Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D.(Spanish pronunciation:[uˈnjondepoɾˈtiβ(a)almeˈɾi.a]) is aSpanish professional football clubbased inAlmería,in the autonomous community ofAndalusia.Founded on 26 July 1989 and known asAlmería Club de Fútboluntil 2001, when it was renamedUnión Deportiva Almería.[2]The club currently plays in the SpanishSegunda División,and plays their home games at the 17,400-seat capacityUD Almería Stadium.[3][4]

Almería
Full nameUnión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)Rojiblancos
La Unión
Almeriensistas
UDA
Indálicos
Founded26 July 1989;35 years ago(1989-07-26)asAlmería Club de Fútbol
GroundUD Almería Stadium
Capacity17,400[1]
OwnerTurki Al-Sheikh
PresidentTurki Al-Sheikh
Head coachRubi
LeagueSegunda División
2023–24La Liga,19th of 20 (relegated)
Websitewww.udalmeriasad.com
Current season

History

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The first football club inAlmeríawas founded in 1909: el Almería Foot-Ball Club.[5]Since then, several Almería football clubs appeared and disappeared. One of them wasAD Almería,a team that played inLa Ligabetween 1979 and 1981, but disappeared in 1982, and was arguably UD Almería's predecessor.

In 1989, a club namedAlmería Club de Fútbolwas born, but in 2001 was renamedUnión Deportiva Almería.On 19 January 2001 the mayor ofAlmeríaSantiago 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 thesecond division,it was relegated to thethirdand thefourth divisions.

After spending several seasons in the second level, Almería side was first promoted to the top flight after finishing runner-up in the2006–07 season.After some outstanding performances, as the away win againstDeportivo de La Coruña3–0 in the firstLa Ligamatch, the team achieved a final 8th league place in2007–08.[6]At the club's helm was coachUnai Emery,asstrikerÁlvaro Negredofinished team topscorer with 13 goals.

UD Almería players facingReal Madrid'sCristiano Ronaldoin 2011

After Emery left forValencia CF,Gonzalo Arconadastepped in,[7]but was sacked on 21 December 2008, after a string of poor results, albeit without ever reaching the last three.[8]MexicanHugo Sáncheztook the job, and fared slightly better, for afinal mid-table position.

In2010–11,Almeríareached the semifinalsof theCopa del Reyfor 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, coachJuan Manuel Lillowas fired after a 0–8 home loss againstFC 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 successorJosé Luis Oltramet the same fate,[11]in April 2011.[12]He was replaced byRoberto 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 defeatingGirona FCin theplay-offs.After the departure of managerJavi Gracia,the club appointed their former player and manager ofthe reservesat the timeFrancisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez;[14]the team eventually managed to survive in2013–14,finishing 16th.[15][16]

Francisco was sacked in December 2014, after only managing two points out of 24,[17]and was later replaced byJuan Ignacio Martínez.[18]"JIM" also only lasted until April of the following year,[19]and even with new managerSergi 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-Sheikhduring a press conference in 2019

On 2 August 2019,Turki Al-Sheikhbecame the owner of the club, replacing Alfonso García Gabarrón.[24]He appointed Mohamed El Assy asgeneral director,[25]Dario Drudiassporting director,who replaced Miguel Ángel Corona,[26]and manager Óscar Fernández was replaced byPedro Emanuel.[27]On 5 November 2019, it was announcedGutireplaced Emanuel.[28]On 26 June 2020, he was ceased and replaced byMario Silva,[29][30]who was himself replaced byJosé Gomeson 27 July.

In August 2021, UD Almería (Mohamed El Assy) and theAyuntamiento de Almería[es](Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal[es]) agreed to a lease on the operation of the municipally-ownedEstadio de los Juegos Mediterráneosfor 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.

In the 2023-24 season, Almeria started the season with record of 28 league games without a win between 11 August 2023 to 11 March 2024. At last, the club secured a victory againstLas Palmasοn 17 March 2024. However, they were relegated to second division after a 1–3 loss toGetafeon 27 April 2024, ending their two-year stay in top tier.

