The Pride of Vallekas

Follow Javier on Twitter here . A bit about yourself and your background My name is Javier Larroda, I was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz and I am 35 years old. I teach English as a second language at a Vocational Training School in Vitoria-Gasteiz. I studied English Studies at the University of the Basque Country as well as the degree of Tourism at the University of Deusto (Bilbao). I have also lived in the United States for a short period of time (New Jersey and Colorado). How long have you been a fan of Alavés and what made you support them in the first place? I have been fan of Alavés since I was a child but I remember that I was not used to follow the games so much. My team was Alavés because my cousin “Santi” (Santiago Martínez) played for the team back in the 90s. Given the transfer windows and the squad that was assembled at the start of the season, is Alavés where you want it to be? What can I say, Alavés will play the ‘Copa del Rey’ final against Barcelona and we will pl...

By the end of next weekend Rayo could still be mathematically in contention for relegation. By the end of next weekend Getafe could solidify their position in the playoff spots.  But by the end of next weekend, Levante could be promoted to La Liga. On the last day of the 2015-16 season, Levante were already down to La Segunda, down 2-0 at Vallekas, down partly due to bad luck, mostly due to mediocrity, down with an away record worse than even Sevilla - the only team that managed to do that - and, in the 31st minute, down a man with injury. Than man, a man who warned he would cry if Levante went down, was 40-year-old captain Juanfran. As he pulled out with a groin injury, he did cry. His final game in professional football was a game where his most sacred team were going down. Both sets of coaches and fans applauded, for that was the end of an era. That was the image which Levante took with them. The only one. That was the image Raimon took with him. The man who proudl...