Rayo Vallecano
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:18:24 PM Wikipedia source
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D. (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈraʝo βaʎeˈkano ðe maˈðɾið]), often abbreviated to Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt"), is a Spanish professional football club based in the Villa de Vallecas district of Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. Founded on 29 May 1924, the club is known for its sociocultural tradition, recognized for representing the barrio-local culture and its working-class status. Its home matches have been played at the 14,708-capacity Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium since 1976.
During its history, Rayo has spent 22 seasons in the top-flight, and has played in one European competition, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season. The club won the 2017–18 Segunda División. By historical performance, Rayo is the third best club in Community of Madrid, after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
Infobox
Tables
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
| 1940–41 | 5 | 2ª Reg. | 2nd | |
| 1941–42 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 4th | |
| 1942–43 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 3rd | |
| 1943–44 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 7th | |
| 1944–45 | 5 | 2ª Reg. | 2nd | |
| 1945–46 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 5th | |
| 1946–47 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 10th | |
| 1947–48 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 6th | |
| 1948–49 | 4 | 1ª Reg. | 3rd | |
| 1949–50 | 3 | 3ª | 14th | |
| 1950–51 | 3 | 3ª | 13th | |
| 1951–52 | 3 | 3ª | 9th | |
| 1952–53 | 3 | 3ª | 7th | |
| 1953–54 | 3 | 3ª | 17th | |
| 1954–55 | 3 | 3ª | 2nd | |
| 1955–56 | 3 | 3ª | 1st | |
| 1956–57 | 2 | 2ª | 12th | |
| 1957–58 | 2 | 2ª | 6th | |
| 1958–59 | 2 | 2ª | 14th | First round |
| 1959–60 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | First round |
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
| 1960–61 | 2 | 2ª | 16th | First round |
| 1961–62 | 3 | 3ª | 3rd | |
| 1962–63 | 3 | 3ª | 2nd | |
| 1963–64 | 3 | 3ª | 3rd | |
| 1964–65 | 3 | 3ª | 1st | |
| 1965–66 | 2 | 2ª | 9th | First round |
| 1966–67 | 2 | 2ª | 6th | First round |
| 1967–68 | 2 | 2ª | 4th | Round of 32 |
| 1968–69 | 2 | 2ª | 9th | |
| 1969–70 | 2 | 2ª | 6th | Round of 32 |
| 1970–71 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | Round of 32 |
| 1971–72 | 2 | 2ª | 8th | Fourth round |
| 1972–73 | 2 | 2ª | 11th | Third round |
| 1973–74 | 2 | 2ª | 14th | Round of 16 |
| 1974–75 | 2 | 2ª | 8th | Fourth round |
| 1975–76 | 2 | 2ª | 9th | Second round |
| 1976–77 | 2 | 2ª | 3rd | Third round |
| 1977–78 | 1 | 1ª | 10th | Third round |
| 1978–79 | 1 | 1ª | 15th | Round of 16 |
| 1979–80 | 1 | 1ª | 16th | Quarter-finals |
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