Season to season

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Season Level Division Place Copa del Rey
1989–90 5 Reg. Pref. 1st
1990–91 5 Reg. Pref. 3rd
1991–92 5 Reg. Pref. 2nd
1992–93 4 2nd
1993–94 3 2ª B 11th Fourth round
1994–95 3 2ª B 2nd Second round
1995–96 2 16th Second round
1996–97 2 17th Second round
1997–98 3 2ª B 7th First round
1998–99 3 2ª B 18th
1999–2000 4 4th
2000–01 3 2ª B 11th
2001–02 3 2ª B 3rd
2002–03 2 18th Round of 32
2003–04 2 13th Round of 32
2004–05 2 14th Second round
2005–06 2 6th First round
2006–07 2 2nd Third round
2007–08 1 8th Round of 32
2008–09 1 11th Round of 16
Season Level Division Place Copa del Rey
2009–10 1 13th Round of 32
2010–11 1 20th Semi-finals
2011–12 2 7th Round of 32
2012–13 2 3rd Round of 32
2013–14 1 17th Round of 16
2014–15 1 19th Round of 16
2015–16 2 18th Round of 32
2016–17 2 15th Second round
2017–18 2 18th Second round
2018–19 2 10th Round of 32
2019–20 2 4th First round
2020–21 2 4th Quarter-finals
2021–22 2 1st Round of 32
2022–23 1 17th First round
2023–24 1 19th Second round
2024–25 2

Players

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As of 20 November 2024[32]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK POR Luís Maximiano
2 MF ESP Arnau Puigmal
3 DF ESP Edgar González
4 DF BRA Kaiky
5 MF ARG Lucas Robertone(captain)
6 MF SEN Dion Lopy
8 MF ESP Gonzalo Melero
9 FW COL Luis Suárez
10 MF ESP Nico Melamed
11 MF ESP Sergio Arribas
12 FW BRA Léo Baptistão
13 GK ESP Fernando Martínez
15 MF GHA Iddrisu Baba
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF SRB Aleksandar Radovanović
17 DF ESP Álex Pozo
18 DF ESP Marc Pubill
19 FW SRB Marko Milovanović
20 DF ESP Álex Centelles
21 DF ESP Chumi
24 DF MOZ Bruno Langa
26 DF ESP Paco Sanz
27 MF POR Gui Guedes
28 FW MAR Rachad Fettal
31 GK ESP Bruno Iribarne
36 FW MNE Marko Perović

Reserve team

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
29 DF ESP Nacho Vila
30 FW ESP Valen Gómez
33 MF ESP Saif El Aamari
No. Pos. Nation Player
34 MF ESP Rubén Quintanilla
35 FW ESP Loren Sánchez

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF ESP Arnau Solà(atVillarreal Buntil 30 June 2025)
DF GNB Houboulang Mendes(atTroyesuntil 30 June 2025)
MF ESP Adrián Embarba(atRayo Vallecanountil 30 June 2025)
MF BRA Lázaro(atPalmeirasuntil 31 December 2024)
MF ESP Marcos Peña(atMarbellauntil 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW ENG Arvin Appiah(atNacionaluntil 30 June 2025)
FW ESP Carlos Rojas(atMurciauntil 30 June 2025)
FW MLI Ibrahima Koné(atAl-Okhdooduntil 30 June 2025)
FW GNB Marciano Sanca(atBetis Deportivountil 30 June 2025)

Technical staff

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Position Staff
Head coach Rubi
Assistant coach Jaume Torras
Chief of fitness coach Xavi Gil
Fitness coach Manel García
Víctor Fortes
Goalkeeping coach Diego Tuero
Ricardo Molina
Technical assistant Joan Ferrer
Joan Carrillo
Rehab fitness coach Álvaro Cano
Kit man Mateo Ruiz
Juan Ventaja
Bernardo Hernández
Kit woman Mari César
Herminia César
Chief of medical services Sebastián Jiménez
Physiotherapy coordinator Cid Andrade
Physiotherapist Pedro Serrano
Carlos Fernández
Edu Antequera
Nutritionist José González

Last updated: 20 November 2024
Source:UD Almería(in Spanish)

Notable players

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

World Cup players

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The following players have been selected by their country in theWorld CupFinals, while playing for Almería.

Uniform

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Almería's uniform in the 2020–21 season.
Period Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
2001–07 Cejudo Obrascampo
2007–08 UDA
2008–10 None1
2010–12 Rasán Urcisol
2012–19 Nike
2019–20 Adidas Arabian Centres
2020–22 Puma
2022– Castore Khaled Juffali Co.

1The shirt contained messages such asIsla del FraileorCorredor de Vida.

Honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"Estadio Juegos del Mediterráneo"(in Spanish). UD Almería.
  2. ^"Un club joven con un gran futuro".UD Almeria SAD(in Spanish). 2007. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 18,2018.
  3. ^"Estadio Juegos del Mediterráneo".UDA Almeria SAD(in Spanish).RetrievedJanuary 18,2018.
  4. ^"Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos".Ideal(in Spanish).RetrievedJanuary 18,2018.
  5. ^"1909: el año en el que nace el primer club de fútbol almeriense".Ideal.28 May 2017.
  6. ^abcd"La historia del Club | Almería - Web Oficial".La historia del Club | Almería - Web Oficial(in Spanish).Retrieved2019-10-16.
  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).Retrieved14 July2020.
  8. ^EFE(21 December 2008)."Gonzalo Arconada, destituido como entrenador del Almería".Diario de Almería(in Spanish).Grupo Joly.Retrieved14 July2020.
  9. ^EFE(20 November 2010)."Juan Manuel Lillo es destituido como entrenador del Almería".20 Minutos(in Spanish).Retrieved14 July2020.
  10. ^Europa Press(23 November 2010)."Lillo se despide, junto a sus ayudantes, de la plantilla del Almería".Marca(in Spanish).Unidad Editorial.Retrieved14 July2020.
  11. ^"El Almería se encomienda a Oltra".ABC(in Spanish).Vocento.25 November 2010.Retrieved14 July2020.
  12. ^EFE(5 April 2011)."La UD Almería destituye a José Luis Oltra para salvarse en ocho jornadas".Cadena SER(in Spanish).Retrieved14 July2020.
  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.Retrieved14 July2020.
  14. ^"Francisco Javier Rodríguez, nuevo entrenador del Almería".El Economista(in Spanish). Editorial Ecoprensa, S.A. EcoDiario. 29 June 2013.Retrieved2 August2019.
  15. ^"2013/14 Spanish Liga BBVA Table / Table".ESPN FC.2013–2014. Archived fromthe originalon 11 April 2014.Retrieved2 August2019.
  16. ^"Clasificación Liga BBVA - Temporada 2013/2014.Jornada 7".Liga de Fútbol Profesional.Liga BBVA.2013–2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2013.Retrieved2 August2019.
  17. ^Espino, Rafa (9 December 2014)."El Almería destituye a Francisco".AS(in Spanish).Retrieved2 August2019.
  18. ^Europa Press(11 December 2014)."Juan Ignacio Martínez, nuevo entrenador del Almería hasta final de temporada".20 Minutos(in Spanish).Retrieved2 August2019.
  19. ^Europa Press(5 April 2015)."El Almería destituye a Juan Ignacio Martínez".La Voz de Galicia(in Spanish).Retrieved2 August2019.
  20. ^EFE(6 April 2015)."Sergi Barjuán, nuevo entrenador del Almería".Diario de Navarra(in Spanish). Grupo La Información.Retrieved2 August2019.
  21. ^"Clasificación Liga BBVA".Liga BBVA(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2015.Retrieved2 August2019.
  22. ^"El Almería retira el recurso y acaba la Liga con 29 puntos".Super Deporte(in Spanish). Prensa Ibérica. 27 May 2015.Retrieved2 August2019.
  23. ^"2018-2019 La Liga 2 Stats".FBref.com.Retrieved2019-10-17.
  24. ^Góngora, Rafa; Miralles, Carlos (2 August 2019)."Turki Al-Sheikh ya es el dueño del Almería".La Voz de Almería(in Spanish).Retrieved2 August2019.
  25. ^"Su excelencia Turki Al-Sheikh, nuevo propietario de la UD Almería".Unión Deportiva Almería(in Spanish). 2 August 2019.Retrieved3 August2019.
  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.Retrieved3 August2019.
  27. ^Góngora, Rafa (2 August 2019)."Pedro Emanuel sería el nuevo entrenador del Almería".La Voz de Almería(in Spanish).Retrieved3 August2019.
  28. ^de Rivas, Eduardo (5 November 2019)."Guti, nuevo entrenador del Almería".ABC(in Spanish).Vocento.Retrieved5 November2019.
  29. ^"Guti, cesado como entrenador del Almería".Sport.es.26 June 2020.Retrieved14 July2020.
  30. ^Aguilera, Juanjo (26 June 2020)."Mario Silva dirige la primera sesión de trabajo post-'Guti'".Ideal(in Spanish).Vocento.Retrieved14 July2020.
  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 - Jugadores"(in Spanish). UD Almería.Retrieved20 November2024.
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