Albacete Balompié is a Spanish football team based in

Albacete Albacete (, also , ; ar, ﭐَلبَسِيط, Al-Basīṭ) is a city and municipality in the Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha, and capital of the province of Albacete. Lying in the south-ea ...

, in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. Founded on 5 July 1939, it currently plays in

Segunda División The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commercially known as LaLiga SmartBank for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second professional association football division of the Spanish football league system. Administrated by the Lig ...

, the second tier of Spanish football, holding home matches at ''

Estadio Carlos Belmonte Estadio Carlos Belmonte is a multi-purpose stadium in Albacete, Spain. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Albacete Balompié. History The stadium holds 17,524 and was built in 1960. It replaced the ageing Campo del ...

'', with a capacity of 17,524.

History

This team is from Albacete a city in Castilla-La Mancha. It's been reported in at least four sources that football was first taught in

by John Hulse, an English Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways Company, establishing the foundation of

Locomotoras Albacete The Locomotoras Albacete was a steam locomotive manufacturing company established in the 19th century in the Albacete, Spain. It is best known for its football team, Locomotoras Albacete Balón-Pie, who played a pivotal pioneering role in the amat ...

, after the same-named steam locomotive factory in the city, owned by the Goicoechea family, owners of

Talgo Talgo (officially Patentes Talgo, SAU) is a Spanish manufacturer of intercity, standard, and high-speed passenger trains. Corporate history TALGO, an abbreviation of Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol (English: ''Lightweight articulated tra ...

. Thus, like in Swindon, football in Albacete is originally linked to the railway industry. Hulse introduced the Sheffield Rules in Albacete, and some of the first matches to be reported are against recreational clubs from Murcia (1897), Alcázar de San Juan (1899), and

Villarrobledo Villarrobledo () is a Spanish city and municipality in the province of Albacete, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It's better known for having the world's largest area covered by vineyards (more than 30,000 has., approxima ...

(1899). After years of amateur and regional development of football, it would not appear formally until the end of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

. The club was founded in 1939 under the name Albacete Foot-ball Association, being later changed in an attempt to make it sound "more Spanish". At the

second division In sport, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Following the rise of Premier League style compet ...

in 1985–86, repeating the feat five seasons later. In 1989,

Benito Floro Benito Floro Sanz (born 2 June 1952) is a Spanish football manager. Football career Floro was born in Gijón, Asturias. During his professional career he managed Albacete Balompié (two spells, starting off in 1989 in Segunda División B and le ...

consecutively promoted the club from the third division to

La Liga The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly known simply as Primera División in Spain, and as La Liga in English-speaking countries and officially as LaLiga Santander for sponsorship reasons, stylized as LaLiga, is the men's ...

, overachieving for a seventh place in the first season in the top level. Floro would later coach

Real Madrid Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (, meaning ''Royal Madrid Football Club''), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. Founded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club, the club has traditionally wor ...

, returning to ''Alba'' two seasons later as the club was relegated in 1995–96. After years in the second division facing serious economic and sporting difficulties, Albacete returned to the top flight in the 2002–03 campaign, led by César Ferrando (later of

Atlético Madrid Club Atlético de Madrid, Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, S.A.D. (; meaning "Athletic Club of Madrid"), known simply as Atleti in the Spanish-speaking world and commonly referred to at international level as Atlético Madrid, is a Spanish profess ...

). However, Albacete dropped in 2004–05 after posting just 6 wins from 38 matches, going on to stabilize in the subsequent seasons in the second level. The 2010–11 season brought two coaching changes, with both

Antonio Calderón Antonio Calderón Burgos (born 2 June 1967) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, currently a caretaker manager Challenger Pro League club of Deinze. Over eight seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 215 games ...

and David Vidal (who returned to the club only a few months after leaving) being fired, as Albacete returned to the third division after 21 years. That season the club finished last in Segunda División with only 32 points in 42 matches. On 6 December 2011, Andrés Iniesta – who played for the club in his youth before joining

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

– became the club's major shareholder, donating

€ The euro sign () is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the eurozone and unilaterally adopted by Kosovo and Montenegro. The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. It consists o ...

