Villarreal CF

Founding and Early Years

Villarreal CF was founded on 10 March 1923 in the small town of Villarreal, in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community. Long a modest club playing in Spain's lower divisions, it only reached the Spanish top flight in the late 1990s.

Club Evolution

The club plays its home matches at the Estadio de la Cerámica, opened in 1923 and modernised several times, with a capacity of around 21,000 — one of the smallest in La Liga but still one of the most intimate grounds in Spain.

Great Managers

Manuel Pellegrini managed the club between 2004 and 2009, establishing it among Spain's and Europe's best sides, before Unai Emery brought it back to the continental forefront in the 2020s, culminating in the historic 2021 Europa League triumph.

Iconic Players

Gerard Moreno, a product of the club's academy, became its all-time top scorer with 91 goals, surpassing the previous record held by Giuseppe Rossi. The club has also stood out for its ability to discover and develop young talent before their moves to bigger European clubs.

Major Achievements

The high point of Villarreal CF's history remains its 2021 Europa League triumph, won in Gdańsk against Manchester United (1-1, 11-10 on penalties) — the club's first major European trophy, nicknamed "the Yellow Submarine" after its shirt colour.

The Club Today

Presided over by the Roig family since 1997, the architects of the club's transformation, Villarreal CF remains a benchmark for stability and youth development in La Liga, under manager Marcelino since the 2025-26 season.