The beginning of Rayo's glory days (19th December, 2017)

Spanish football is always criticized for being a two horse race. That is a blanket statement - it doesn't capture the competitiveness of the Segunda, the fiery relegation and European spot battles of La Liga, the shocking frequency at which clubs in the lower leagues disappear. But there is one, and only one, context in which I believe that statement - and it's not the one you expect.

The 2007-08 season of women's football was dominated by two teams - Rayo Vallecano and Levante. Before then, Levante had always come in the top 3 since 2000; they had won four league titles and six Copa de la Reina's. In contrast, Rayo Vallecano had only started existing since 2000 and had never been in the top 3, and had reached the semifinal stage in each of the previous three Copa de la Reina's.

It wasn't even close - Levante were flying in the league table, and Rayo were not far behind. But it wasn't just the fact that Rayo were posing a serious challege and running away with Levante from everyone else, it was how they were doing it. Natalia Pablos and Sonia Bermúdez plundered in the goals as Rayo swept aside teams with an attacking brilliance never seen before. They ended up scoring 82 goals in a 26 league season - Natalie ended up top scorer in the league with 24, with Sonia not far behind with 20.

At the end of the league season, Levante ended up with 71 points, and so did Rayo, but Levante won the league title. And while it was a deserved title win - Levante only conceded a paltry 10 goals - Rayo were bitter.

The Copa de la Reina takes place after the league season - the top eight teams in the 16-team league qualify for it - and it was clear that either Rayo or Levante would end up with the trophy in their hands. In fact, both Rayo and Levante won their semifinals with a combined score of 14 to nothing. Hardly a surprise, considering the league had finished with Athletic Bilbao in third place with just 53 points.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. For Rayo, it was served hot, on a sunny day - June 28th - at the Julián Ariza in Torrelodones, Madrid.

The Copa de la Reina final was attended by 1500 people - a large crowd given the times. And the match did not disappoint - Sonia Bermúdez scored in the 45th minute, and Natalia made it two in the 53rd with a goal from the edge of the area. But it was no easy match - as Rayo fans chanted their team, calling them champions, Montse scored for Levante in the 59th minute, as a corner kick led to a loose ball at the far post and Rayo goalkeeper Alicia nervously failed to catch the ball. And four minutes later Mari Paz equalized as Rayo's defense started to look exposed.

But it was an unsung hero that saved the day. Jade came on for Sonia, who had to be substituted due to physical problems, in the 72nd minute, and three minutes later she ran down the left side of the pitch and sent a perfect cross to the middle, where Natalia stung her head and gave Rayo the goal they needed to clinch their first ever title.

Rayo had been denied the double, but the golden age of Rayo Vallecano was just beginning...

Francisco Pérez Pérez - the actual oldest player to have played in Spain (1st November, 2017)

I've always wanted to ask a football player: how much do you love your club? If you see your club go down, what are you willing to put on the line to see them go back up? The notion that "players will come and players will go, but the fans are the club" is one that is sadly true in what has become a money-filled sport. The story of a player sacrificing money and success for his club? That story is rare. That story is beautiful. This is that story. This is the story of a player who loved his club. His local club. It'll be a long time if and when someone beats his record. Francisco Pérez Pérez, also known as Chico, currently holds the record for being the oldest player to play in the Segunda B - 43 years and 93 days is the figure. That's a figure that second place Diego Rodríguez Fernández (41 years and 324 days) falls short of by a year and 134 days. I should also point out that the top 3 list for oldest players to play in any of the top three tier

When three teams offered a 19-year-old an eight year contract (11th October, 2017)

Just how many players can you name who have the following descrption: He is a striker of great quality, and was a great promise of Spanish football, but his bad luck and some injuries denied him the opportunity to recover - he has never played more than one season in the same team. This is the story of a player - a technically and physically excellent striker - who made mistakes and suffered injuries very young and never really recovered. Born in Santa Eulàlia de Ronçana, Barcelona, Iván Peñaranda started his youth career at Granollers. His real formation, however, was in the lower categories of Barcelona, in which he stayed for seven years (1991-98). Playing alongside Xavi Hernández, Gabri and Carles Puyol. He was considered as one of the young players with a huge future within the club. In the summer of 1998, he angered Barcelona by using "change of residence" as an excuse to sign for Mallorca B (he would move there along with his family), where he would play alongs

Who is Raúl Martín Presa, the Mickey Mouse? Part 1. (20th August, 2017)

José María Ruiz-Mateos was the head and main shareholder of Nueva Rumasa - the company that owned Rayo and other companies - mainly specializing in dairy products. (He wasn't the president of Rayo though - his wife, Teresa Rivero, was Rayo's president). In early 2011, the directors announced a debt of over 700 million euros, that it was on the verge of bankruptcy and that staff wouldn't be paid. And the players were visibly angry about it - captain Míchel assured the press that the club would continue fighting on the pitch, but the day after the announcement was made, six key players didn’t attend training. Veteran midfielder José María Movilla spoke on radio station SER about the situation, about the fact that he had only received seven of the last eighteen months of pay, about the fact that there were a few players who couldn't even afford car repairs. When Rayo Vallecano were about to earn promotion to La Liga despite all the odds - the players not being paid,

The Pride of Vallekas

Search This Blog