Deportivo Alavés

Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza.

The team's home kit is blue and white-striped shirt, blue shorts and white socks.

History

Founded in 1921, Alavés first reached the first division eight years later, a stint which would last three years. After years of seriously facing disappearance, which went well into the 90s, the club finally achieved a second division promotion in 1994–95, after two consecutive years winning Segunda División B - created as the new third level in 1977 - but consistenly failing in the promotion playoffs.

In 1998–99, Alavés returned to the top level after a 42-year hiatus, achieving two wins against FC Barcelona in the following season, in which they would, for the first time, qualify for the UEFA Cup, ending the season sixth.

During that season, the Basque reached the final of the UEFA Cup, a 4–5 loss against Liverpool (taking the game to extra time, and losing following an own golden goal),^[1] as well as finishing 10th in the domestic campaign.

Although Alavés were relegated after 2002–03, it regained top flight status two years later. In the 2005–06 season, the club was relegated back to the second division. After two years of battling with relegation to the third level, it eventually befell in 2008–09.

Seasons

Season to season

Recent seasons

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Europe		Notes
1998–99	1D	16	38	11	7	20	36	63	40
1999–00	1D	6	38	17	10	11	41	37	61
2000–01	1D	10	38	14	7	17	58	59	49		UC	Final
2001–02	1D	7	38	17	3	18	41	44	54
2002–03	1D	19	38	8	11	19	38	68	35		UC	2nd round	Relegated
2003–04	2D	4	42	20	14	8	48	32	74
2004–05	2D	3	42	23	7	12	62	47	76				Promoted
2005–06	1D	18	38	9	12	17	35	54	39	3rd round			Relegated
2006–07	2D	17	42	13	13	16	51	60	52
2007–08	2D	17	42	12	15	15	41	47	51
2008–09	2D	19	42	11	10	21	42	64	43	2nd round			Relegated

• 11 seasons in La Liga
• 34 seasons in Segunda División
• 10 seasons in Segunda División B
• 22 seasons in Tercera División
• 1 season in Divisiones Regionales

Current squad

The numbers are established according to the official website: www.alaves.com Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Statistics 2009/10

• Top scorers:
  • Igor - 8 goals
  • Arriaga - 7 goals
  • Geni - 5 goals

• Top goalkeepers:
  • Pagola - 14 goals in 19 matches
  • Montero - 17 goals in 19 matches

Honours

• Second Division: 1929–30, 1953–54, 1997–98
• Third Division: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
• Fourth Division: 1940–41, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1989–90
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2000–01

Stadium information

• Name - Mendizorrotza
• City - Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Capacity - 19,900
• Inauguration - 1924
• Pitch size - 105 x 67 mts.
• Other facilities: El Glorioso

Notable players

see also Category:Deportivo Alavés footballers

Famous coaches

• Ferenc Puskás
• Luis Astorga
• Luis Costa
• José Antonio Irulegi
• Mané
• Pepe Mel
• Javier Megía

see also Category:Deportivo Alavés managers

Alavés B

California Victory

In 2007, Alavés operated a team in the USL First Division in the United States called the California Victory. The team played at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, California, and wore the Alavés colors. However, Alavés, under new ownership, pulled its support for the club later that year, after which the Victory folded.

References

External links

• Official website (Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (Spanish)
• Glorioso, unofficial website (Spanish)
• Terra club info (Spanish)