420,000 to the cash-strapped club. The club managed to reach the round of 16 of the

2011–12 Copa del Rey The 2011–12 Copa del Rey was the 110th staging of the Copa del Rey (including two seasons where two rival editions were played). The competition began on 31 August 2011 and ended on 25 May 2012 with the final, which was held at the Vicente Calde ...

, notably beating Atlético Madrid 3–1 on aggregate. In March 2013, Agustín Lázaro, chief executive officer (CEO) of Andrés Iniesta's winery enterprise, was appointed as Albacete's chairman. In June, Iniesta loaned the club a further €240,000 to cover unpaid wages, thus preventing its administrative relegation to the fourth tier. In 2014, Albacete returned to the Segunda División, but was relegated two seasons later after finishing the

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...

in the 21st position. The club again returned to the Segunda División in the 2016–17 season after winning against

Valencia Mestalla Valencia Club de Fútbol Mestalla, shortened to Valencia Mestalla, is the reserve team of Valencia CF, a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community. Founded in 1944, and currently plays in Segunda Federación – Group ...

in the last round of the promotion play-offs. Albacete finished the 2018–19 season in 4th position of the Segunda División, but then lost to

RCD Mallorca Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, S.A.D. (, ca, Reial Club Deportiu Mallorca , ''Royal Sporting Club Mallorca''), commonly known as Real Mallorca or just Mallorca is a Spanish professional football club based in Palma on the island of Majorca in ...

in the La Liga play-offs and remained in Segunda División for the 2019–20 season. On next season, Albacete finished last in second division and we're relegated to the third division. Thus ending their four-years stay in the second division. Albacete promoted to Segunda in the 2021–22 Primera RFEF season playoffs, by defeating Deportivo de La Coruña in their home turf. The team came back from a 1–0 deficit, winning 1–2 with an overtime goal.

Seasons

Season to season

---- *7 seasons in

*25 seasons in

*1 season in Primera División RFEF *11 seasons in

Segunda División B Segunda División B ( en, Second Division B) was the third tier of the Spanish football league system containing 102 teams divided into five groups, until it was replaced by the new structure in 2021. It was administered by the Royal Spanish Foot ...

*29 seasons in

Tercera División Tercera División ( en, Third Division) was the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system. Founded in 1929, it was below the ''Primera División'' (also known as La Liga), the ''Segunda División'', and the semi-professional ''Segunda Di ...

*9 seasons in Categorías Regionales

Current squad

''The numbers are established according to the official website

an
www.lfp.es
'

Reserve team

Out on loan

Current technical staff

Honours

: (1) 1990–91 *

: (2) 1989–90, 2013–14, 2016–17 *

: (8) 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1981–82 *

promotion: (2) 1990–91, 2002–03 *

promotion: (2) 1984–85, 1989–90

Stadium

The club plays its home matches at the

, which has an all-seated capacity of 17,524. Originally built in 1960, the stadium underwent two major redevelopments, the last being in 1998.

International players

* Óscar Dertycia *

Carlos Roa Carlos Ángel Roa (born 15 August 1969) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the current goalkeeper coach of Greek Super League club AEK Athens. Most of his professional career was spent with Racing A ...

* Andy Bernal *

Vali Gasimov Vali Aydin oglu Gasimov ( az, Vəli Aydın oğlu Qasımov, also spelled Veli Aydin oglu Kasumov; russian: Вели Айдынович Касумов; born 4 October 1968) is an Azerbaijani football coach and a former player who played as a str ...

Ronny Gaspercic Ronald 'Ronny' Louis Gaspercic (born 9 May 1969) is a Belgian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is of Croatian descent. Club career Born in Genk, Gaspercic started his professional career with local K.R.C. Genk, then named FC Wi ...

* Marco Etcheverry * Zago *

Ivaylo Andonov Ivaylo Viktorov Andonov ( bg, Ивайло Викторов Андонов; born 14 August 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Football career After beginning professionally with hometown's PFC Pirin Bl ...

