Levante UD

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. (Template:IPA) is a Spanish football club in Valencia, in the namesake autonomous community.

Founded on 6 September 1909, the club will compete in La Liga for the 2025–26 season, holding home games at Ciutat de València Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="laliga1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="stadiumguide1">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Early years (1909–1935)

Levante CF vs Valencia CF in 1932

Levante UD was formerly registered as Levante Football Club on 9 September 1909<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (celebrating its 100th anniversary on 9 September 2009).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Thus Levante is the most senior football club in Valencia, with rival team Valencia CF not being formed until 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="levante-emv1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="google1">Template:Cite book</ref>

Levante shares its name with the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, with Spain's east coast, the coast over which the sun rises (levantar in Spanish),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with the Levant wind that comes from the east, and with the Levante beach in La Malvarrosa where Levante Football Club played some of its earliest fixtures.

Levante's earliest games were played at La Platjeta, near the docks on a plot of land owned by a perfume entrepreneur. Its next ground was also near the port area, and the club gradually became associated with the working class. In 1919, the side played Valencia CF for the first time, losing 0–1; the game marked the inauguration of the recently built ground at Algirós. In 1928, Levante FC won its first trophy, the Valencian Championship.

1909 also saw the birth of Gimnástico Football Club, which originally played at Patronato de la Juventud Obrera, being then named Gimnástico-Patronato. In 1919, Gimnástico became the champion of the Campeonato de Valencia, beating CD Castellón in two leg finals; the next year, the club had become Real Gimnástico Football Club, after being granted royal patronage by Alfonso XIII, and they reached the final of Campeonato Regional de Levante, but lost to Club Deportivo Aguileño. In 1931, with the founding of the Second Spanish Republic, the club dropped the Real from its name.

In 1934–35, both Levante and Gimnástico debuted in the second division, when the league was expanded from 10 teams to 24. In 1935, Levante won the Campeonato Levante-Sur, a competition that featured teams from Valencia, Murcia and Andalusia,<ref>Spain – List of Champions of Levante, Valencia and Murcia Template:Webarchive; at RSSSF</ref> and subsequently reached the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup, consecutively beating Valencia and Barcelona before losing to eventual runners-up Sabadell.

During the civil war: Copa de la España Libre (1937)

During the Spanish Civil War, Levante and Gimnástico played in the Mediterranean League, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Teams from this league also competed in the Copa de la España Libre ("Free Spain Cup"). It was originally intended that the top four teams from the league would enter the cup, but Barcelona opted to tour Mexico and the United States, and as a result, Levante took its place. The first round of the competition was a mini-league with the top two teams, Levante and Valencia, qualifying for the final. On 18 July 1937, Levante defeated its city rivals 1–0 at the Montjuïc.<ref>Spain – Copa de España Libre 1937; at RSSSF</ref><ref name="reconoce 2023">La Federación reconoce la Copa del Levante de 1937 y la del Deportivo de 1912 Template:Webarchive, [The Federation recognizes Levante's 1937 Cup and Deportivo's 1912 Cup], Noel Rodilla, Marca, 25 March 2023 (in Spanish)</ref>

Merging: Gimnástico and Levante (1939)

Pennat of Gimnàtic de València and Levante FC, the two teams that created the Levante UD

During the Civil War, Levante's ground was destroyed, but the club's squad remained intact. In contrast, Gimnástico had a ground, Estadio de Vallejo, but had lost most of their players. As a result, in 1939 Levante FC and Gimnástico FC merged into Levante Unión Deportiva.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Levante UD can thus trace its origin back to at least 1909 through both Levante FC and Gimnástico FC. The merged club was at first named Unión Deportiva Levante-Gimnástico, then changed it a few years later to Levante Unión Deportiva. The current club colours date from this era: the blaugrana, blue-garnet, home colours were originally those of Gimnástico FC, while the black and white away kit were the colours of Levante FC. Levante UD also inherited from Gimnástico FC their nickname, Granota, the Frogs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="google1"/><ref name="levante-emv1"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

La Liga: relegations and promotions (1963–present)

Levante had to wait until the 1960s to make its La Liga debut. In 1963, the club finished runner-up in Group II of the second division, defeating Deportivo de La Coruña 4–2 on aggregate in the promotion play-offs. During the first top flight season, it managed to win both games against Valencia, and also achieved a 5–1 home win against Barcelona in the 1964–65 campaign, but was relegated nonetheless after losing in the playoffs against Málaga. It spent most of the following two decades in the second and third divisions; the Segunda División B would not be created until 1977.

Johan Cruyff in his debut with Levante, March 1981

In the early 1980s, Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff played half a season for the club, retiring three years later. After winning 2003–04's second division, Levante returned to the top level but survived only one season. Finishing third in 2005–06, it returned for two additional campaigns, the decisive match in the 2006–07 season being a 4–2 home win against Valencia courtesy of Riga Mustapha (two goals), Salva and Laurent Courtois.

