Albacete Balompié

Association football club in Spain

Football club

Albacete Balompié

Full name| Albacete Balompié, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)| Queso Mecánico
(Clockwork Cheese)
Alba
Founded| 5 July 1939; 86 years ago (1939-07-05) (as Albacete Foot-ball Association)
Ground| Estadio Carlos Belmonte
Capacity| 17,524[1]
Owner| Skyline International
President| Georges Kabchi
Head coach| Alberto González
League| Segunda División
2024–25| Segunda División, 10th of 22
Website| albacetebalompie.es

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

|
|

Current season

Albacete Balompié is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. Founded on 5 July 1939, it currently plays in Segunda División, the second tier of Spanish football, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a capacity of 17,524.[2]

## History

[edit]

Chart of Albacete Balompié league performance 1929–present

After years of amateur and regional development of football, it would not appear formally until the end of the Spanish Civil War, due to the merger of 'Club Deportivo Nacional' and 'Albacete Foot-Ball Club'. The club was founded in 1939 under the name Sociedad Deportiva Albacete Foot-ball Association, being later changed due to the forced castellanization of all football names imposed by Francoist Spain in 1941. Albacete debuted in Segunda División in 1949, being relegated due to economic problems, but returning ten years later.

In 1989, Benito Floro consecutively promoted the club from the third division to La Liga, overachieving for a seventh place in the first season in the top level. Floro would later coach Real Madrid, 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). 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 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.[3] On 6 December 2011, Andrés Iniesta – who played for the club in his youth before joining Barcelona – became the club's major shareholder, donating €420,000 to the cash-strapped club.[4] The club managed to reach the round of 16 of the 2011–12 Copa del Rey, notably beating Atlético Madrid 3–1 on aggregate.[5]

In March 2013, Agustín Lázaro, chief executive officer (CEO) of Andrés Iniesta's winery enterprise, was appointed as Albacete's chairman.[6] In June, Iniesta loaned the club a further €240,000 to cover unpaid wages, thus preventing its administrative relegation to the fourth tier.[7]

In 2014, Albacete returned to the Segunda División, but was relegated two seasons later after finishing the season in the 21st position. The club again returned to the Segunda División in the 2016–17 season after winning against Valencia Mestalla 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 in the La Liga play-offs and remained in Segunda División for the 2019–20 season.[8] On next season, Albacete finished last in second division and were relegated to the third division. Thus ending their four-years stay in the second division.

Albacete were promoted to Segunda in the 2021–22 Primera RFEF season playoffs, after defeating Deportivo de La Coruña at the Estadio Riazor. The team came back from a 1–0 deficit, winning 2-1 with a goal in extra time.[9]

## Seasons

[edit]

Albacete Balompié "Andrés Iniesta" sports city. Ciudad de Albacete trophy 1994.

### Season to season

[edit]

| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

1940–41  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 3rd  |
1941–42  | 3  | 1ª Reg. | 4th  |
1942–43  | 3  | 1ª Reg. | 2nd  |
1943–44 | 3  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1944–45 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1945–46 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1946–47 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1947–48 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1948–49 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1949–50 | 2  | 2ª | 7th  |
1950–51 | 2  | 2ª | 15th  |
1951–52  | DNP  |
1952–53 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1953–54 | 3  | 3ª | 13th  |
1954–55 | 3  | 3ª | 7th  |
1955–56 | 3  | 3ª | 9th  |
1956–57 | 3  | 3ª | 5th  |
1957–58 | 3  | 3ª | 5th  |
1958–59 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1959–60 | 3  | 3ª | 4th  |
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

1960–61 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1961–62 | 2  | 2ª | 13th  |
1962–63 | 3  | 3ª | 4th  |
1963–64 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1964–65 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1965–66 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1966–67 | 3  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1967–68 | 3  | 3ª | 4th  |
1968–69 | 3  | 3ª | 8th  |
1969–70 | 3  | 3ª | 14th  |
1970–71  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 7th  |
1971–72  | 4  | Reg. Pref. | 6th  |
1972–73  | 4  | Reg. Pref. | 14th  |
1973–74  | 4  | Reg. Pref. | 7th  |
1974–75  | 4  | Reg. Pref. | 1st  |
1975–76 | 3  | 3ª | 17th  |
1976–77  | 4  | Reg. Pref. | 2nd  |
1977–78 | 4  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1978–79 | 4  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1979–80 | 4  | 3ª | 2nd  |
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