Albert Meyong Albert Meyong Zé (born 19 October 1980), known as Meyong, is a Cameroonian former footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager. He spent most of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 231 matches and ...

Mark González Mark Dennis González Hoffmann (born 10 July 1984) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played top flight football in Chile, Russia, Spain, Brazil and England. He was described by José Mari Bakero, the s ...

* Danny Carvajal * Luis Conejo *

Keylor Navas Keilor Antonio Navas Gamboa (born 15 December 1986), known as Keylor Navas, is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Costa Rica national team. He was named CONCACAF Men's G ...

* Nenad Bjelica *

Ivan Jurić Ivan Jurić (; born 25 August 1975) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of club Torino. Jurić spent most of his playing career, as a midfielder, and his entire managing career in Italy. Playing ca ...

Trésor Kandol Trésor Osmar Kandol (born 30 August 1981) is a Congolese international footballer who plays as a striker for Crawley Wanderers FC. He previously played for Isthmian League Premier Division side Hampton & Richmond Borough, as well as for Ba ...

Javier Balboa Javier Ángel Balboa Osa (born 13 May 1985) is a former professional footballer who played as a winger, most notably for Real Madrid and Benfica. After emerging at Real Madrid's youth system, he could never establish himself in its first t ...

* Rachid Rokki * Moussa Yahaya *

Abass Lawal Abass Muyiwa Lawal (born 13 September 1980) is a Nigerian footballer who played mainly as a right winger. He spent nearly one full decade in Spain, amassing league totals of 127 games and 14 goals for six clubs (only six matches in La Liga). He ...

Rommel Fernández Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez (15 January 1966 – 6 May 1993) was a Panamanian footballer who played as a striker. The second Panamanian to play in Europe, he spent almost his entire professional career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 104 ...

* Nelson Cuevas * Andrés Iniesta * Fernando Morientes *

Cătălin Munteanu Cătălin Munteanu (born 26 January 1979) is a Romanian former professional association football, footballer who played as a central midfielder. Club career Cătălin Munteanu, nicknamed "Cap de Zmeu" ''(Head of Zmeu)'' was born on 26 January 1 ...

Roman Zozulya Roman Vyacheslavovych Zozulya ( uk, Роман В'ячеславович Зозуля, born 17 November 1989) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Rayo Majadahonda. He played in the Ukrainian Premier ...

Joe Bizera Joe Émerson Bizera Bastos (born 17 May 1980 in Artigas, Uruguay, Artigas) is a Uruguayan former football player, who last played for Liverpool F.C. (Montevideo), Liverpool Montevideo. Bizera played for Cagliari Calcio, Cagliari in Italy. In Janu ...

* Darío Delgado *

Nicolás Olivera Andrés Nicolás "Nico" Olivera Olivera (born 30 May 1978) is a Uruguayan former footballer who played as a forward. He started and finished his 20-year professional career with Defensor, going on to collect 500 league appearances mainly in t ...

* Antonio Pacheco * Horacio Peralta *

José Luis Zalazar José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

Famous coaches

Dagoberto Moll Dagoberto Moll Sequeira (born 22 July 1927) is a Uruguayan former professional association football, football player and manager. He is remembered for his part in the "Orquesta Canaro", an attacking line of Deportivo de La Coruña in the 1950s f ...

(1960–61) *

Enrique Orizaola Enrique Orizaola Velázquez (26 March 1922 – 10 June 2013) was a Spanish football player and coach. Playing career Born in Santander, Cantabria, Santander, Orizaola played for Racing de Santander. Coaching career Orizaola coached Gimnástica ...

(1976–78) *

Máximo Hernández Máximo Hernández Sánchez (11 August 1945 – 22 March 2020) was a Spanish footballer who played as a central defender, and a coach. Playing career Born in Madrid, Hernández graduated with Real Madrid's youth setup, and moved to neighbourin ...

