Marbella FC
{{Short description|Spanish football club}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Marbella
| nickname = Blanquillos (Little Whites)
| image = Marbella FC.png
| fullname = Marbella Fútbol Club
| founded = {{start date and age|1997}}
| chairman = Zhao Zhen
| chrtitle = President
| manager = Carlos de Lerma
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| league = {{Spanish football updater|Marbella}}
| season = {{Spanish football updater|Marbella2}}
| position = {{Spanish football updater|Marbella3}}
| ground = [https://www.marbellafootballcenter.com/es/dama-de-noche-by-mfc/ Dama de Noche football ground]
Marbella, Spain
| capacity = Circa 1,500
| current =
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| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b1 = _vnecknavy
| pattern_ra1 = _navyborder
| pattern_ra2 =
| leftarm1 = FFFFFF
| leftarm2 = 0050FF
| body1 = FFFFFF
| body2 = 0050FF
| rightarm1 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = 0050FF
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| shorts2 = 0050FF
| socks1 = FFFFFF
| socks2 = 0050FF
| pattern_b2 = _boca10t
}}
Marbella Fútbol Club, formerly known as Unión Deportiva Marbella, is a Spanish football team based in Marbella, the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1997, it currently plays in {{Spanish football updater|Marbella}}, playing home matches at Dama de Noche football ground.
History
Unión Deportiva Marbella was founded in 1997 immediately after the defunction of Club Atlético Marbella, which was founded 38 years before and was owned by Jesús Gil, also the chairman of Atlético de Madrid. In 2000–01, the team won its Tercera División group but came second to Real Betis B in the promotion play-offs. It subsequently qualified to the Copa del Rey for the first time, losing 0–1 at home to CD Díter Zafra in the preliminary round. In 2003, it was finally promoted to Segunda División B.
Marbella was taken over by businessmen Ian Radford and Wayne Elliott of the HI Group, an international sports, leisure, property and travel company in September 2007.{{cite news|title=HI Group Acquire Second Division Spanish Club "UD MARBELLA"|url=http://www.sport-and-travel.com/news/2007-2210.html|access-date=13 February 2017|publisher=HI Group|date=22 October 2007}} In 2009, the club contested the play-offs for promotion to Segunda División for the first time, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Lorca Deportiva. In the ensuing domestic cup season, it reached the last 32 before an 8–0 aggregate loss to Atlético;{{cite news|title=El Marbella paga los platos rotos del derbi|trans-title=Marbella is the fall guy for the derby|url=http://www.marca.com/2009/11/10/futbol/copa_rey/1257883540.html|access-date=14 March 2017|work=Marca|language=es}} the league campaign ended with relegation after seven years in the third tier.
On 28 June 2013 Unión was renamed Marbella Fútbol Club, by consent of the Russian ownership presided by Alexander Grinberg, in order to appeal to a wider foreign fanbase.{{cite news|title=La UD Marbella hace oficial su cambio de nombre por Marbella FC|trans-title=UD Marbella officially changes its name to Marbella FC|url=http://www.marbella24horas.es/futbol/la-ud-marbella-hace-oficial-su-cambio-de-nombre-por-marbella-fc-3561|access-date=13 February 2017|publisher=Marbella 24 Horas|date=28 June 2013|language=es}} At the end of the season, it ended four years in the fourth division with a 3–2 aggregate win over CD Eldense after extra time in the play-offs.{{cite news|title=Épico ascenso del Marbella a Segunda B|trans-title=Marbella's epic promotion to Segunda B|url=http://www.diariosur.es/20140524/deportes/futbol/epico-ascenso-marbella-segunda-201405242343.html|access-date=14 March 2017|work=Diario Sur|date=24 May 2014|language=es}} By finishing second in the regular season, Marbella played in the 2018 Segunda División B play-offs, and lost on penalties in the first round to Celta de Vigo B.{{cite news |title=El Celta B elimina al Marbella en los penaltis y sueña con el ascenso|trans-title=Celta B eliminate Marbella on penalties and dream of promotion |url=https://www.farodevigo.es/celta-de-vigo/2018/05/27/celta-b-elimina-marbella-penaltis/1899606.html |access-date=7 February 2019 |work=Faro de Vigo |date=27 May 2018 |language=es}}
Grinberg sold the club to Chinese investor Zhao Zhen in November 2018.{{cite news |last1=Suárez |first1=César |title=Zhao Zhen compra el Marbella FC|trans-title=Zhao Zhen buys Marbella FC|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/mas-futbol/segunda-b-grupo-iiii/2018/11/19/5bf2f0a146163f6b978b4580.html |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=Marca |date=19 November 2018 |language=Spanish}} In 2019–20, the team again came second and qualified for the play-offs, where all games were held in the local area due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, they lost 2–0 in the first round to SCR Peña Deportiva.{{cite news |first1=Carlos |last1=Cariño |url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/07/19/mas_futbol/1595111313_424131.html|title=La Peña Deportiva le da un revolcón al Marbella y sigue haciendo historia|trans-title=Peña Deportiva rout Marbella and continue making history|access-date=1 May 2023 |work=Diario AS |date=19 July 2020 |language=Spanish}} A league restructuring meant that Marbella were relegated from the last season of the Segunda División B in 2020–21, dropping to the fifth-tier Tercera Federación.{{cite news |title=El Marbella consuma el doble descenso en la peor temporada de su historia|trans-title=Marbella suffer double relegation in the worst season of their history |url=https://www.marbella24horas.es/futbol/el-marbella-consuma-el-doble-descenso-en-la-peor-temporada-de-su-historia-30435 |access-date=1 May 2023 |publisher=Marbella 24 Horas |date=23 May 2021 |language=Spanish}}
