Rayo Vallecano
Updated: 5/29/2026, 9:30:06 PM Wikipedia source
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S . (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈraʝo βaʎeˈkano ðe maˈðɾið]), often abbreviated to Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt"), is a Spanish professional football club based in the Puente 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 two European competitions, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season and the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League. 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
Full name
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S .
Nicknames
Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes) Rayito (Little Thunderbolt) Orgullo de la clase obrera (The Pride of the Working class) El Matagigantes (The Giant-killer)
Founded
29 May 1924 (1924-05-29) as Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo
Ground
El Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas
Capacity
14,708
Coordinates
40°23′30 ″N 3°39′30 ″W / 40 °N 3 °W / 40 ; -3
Owner
Raúl Martín Presa
President
Raúl Martín Presa
Head coach
Iñigo Pérez
League
La Liga
2025–26
La Liga, 8th of 20
Website
rayovallecano
Tables
1940–41
1940–41
Season
1940–41
Tier
5
Division
2ª Reg.
Place
2nd
1941–42
1941–42
Season
1941–42
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
4th
1942–43
1942–43
Season
1942–43
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
3rd
1943–44
1943–44
Season
1943–44
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
7th
1944–45
1944–45
Season
1944–45
Tier
5
Division
2ª Reg.
Place
2nd
1945–46
1945–46
Season
1945–46
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
5th
1946–47
1946–47
Season
1946–47
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
10th
1947–48
1947–48
Season
1947–48
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
6th
1948–49
1948–49
Season
1948–49
Tier
4
Division
1ª Reg.
Place
3rd
1949–50
1949–50
Season
1949–50
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
14th
1950–51
1950–51
Season
1950–51
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
13th
1951–52
1951–52
Season
1951–52
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
9th
1952–53
1952–53
Season
1952–53
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
7th
1953–54
1953–54
Season
1953–54
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
17th
1954–55
1954–55
Season
1954–55
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
2nd
1955–56
1955–56
Season
1955–56
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
1st
1956–57
1956–57
Season
1956–57
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
12th
1957–58
1957–58
Season
1957–58
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
6th
1958–59
1958–59
Season
1958–59
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
14th
Copa del Rey
First round
1959–60
1959–60
Season
1959–60
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
First round
| 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 |
1960–61
1960–61
Season
1960–61
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
16th
Copa del Rey
First round
1961–62
1961–62
Season
1961–62
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
3rd
1962–63
1962–63
Season
1962–63
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
2nd
1963–64
1963–64
Season
1963–64
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
3rd
1964–65
1964–65
Season
1964–65
Tier
3
Division
3ª
Place
1st
1965–66
1965–66
Season
1965–66
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
9th
Copa del Rey
First round
1966–67
1966–67
Season
1966–67
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
6th
Copa del Rey
First round
1967–68
1967–68
Season
1967–68
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
4th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
1968–69
1968–69
Season
1968–69
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
9th
1969–70
1969–70
Season
1969–70
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
6th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
1970–71
1970–71
Season
1970–71
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
1971–72
1971–72
Season
1971–72
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
8th
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1972–73
1972–73
Season
1972–73
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
11th
Copa del Rey
Third round
1973–74
1973–74
Season
1973–74
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
14th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
1974–75
1974–75
Season
1974–75
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
8th
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1975–76
1975–76
Season
1975–76
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
9th
Copa del Rey
Second round
1976–77
1976–77
Season
1976–77
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
3rd
Copa del Rey
Third round
1977–78
1977–78
Season
1977–78
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
10th
Copa del Rey
Third round
1978–79
1978–79
Season
1978–79
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
15th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
1979–80
1979–80
Season
1979–80
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
16th
Copa del Rey
Quarter-finals
| 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 |
1980–81
1980–81
Season
1980–81
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
Quarter-finals
1981–82
1981–82
Season
1981–82
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
7th
Copa del Rey
Semi-finals
1982–83
1982–83
Season
1982–83
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