1980–81 | 4  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1981–82 | 4  | 3ª | 1st  |
1982–83 | 3  | 2ª B | 3rd  |
1983–84 | 3  | 2ª B | 5th  |
1984–85 | 3  | 2ª B | 2nd  |
1985–86 | 2  | 2ª | 17th  |
1986–87 | 3  | 2ª B | 17th  |
1987–88 | 3  | 2ª B | 3rd  |
1988–89 | 3  | 2ª B | 12th  |
1989–90 | 3  | 2ª B | 1st  |
1990–91 | 2  | 2ª | 1st  |
1991–92 | 1  | 1ª | 7th  |
1992–93 | 1  | 1ª | 17th  | Round of 16
1993–94 | 1  | 1ª | 13th  | Fourth round
1994–95 | 1  | 1ª | 17th  | Semifinals
1995–96 | 1  | 1ª | 20th  | First round
1996–97 | 2  | 2ª | 4th  | Second round
1997–98 | 2  | 2ª | 14th  | Second round
1998–99 | 2  | 2ª | 15th  | Second round
1999–2000 | 2  | 2ª | 10th  | Second round
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

2000–01 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | Round of 64
2001–02 | 2  | 2ª | 10th  | Round of 32
2002–03 | 2  | 2ª | 3rd  | Round of 64
2003–04 | 1  | 1ª | 14th  | Round of 64
2004–05 | 1  | 1ª | 20th  | Round of 32
2005–06 | 2  | 2ª | 13th  | Third round
2006–07 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  | Second round
2007–08 | 2  | 2ª | 12th  | Third round
2008–09 | 2  | 2ª | 15th  | Third round
2009–10 | 2  | 2ª | 15th  | Second round
2010–11 | 2  | 2ª | 22nd  | Second round
2011–12 | 3  | 2ª B | 4th  | Round of 16
2012–13 | 3  | 2ª B | 3rd  | Second round
2013–14 | 3  | 2ª B | 1st  | Second round
2014–15 | 2  | 2ª | 14th  | Round of 32
2015–16 | 2  | 2ª | 21st  | Second round
2016–17 | 3  | 2ª B | 1st  | Third round
2017–18 | 2  | 2ª | 17th  | Second round
2018–19 | 2  | 2ª | 4th  | Second round
2019–20 | 2  | 2ª | 17th  | Second round
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

2020–21 | 2  | 2ª | 22nd  | First round
2021–22 | 3  | 1ª RFEF | 3rd | Second round
2022–23 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  | Second round
2023–24 | 2  | 2ª | 13th  | First round
2024–25 | 2  | 2ª | 10th  | First round
2025–26 | 2  | 2ª |  | TBD

* * *

* 7 seasons in La Liga
* 28 seasons in Segunda División
* 1 season in Primera División RFEF
* 11 seasons in Segunda División B
* 29 seasons in Tercera División
* 9 seasons in Categorías Regionales

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 10 August 2025[10]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  ESP | Diego Mariño
2  | DF |  ESP | Lorenzo Aguado
3  | DF |  USA | Jonathan Gómez (on loan from PAOK)
4  | MF |  ESP | Agus Medina
5  | DF |  ESP | Javi Moreno
6  | MF |  ESP | Antonio Pacheco
7  | FW |  ESP | Antonio Puertas
8  | MF |  ESP | Riki Rodríguez (captain)
9  | FW |  ESP | Higinio Marín (vice-captain)
10  | FW |  ESP | Jefté Betancor (on loan from Olympiacos)
11  | FW |  ESP | Víctor Valverde
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

13  | GK |  ESP | Raúl Lizoain
14  | DF |  ESP | Jon García
15  | DF |  ESP | Fran Gámez
16  | FW |  ESP | José Carlos Lazo
17  | MF |  ESP | Ale Meléndez
18  | MF |  ESP | Javi Villar
19  | FW |  ESP | Dani Escriche
22  | FW |  ESP | Jon Morcillo
23  | DF |  ESP | Pepe Sánchez
24  | DF |  ESP | Jesús Vallejo

### Reserve team

[edit]

Main article: Atlético Albacete

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

26  | MF |  ESP | Capi
27  | DF |  ESP | Dani Bernabéu
28  | DF |  ESP | Toni Velilla
29  | DF |  ESP | Jota Domingo
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

30  | GK |  ESP | Mario Ramos
31  | DF |  ESP | José Salas
32  | FW |  ESP | Pablo Ares

### Out on loan

[edit]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | MF |  ESP | Antonio David (at Murcia until 30 June 2026)
-- | FW |  VEN | Jovanny Bolívar (at La Equidad until 30 June 2026)
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | FW |  ESP | Marcos Moreno (at Talavera until 30 June 2026)

### Current technical staff

[edit]

Position  | Staff

|

Head coach  |  Alberto González
Assistant coach  |  Enrique González
Goalkeeping coach  |  Carlos Cano
Fitness coach  |  Juanjo Rico
Technical assistant  |  Salva Todolí
Delegate  |  José Manuel León
Match delegate  |  Borja Longueira
Kit man  |  Alberto Rodenas
Cristian Martínez
Doctor  |  Javier Soro
Rehab fitness coach  |  Sergio García
Physiotherapist  |  Germán Schwarz
Juanfer Pardo
Pablo Ruiz
Nutritionist  |  Ángel Moreno

