Rayo Vallecano

Association football club in Spain

"Rayo" redirects here. For other uses, see Rayo (disambiguation).

Football club

Rayo Vallecano

Full name| Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, SAD
Nickname(s)| Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes)
Rayito (Little Thunderbolt)
Orgullo de la clase obrera (The Pride of the Working class)
Founded| 29 May 1924; 100 years ago (1924-05-29) as Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo
Ground| El Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas
Capacity| 14,708[1]
Owner| Raúl Martín Presa
President| Raúl Martín Presa
Head coach| Iñigo Pérez
League| La Liga
2023–24| La Liga, 17th of 20
Website| rayovallecano.es

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

|
|

Current season

Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D. (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈraʝo βaʎeˈkano ðe maˈðɾið]),[a] often abbreviated to Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt"), is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.

Founded on 29 May 1924, the club is known for its sociocultural tradition, recognized for representing the barrio-local culture and its working-class status. Its home matches has been played at the 14,708-capacity Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium since 1976.[2]

During its history, Rayo has spent 19 seasons in the top-flight, and have played in one European competition, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season. The club won the 2017–18 Segunda División. By historical performance, Rayo is the third best club in Community of Madrid, after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

## History

[edit]

### Establishment and early years

[edit]

Rayo Vallecano was founded 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.[3]

### Yo-yo years

[edit]

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. The 1983–84 season was the worst during the 1980s. The club finished in the last position in Segunda División and was relegated to Segunda División B.[4]

Due to a tragedy Rayo Vallecano turned out to be Laurie Cunningham's last club; he was killed in a car crash just outside Madrid in 1989, after a sole season. He had recently won an F.A. Cup winners medal with Wimbledon F.C. in England the previous year and had also represented neighbours Real Madrid for four years.

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 quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, going out only to eventual runners-up Alavés;[5] Rayo finished ninth in the previous campaign, but entered the competition via the fair play draw.[6]

### 2003–11: Segunda División and below

[edit]

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Rayo Vallecano

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.[7]

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 Eibar (1–2 aggregate).[8] The following campaign, the team returned to division two after a four-year absence after a victorious run in the playoffs, disposing of Benidorm in the semi-final and Zamora in the last game 2–1 on aggregate.[9]

In its first seasons back in the second tier of Spanish football, Rayo finished comfortably, often either in or just outside the promotion places. In 2010–11, the team 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.[10][11][12]

### 2011–: La Liga and Segunda División yo-yo

[edit]

Diego Costa with Rayo Vallecano in 2012 Chart of Rayo Vallecano league performance 1929–present

In March 2014, Huawei agreed to sponsor Rayo Vallecano for two league matches against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.[13]

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, despite the stadium increasingly needing work. 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.[14][15] Rayo OKC folded after a year due to Rayo Vallecano's relegation from La Liga and a dispute between the co-owners led to less finance for the U.S. side.

In May 2016, Rayo Vallecano were 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.[16] Their first season back in the second division was a poor one, with both problems on the field and off, and they finished in 12th position. Rayo went through three managers in the 2016–17 Segunda División season before finally settling on club legend Míchel.[17] He revived the club from the relegation places to 12th, almost making the playoffs.

At the start of the 2017–18 Segunda División season, the club appointed their recently retired goalkeeper David Cobeño as the sporting director of the club.[18] They secured their promotion with a 1–0 over CD Lugo with one game remaining.[19] That season the club won Segunda División with 76 points in 42 games.[20]

Rayo players during an away La Liga fixture versus Real Valladolid in January 2019

On 20 March 2019, the club appointed Paco Jémez as head coach,[21] and on 4 May, Rayo was relegated back to the Segunda División after losing 4–1 to Levante UD, eventually finishing last.[22][23]

In August 2020, the club appointed Andoni Iraola as head coach.[24] They finished sixth and won promotion in the playoffs against Girona FC; despite losing the first leg at home 1–2, the team came back to win the second leg 2–0 away to claim a place in La Liga for 2021–22.[25] In February 2022, Iraola's side defeated RCD Mallorca to make the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey; it was the second time in club history and first since 1982.[26] The club finished 12th in La Liga. This was a big achievement as they were by far the league's smallest team, and most had predicted that they would be relegated.[27]