9th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
1983–84
1983–84
Season
1983–84
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
20th
Copa del Rey
Third round
1984–85
1984–85
Season
1984–85
Tier
3
Division
2ª B
Place
1st
Copa del Rey
Third round
1985–86
1985–86
Season
1985–86
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
15th
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1986–87
1986–87
Season
1986–87
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
First round
1987–88
1987–88
Season
1987–88
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
1988–89
1988–89
Season
1988–89
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
2nd
Copa del Rey
First round
1989–90
1989–90
Season
1989–90
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
20th
Copa del Rey
Second round
1990–91
1990–91
Season
1990–91
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
11th
Copa del Rey
Fifth round
1991–92
1991–92
Season
1991–92
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
2nd
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1992–93
1992–93
Season
1992–93
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
14th
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1993–94
1993–94
Season
1993–94
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
17th
Copa del Rey
Fourth round
1994–95
1994–95
Season
1994–95
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
2nd
Copa del Rey
Quarter-finals
1995–96
1995–96
Season
1995–96
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
19th
Copa del Rey
Third round
1996–97
1996–97
Season
1996–97
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
18th
Copa del Rey
Quarter-finals
1997–98
1997–98
Season
1997–98
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
8th
Copa del Rey
Second round
1998–99
1998–99
Season
1998–99
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
First round
1999–2000
1999–2000
Season
1999–2000
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
9th
Copa del Rey
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 |
2000–01
2000–01
Season
2000–01
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
14th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
2001–02
2001–02
Season
2001–02
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
11th
Copa del Rey
Quarter-finals
2002–03
2002–03
Season
2002–03
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
20th
Copa del Rey
Round of 64
2003–04
2003–04
Season
2003–04
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
21st
Copa del Rey
Round of 64
2004–05
2004–05
Season
2004–05
Tier
3
Division
2ª B
Place
3rd
Copa del Rey
Round of 64
2005–06
2005–06
Season
2005–06
Tier
3
Division
2ª B
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
Third round
2006–07
2006–07
Season
2006–07
Tier
3
Division
2ª B
Place
2nd
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
2007–08
2007–08
Season
2007–08
Tier
3
Division
2ª B
Place
1st
Copa del Rey
Third round
2008–09
2008–09
Season
2008–09
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
5th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
2009–10
2009–10
Season
2009–10
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
11th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
2010–11
2010–11
Season
2010–11
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
2nd
Copa del Rey
Third round
2011–12
2011–12
Season
2011–12
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
15th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
2012–13
2012–13
Season
2012–13
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
8th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
2013–14
2013–14
Season
2013–14
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
12th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
2014–15
2014–15
Season
2014–15
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
11th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
2015–16
2015–16
Season
2015–16
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
18th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
2016–17
2016–17
Season
2016–17
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
12th
Copa del Rey
Third round
2017–18
2017–18
Season
2017–18
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
1st
Copa del Rey
Second round
2018–19
2018–19
Season
2018–19
Tier
1
Division
1ª
Place
20th
Copa del Rey
Round of 32
2019–20
2019–20
Season
2019–20
Tier
2
Division
2ª
Place
7th
Copa del Rey
Round of 16
| 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 |
References
- In isolation, Vallecano is pronounced [baʎeˈkano].
- Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial2017http://www.rayovallecano.es/club/estadio
- Estadio de Vallecas | Rayo - Web Oficial2017http://www.rayovallecano.es/club/estadio
- "Historia resumida del Rayo"2014http://www.rayovallecano.es/historia/
- www1983https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1983-842a.html
- "Alaves through as Rayo fall"2001http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1220513.stm
- "El 'Fair Play', ¿una puerta abierta para jugar en Europa?"2013http://deportes.terra.es/valladolid/el-fair-play-una-puerta-abierta-para-jugar-en-europa,df54797edf78d310VgnVCM3000009acceb0aRCRD.html
- "Michel, nuevo entrenador del Rayo"2005http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-23-06-2005/abc/Ultima/michel-nuevo-entrenador-del-rayo_203335437757.html
- Segunda2007http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2007/06/24/mas_futbol/1182636012_850215.html
- "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español"2008http://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