Last updated: 20 November 2024
Source: Albacete Balompié (in Spanish)

## Honours

[edit]

* Segunda División: (1) 1990–91
* Segunda División B: (2) 1989–90, 2013–14, 2016–17
* Tercera División: (8) 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1981–82
* La Liga promotion: (2) 1990–91, 2002–03
* Segunda División promotion: (2) 1984–85, 1989–90
* Copa de la Liga winners: (2) 1982–83 Segunda División B – Group II, 1984–85 Segunda División B – Group II

## Stadium

[edit]

Estadio Carlos Belmonte

The club plays its home matches at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, 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

[edit]

See also: Category:Albacete Balompié footballers

* Óscar Dertycia
* Carlos Roa
* Andy Bernal
* Vali Gasimov
* Ronny Gaspercic
* Marco Etcheverry
* Zago
* Ivaylo Andonov
* Albert Meyong
* Mark González
* Danny Carvajal
* Luis Conejo
* Keylor Navas
* Nenad Bjelica
* Ivan Jurić
* Trésor Kandol
* Javier Balboa
* Rachid Rokki
* Moussa Yahaya
* Abass Lawal
* Rommel Fernández
* Nelson Cuevas
* Andrés Iniesta
* Fernando Morientes
* Cătălin Munteanu
* Roman Zozulya
* Joe Bizera
* Darío Delgado
* Nicolás Olivera
* Antonio Pacheco
* Horacio Peralta
* José Luis Zalazar

## Coaches

[edit]

* Dagoberto Moll (1960–61)
* Enrique Orizaola (1976–78)
* Máximo Hernández (1979–80)
* Ignacio Bergara (1981–84)
* Julián Rubio (1984–85)
* Pachín (1985–86)
* Pepe Carcelén (1988–89)
* Julián Rubio (1989)
* Benito Floro (1989–92)
* Julián Rubio (1992)
* Ginés Meléndez (interim) (1992)
* Víctor Espárrago (1992–94)
* Luis Suárez (1994)
* Ginés Meléndez (interim) (1994)
* Benito Floro (1994–96)
* Iñaki Sáez (1996)
* Manolo Jiménez (1996)
* Mariano García Remón (1996–97)
* Luis Sánchez Duque (1997)
* Ginés Meléndez (1998)
* Luigi Maifredi (1998–99)
* Julián Rubio (1999–01)
* Paco Herrera (2001–02)
* César Ferrando (2002–04)
* José González (2004–05)
* César Ferrando (2005–07)
* Quique Hernández (2007–08)
* Máximo Hernández (2008)
* Juan Ignacio Martínez (2008–09)
* Máximo Hernández (2009)
* José Murcia (2009)
* Julián Rubio (2009–10)
* David Vidal (2010)
* Antonio Calderón (2010–11)
* David Vidal (2011)
* Mario Simón (2011)
* Antonio Gómez (2011–13)
* Luis César (2013–16)
* César Ferrando (2016)
* José Manuel Aira (2016–17)
* Enrique Martín Monreal (2017–18)
* Luis Miguel Ramis (2018–20)
* Lucas Alcaraz (2020)
* Aritz López Garai (2020–)

## See also

[edit]

* Atlético Albacete, Albacete Balompié's reserve team
* Fundación Albacete, Albacete Balompié's women's team.
* Albacete FS, a futsal club from the same city.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cope.es (16 June 2019). "Mallorca – Deportivo, final del play off de ascenso a Primera". COPE (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
2. ^ "Estadio Carlos Belmonte – Albacete Stadium Guide". Football Tripper. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
3. ^ "Histórico Albacete – Segunda División". resultados-futbol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2019.
4. ^ "Iniesta throws 420,000-euro lifeline to indebted Albacete". El País. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
5. ^ Manzano sacked by Atletico[usurped]; ESPN Star Sports, 23 December 2011
6. ^ Agustín Lázaro, gerente de Bodegas Iniesta, nuevo presidente del Albacete Balompié (Agustín Lázaro, Iniesta Winery manager, new president of Albacete Balompié); ABC, 5 March 2013 (in Spanish)
7. ^ "Iniesta loans Albacete 240,000 euros to prevent relegation". as.com. EFE. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
8. ^ "La historia del Club". Albacete Balompié (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
9. ^ "El Albacete vuelve a Segunda tras remontar al Deportivo de La Coruña en Riazor (1-2)". Diario de Sevilla. 11 June 2022.
10. ^ "Plantilla" (in Spanish). Albacete Balompié. Retrieved 14 July 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albacete Balompié.