## Previous names

[edit]

Flag with the club's crest at Ciudad Deportiva Rayo Vallecano

* Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo (29 May 1924 – 13 November 1947)
* Agrupación Deportiva Rayo Vallecano (13 November 1947 – 1995)
* Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (1995–present)

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

## Honours

[edit]

### League

[edit]

* Segunda División
* Winners: 2017–18
* Runners-up: 1988–89, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2010–11
* Segunda División B
* Winners: 1955–56, 1964–65, 1984–85, 2007–08

Regional Titles

* Workers Federation of Soccer: 1931–1932
* First Regional Division: 1948–1949
* Second Regional Division: 1940–1941
* Copa de Castilla: 1952–1953, 1967–1968, 1970–1971, 1972–1973, 1981–1982
* Madrid Cup: 1952–1953, 1966–1967
* Copa Ramón Triana: 1971–1972, 1973–1974

## Season to season

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|

1940–41  | 5  | 2ª Reg. | 2nd  |
1941–42  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 4th  |
1942–43  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 3rd  |
1943–44  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 7th  |
1944–45  | 5  | 2ª Reg. | 2nd  |
1945–46  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 5th  |
1946–47  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 10th  |
1947–48  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 6th  |
1948–49  | 4  | 1ª Reg. | 3rd  |
1949–50 | 3  | 3ª | 14th  |
1950–51 | 3  | 3ª | 13th  |
1951–52 | 3  | 3ª | 9th  |
1952–53 | 3  | 3ª | 7th  |
1953–54 | 3  | 3ª | 17th  |
1954–55 | 3  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1955–56 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1956–57 | 2  | 2ª | 12th  |
1957–58 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  |
1958–59 | 2  | 2ª | 14th  | First round
1959–60 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | First round
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

1960–61 | 2  | 2ª | 16th  | First round
1961–62 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1962–63 | 3  | 3ª | 2nd  |
1963–64 | 3  | 3ª | 3rd  |
1964–65 | 3  | 3ª | 1st  |
1965–66 | 2  | 2ª | 9th  | First round
1966–67 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  | First round
1967–68 | 2  | 2ª | 4th  | Round of 32
1968–69 | 2  | 2ª | 9th  |
1969–70 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  | Round of 32
1970–71 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | Round of 32
1971–72 | 2  | 2ª | 8th  | Fourth round
1972–73 | 2  | 2ª | 11th  | Third round
1973–74 | 2  | 2ª | 14th  | Round of 16
1974–75 | 2  | 2ª | 8th  | Fourth round
1975–76 | 2  | 2ª | 9th  | Second round
1976–77 | 2  | 2ª | 3rd  | Third round
1977–78 | 1  | 1ª | 10th  | Third round
1978–79 | 1  | 1ª | 15th  | Round of 16
1979–80 | 1  | 1ª | 16th  | Quarter-finals
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

1980–81 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | Quarter-finals
1981–82 | 2  | 2ª | 7th  | Semi-finals
1982–83 | 2  | 2ª | 9th  | Round of 16
1983–84 | 2  | 2ª | 20th  | Third round
1984–85 | 3  | 2ª B | 1st  | Third round
1985–86 | 2  | 2ª | 15th  | Fourth round
1986–87 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | First round
1987–88 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | Round of 32
1988–89 | 2  | 2ª | 2nd  | First round
1989–90 | 1  | 1ª | 20th  | Second round
1990–91 | 2  | 2ª | 11th  | Fifth round
1991–92 | 2  | 2ª | 2nd  | Fourth round
1992–93 | 1  | 1ª | 14th  | Fourth round
1993–94 | 1  | 1ª | 17th  | Fourth round
1994–95 | 2  | 2ª | 2nd  | Quarter-finals
1995–96 | 1  | 1ª | 19th  | Third round
1996–97 | 1  | 1ª | 18th  | Quarter-finals
1997–98 | 2  | 2ª | 8th  | Second round
1998–99 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | First round
1999–2000 | 1  | 1ª | 9th  | Quarter-finals
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

