UD Almería

Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. (Spanish pronunciation: [uˈnjon depoɾˈtiβ(a) almeˈɾi.a]) is a Spanish professional football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 26 July 1989 and known as Almería Club de Fútbol until 2001, when it was renamed Unión Deportiva Almería.[2] The club currently plays in the Spanish Primera División after winning the Segunda División title in 2022, and plays their home games at the 15,274-seat capacity Power Horse Stadium.[3][4]

Almería
Full nameUnión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)Rojiblancos
La Unión
Almeriensistas
UDA
Indálicos
Founded26 July 1989; 34 years ago (1989-07-26) as Almería Club de Fútbol
GroundPower Horse Stadium
Capacity15,294[1]
OwnerTurki Al-Sheikh
PresidentTurki Al-Sheikh
Head coachPepe Mel
LeagueLa Liga
2022–23La Liga, 17th of 20
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Historyedit

The first football club in Almería was founded in 1909: el Almería Foot-Ball Club.[5] Since then, several Almería football clubs appeared and disappeared. One of them was AD Almería, a team that played in La Liga between 1979–81, but disappeared in 1982, and was arguably UD Almería's predecessor.

In 1989, a club named Almería Club de Fútbol was born, but in 2001 was renamed Unión Deportiva Almería. On 19 January 2001 the mayor of Almería Santiago Martínez Cabrejas announced in the city council that the new club UD Almería had been formed after the merger of two city teams - Polideportivo Almería and Almería CF.[6] But UD Almería was not official until 28 June 2001, when Almería CF approved at the General Meeting of Shareholders the renaming.[6] After playing one season in the second division, it was relegated to the third and the fourth divisions.

After spending several seasons in the second level, Almería side was first promoted to the top flight after finishing runner-up in the 2006–07 season. After some outstanding performances, as the away win against Deportivo de La Coruña 3–0 in the first La Liga match, the team achieved a final 8th league place in 2007–08.[6] At the club's helm was coach Unai Emery, as striker Álvaro Negredo finished team topscorer with 13 goals.

UD Almería players facing Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in 2011

After Emery left for Valencia CF, Gonzalo Arconada stepped in,[7] but was sacked on 21 December 2008, after a string of poor results, albeit without ever reaching the last three.[8] Mexican Hugo Sánchez took the job, and fared slightly better, for a final mid-table position.

In 2010–11, Almería reached the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the first time ever.[6] In the league, however, the club was finally relegated after a four-year spell in the top flight; in November 2010, coach Juan Manuel Lillo was fired after a 0–8 home loss against FC Barcelona (precisely the team that ousted the Andalusians in the domestic cup's last-four, with the same score, but on aggregate),[9][10] and his successor José Luis Oltra met the same fate,[11] in April 2011.[12] He was replaced by Roberto Olabe.[13]

Chart of UD Almería league performance 1929-2023

After two seasons in the second level, Almería returned to the main category of Spanish football on 22 June 2013, after defeating Girona FC in the play-offs. After the departure of manager Javi Gracia, the club appointed their former player and manager of the reserves at the time Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez;[14] the team eventually managed to survive in 2013–14, finishing 16th.[15][16]

Francisco was sacked in December 2014, after only managing two points out of 24,[17] and was later replaced by Juan Ignacio Martínez.[18] "JIM" also only lasted until April of the following year,[19] and even with new manager Sergi Barjuán,[20] the club was relegated after finishing 19th.[21][22]

In the 2018–19 season, Almería finally escaped the tough fight for the permanence in Segunda División until the last matches as during 3 previous seasons. This time they were closer to the promotion play-offs to La Liga, and finished 10th from 22 teams participated.[23]

Turki Al-Sheikh during a press conference in 2019

On 2 August 2019, Turki Al-Sheikh became the owner of the club, replacing Alfonso García Gabarrón.[24] He appointed Mohamed El Assy as general director,[25] Dario Drudi as sporting director, who replaced Miguel Ángel Corona,[26] and manager Óscar Fernández was replaced by Pedro Emanuel.[27] On 5 November 2019, it was announced Guti replaced Emanuel.[28] On 26 June 2020, he was ceased and replaced by Mario Silva,[29][30] who was himself replaced by José Gomes on 27 July.