| 1980–81 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | Quarter-finals |
| 1981–82 | 2 | 2ª | 7th | Semi-finals |
| 1982–83 | 2 | 2ª | 9th | Round of 16 |
| 1983–84 | 2 | 2ª | 20th | Third round |
| 1984–85 | 3 | 2ª B | 1st | Third round |
| 1985–86 | 2 | 2ª | 15th | Fourth round |
| 1986–87 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | First round |
| 1987–88 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | Round of 32 |
| 1988–89 | 2 | 2ª | 2nd | First round |
| 1989–90 | 1 | 1ª | 20th | Second round |
| 1990–91 | 2 | 2ª | 11th | Fifth round |
| 1991–92 | 2 | 2ª | 2nd | Fourth round |
| 1992–93 | 1 | 1ª | 14th | Fourth round |
| 1993–94 | 1 | 1ª | 17th | Fourth round |
| 1994–95 | 2 | 2ª | 2nd | Quarter-finals |
| 1995–96 | 1 | 1ª | 19th | Third round |
| 1996–97 | 1 | 1ª | 18th | Quarter-finals |
| 1997–98 | 2 | 2ª | 8th | Second round |
| 1998–99 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | First round |
| 1999–2000 | 1 | 1ª | 9th | Quarter-finals |
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
| 2000–01 | 1 | 1ª | 14th | Round of 16 |
| 2001–02 | 1 | 1ª | 11th | Quarter-finals |
| 2002–03 | 1 | 1ª | 20th | Round of 64 |
| 2003–04 | 2 | 2ª | 21st | Round of 64 |
| 2004–05 | 3 | 2ª B | 3rd | Round of 64 |
| 2005–06 | 3 | 2ª B | 5th | Third round |
| 2006–07 | 3 | 2ª B | 2nd | Round of 16 |
| 2007–08 | 3 | 2ª B | 1st | Third round |
| 2008–09 | 2 | 2ª | 5th | Round of 32 |
| 2009–10 | 2 | 2ª | 11th | Round of 16 |
| 2010–11 | 2 | 2ª | 2nd | Third round |
| 2011–12 | 1 | 1ª | 15th | Round of 32 |
| 2012–13 | 1 | 1ª | 8th | Round of 32 |
| 2013–14 | 1 | 1ª | 12th | Round of 16 |
| 2014–15 | 1 | 1ª | 11th | Round of 32 |
| 2015–16 | 1 | 1ª | 18th | Round of 16 |
| 2016–17 | 2 | 2ª | 12th | Third round |
| 2017–18 | 2 | 2ª | 1st | Second round |
| 2018–19 | 1 | 1ª | 20th | Round of 32 |
| 2019–20 | 2 | 2ª | 7th | Round of 16 |
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
| 2020–21 | 2 | 2ª | 6th | Round of 16 |
| 2021–22 | 1 | 1ª | 12th | Semi-finals |
| 2022–23 | 1 | 1ª | 11th | Round of 32 |
| 2023–24 | 1 | 1ª | 17th | Round of 16 |
| 2024–25 | 1 | 1ª | 8th | Round of 16 |
| 2025–26 | 1 | 1ª | TBD |
| Season | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 2000–01 UEFA Cup | Qualifying round | Constel·lació Esportiva | 6–0 | 10–0 | 16–0 |
| First round | Molde | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Second round | Viborg | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) | |
| Third round | Lokomotiv Moscow | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |
| Fourth round | Bordeaux | 4–1 | 2–1 | 6–2 | |
| Quarter-finals | Alavés | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | |
| 2025–26 UEFA Conference League | Play-off round | Neman Grodno | 4–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 |
| League phase | Shkëndija | 2–0 | — | ||
| BK Häcken | — | 2–2 | |||
| Lech Poznań | 3–2 | — | |||
| Slovan Bratislava | — | 1–2 | |||