2000–01 | 1  | 1ª | 14th  | Round of 16
2001–02 | 1  | 1ª | 11th  | Quarter-finals
2002–03 | 1  | 1ª | 20th  | Round of 64
2003–04 | 2  | 2ª | 21st  | Round of 64
2004–05 | 3  | 2ª B | 3rd  | Round of 64
2005–06 | 3  | 2ª B | 5th  | Third round
2006–07 | 3  | 2ª B | 2nd  | Round of 16
2007–08 | 3  | 2ª B | 1st  | Third round
2008–09 | 2  | 2ª | 5th  | Round of 32
2009–10 | 2  | 2ª | 11th  | Round of 16
2010–11 | 2  | 2ª | 2nd  | Third round
2011–12 | 1  | 1ª | 15th  | Round of 32
2012–13 | 1  | 1ª | 8th  | Round of 32
2013–14 | 1  | 1ª | 12th  | Round of 16
2014–15 | 1  | 1ª | 11th  | Round of 32
2015–16 | 1  | 1ª | 18th  | Round of 16
2016–17 | 2  | 2ª | 12th  | Third round
2017–18 | 2  | 2ª | 1st  | Second round
2018–19 | 1  | 1ª | 20th  | Round of 32
2019–20 | 2  | 2ª | 7th  | Round of 16
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Copa del Rey

|
|
|
|

2020–21 | 2  | 2ª | 6th  | Round of 16
2021–22 | 1  | 1ª | 12th  | Semi-finals
2022–23 | 1  | 1ª | 11th  | Round of 32
2023–24 | 1  | 1ª | 17th  | Round of 16
2024–25 | 1  | 1ª |  |

* * *

* 22 seasons in La Liga
* 38 seasons in Segunda División
* 5 seasons in Segunda División B
* 11 seasons in Tercera División (third level before 1977–78)

## European history

[edit]

Season  | Round  | Club  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate

|
|
|
|
|

2000–01 UEFA Cup | Qualifying round  |  Constel·lació Esportiva | 6–0  | 10–0  | 16–0
First round  |  Molde | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–1
Second round  |  Viborg | 1–0  | 1–2  | 2–2 (a)
Third round  |  Lokomotiv Moscow | 2–0  | 0–0  | 2–0
Fourth round  |  Bordeaux | 4–1  | 2–1  | 6–2
Quarter-finals  |  Alavés | 2–1  | 0–3  | 2–4

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 9 September 2024[28]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  ESP | Dani Cárdenas
2  | DF |  ROU | Andrei Rațiu
3  | DF |  ESP | Pep Chavarría
4  | MF |  ESP | Pedro Díaz
5  | DF |  ESP | Aridane Hernández
6  | MF |  SEN | Pathé Ciss
7  | MF |  ESP | Isi Palazón (4th captain)
8  | MF |  ARG | Óscar Trejo (3rd captain)
9  | FW |  ESP | Raúl de Tomás
10  | MF |  COL | James Rodríguez
11  | FW |  ANG | Randy Nteka
12  | FW |  ESP | Sergi Guardiola
13  | GK |  ARG | Augusto Batalla (on loan from River Plate)
14  | FW |  ESP | Sergio Camello
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

15  | MF |  ESP | Gerard Gumbau (on loan from Granada)
16  | DF |  GHA | Abdul Mumin
17  | MF |  ESP | Unai López
18  | MF |  ESP | Álvaro García
19  | FW |  ESP | Jorge de Frutos
20  | DF |  ALB | Iván Balliu
21  | FW |  ESP | Adrián Embarba (on loan from Almería)
22  | DF |  URU | Alfonso Espino
23  | MF |  ESP | Óscar Valentín (captain)
24  | DF |  FRA | Florian Lejeune
25  | MF |  ESP | Joni Montiel
27  | DF |  ESP | Pelayo Fernández
29  | MF |  ESP | Diego Méndez

