The Pride of Vallekas

Most signings that have featured in this A-Z guide have been those that worked out, and that's a testament to Rayo's technical management. This is a story of the opposite. He lasted just 16 minutes. Rayo were losing at home to Real Zaragoza 1-0, and Juande Ramos had one substitution left. It was the last throw of the dice - midfielder Jordi Ferrón was taken off for him, a striker. That was his Rayo legacy. Born in Luanda, Portuguese Angola, striker Quinzinho signed with Porto in 1995 from local club Atlético Sport Aviação (ASA). He was sparingly played during his spell at the former club as he was barred by Domingos Paciência first and later Mário Jardel, also being loaned to fellow Primeira Liga sides Leiria and Rio Ave. After a third loan spell to Rayo Vallecano in the latter half of the 1998-99 season, Quinzinho returned to Portugal where he represented in quick succession, always in the top division and still owned by Porto, Farense, Aves and Alverca. In Ja...

Ahead of Barcelona B's visit to Rayo, it made sense to talk about the players who went from Rayo to Barcelona and from Barcelona to Rayo. This, part 1, talks about one of each. Hopefully there is a part 2... Jesús Landáburu was born in Guardo, Province of Palencia. He made his professional debuts at only 17 with Real Valladolid, quickly making an impression with the Segunda División side, his skills, field vision and set piece ability standing out alike. Landáburu made his La Liga debuts with Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano in the 1977–78 campaign: he majorly contributed to the modest team's maintenance of its top flight status during two seasons, after which he signed with league powerhouse FC Barcelona. Landáburu won his first piece of silverware with the Catalans in 1981, the Copa del Rey. However, after two good seasons, he struggled immensely in his last as Barça hired a new coach, German Udo Lattek. Landáburu moved subsequently to Atlético Madrid, being an automa...

After I posted yesterday's piece on Twitter, an interesting conversation with Rayo Herald's Twitter account ensued.... From the Bernabeu to unemployent....My piece on José Carlos and his injury-filled career https://t.co/aWDO4eSIzD pic.twitter.com/cop61HXLCb — Sarthak Kumar (@Vallecanos1924) September 16, 2017 When things were going good he never spent a single second to talk to us (media). Indeed, he does not deserve a single word of support now.. — Rayo Herald (@rayoherald) September 16, 2017 It's true he's quite eccentric. I remember his press conferences especially at AEK were absolutely stunning. — Sarthak Kumar (@Vallecanos1924) September 16, 2017 Recurrently declined to talk here in Vks, regardless of the situation (after training, after scoring twice,..). Why should we care? — Rayo Herald (@rayoherald) September 16, 2017 I understand. But I will always care about every player that comes to Rayo, even if they perform badly or brea...