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Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish Segunda División football club based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas. They play at the 15,000-seater Estadio Teresa Rivero.
[edit] History
One of the perennial yo-yo clubs of Spanish football, Rayo Vallecano spent many years during the 1980s and 1990s moving back and forth between the first and second divisions. Having appeared to consolidate its top flight status with promotion in 1998–99, the team's most successful season came in 2000–01, having a UEFA Cup quartefinals run, going out only to the eventual runners-up Deportivo Alavés (Rayo finished ninth, but UEFA awarded the side a spot for fair play).
Since then, the club fell on hard times, with successive relegations from the first (in 2002–03) and the second levels (2003–2004). In 2005–06, the club hired Míchel, a legend for Real Madrid in the 80's/90's, as team manager.
The club finished the 2006-07 season in second place, in Segunda División B, winning the promotion play-off semifinal, but losing in the final to Eibar (1-2 aggregate). The next season, Rayo returned to the second division after a four-year absence, winning the play-off, disposing of Benidorm CD in the semifinal, and Zamora CF in the last game (2-1 aggregate).
In 2008-09, Rayo finished the season comfortably, and even had chances of promotion during the last month of competition. On the other hand, its women team won the league for the first time.
[edit] Club names
- Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo (May 29, 1924 - November 13, 1947)
- Agrupación Deportiva Rayo Vallecano (November 13, 1947-1995)
- Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (1995-present)
N.B. Affiliate of Club Atlético de Madrid in 1949-50
[edit] Current squad
As of 2 September 2008, according to combined sources on the official website.
[edit] On loan
[edit] Seasons
- Federación Regional Castellana de Fútbol (1928-30; 1939-49)
- 7 seasons in Primera Categoría
- 3 seasons in Segunda Categoría
- Federación Obrera de Fútbol (1931-36)
[edit] Famous players
see also Cat:Rayo Vallecano footballers
[edit] Miscellaneous info
- Rayo Vallecano was Laurie Cunningham's last club – he was killed in a car crash just outside of Madrid in 1989, after a sole season. He also had represented neighbours Real Madrid four years.
[edit] External links
María Teresa Rivero