* Official website (in Spanish)
* Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)

* v
* t
* e

Albacete Balompié

* History
* Players
* Managers
* Seasons
* Statistics
* Honours

Teams|

* Albacete Balompié
* Atlético Albacete (reserve team)
* Fundación Albacete

Home stadium|

* Estadio Carlos Belmonte
* Ciudad Deportiva Andrés Iniesta (training)

Seasons|

* 1940–41
* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50
* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* Category:Albacete Balompié
* Commons:Albacete Balompié

* v
* t
* e

Segunda División

2025–26 clubs|

* Albacete
* Almería
* Andorra
* Burgos
* Cádiz
* Castellón
* Ceuta
* Córdoba
* Cultural Leonesa
* Deportivo La Coruña
* Eibar
* Granada
* Huesca
* Las Palmas
* Leganés
* Málaga
* Mirandés
* Racing Santander
* Real Sociedad B
* Sporting Gijón
* Valladolid
* Zaragoza

Former teams|

| Active|

* Alavés
* Alcorcón
* Alcoyano
* Algeciras
* Amorebieta
* Alzira
* Arenas Getxo
* Arosa
* Atlético Baleares
* Atlético Ceuta
* Atlético Madrid
* Atlético Madrid B
* Atlético Malagueño
* Avilés
* Badajoz
* Badalona
* Barakaldo
* Barcelona B
* Basconia
* Betis
* Bilbao Athletic
* Burjassot
* Cacereño
* Cartagena FC
* FC Cartagena
* Caudal
* Celta
* Compostela
* Constància
* Deportivo Aragón
* Écija
* Elche
* Elche Ilicitano
* Eldense
* Ensidesa
* Erandio
* Espanyol
* Europa
* Ferroviaria
* Figueres
* Fuenlabrada
* Getafe
* Gimnàstic
* Gimnástica Torrelavega
* Gimnástico
* Girona
* Granollers
* Guadalajara
* Hércules
* Ibiza
* Imperio Madrid
* Indautxu
* Jaén
* Jerez Industrial
* Júpiter
* Juvenil
* La Felguera
* Langreo
* Levante
* Linense
* Llagostera
* UD Logroñés
* Lugo
* Mallorca
* Mallorca B
* Mollerussa
* Moscardó
* Murcia
* Numancia
* Osasuna
* Ourense
* Oviedo
* Palamós
* Ponferradina
* Pontevedra
* Puente Genil
* Racing Ferrol
* Racing Madrid
* Rayo Majadahonda
* Rayo Vallecano
* Real Córdoba
* Real Madrid Castilla
* Real Sociedad
* Real Unión
* Recreativo
* Sabadell
* Sant Andreu
* Sevilla
* Sevilla Atlético
* Tenerife
* Terrassa
* Toledo
* UCAM Murcia
* Valencia
* Valencia Mestalla
* Vecindario
* Villarreal
* Villarreal B
* Xerez

|

Defunct|

* Abarán
* Alicante
* AD Almería
* CA Almería
* Atlético Marbella
* Atlético Tetuán
* Burgos (1936)
* AgD Ceuta
* Ceuta SC
* SD Ceuta
* Ciudad Murcia
* Condal
* EHA Tánger
* Escoriaza
* España
* CF Extremadura
* Extremadura UD
* Getafe Deportivo
* Gimnástica Lucense
* Granada 74
* UD Huesca
* Iberia
* Levante FC
* Linares
* Lleida
* Logroño
* CD Logroñés
* Lorca Deportiva (1969)
* Lorca Deportiva (2002)
* Lorca FC
* CD Málaga
* UD Melilla (1943)
* Melilla CF
* Mérida
* Nacional Madrid
* Ontinyent
* Orensana
* Oriamendi
* Orihuela Deportiva
* Palencia
* Poli Ejido
* Puertollano
* Real Burgos
* Reus
* Salamanca
* San Fernando
* Sestao SC
* Universidad Las Palmas
* Unión Vigo
* Villarrobledo
* Xerez Club

Competition|

* Clubs
* Champions & Promotions
* Play-offs
* Players (foreign)
* Managers (Winners)
* Stadia
* Broadcasters
* Referees

Statistics and awards|

* Records and statistics
* All-time table
* Top Scorer (Pichichi)
* Spanish Top Scorer (Zarra)
* Best Goalkeeper (Zamora)
* Best Manager (Miguel Muñoz)
* Best referee (Guruceta)
* Player of the Month
* Manager of the Month

Finances|

* Richest clubs:
* Deloitte list
* Forbes' list
* Team owners
* Average attendances

Associated competitions|

* Promotion to La Liga
* Relegation to Primera Federación
* National cup: Copa del Rey

*[1ª Reg.]: Primera Regional Murciana
*[Reg. Pref.]: Regional Preferente Murciana
*[3rd]: Group 2
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template