| Jagiellonia Białystok | — | ||||
| Drita | — |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Dani Cárdenas |
| 2 | DF | ROU | Andrei Rațiu |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Pep Chavarría |
| 4 | MF | ESP | Pedro Díaz |
| 5 | DF | ITA | Luiz Felipe |
| 6 | MF | SEN | Pathé Ciss |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Isi Palazón (3rd captain) |
| 8 | MF | ARG | Óscar Trejo (captain) |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Alemão |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Sergio Camello |
| 11 | FW | ANG | Randy Nteka |
| 13 | GK | ARG | Augusto Batalla |
| 15 | MF | ESP | Gerard Gumbau (on loan from Granada) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | DF | GHA | Abdul Mumin |
| 17 | MF | ESP | Unai López |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Álvaro García |
| 19 | FW | ESP | Jorge de Frutos |
| 20 | DF | ALB | Iván Balliu |
| 21 | FW | ESP | Fran Pérez |
| 22 | DF | URU | Alfonso Espino |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Óscar Valentín (vice-captain) |
| 24 | DF | FRA | Florian Lejeune |
| 29 | MF | ESP | Diego Méndez |
| 32 | DF | SEN | Nobel Mendy (on loan from Betis) |
| 33 | DF | NED | Jozhua Vertrouwd (on loan from Castellón) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | DF | ESP | Marco de las Sías |
| 27 | DF | ESP | Sergio Lozano |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Samu Becerra |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 30 | GK | ESP | Juanpe Gil |
| 31 | MF | ESP | Marco Román |
| 40 | GK | ESP | Adrián Molina |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ESP | Miguel Ángel Morro (at Leixões until 30 June 2026) |
| — | DF | ESP | Pelayo Fernández (at Cádiz until 30 June 2026) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | CMR | Etienne Eto'o (at Mirandés until 30 June 2026) |
| — | FW | ESP | Raúl de Tomás (at Al-Wakrah until 30 June 2026) |
| Position | Staff |
| Head coach | Iñigo Pérez |
| Assistant coach | Adrián López |
| Equipment manager | José Vargas Kiko Jiménez |
| Delegate | Miguel Ortiz |
| Goalkeeper coach | Pedro Moncayo |
| Fitness coach | Óscar García Javier Mallo |
| Analyst | Óscar Díaz |
| Rehab fitness coach | Sergio Vázquez |
| Physiotherapist | Miguel Ángel Martín Marcos Marín |
| Doctor | Carlos Beceiro Giovanni Mazzocca |
| Dates | Name |
| 1944–46 | Cayetano Sardinero |
| 1946–47 | Julián Antón |
| 1947–48 | Luis Pérez |
| 1948–49 | Tomás Rodríguez Rubio |
| 1949–50 | Ramón de la Fuente |
| 1950–51 | Anselmo Nogales |
| 1951–52 | Félix Huete |
| 1952–53 | Lorenzo Sánchez Villar |
| 1954–55 | Cándido Machado |
| 1953–54 | Patricio Sánchez Calleja |
| 1954–55 | Manuel Alepuz |
| 1955–56 | Cándido Machado |
| 1956–58 | Ramón Colón |
| 1958 | Cándido Machado |
| 1958–59 | Lino Taioli |
| 1959 | Heriberto Herrera |
| 1959–60 | Ramón Colón |
| 1960 | Alfonso Aparicio |
| 1960–61 | Martín Camino |
| 1961 | Ramón Cobo |
| 1961 | Joseíto |
| 1961–64 | Herrero |
