UD Lanzarote

Lanzarote

Full name	Unión Deportiva Lanzarote
Nickname(s)	Los Conejeros
Founded	1970
Ground	Ciudad Deportiva, Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain
Ground Capacity	6,000
Chairman	José Domingo Machín
Manager	Adolfo Pérez
League	3ª – Group 12
2012–13	3ª – Group 12, 14th
Home colours Away colours

Unión Deportiva Lanzarote is a Spanish football team based in Arrecife, Lanzarote, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands. Founded in 1970 it plays in Tercera División – Group 12, holding home games at the Ciudad Deportiva de Lanzarote (sports city), a 6,000-seat stadium which is shared with CD Orientación Marítima.

History

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 division, 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 2001–02 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 a 5,000 home crowd. 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 level. 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 season in division three, ending the campaign as champions, but once again failing to clinch promotion in the play-offs. That season also reserved a good domestic 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 Spanish 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, the team consecutively clinched mid-table positions.

Season to season

• 10 seasons in Segunda División B
• 20 seasons in Tercera División
• 15 seasons in Categorías Regionales

Current squad

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Marino 2 DF Ángel Gil 5 MF Niche 6 DF Derwin Ortega 7 FW Jonathan Torres 8 FW Óscar Martín 9 FW Toñito 10 MF Federico O'Neill 11 MF Rubén Rodríguez 12 DF Francisco Barrios 13 GK Víctor Sáinz

No. Position Player 14 DF Adrián Calero 15 MF Oswaldo Montelongo 16 FW Maciot Dévora 17 MF Vladimir Ramos 18 DF Noé Padrón 19 MF Jotha 21 MF Ayoze Pérez 23 MF Roberto Varela 25 GK Abel González DF Eliot Hernández

Famous players

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

• Gustavo
• Jotha
• Fredrik Söderström

External links

• Official website (Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (Spanish)