### Reserve team

[edit]

Main article: Rayo Vallecano B

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

26  | DF |  ESP | Marco de las Sías
28  | FW |  CMR | Etienne Eto'o

### Out on loan

[edit]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | GK |  ESP | Miguel Ángel Morro (at Vizela until 30 June 2025)

### Current technical staff

[edit]

Position  | Staff

|

Head coach  |  Iñigo Pérez
Assistant coach  |  Adrián López
Kit man  |  José Vargas
Kiko Jiménez
Delegate  |  Miguel Ortiz
Goalkeeping coach  |  Pedro Moncayo
Analyst  |  Óscar Díaz
Rehab fitness coach  |  Sergio Vázquez
Physiotherapist  |  Marcos Marín
Miguel Ángel Martín
Doctor  |  Carlos Beceiro
Giovanni Mazzocca

Last updated: September 2022
Source: Rayo Vallecano

## Notable former players

[edit]

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

* Ildefons Lima
* Francisco Cerro
* Franco Di Santo
* Alejandro Domínguez
* Leonel Galeano
* Paulo Gazzaniga
* Sebastián Saja
* Aras Özbiliz
* Manucho
* Toni Polster
* Elvir Baljić
* Elvir Bolić
* Guilherme
* Jorge Valdivia
* Fernando Vergara
* Zhang Chengdong
* Johan Mojica
* Hernán Medford
* Stjepan Andrijašević
* Gaël Kakuta
* Søren Andersen
* Nicki Bille
* Laurie Cunningham
* Sergio Akieme
* Iván Zarandona
* Derek Boateng
* Lass Bangoura

* Idan Tal
* Ousseynou Cissé
* Javier Aquino
* Nery Castillo
* Guillermo Mendizábal
* Hugo Sánchez
* Andrija Delibašić
* Dave van den Bergh
* Uche Agbo
* Wilfred Agbonavbare
* Stole Dimitrievski
* Jan Berg
* Luis Advíncula
* Christian Cueva
* Licá
* Paulo Torres
* Zé Castro
* Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem
* Răzvan Raț
* Viktor Onopko
* Abdoulaye Ba
* Mohamed Diamé
* Ivan Tomić
* Josip Višnjić
* Miguel Albiol
* Antonio Amaya
* Gregorio Benito
* Bolo

* Raúl Bravo
* Antonio Calderón
* Rubén Cano
* Luis Cembranos
* David Cobeño
* Coke
* Juan José Collantes
* Pedro Contreras
* Diego Costa
* Cota
* Ramón de Quintana
* Adri Embarba
* Felines
* Patxi Ferreira
* Javi Fuego
* Ricardo Gallego
* Antonio García Navajas
* Antonio Guzmán
* Pablo Hernández
* Carlos Llorens
* Diego Llorente
* Julen Lopetegui
* Míchel
* Michu
* José María Movilla
* Juan Muñiz
* Álvaro Negredo

* Saúl Ñíguez
* Pepín
* Roberto Peragón
* Piti
* Abel Resino
* Onésimo Sánchez
* Pablo Sanz
* Mario Suárez
* Raúl Tamudo
* Roberto Trashorras
* Toni Jiménez
* José Luis Veloso
* Roman Zozulya
* Kasey Keller
* Sebastián Fernández
* Álvaro Gutiérrez
* Josemir Lujambio
* Fernando Morena
* Emiliano Velázquez
* Julio Álvarez
* Dani Hernández
* Miku
* Daniel Noriega

|
|
|

## Coaches

[edit]