| 1964–67 | Pedro Eguiluz |
| July 1967 – June 1969 | José Antonio Olmedo |
| July 1969 – Feb 1971 | Manuel Peñalva |
| Feb 1971 – Jun 1972 | Enrique Orizaola |
| Dates | Name |
| Jul 1972 – Jan 1973 | Manuel Vences |
| Jan 1973 – Jun 1974 | José Antonio Olmedo |
| Jun 1974 – Jun 1975 | Héctor Núñez |
| Jun 1975 – Feb 1976 | Alfredo Di Stéfano |
| Feb – Jun 1976 | José Antonio Olmedo |
| Jul 1976 – Jun 1977 | García Verdugo |
| Jun 1977 – Jun 1978 | Héctor Núñez |
| Jul 1978 – Jun 1979 | Eduardo González |
| Jun 1979 – Feb 1980 | Héctor Núñez |
| Feb – Jun 1980 | Rafael Iriondo |
| Jun 1980 – Dec 1981 | Eduardo González |
| Dec 1981 – Jun 1982 | Manuel Peñalva |
| Jun 1982 – Jun 1983 | Juanjo García |
| Jul – Nov 1983 | Máximo Hernández |
| Nov 1983 – Jun 1984 | Antonio Ruiz |
| 1984–85 | Eduardo Caturla |
| 1985–87 | Héctor Núñez |
| Jul 1987 – Jan 1990 | Felines |
| Jan – Jun 1990 | Emilio Cruz |
| Jul 1990 – Feb 1992 | Eusebio Ríos |
| Feb 1992 – Jun 1993 | José Antonio Camacho |
| Jul – Nov 1993 | Felines |
| Nov 1993 – Feb 1994 | Fernando Zambrano |
| Feb – Nov 1994 | David Vidal |
| Nov 1994 – Jun 1995 | Paquito |
| Jun – Oct 1995 | Pedro Mari Zabalza |
| Dates | Name |
| Oct 1995 – Apr 1996 | Marcos Alonso |
| July 1996 – Feb 1997 | Paquito |
| Feb – Mar 1997 | Fernando Zambrano |
| Mar – Jun 1997 | Máximo Hernández |
| 1997–98 | Josu Ortuondo |
| Jul 1998 – Jun 2001 | Juande Ramos |
| Jul – Oct 2001 | Andoni Goikoetxea |
| Oct 2001 – Jun 2002 | Gregorio Manzano |
| July 2002 – Jan 2003 | Fernando Vázquez |
| Feb – Apr 2003 | Gustavo Benítez |
| Apr – Jun 2003 | Antonio Iriondo |
| Jun – Nov 2003 | Julen Lopetegui |
| Nov 2003 – Feb 2004 | Jorge D'Alessandro |
| Feb – Jun 2004 | Txetxu Rojo |
| Jun 2004 – Jun 2005 | Carlos Orúe |
| Jul 2005 – Jun 2006 | Míchel |
| Jun 2006 – Feb 2010 | Pepe Mel |
| Feb – Jun 2010 | Felipe Miñambres |
| Jul 2010 – Jun 2012 | José Ramón Sandoval |
| Jul 2012 – May 2016 | Paco Jémez |
| Jun – Nov 2016 | José Ramón Sandoval |
| Nov 2016 – Feb 2017 | Rubén Baraja |
| Feb 2017 – Mar 2019 | Míchel |
| Mar 2019 – Aug 2020 | Paco Jémez |
| Aug 2020 – Jun 2023 | Andoni Iraola |
| Jul 2023 – Feb 2024 | Francisco |
| Dates | Name |
| 1924–26 | Julián Huerta |
| 1926–27 | José Montoya |
| 1927–28 | Galo Andrés |
| 1929–30 | José Antonio Sánchez |
| 1930–31 | Anastasio Sánchez |
| 1931–36 | Ángel Martínez |
| Dates | Name |
| 1939–43 | Miguel Rodríguez Alzola |
| 1943–46 | Ezequiel Huerta |
| 1946–48 | José Rodríguez Rubio |
| 1948–55 | Miguel Rodríguez Alzola |
| 1955–58 | Jerónimo Martínez |
| 1958–61 | Tomás Esteras |
| Dates | Name |
| 1961–65 | Iván Roiz |
| 1965–73 | Pedro Roiz |
| 1973–78 | Marcelino Gil |
| 1978–80 | Francisco Encinas |
| 1980–81 | Luis Quer |
| 1981–89 | Francisco Fontán |
| Dates | Name |
| 1989–91 | Pedro García Jiménez |
| 1991–94 | José María Ruiz Mateos |
| 1994–2011 | Teresa Rivero |
| 2011– | Raúl Martín Presa |
References
- In isolation, Vallecano is pronounced [baʎeˈkano].
- Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficialhttp://www.rayovallecano.es/club/estadio
- Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficialhttp://www.rayovallecano.es/club/estadio
- "Historia resumida del Rayo"http://www.rayovallecano.es/historia/
- www.bdfutbol.comhttps://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1983-842a.html
- "Alaves through as Rayo fall"http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1220513.stm
- "El 'Fair Play', ¿una puerta abierta para jugar en Europa?"http://deportes.terra.es/valladolid/el-fair-play-una-puerta-abierta-para-jugar-en-europa,df54797edf78d310VgnVCM3000009acceb0aRCRD.html
- "Michel, nuevo entrenador del Rayo"http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-23-06-2005/abc/Ultima/michel-nuevo-entrenador-del-rayo_203335437757.html
- Segundahttp://futbol.as.com/futbol/2007/06/24/mas_futbol/1182636012_850215.html
- "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español"http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/rayo_vallecano/es/desarrollo/1135303.html
- Dona Teresa takes off mask Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine; Football Scouting, 1 March 2011http://www.footballscouting.org/2011/03/dona-teresa-takes-off-mask.html
- Unpaid Rayo have sights set on La Liga payday Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine; Reuters, 30 March 2011http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-55977820110330
- Los jugadores del Rayo Vallecano seguirán sin cobrar (Rayo Vallecano players will still not be paid) Archived 2011-09-27http://www.elcorreogallego.es/deportes/futbol/ecg/jugadores-rayo-vallecano-seguiran-cobrar/idEdicion-2011-02-26/idNoticia-643771/
- "Huawei sponsors Rayo Vallecano for two matches, against Real Madrid and Bilbao"https://web.archive.org/web/20140330064350/http://gsminsider.com/2014/03/huawei-rayo-vallecano-shirt-sponsor-real-madrid-ath-bilbao/
- "Rayo Vallecano set to buy Oklahoma City FC"http://thesportsdaily.com/2015/08/22/rayo-vallecano-set-to-buy-oklahoma-city-fc/
- "El Rayo compra la mayoría de acciones del Oklahoma City"http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2015/08/19/primera/1439982748_769849.html
- "La Liga: Getafe and Rayo Vallecano relegated, Sporting Gijon stay up"http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11827/10283933/la-liga-getafe-and-rayo-vallecano-relegated-sporting-gijon-stay-up
- "Míchel has been appointed the new coach of Rayo Vallecano"http://www.laliga.es/en/news/michel-has-been-appointed-the-new-coach-of-rayo-vallecano
- "David Cobeño, new sports director"http://www.elcomercio.es/deportes/futbol/201706/22/david-cobeno-nuevo-director-20170622003249-v.html
- "Rayo Vallecano win promotion to La Liga"https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/rayo-vallecano-win-promotion-laliga
- www.resultados-futbol.comhttp://www.resultados-futbol.com/segunda2018/grupo1/jornada42
- Rayo Vallecanohttp://www.rayovallecano.es/noticia/paco-jemez-nuevo-entrenador-del-rayo-vallecano
- Football Espanahttps://web.archive.org/web/20190507143821/https://www.football-espana.net/78089/rayo-vallecano-relegated-segunda-division
- www.resultados-futbol.comhttps://www.resultados-futbol.com/primera2019/grupo1
- Rayo Vallecano | Rayohttp://www.rayovallecano.es/noticia/andoni-iraola-nuevo-entrenador-del-rayo-vallecano
- Football Espanahttps://www.football-espana.net/2021/06/20/watch-10-man-rayo-vallecano-secure-la-liga-promotion-with-battling-girona-win
- Marcahttps://www.marca.com/radio/2022/02/02/61faf25a22601dcf3a8b45e6.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/sep/20/the-tiger-who-came-for-free-radamel-falcao-is-back-and-scoring-in-la-liga-rayo-vallecano
- "Plantilla Rayo Vallecano de Madrid"http://www.rayovallecano.es/equipo/plantilla/rayo
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/feb/27/ray-vallecano-la-liga-blog
- the Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/21/football-regulator-politics-society-culture
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/20/rayo-vallecano-mess-problem-top-four-la-liga
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/sep/20/the-tiger-who-came-for-free-radamel-falcao-is-back-and-scoring-in-la-liga-rayo-vallecano
- "Rayo Vallecano players strike over Spanish austerity cuts"http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/8471/38/
- Vice Magazine
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/15/spanish-football-nazi-chants-roman-zozulya-rayo-vallecano-albacete-valencia-real-madrid