After two years in the fifth tier, Marbella achieved promotion in April 2023 as champions of their group. Goalkeeper Alberto Lejárraga celebrated the occasion by coming out as gay.{{cite news |last1=Hernández |first1=Javier |title=El beso del ascenso: el portero del Marbella hace pública su homosexualidad|trans-title=Promotion kiss: Marbella goalkeeper makes his homosexuality public |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/tercera-rfef/2023/04/26/6448ff9322601dba408b4575.html |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=Marca |date=26 April 2023 |language=Spanish}}{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Alex |title=Pro-Soccer Player Alberto Lejárraga Celebrates Team's Win and Comes Out |url=https://www.advocate.com/sports/soccer-alberto-lejarraga-comes-out |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=The Advocate |date=26 April 2023}}
Marbella's first season in the Segunda Federación ended in success, with promotion to the Primera Federación in June 2024.{{cite web |url=https://rfef.es/es/noticias/zamora-cf-barakaldo-cf-betis-deportivo-marbella-fc-y-yeclano-deportivo-ascienden-primera |title=Zamora CF, Barakaldo CF, Betis Deportivo, Marbella FC y Yeclano Deportivo ascienden a Primera Federación |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |language=es |date=1 June 2024 }} They defeated Getafe B and then UD Logrones in two two-legged play off games. Following promotion, it was announced that Brazilian midfielder Casemiro would be investing in the club.{{cite web |last=Cariño |first=Carlos |url=https://as.com/futbol/mas_futbol/casemiro-se-une-al-marbella-n/ |title=Casemiro se une al Marbella |publisher=as.com |language=es |date=4 June 2024 }}
=Club background=
- Atlético Marbella: 1947–1997
- UD Marbella: 1997–2013
- Marbella FC: 2013–present
Season to season
- As UD Marbella
| valign="top" width=0%|
{| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#f0f6fa;"
!Season !Tier !Division !Place |
| style="background:#EFEF99;"|1997–98
|style="background:#EFEF99;"|5 |style="background:#EFEF99;"|Reg. Pref. |style="background:#EFEF99;"|1st !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|1998–99
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|6th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|1999–2000
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|8th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2000–01
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|1st !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2001–02
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|6th !style="background:#efefef;"|Preliminary |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2002–03
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2nd !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2003–04
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|15th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2004–05
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|5th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
|valign="top" width=0%|
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#f0f6fa;"
!Season !Tier !Division !Place |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2005–06
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|12th !style="background:#efefef;"|Preliminary |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2006–07
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|7th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2007–08
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|15th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2008–09
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|4th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2009–10
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|19th !style="background:#efefef;"|Round of 32 |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2010–11
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|10th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2011–12
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3rd !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2012–13
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|11th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
|}
- As Marbella FC
| valign="top" width=0%|
{| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#f0f6fa;"
!Season !Tier !Division !Place |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2013–14
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|4 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|1st !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2014–15
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|10th !style="background:#efefef;"|First round |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2015–16
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|14th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2016–17
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|7th !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2017–18
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2nd !style="background:#efefef;"|Second round |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2018–19
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|7th !style="background:#efefef;"|First round |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2019–20
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2nd !style="background:#efefef;"|Second round |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2020–21
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª B |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|{{Abbr|9th|Group 4 – Subgroup A (first phase)}} / {{Abbr|4th|Group 4 – Subgroup E (second phase)}} !style="background:#efefef;"|Second round |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2021–22