| Dates  | Name

|

1944–46  |  Cayetano Sardinero
1946–47  |  Julián Antón
1947–48  |  Luis Pérez
1948–49  |  Tomás Rodríguez Rubio
1949–50  |  Ramón de la Fuente
1950–51  |  Anselmo Nogales
1951–52  |  Félix Huete
1952–53  |  Lorenzo Sánchez Villar
1954–55  |  Cándido Machado
1953–54  |  Patricio Sánchez Calleja
1954–55  |  Manuel Alepuz
1955–56  |  Cándido Machado
1956–58  |  Ramón Colón
1958  |  Cándido Machado
1958–59  |  Lino Taioli
1959  |  Heriberto Herrera
1959–60  |  Ramón Colón
1960  |  Alfonso Aparicio
1960–61  |  Martín Camino
1961  |  Ramón Cobo
1961  |  Joseíto
1961–64  |  Herrero
1964–67  |  Pedro Eguiluz
July 1967 – June 1969  |  José Antonio Olmedo
July 1969 – Feb 1971  |  Manuel Peñalva
Feb 1971 – Jun 1972  |  Enrique Orizaola
| Dates  | Name

|

Jul 1972 – Jan 1973  |  Manuel Vences
Jan 1973 – Jun 1974  |  José Antonio Olmedo
Jun 1974 – Jun 1975  |  Héctor Núñez
Jun 1975 – Feb 1976  |  Alfredo Di Stéfano
Feb – Jun 1976  |  José Antonio Olmedo
Jul 1976 – Jun 1977  |  García Verdugo
Jun 1977 – Jun 1978  |  Héctor Núñez
Jul 1978 – Jun 1979  |  Eduardo González
Jun 1979 – Feb 1980  |  Héctor Núñez
Feb – Jun 1980  |  Rafael Iriondo
Jun 1980 – Dec 1981  |  Eduardo González
Dec 1981 – Jun 1982  |  Manuel Peñalva
Jun 1982 – Jun 1983  |  Juanjo García
Jul – Nov 1983  |  Máximo Hernández
Nov 1983 – Jun 1984  |  Antonio Ruiz
1984–85  |  Eduardo Caturla
1985–87  |  Héctor Núñez
Jul 1987 – Jan 1990  |  Felines
Jan – Jun 1990  |  Emilio Cruz
Jul 1990 – Feb 1992  |  Eusebio Ríos
Feb 1992 – Jun 1993  |  José Antonio Camacho
Jul – Nov 1993  |  Felines
Nov 1993 – Feb 1994  |  Fernando Zambrano
Feb – Nov 1994  |  David Vidal
Nov 1994 – Jun 1995  |  Paquito
Jun – Oct 1995  |  Pedro Mari Zabalza
| Dates  | Name

|

Oct 1995 – Apr 1996  |  Marcos Alonso
July 1996 – Feb 1997  |  Paquito
Feb – Mar 1997  |  Fernando Zambrano
Mar – Jun 1997  |  Máximo Hernández
1997–98  |  Josu Ortuondo
Jul 1998 – Jun 2001  |  Juande Ramos
Jul – Oct 2001  |  Andoni Goikoetxea
Oct 2001 – Jun 2002  |  Gregorio Manzano
July 2002 – Jan 2003  |  Fernando Vázquez
Feb – Apr 2003  |  Gustavo Benítez
Apr – Jun 2003  |  Antonio Iriondo
Jun – Nov 2003  |  Julen Lopetegui
Nov 2003 – Feb 2004  |  Jorge D'Alessandro
Feb – Jun 2004  |  Txetxu Rojo
Jun 2004 – Jun 2005  |  Carlos Orúe
Jul 2005 – Jun 2006  |  Míchel
Jun 2006 – Feb 2010  |  Pepe Mel
Feb – Jun 2010  |  Felipe Miñambres
Jul 2010 – Jun 2012  |  José Ramón Sandoval
Jul 2012 – May 2016  |  Paco Jémez
Jun – Nov 2016  |  José Ramón Sandoval
Nov 2016 – Feb 2017  |  Rubén Baraja
Feb 2017 – Mar 2019  |  Míchel
Mar 2019 – Aug 2020  |  Paco Jémez
Aug 2020 – Jun 2023  |  Andoni Iraola
Jul 2023 –  |  Francisco