(1979–80) *

Ignacio Bergara Ignacio Miguel "Nacho" Bergara de Medina (20 July 1940 – 4 January 2004) was a professional football player and manager. Career Bergara was born in Montevideo and began his playing career with local side Racing Club de Montevideo. Ignacio an ...

(1981–84) *

Julián Rubio Julián Rubio Sánchez (born 28 January 1952) is a Spanish former football midfielder and manager. He appeared in 134 La Liga matches over six seasons (14 goals), mainly in representation of Sevilla. His professional career was closely associat ...

(1984–85) * Pachín (1985–86) * Pepe Carcelén (1988–89) *

(1989) *

(1989–92) *

(1992) * Ginés Meléndez ''(interim)'' (1992) *

Víctor Espárrago Víctor Rodolfo Espárrago Videla (born 6 October 1944 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan football coach and former midfielder. International career He was capped 67 times for the national team between 1966 and 1974. His playing career highlight ...

(1992–94) * Luis Suárez (1994) * Ginés Meléndez ''(interim)'' (1994) *

(1994–96) *

Iñaki Sáez José Ignacio "Iñaki" Sáez Ruiz (born 23 April 1943) is a Spanish former football player and manager. A defender, he spent the vast majority of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, which he later also coached in various levels, a ...

(1996) * Manolo Jiménez (1996) *

Mariano García Remón Mariano García Remón (born 30 September 1950) is a Spanish retired football player and coach. A former goalkeeper, he is best known for his spell at Real Madrid, which he helped to six La Liga and three Copa del Rey trophies. He subsequentl ...

(1996–97) *

Luis Sánchez Duque Luis Sánchez Duque (born 13 November 1956) is a Spanish football manager. Manager career Born in Getafe, Madrid, Sánchez Duque began his managerial career with Getafe CF in 1993, after already representing the club's predecessor as a player ...

(1997) * Ginés Meléndez (1998) * Luigi Maifredi (1998–99) *

(1999–01) *

Paco Herrera Francisco "Paco" Herrera Lorenzo (born 2 December 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and is a manager. His managerial career of over a quarter of a century was spent mostly in Segunda División, where he led 13 ...

(2001–02) *

César Ferrando César Ferrando Jiménez (born 25 July 1959) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder, currently a manager. Playing career Born in Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencian Community, Ferrando started his professional career with loc ...

(2002–04) * José González (2004–05) *

(2005–07) *

Quique Hernández Enrique "Quique" Hernández Martí (born 30 October 1958) is a Spanish football manager. Football career Born in Anna, Valencia, Hernández started managing in his early 20s. For the following twenty years, with the exception of the 1995–9 ...

(2007–08) *

(2008) *

Juan Ignacio Martínez Juan Ignacio Martínez Jiménez (; born 23 June 1964), is a Spanish football coach and former player, who played as a left back, and is a current head coach. Playing career Martínez was born in Alicante. After playing youth football for both ...

(2008–09) *

(2009) *

José Murcia José 'Pepe' Murcia González (born 3 December 1964) is a Spanish association football, football manager (association football), manager who manages Qatari Second Division side Muaither SC. Career Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Murcia never playe ...

(2009) *

(2009–10) * David Vidal (2010) *

(2010–11) * David Vidal (2011) * Mario Simón (2011) * Antonio Gómez (2011–13) * Luis César (2013–16) *

(2016) * José Manuel Aira (2016–17) * Enrique Martín Monreal (2017–18) * Luis Miguel Ramis (2018–20) *

Lucas Alcaraz Luis Lucas Alcaraz González (born 21 June 1966) is a Spanish retired footballer, currently manager of UD Ibiza. In a managerial career of over two decades, he competed in ten La Liga seasons at the helm of Recreativo, Racing de Santander, Gra ...

(2020) * Aritz López Garai (2020–)

References

External links

Official website

Futbolme team profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albacete Football clubs in Castilla–La Mancha Association football clubs established in 1939 1939 establishments in Spain Segunda División clubs Railway association football teams La Liga clubs Primera Federación clubs Sport in Albacete Football clubs in Spain