In August 2021, UD Almería (Mohamed El Assy) and the Ayuntamiento de Almería [es] (Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal [es]) agreed to a lease on the operation of the municipally-owned Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos for a 25-year period.[31] In June 2022, the club achieved promotion to the first division by sealing a 1st position in the table, respectively, on the very last match day of the season, after spending seven years in the second tier.

Season to seasonedit

SeasonLevelDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1989–905Reg. Pref.1st
1990–915Reg. Pref.3rd
1991–925Reg. Pref.2nd
1992–9342nd
1993–9432ª B11thFourth round
1994–9532ª B2ndSecond round
1995–96216thSecond round
1996–97217thSecond round
1997–9832ª B7thFirst round
1998–9932ª B18th
1999–200044th
2000–0132ª B11th
2001–0232ª B3rd
2002–03218thRound of 32
2003–04213thRound of 32
2004–05214thSecond round
2005–0626thFirst round
2006–0722ndThird round
2007–0818thRound of 32
2008–09111thRound of 16
SeasonLevelDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
2009–10113thRound of 32
2010–11120thSemi-finals
2011–1227thRound of 32
2012–1323rdRound of 32
2013–14117thRound of 16
2014–15119thRound of 16
2015–16218thRound of 32
2016–17215thSecond round
2017–18218thSecond round
2018–19210thRound of 32
2019–2024thFirst round
2020–2124thQuarter-finals
2021–2221stRound of 32
2022–23117thFirst round
2023–241Second round

Current squadedit

As of 5 February 2024.[32]

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

No.Pos. NationPlayer
16DF  SRBAleksandar Radovanović
17DF  ESPAlejandro Pozo
18DF  ESPMarc Pubill
19MF  ESPSergio Arribas
20DF  ESPÁlex Centelles
21DF  ESPChumi
22DF  MEXCésar Montes
23FW  MLIIbrahima Koné
24DF  MOZBruno Langa (on loan from Chaves)
25GK  PORLuís Maximiano (on loan from Lazio)
29FW  SRBMarko Milovanović
38FW  ARGLuka Romero (on loan from AC Milan)

Reserve teamedit

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

No.Pos. NationPlayer
30DF  ESPCarlos Ballestero
32DF  ESPMiguel Peñalver
37GK  ESPBruno Iribarne

Out on loanedit

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

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  ESPArnau Puigmal (at Elche until 30 June 2024)
MF  BRALázaro (at Palmeiras until 30 June 2024)
FW  ENGArvin Appiah (at Rotherham United until 30 June 2024)
FW  ESPCarlos Rojas (at Murcia until 30 June 2024)
FW  GNBMarciano Sanca (at Alcorcón until 30 June 2024)

Technical staffedit

PositionStaff
Head coach Pepe Mel
Assistant coach Nacho Pérez
Goalkeeping coach & Analyst Ricardo Molina
Fitness coach Víctor Fortes
Alvaro Nova
Doctor Diego Portugal
Jesús Dueñas
Nutritionist José González
Physiotherapist Cid Andrade
Pedro Serrano
Pepe Álvarez
Edu Antequera
Rehab fitness coach Álvaro Cano
Team Manager Mohamed El Assy
Delegate Jorge Díaz
Kit man Bernardo Hernández
Juan Ventaja
Mateo Ruiz
Kit woman Mari César

Last updated: October 2023
Source: UD Almería

Notable playersedit

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

World Cup playersedit

The following players have been selected by their country in the World Cup Finals, while playing for Almería.

Uniformedit

Almería's uniform in the 2020–21 season.
PeriodKit ManufacturerSponsors
2001–07CejudoObrascampo
2007–08UDA
2008–10None1
2010–12RasánUrcisol
2012–19Nike
2019–20AdidasArabian Centres
2020–22Puma
2022–CastoreKhaled Juffali Co.