## Club presidents

[edit]

| Dates  | Name

|

1924–26  | Julián Huerta
1926–27  | José Montoya
1927–28  | Galo Andrés
1929–30  | José Antonio Sánchez
1930–31  | Anastasio Sánchez
1931–36  | Ángel Martínez
| Dates  | Name

|

1939–43  | Miguel Rodríguez Alzola
1943–46  | Ezequiel Huerta
1946–48  | José Rodríguez Rubio
1948–55  | Miguel Rodríguez Alzola
1955–58  | Jerónimo Martínez
1958–61  | Tomás Esteras
| Dates  | Name

|

1961–65  | Iván Roiz
1965–73  | Pedro Roiz
1973–78  | Marcelino Gil
1978–80  | Francisco Encinas
1980–81  | Luis Quer
1981–89  | Francisco Fontán
| Dates  | Name

|

1989–91  | Pedro García Jiménez
1991–94  | José María Ruiz Mateos
1994–2011  | Teresa Rivero
2011–  | Raúl Martín Presa

## Stadium

[edit]

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas

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, businessman 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 100×67 m. after the enlargement of the width and the reduction of the length of the pitch after the remodelling of the grandstands, compulsory due to the elimination of the fences surrounding the pitch. The pitch is one the smallest in La Liga. Additionally, one of the goal ends does not have a grandstand, just a big wall with information panels.[29]

In June 2009, the club announced plans for the construction of a new stadium. Nevertheless, the Autonomous Community of Madrid, owner of the stadium, has not any plan as far as it is known in 2023.

## Club culture and supporters

[edit]

The fans do not have a good relationship with the current owner Raúl Martín Presa and regularly chant for him to leave.[30][31]

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.[32] In 2014, 85-year-old Vallecas resident Carmen Martínez Ayuso was evicted from her house after living there since the 1960s. Rayo Vallecano and particularly coach Paco Jémez were touched by her story, and subsequently offered to fund Martínez for the foreseeable future.[33]

In February 2017, Ukrainian player Roman Zozulya left the club after one training session due to chants of "Nazi" by Rayo fans accusing him of belonging to far-right groups; Zozulya denied ever belonging to any far-right groups, and immediately returned to his parent club Real Betis. In 2019, when Zozulya was playing for Albacete, a match was called off at half-time after fans once again sang "Zozulya you are a Nazi".[34]

## Anthems and songs

[edit]

Although most people recognise the supporting songs by ska-punk band Ska-P (Rayo Vallecano and Como un rayo), Rayo Vallecano has an official anthem which played at their home stadium before matches.

The club is also known for chanting the song "La Vida Pirata" (English: "The Pirate Life"), a song about pirates, which the Bukaneros are named after.

Spanish:

La vida pirata es la vida mejor (bis)

sin trabajar (bis)

Sin estudiar (bis)

Con la botella de ron (bis)

Soy capitán (bis)

del Santa Inés (bis)

Y en cada puerto tengo una mujer (bis)

La rubia es (bis)

Fenomenal (bis)

Y la morena tampoco esta mal (bis)

Las inglesas con su seriedad (bis)

Y las francesas que todo lo dan (bis)

Si alguna vez (bis)

Me he de casar (bis)

Me he de casar (bis)

Con la del Rayo, una, una y nada más (bis).

English:

''The pirate life is the best life (bis)

without working (bis)

without studying (bis)

With the bottle of rum (bis)

I am captain (bis)

of the "Santa Inés"' (bis)

and in each port, I have a woman (bis)

the blonde is (bis)

phenomenal (bis)

and the brunette is not bad either (bis)

The English women with their seriousness (bis)

And the French women who give everything (bis)

If ever (bis)

I have to marry (bis)

I have to marry (bis)

with the one of Rayo, one, one and no more (bis)''

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ In isolation, Vallecano is pronounced [baʎeˈkano].

