Rayo Vallecano

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.

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. 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 quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup, going out only to eventual runners-up Deportivo Alavés; Rayo finished ninth in the previous campaign, but entered the competition via the fair play draw.

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.

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 SD Eibar (1–2 aggregate). The following campaign, the team returned to division two after a four-year absence after a victorious run in the playoffs, disposing of Benidorm CF in the semifinal and Zamora CF in the last game 2–1 on aggregate.

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. 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.

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. 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.

In May 2016, Rayo Vallecano was 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.

Club background

N.B. Affiliate of Club Atlético de Madrid in 1949–50

- Graham Hunter, among other reputable football writers, have often compared Rayo Vallecano's playing style and propensity to concede goals to Spanish attackers played as strikers, to that of Hull City from the English Premier league.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Staff

Notable former players

Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

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, business man 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 102x64m. Additionally, one of the goalends 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.

Hymn

Although most people recognise the supporting songs by ska band Ska-P, Rayo Vallecano has an official hymn played at the stadium in home matches.

Rayo Vallecano always plays

with bravery, courage and nobility.

In every game it gives its heart

and chest and aspire to be the best.

No one can take the triumph from its hand,

when Rayo Vallecano is out to score.

Rayo Vallecano makes a virtue out of its game.

Rayo Vallecano is strength and youth.

To see the clean triumph of your colours

your fans follow you, and don't care where to,

and unanimous trumpet their cheerful voices.

Rayo has the nerve of a champion.

No one can take the triumph from its hand,

when Rayo Vallecano is out to score.

Rayo Vallecano makes a virtue out of its game.

Rayo Vallecano is strength and youth.

Alabi! Alaba!

Rayo Vallecano!

Ra, ra, ra!

Miscellaneous info