shield.

Rivalries

Their greatest rival is CD Huesca, located in the city of the same name, very close to Zaragoza. They have faced each other in different categories.

Annexes

Filmography

• Documentary TVE (26/11/1969), «Historics of the Balompié - Real Zaragoza» in rtve.es
• Reporting Canal+ (18/05/2009), "Fever Maldini: 'Zaragoza, Champion of the Recopa'" on YouTube
• Documentary Canal+ (07/05/2015), «The Heroes of Paris» on YouTube
• Documentary TVE (07/05/2015), « Vintage Connection - 'Héroes de Paris' in rtve.es
• Documentary Aragón TV (10/05/2015), «La Recopa, 20 years later» on YouTube