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial". Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
2. ^ "Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial". Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
3. ^ "Historia resumida del Rayo" [Brief history of Rayo] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
4. ^ "Classification 2nd Division 1983-84". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
5. ^ "Alaves through as Rayo fall". BBC Sport. 15 March 2001. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
6. ^ "El 'Fair Play', ¿una puerta abierta para jugar en Europa?" ['Fair Play', open door to play in Europe?] (in Spanish). Terra. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
7. ^ "Michel, nuevo entrenador del Rayo" [Michel, new Rayo manager] (in Spanish). ABC. 23 June 2005. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
8. ^ "El Eibar regresa a Segunda tras remontar ante el Rayo Vallecano" [Eibar returns to Segunda after coming back from behind against Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
9. ^ "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español" [Rayo return to silver category of Spanish football] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
10. ^ Dona Teresa takes off mask Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine; Football Scouting, 1 March 2011
11. ^ Unpaid Rayo have sights set on La Liga payday Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine; Reuters, 30 March 2011
12. ^ Los jugadores del Rayo Vallecano seguirán sin cobrar (Rayo Vallecano players will still not be paid) Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine; El Correo Gallego, 26 February 2011 (in Spanish)
13. ^ "Huawei sponsors Rayo Vallecano for two matches, against Real Madrid and Bilbao". GSM Insider. 30 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
14. ^ "Rayo Vallecano set to buy Oklahoma City FC". 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
15. ^ "El Rayo compra la mayoría de acciones del Oklahoma City" [Rayo purchases majority of Oklahoma City shares] (in Spanish). AS. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
16. ^ "La Liga: Getafe and Rayo Vallecano relegated, Sporting Gijon stay up". Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
17. ^ "Míchel has been appointed the new coach of Rayo Vallecano". Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
18. ^ "David Cobeño, new sports director". Archived from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
19. ^ "Rayo Vallecano win promotion to La Liga". 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
20. ^ "Jornada 42 de Segunda División, Temporada 2017/2018 - liga smartbank, segunda division, campeonato nacional de liga de segunda división, segunda division española, laliga 2 española". www.resultados-futbol.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
21. ^ "Paco Jémez nuevo entrenador del Rayo Vallecano". Rayo Vallecano (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
22. ^ "Rayo Vallecano relegated to the Segunda Division". Football Espana. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
23. ^ "Primera División, Temporada 2018/2019". www.resultados-futbol.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
24. ^ "Andoni Iraola nuevo entrenador del Rayo Vallecano". Rayo Vallecano | Rayo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
25. ^ Brennan, Feargal (2021-06-20). "WATCH: 10-man Rayo Vallecano secure La Liga promotion with battling Girona win". Football Espana. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
26. ^ "El Rayo de Iraola hace historia en Copa Del Rey al volver 40 años después a semis" [Iraola's Rayo make history in the Copa del Rey by returning to the semis after 40 years]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
27. ^ Lowe, Sid (2021-09-20). "The Tiger who came for free: Falcao is back and scoring in La Liga". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
28. ^ "Plantilla Rayo Vallecano de Madrid" (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
29. ^ Lowe, Sid (2012-02-27). "Rayo Vallecano's barrio boys bounce to a different beat in Real defeat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
30. ^ Lowe, Sid (2021-12-20). "Rayo Vallecano: a mess, 'problem after problem' … and top four in La Liga". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
31. ^ Lowe, Sid (2021-09-20). "The Tiger who came for free: Falcao is back and scoring in La Liga". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
32. ^ "Rayo Vallecano players strike over Spanish austerity cuts". When Saturday Comes. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
33. ^ Villalba, Juanjo (January 2015). "Spanish Football Team Rescues an Old Lady". Vice Magazine. 13 (1): 15.
34. ^ sport, Guardian (2019-12-15). "Rayo Vallecano match abandoned after 'Nazi' chants; Real Madrid draw". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rayo Vallecano.

* Official website (in Spanish)
* Official Radio website (in Spanish)
* Official Community VK (in Russian)
* Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
* BDFutbol team profile
* Pasión por el Rayo – Non-official website – Rayo Vallecano news (in Spanish)
* Rayo Herald – Updated club info (in Spanish)

* v
* t
* e

Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D.