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|5 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª RFEF |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3rd !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#FFD3BD;"|2022–23
|style="background:#FFD3BD;"|5 |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|3ª Fed. |style="background:#FFD3BD;"|1st !style="background:#efefef;"| |
| style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2023–24
|style="background:#DEC5AB;"|4 |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|2ª Fed. |style="background:#DEC5AB;"|3rd !style="background:#efefef;"|First round |
| style="background:#F4DFC8;"|2024–25
|style="background:#F4DFC8;"|3 |style="background:#F4DFC8;"|1ª Fed. |style="background:#F4DFC8;"| !style="background:#efefef;"|Round of 32 |
|}
----
- 1 season in Primera Federación
- 13 seasons in Segunda División B
- 1 season in Segunda Federación
- 9 seasons in Tercera División
- 2 seasons in Tercera Federación/Tercera División RFEF
Current squad
{{updated|10 February 2025}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=Eric Puerto|other={{small|on loan from Deportivo La Coruña}}}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Jorge Álvarez}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Genar Fornés}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=José Carrasco}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Luis Acosta}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Javi Duarte}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=José Callejón}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Zeki Díaz}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=CHN|pos=FW|name=Du Yuezheng}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Aitor Puñal}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Alberto Soto}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Pere Marco|other={{small|on loan from Castellón B}}}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=Dani Martín|other={{small|on loan from Levante}}}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Marcos Olguín}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Sergio Castel}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=EQG|pos=FW|name=Dorian Jr.}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Fermín Ruiz|other={{small|on loan from Panetolikos}}}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=Tahiru Awudu}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=Ernest Ohemeng}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=COL|pos=DF|name=Bernardo Espinosa}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Pablo Muñoz|other={{small|on loan from Deportivo La Coruña}}}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=MLI|pos=DF|name=Moussa Diarra|other={{small|on loan from Málaga}}}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Marcos Peña|other={{small|on loan from Almería}}}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Ryan Edwards}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Álex López}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Daniel Solsky}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=Jony Álamo}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=SUR|pos=MF|name=Chesron Oostwoud}}
{{Fs end}}
=Out on loan=
Honours
- Tercera División: 2001–02, 2013–14
- Tercera Federación: 2022–23
- Segunda Federación: 2023–24 play-off winners
Former players
{{see also|Category:Marbella FC players}}
Former coaches
- {{flagicon|ESP}} Juan López Muñiz
- {{flagicon|ESP}} Oli
- {{flagicon|ESP}} Alfredo Santaelena
Stadium
Marbella's traditional home ground is at Estadio Municipal de Marbella. However, with this stadium being redeveloped,{{cite web |url=https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/marbella-san-pedro/financing-place-construction-20230127093039-ntvo.html |title=Financing is now in place for construction of Marbella's new football stadium |publisher=SUR in English |date=27 January 2023 }} Marbella currently plays its home games at [https://www.marbellafootballcenter.com/es/dama-de-noche-by-mfc/ Dama de Noche football ground], a training pitch that has been converted into a very basic stadium by the addition of temporary stands, and has a capacity of around 1,500 spectators. As a result of the basic and limited facilities at Dama De Noche, the local council and football club have been under pressure from the supporters to conclude the redevelopment of Estadio Municipal de Marbella.
Affiliated clubs
The following club is currently affiliated with Marbella FC:
- {{flagicon|IND}} Hyderabad FC (2020–present){{Cite web|agency=PTI|date=29 October 2020|title=Hyderabad FC, Spanish club Marbella FC announce strategic tie-up|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/top-stories/hyderabad-fc-spanish-club-marbella-fc-announce-strategic-tie-up/articleshow/78934381.cms|access-date=30 May 2021|website=The Times of India|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602225612/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/top-stories/hyderabad-fc-spanish-club-marbella-fc-announce-strategic-tie-up/articleshow/78934381.cms|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.marbella-fc.com Official website] {{in lang|es}}
- [http://www.futbolme.com/com/index_equipo.asp?id_equipo=164 Futbolme team profile] {{in lang|es}}
- [http://www.marbellaparaiso.com Official youth academy website]
- [https://espanaestadios.com/2018/09/16/marbella-estadio-municipal-de-marbella/ Club & stadium history] {{in lang|en}}
{{Spanish football club template|Marbella}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marbella}}
Category:Football clubs in Andalusia
Category:Association football clubs established in 1997
Category:1997 establishments in Spain