UD Melilla
Football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Unión Deportiva Melilla is a Spanish football team based in the autonomous city of Melilla. Founded in 1976, it currently plays in Segunda Federación – Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro, with an 8,000 capacity venue.[1]
(as Gimnástico Melilla Club de Fútbol; re-founded)
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| Full name | Unión Deportiva Melilla | |||
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| Founded | 29 June 1976 (as Gimnástico Melilla Club de Fútbol; re-founded) | |||
| Ground | Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro | |||
| Capacity | 8,000 | |||
| President | Luis Manuel Rincón | |||
| League | Segunda Federación – Group 4 | |||
| 2024–25 | Segunda Federación – Group 5, 11th of 18 | |||
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History
Founded in 1976 as Gimnástico Melilla Club de Fútbol after a merger of Melilla CF and Club Gimnástico de Cabrerizas,[2] the club immediately took Cabrerizas' place in Tercera División. Renamed Unión Deportiva Melilla (as an honour to the club founded in the 1940s) in 1980, it reached Segunda División B in 1987.
Melilla reached the last 32 of the Copa del Rey in 2012–13 where they were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate by La Liga side Levante UD, having won the first leg 1–0 at home via a Fernando Velasco penalty.[3] Six years later, at the same stage, the team were beaten 10–1 on aggregate by Real Madrid.[4]
Melilla's 34-year run in the third tier ended following the 2020–21 Segunda División B, when the team were put in the new fourth-level Segunda Federación after a league restructuring. In April 2023, following two years at that level, the team won automatic promotion as champions.[5]
Club background
- Juventud Español — (1940–43)
- Melilla Fútbol Club — (1921–43)
- Unión Deportiva Melilla — (1943–56)
- Club Deportivo Tesorillo — (1940–56)
- Melilla Club de Fútbol – (1956–76)
- Club Gimnástico de Cabrerizas – (1973–76)
- Sociedad Deportiva Melilla – (1970–76)
- Gimnástico Melilla Club de Fútbol – (1976–80)
- Unión Deportiva Melilla – (1980–)
Other clubs from Melilla
- Club Deportivo Real Melilla — (1939–)
- Club de Fútbol Melilla Industrial – (1968–74)
- Club de Fútbol Industrial Melilla – (1975–85)
- Melilla Fútbol Club — (1985–91)
Rivalry
The Ceuta-Melilla derby was between Melilla and AD Ceuta, who were dissolved in 2012. The two clubs travelled to face each other via the Spanish mainland to avoid entering Morocco.[6]
Season to season
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- 1 season in Primera Federación
- 34 seasons in Segunda División B
- 4 seasons in Segunda Federación/Segunda División RFEF
- 11 seasons in Tercera División
Current squad
- As of 15 August 2024[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
- Alberto Bernardo
- Aritz Solabarrieta
- Constantino Errazquin
- Chota
- Totó
- Dorronsoro
- Pepillo
- Edi Ademi
- Willy
Notable managers
- Zarne Zlot
Reserve team
Their reserve team, UD Melilla B, played for several years in Primera Autonómica Melilla and in Tercera División before ceasing activities in 2012. In 2013, Casino del Real CF became their reserve side, and was subsequently renamed to Melilla B in 2014.