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

Teams|

* Rayo Vallecano
* Rayo B
* Rayo (women)

Home stadium|

* Estadio de Vallecas
* Ciudad Deportiva

Seasons|

* 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
* 1999–2000
* 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

* v
* t
* e

La Liga

2024–25 clubs|

* Alavés
* Athletic Bilbao
* Atlético Madrid
* Barcelona
* Betis
* Celta Vigo
* Espanyol
* Getafe
* Girona
* Las Palmas
* Leganés
* Mallorca
* Osasuna
* Rayo Vallecano
* Real Madrid
* Real Sociedad
* Sevilla
* Valencia
* Valladolid
* Villarreal

Former clubs|

* Albacete
* Alcoyano
* AD Almería
* Almería
* Arenas Getxo
* Atlético Tetuán
* Burgos
* Cádiz
* Castellón
* Compostela
* Condal
* Córdoba
* Cultural Leonesa
* Deportivo La Coruña
* Eibar
* Elche
* Europa
* Extremadura
* Gimnàstic
* Granada
* Hércules
* Huesca
* Jaén
* Levante
* Lleida
* CD Logroñés
* CD Málaga
* Málaga
* CP Mérida
* Murcia
* Numancia
* Oviedo
* Pontevedra
* Racing Santander
* Real Burgos
* Real Unión
* Recreativo Huelva
* Sabadell
* Salamanca
* Sporting Gijón
* Tenerife
* Xerez
* Zaragoza

Competition|

* Clubs
* Seasons & winners
* Relegation play-offs
* Players
* foreign
* Managers
* Winners
* Stadia
* Broadcasters
* Referees

Statistics and awards|

* Records
* Hat-tricks
* All-time table
* La Liga Awards
* List of La Liga top scorers
* Marca Awards
* Di Stéfano: Best Player
* Pichichi: Top Scorer
* Zarra: Spanish Top Scorer
* Zamora: Best Goalkeeper
* Miguel Muñoz: Best Manager
* Guruceta: Best referee
* Don Balón Award
* Player of the Month
* Manager of the Month
* Goal of the Month

Finances|

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

Associated competitions|

* Supercopa de España
* Copa del Rey
* UEFA Champions League
* UEFA Europa League
* UEFA Conference League

* laliga.es
* facebook.com/LaLiga
* twitter.com/LaLiga
* youtube.com/laliga

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in the Community of Madrid

Football
(Overview)|

| Men|

Atlético Madrid
Getafe
Leganés
Real Madrid
Rayo Vallecano
1ª Federación
Alcorcón
Atlético Madrid B
Fuenlabrada
Rayo Mahadahonda
Real Madrid Castilla

|

Women|

Atlético Madrid
Madrid CFF
Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid

Atlético Madrid B
Madrid B
Pozuelo

Futsal|

| Men|

LNFS 1ª
Inter Movistar
Carnicer Torrejón

|

Basketball|

| Men|

ACB
Estudiantes
Fuenlabrada
Real Madrid
LEB Oro
Real Canoe

|

Women|

LFB
CB Estudiantes
LF2
Alcobendas
CB Las Rozas
Real Canoe

Handball|

| Men|

ASOBAL
Atlético Madrid
DPB
BM Alcobendas

|

Women|

DHF
BM Alcobendas
DHP
BM Móstoles

Ice hockey|

| Men|

LNHH
SAD Majadahonda

|

Field hockey|

| Men|

Club de Campo

|

Rugby|

| Men|

Alcobendas
Complutense
DHB
Real Canoe
Pozuelo

|

Water polo|

| Men|

Real Canoe

|

Venues|

* Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
* Metropolitano Stadium
* Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas
* Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium
* Polideportivo Moratalaz
* Palacio de Deportes
* Palacio Vistalegre
* Estadio Román Valero
* Estadio Cerro del Espino
* Centro Deportivo Wanda
* Ciudad Real Madrid
* Caja Mágica
* Madrid Arena

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Spain

*[2ª Reg.]: Segunda Regional Ordinaria
*[1ª Reg.]: Primera Regional Ordinaria
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template