Real Madrid

It is just three days since Castilla embarked upon its journey into the new season in their rightful place: the Second Division. This special chapter takes on more importance because today, July 21st, marks 40 years since its foundation as a subsidiary of Real Madrid. On this day in 1972, Real Madrid’s board of directors acquired the registration rights of Agrupación Deportiva Plus Ultra and created Castilla C. F., a name which was chosen by one of Real Madrid’s legends: Santiago Bernabéu. Since then, the team has spent five seasons in Third Division, 15 in the Second Division B and 20 in the Second Division. The anniversary is being celebrated in a special way to commemorate the past 40 years of achievements and success and also to celebrate the return to where it has spent most of its existence: the second tier of Spanish football.

Today is Castilla’s anniversary. Today marks 40 years since its foundation. On this day in 1972, Real Madrid’s board of directors acquired the sporting and registration rights of Agrupación Deportiva Plus Ultra (a Madrid-based club that was connected to Real Madrid, which produced players who later went down in history such as Zárraga, Mateos, Casado, Grosso and Miguel Muñoz and which was dissolved that year) and created Castilla C. F., which would take its place in the Third Division. The name Castilla Club de Fútbol (which remained its name until 1991) was the choice of Santiago Bernabeu, in honor of the region they were based in and the shield was designed by a very charismatic club employee named José Luis Agenjo. The club’s president was Juan José Borrachero and the first coach was Antonio Ruiz.

The first noteworthy campaign was 76/77, in which they made a space for themselves in the recently created Second Division B. The debut in this category was successful, finishing as runners-up and being promoted directly to the Second Division, kick-starting a glorious era that would last 12 seasons. Years later, they fought to become the only team in Second Division history to have played in European competition. It was in the 1980-1981 campaign that they qualified by finishing as Copa del Rey runners-up, playing an unusual final against their mother club, Real Madrid, which they lost 6-1, with a goal from Ricardo Álvarez.

That final granted them the right to participate in the European Cup Winners Cup, from which they were eliminated in the first round by West Ham United. Years later, they would play another memorable season, 83/84, when they won the Second Division with a team which featured the likes of Butragueño, Pardeza, Martín Vázquez, Sanchís and Míchel, La Quinta del Buitre (The Vulture’s Cohort). But in 88/89 this magnificent period was spoilled and they were relegated to the Second Division B.

Creation as a dependant team
A 1990, the Royal Spanish Football Federation regulation required clubs to become professional sports corporations, which on 1st July 1990 resulted in the disbanding of Castilla as a club and in it becoming a dependent team, taking the name of Real Madrid Deportivo, keeping its spot in the league as before the change. But it did not take long to return to take the second tier after finishing the 90/91 season as champions and then getting through the promotion play-offs. A successful period ended in 96/97, when they were relegated. But after years of hard-work and commitment they returned again in the 04-05 season with Juan Ramón López Caro in his fifth season at the helm of the dependent team. That summer they adopted a new name: Real Madrid Castilla. And one year later, on 9th May 2006, saw the inauguration of their new home, the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in Valdebebas, with a friendly match between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims, which resulted in a 6-1 win for the Whites.

Then began a new journey in the Second Division, until being relegated to Second Division B at the end of the 06/07 campaign. After that comes the last campaign, 2011-2012. It was the second spell in charge of Castilla for Alberto Toril and, after completing a brilliant campaign, they finished first in Group I. Then, by defeating Cadiz and then Mirandés they were crowned champions of the Second Division B and have returned to the Liga Adelante.