Levante's financial status worsened, however, and there were reports that the players had only received approximately one-fifth of their contractual payments. News reports stated that the club had incurred a debt of over €18 million in payments due to its players. The team plummeted down the standings, and it was confirmed with several matches to go that the club would be playing in the second division in 2008–09. The players protested at their lack of payments at one point, refusing to move for several seconds after the opening whistle against Deportivo and later announcing that they would strike during the season-ending game at Real Madrid. The threat was withdrawn when league officials announced that a benefit game would be played between a Levante XI and a Primera División XI, with all receipts going to pay the Levante players' wages.

On 13 June 2010, Levante returned to La Liga after a 3–1 home win against already relegated Castellón, making its final round 0–4 defeat at Real Betis irrelevant.<ref>Levante are finally dethroned as La Liga becomes a more boring place Template:Webarchive; The Guardian, 31 October 2011</ref> Under the manager who led the team back to the top flight, Luis García Plaza, Levante finally retained its top division status in the 2010–11 season. At one point in the league's second round of matches, Levante was third in the table behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, after losing just once (against Real Madrid) in 12 games.<ref>Levante are back and this time they're ready to take on the world Template:Webarchive; The Guardian, 17 October 2011</ref>

Chart of Levante UD league performance 1929–present

On 26 October 2011, during round nine of the season, Levante defeated Real Sociedad 3–2 to move top of the first division table for the first time in the club's history, with 23 points.<ref>Levante pulls off the impossible Template:Webarchive; Sports Illustrated, 26 October 2011</ref> In the process, it recorded seven straight wins after drawing its first two games.<ref>Underdog turns heads at the top in Spain Template:Webarchive; The New York Times, 28 October 2011</ref> The club eventually finished sixth after defeating Athletic Bilbao 3–0 at home in its last match, thus qualifying for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in its history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There, they made it to the last 16 before a 2–0 extra-time loss to Russia's FC Rubin Kazan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Levante.

In the 2015–16 season, Levante was relegated after defeat by Málaga and finished last. The club was promoted back to the top league in 2016–17, winning the Segunda División title. In the 2017–18 season, the club secured safety in the league and on 13 May, beat the champions Barcelona 5–4 (having led 5–1 early in the second half), with Emmanuel Boateng scoring his first ever career hat-trick.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This win ended Barcelona's hopes of achieving an unbeaten season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 2021–22 season, Levante was relegated after being defeated 0–6 by Real Madrid, ending their five years in the top tier.

Seasons

Recent history

Before a game in March 2013
Season Div Pos. Pld W D L GF GA Pts Cup Notes
2003–04 2D 1st 42 22 13 7 59 33 79 Last 16 Promoted
2004–05 1D 18th 38 9 10 19 39 58 37 Relegated
2005–06 2D 3rd 42 20 14 8 53 39 74 1st round Promoted
2006–07 1D 15th 38 10 12 16 37 53 42 Last 16
2007–08 1D 20th 38 7 5 26 33 75 26 Last 16 Relegated
2008–09 2D 8th 42 18 10 14 59 59 64
2009–10 2D 3rd 42 19 14 9 63 45 71 Promoted
2010–11 1D 14th 38 12 9 17 41 52 45 Last 16
2011–12 1D 6th 38 16 7 15 54 50 55 Quarter-finals Qualified to UEFA Europa League
2012–13 1D 11th 38 12 10 16 40 57 46 Last 16 Last 16 UEFA Europa League
2013–14 1D 10th 38 12 12 14 35 43 48 Quarter-finals
2014–15 1D 14th 38 9 10 19 34 67 37 Last 16
2015–16 1D 20th 36 7 8 21 34 66 29 1st round Relegated
2016–17 2D 1st 42 25 9 8 57 32 84 2nd round Champions and Promoted
2017–18 1D 15th 38 11 13 14 44 58 46 Last 16
2018–19 1D 15th 38 11 11 16 59 66 44 Last 16
2019–20 1D 12th 38 14 7 17 47 53 49 Last 32
2020–21 1D 14th 38 9 14 15 46 57 41 Semi-finals
2021–22 1D 19th 38 8 11 19 51 76 35 2nd round Relegated
2022–23 2D 3rd 42 18 18 6 46 30 72 Last 16 Promotion Play-offs Runners-up
2023–24 2D 8th 42 13 20 9 49 45 59 2nd round
2024–25 2D 1st 42 22 13 7 69 42 79 1st round Champions and Promoted

European record

Season Competition Round Opposition Home Away Aggregate
2012–13 UEFA Europa League Play-off round Template:Flagicon Motherwell 1–0 2–0 3–0
Group L Template:Flagicon Twente 3–0 0–0 2nd
Template:Flagicon Hannover 96 2–2 1–2
Template:Flagicon Helsingborg 1–0 3–1
Round of 32 Template:Flagicon Olympiacos 3–0 1–0 4–0
Round of 16 Template:Flagicon Rubin Kazan 0–0 0–2 Template:Aet 0–2