1 The shirt contained messages such as Isla del Fraile or Corredor de Vida.

Honoursedit

See alsoedit

Referencesedit

  1. ^ "Estadio Juegos del Mediterráneo" (in Spanish). UD Almería.
  2. ^ "Un club joven con un gran futuro". UD Almeria SAD (in Spanish). 2007. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Estadio Juegos del Mediterráneo". UDA Almeria SAD (in Spanish). Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos". Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "1909: el año en el que nace el primer club de fútbol almeriense". Ideal. 28 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d "La historia del Club | Almería - Web Oficial". La historia del Club | Almería - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  7. ^ Europa Press (1 July 2008). "Gonzalo Arconada firma como nuevo entrenador del Almería para las dos próximas temporadas". Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. ^ EFE (21 December 2008). "Gonzalo Arconada, destituido como entrenador del Almería". Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Grupo Joly. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  9. ^ EFE (20 November 2010). "Juan Manuel Lillo es destituido como entrenador del Almería". 20 Minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  10. ^ Europa Press (23 November 2010). "Lillo se despide, junto a sus ayudantes, de la plantilla del Almería". Marca (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. ^ "El Almería se encomienda a Oltra". ABC (in Spanish). Vocento. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  12. ^ EFE (5 April 2011). "La UD Almería destituye a José Luis Oltra para salvarse en ocho jornadas". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  13. ^ EFE (5 April 2011). "Roberto Olabe sustituye a José Luis Oltra como técnico de la UD Almería". El Confidencial (in Spanish). Titania Compañía Editorial, S.L. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Francisco Javier Rodríguez, nuevo entrenador del Almería". El Economista (in Spanish). Editorial Ecoprensa, S.A. EcoDiario. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  15. ^ "2013/14 Spanish Liga BBVA Table / Table". ESPN FC. 2013–2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Clasificación Liga BBVA - Temporada 2013/2014.Jornada 7". Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Liga BBVA. 2013–2014. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  17. ^ Espino, Rafa (9 December 2014). "El Almería destituye a Francisco". AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  18. ^ Europa Press (11 December 2014). "Juan Ignacio Martínez, nuevo entrenador del Almería hasta final de temporada". 20 Minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  19. ^ Europa Press (5 April 2015). "El Almería destituye a Juan Ignacio Martínez". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  20. ^ EFE (6 April 2015). "Sergi Barjuán, nuevo entrenador del Almería". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Grupo La Información. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Clasificación Liga BBVA". Liga BBVA (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  22. ^ "El Almería retira el recurso y acaba la Liga con 29 puntos". Super Deporte (in Spanish). Prensa Ibérica. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  23. ^ "2018-2019 La Liga 2 Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  24. ^ Góngora, Rafa; Miralles, Carlos (2 August 2019). "Turki Al-Sheikh ya es el dueño del Almería". La Voz de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Su excelencia Turki Al-Sheikh, nuevo propietario de la UD Almería". Unión Deportiva Almería (in Spanish). 2 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Pedro Emanuel, Darío Drudi, Mohamed El Assy, los hombres fuertes del proyecto de Al-Sheihk". Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Joly Digital. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  27. ^ Góngora, Rafa (2 August 2019). "Pedro Emanuel sería el nuevo entrenador del Almería". La Voz de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  28. ^ de Rivas, Eduardo (5 November 2019). "Guti, nuevo entrenador del Almería". ABC (in Spanish). Vocento. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  29. ^ "Guti, cesado como entrenador del Almería". Sport.es. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  30. ^ Aguilera, Juanjo (26 June 2020). "Mario Silva dirige la primera sesión de trabajo post-'Guti'". Ideal (in Spanish). Vocento. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  31. ^ "La UD Almería da el primer paso para la construcción de su estadio "Champions"". Cadena COPE. 9 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Plantilla Unión Deportiva Almería SAD". UD Almería (in Spanish). Urcisol. Retrieved February 1, 2018.

External linksedit

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