| Full name | Unión Deportiva Lanzarote | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Conejeros | ||
| Founded | 1970 | ||
| Ground | Ciudad Deportiva, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (Capacity: 7,000) |
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| Chairman | José Domingo Machín | ||
| Manager | Fabián Rivero | ||
| League | 3ª - Group 12 | ||
| 2009–10 | 2ªB - Group 2, 20th | ||
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Unión Deportiva Lanzarote is a Spanish football team based in Arrecife, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands. Founded in 1970, it plays in Tercera División - Group 12.
Lanzarote plays its home games at the Ciudad Deportiva (sports city), a 7,000-seat stadium which is shared with CD Orientación Marítima.
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Unión Deportiva Lanzarote was formed in August 1970, in views to a representation outside of the island. In its beginnings, the team played on picón (volcanic granules), eventually moving on to FIFA-approved artificial grass.
In its first competitive season, 1970–71, the team won the Segunda Regional Insular championship (second regional division), and for many years battled through local and Canarian leagues, until making its debuts in the national fourth level, in 1980; the first campaign ended with a fifth place, and it was also here the club had its first taste of the domestic cup - after a 0–0 home draw with neighbours UD Las Palmas, Lanzarote was ripped apart in the second leg (0–5).
The 1998–99 season saw Lanzarote end the campaign in third position, with promotion to Segunda División B for the first time ever. It was a whistle-stop visit to the category, as the Island of Volcanoes outfit was relegated in the first year.
From 2000–01 onwards, the team consolidated its position in the third level. In a cup match against also-islanders CD Tenerife, local legend Maciot bagged a hat-trick in a 5–1 shock win, in front of 5,000 astonished Lanzarote supporters. The reward for this feat was a dream clash with first division powerhouse Real Madrid, led by Vicente del Bosque and with the likes of Raúl González, Steve McManaman, Roberto Carlos, Luís Figo and Zinedine Zidane on board: after the favorite's early lead, part-time waiter Oscar Vladamir equalized and secured his place in local football history, but the club eventually lost it 1–3.
Lanzarote continued establishing itself and, in 2002–03, finished the campaign in third place and, for the first time, competed in the play-off to reach the second division. President was Estanislao García, as manager José Luis Mendilibar - later of Athletic Bilbao and Real Valladolid - led the team in the cup tie against Atlético Madrid, which was only sealed for the colchoneros (1–2) with a late Fernando Torres strike.
2003–04 was Lanzarote's finest, ending the season as champions, though once again failing to clinch promotion in the play-offs. That season also reserved a good cup performance, against rising Sevilla FC. Opponent manager, Joaquín Caparrós, refused to play on Lanzarote's artificial grass, and the game was held in Gran Canaria. Over 5,000 supporters watched the Conejeros perform valliantly, only to be downed with a goal by Júlio Baptista, after a cross from José Antonio Reyes.
In 2004–05's cup, Lanzarote defeated RCD Mallorca's Héctor Cúper 2–1, followed by another downing of a top level team, Athletic Bilbao (also 2–1). However, the latter stage was already contested in two legs, and the smaller side were crushed 0–6 at San Mamés, falling just one game short of the competition's quarterfinals. From 2004–09, in the league, Lanzarote consecutively clinched mid-table positions.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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