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1939–40 2 2ª 1st First round
1940–41 2 2ª 3rd Quarterfinals
1941–42 2 2ª 8th First round
1942–43 3 Template:Abbr 1st First round
1943–44 3 3ª 1st -
1944–45 3 3ª 2nd -
1945–46 3 3ª 1st -
1946–47 2 2ª 6th Round of 16
1947–48 2 2ª 5th Fifth round
1948–49 2 2ª 9th Fourth round
1949–50 2 2ª 13th Third round
1950/51 2 2ª 13th -
1951–52 2 2ª 14th -
1952–53 3 3ª 2nd -
1953–54 3 3ª 1st -
1954–55 2 2ª 15th -
1955–56 3 3ª 1st -
1956–57 2 2ª 11th -
1957–58 2 2ª 4th -
1958–59 2 2ª 2nd Round of 32
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1959–60 2 2ª 6th First round
1960–61 2 2ª 6th First round
1961–62 2 2ª 6th First round
1962–63 2 2ª 2nd Round of 16
1963–64 1 1ª 10th Round of 32
1964–65 1 1ª 14th Round of 16
1965–66 2 2ª 5th First round
1966–67 2 2ª 4th Round of 32
1967–68 2 2ª 14th First round
1968–69 3 3ª 3rd -
1969–70 3 3ª 4th Third round
1970–71 3 3ª 12th First round
1971–72 3 3ª 6th Second round
1972–73 3 3ª 1st Third round
1973–74 2 2ª 19th Fifth round
1974–75 3 3ª 2nd Fourth round
1975–76 3 3ª 1st First round
1976–77 2 2ª 18th Second round
1977–78 3 2ª B 4th Third round
1978–79 3 2ª B 1st Second round
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1979–80 2 2ª 10th Third round
1980–81 2 2ª 9th Round of 16
1981–82 2 2ª 19th Third round
1982–83 4 3ª 2nd Second round
1983–84 4 3ª 2nd Second round
1984–85 3 2ª B 11th Second round
1985–86 3 2ª B 10th -
1986–87 4 3ª 2nd -
1987–88 3 2ª B 6th Third round
1988–89 3 2ª B 1st Second round
1989–90 2 2ª 15th First round
1990–91 2 2ª 19th Third round
1991–92 3 2ª B 11th Third round
1992–93 3 2ª B 9th Second round
1993–94 3 2ª B 3rd Third round
1994–95 3 2ª B 1st First round
1995–96 3 2ª B 1st Third round
1996–97 2 2ª 9th Second round
1997–98 2 2ª 22nd First round
1998–99 3 2ª B 1st Round of 16
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1999–2000 2 2ª 7th prem. round
2000–01 2 2ª 8th Round of 32
2001–02 2 2ª 19th Round of 32
2002–03 2 2ª 4th Round of 64
2003–04 2 2ª 1st Round of 16
2004–05 1 1ª 18th Round of 32
2005–06 2 2ª 3rd First round
2006–07 1 1ª 15th Round of 32
2007–08 1 1ª 20th Round of 16
2008–09 2 2ª 8th Second round
2009–10 2 2ª 3rd Second round
2010–11 1 1ª 14th Round of 16
2011–12 1 1ª 6th Quarterfinals
2012–13 1 1ª 11th Round of 16
2013–14 1 1ª 10th Quarterfinals
2014–15 1 1ª 14th Round of 16
2015–16 1 1ª 20th Round of 32
2016–17 2 2ª 1st Second round
2017–18 1 1ª 15th Round of 16
2018–19 1 1ª 15th Round of 16
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
2019–20 1 1ª 12th Round of 32
2020–21 1 1ª 14th Semifinals
2021–22 1 1ª 19th Second round
2022–23 2 2ª 3rd Round of 16
2023–24 2 2ª 8th Second round
2024–25 2 2ª 1st First round
2025–26 1 1ª TBD

Players

Current squad

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Reserve team

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Out on loan

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Club officials

Current technical staff

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Notable former players

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

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Coaches

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Honours

National competitions

Regional competitions

Friendly tournaments

  • Trofeo Costa de Valencia <ref>Trofeo Costa de Valencia Template:Webarchive；at RSSSF</ref>
    • Winners: 1972, 1974, 1977
  • Trofeo Comunidad Valenciana <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
    • Winners: 1986
  • Trofeo Ciutat de València
    • Winners: 1995
  • Trofeo Ciudad de Valencia
    • Winners: 1997
  • Trofeo de la Generalitat Valenciana
    • Winners: 2000

Template:See also

Stadium

Template:Main Estadi Ciutat de València<ref name="stadiumguide1"/><ref name="laliga1"/> was opened on 9 September 1969, with capacity for 25,354 spectators. The pitch measures 107 by 69 metres.

Due to the 2019–20 season's late finish because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and renovation work at their stadium, Levante concluded the campaign behind closed doors at the Estadi Olímpic Camilo Cano in La Nucia, Province of Alicante.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Rivals

Template:Main Levante contest the Derbi Valenciano, also known as the Derbi del Turia or Derbi Valentino, with local rivals Valencia.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> The fixture has been played 38 times competitively, with Valencia winning 21 times to Levante's 8.

See also

References

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Template:Levante UD Template:La Liga teamlist

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