Founded on 18 March 1932, the club has spent the majority of its history in
La Liga, although they have not played at that level since they were last relegated in 2013. They have won the
Copa del Rey six times,
1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the
1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, amongst other trophies. Traditionally, their team colours are white shirts and socks with royal blue shorts.
A government survey in 2007 found that 2.7% of the Spanish population support Real Zaragoza, making them the seventh-most supported in the country.[3]
On 8 September 1957, the team left its original stadium, El Torrero, for its current stadium,
La Romareda.
The golden era
Beginning in the
1960–61 season, Zaragoza enjoyed a period of great success, showcasing some of the greatest players playing in Spain during that decade, which earned for themselves the designation of Los Magníficos. While the team failed to capture the league title, it finished in the top five every year until
1968–69, with two third-place finishes, and also won its first two
Copa del Rey titles and the
1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Zaragoza finished third in
1973–74 and a best-ever second in
the following season, losing the title in the last round to
Real Madrid. The club was also defeated 0–1 in the
1976 domestic cup final against
Atlético Madrid,[12] spending two seasons in the second level during the decade, with promotion at the first attempt on either occasion.
In
1986, Zaragoza won its third Copa del Rey, defeating Barcelona 1–0. The club finished the
1990–91 season in 17th position, thus having to appear in the
promotion/relegation play-offs against
Real Murcia; on 19 June 1991, after a 0–0 away draw, a 5–2 home win meant the team managed to maintain its top level status.[citation needed]
The 2000s brought a further two Copa del Rey titles to Zaragoza's trophy cabinet, including the
2003–04 edition against Real Madrid in
Barcelona (3–2 after extra time).[16][17] However, the club also suffered top flight relegation in
2002[18] after
narrowly avoiding so the previous season,[19] but
achieved immediate promotion in 2003.[20] In late May 2006, Agapito Iglesias purchased Alfonso Solans' shares and took control of the club, promising to build one of the strongest teams in Spain and Europe. In his first year in charge, he purchased
Pablo Aimar from
Valencia for
€11 million,[21] and former manager Víctor Fernández also returned to the club.[22]
Mainly due to
Diego Milito's 23 goals in
2006–07 (he finished third to
Roma's
Francesco Totti and Real Madrid's
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 26 and 25 goals, respectively – in the
European Golden Shoe race), Real Zaragoza finished in sixth position, thus
qualifying to the
UEFA Cup. However,
the following season ended in relegation (18th position among 20 teams with only 10 wins in 38 matches, among them only 1 away win in 19 games)[23] – for the second time in the decade – with the side also being eliminated in the first round in
European competition. Legendary club coach Víctor Fernández returned for a second spell, although he was sacked in January 2008,[24] as the club had four managers during the campaign. On the last matchday, a brace from
Ricardo Oliveira proved insufficient in a 2–3 away loss against
Mallorca, with the team totalling 42 points to
Osasuna's 43.
Zaragoza achieved promotion from the second division
at the first attempt. On the last matchday, on 20 June 2009, the team drew 2–2 at
Rayo Vallecano with goals from youth graduate
David Generelo and ex-Real Madrid
defenderFrancisco Pavón, only trailing champions
Xerez in the table. Nevertheless, that season Zaragoza was the best team at home, gained 50 from their 81 points in home games.[25] However, after four seasons mainly spent in the bottom half of the table, Zaragoza was relegated following the
2012–13 Liga season after finishing last.[26]
In April 2022, the purchase of 51% of the shares of the SAD by an international investment fund led by
Jorge Mas was disclosed.[27]
Founded on 18 March 1932, the club has spent the majority of its history in
La Liga, although they have not played at that level since they were last relegated in 2013. They have won the
Copa del Rey six times,
1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the
1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, amongst other trophies. Traditionally, their team colours are white shirts and socks with royal blue shorts.
A government survey in 2007 found that 2.7% of the Spanish population support Real Zaragoza, making them the seventh-most supported in the country.[3]
On 8 September 1957, the team left its original stadium, El Torrero, for its current stadium,
La Romareda.
The golden era
Beginning in the
1960–61 season, Zaragoza enjoyed a period of great success, showcasing some of the greatest players playing in Spain during that decade, which earned for themselves the designation of Los Magníficos. While the team failed to capture the league title, it finished in the top five every year until
1968–69, with two third-place finishes, and also won its first two
Copa del Rey titles and the
1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Zaragoza finished third in
1973–74 and a best-ever second in
the following season, losing the title in the last round to
Real Madrid. The club was also defeated 0–1 in the
1976 domestic cup final against
Atlético Madrid,[12] spending two seasons in the second level during the decade, with promotion at the first attempt on either occasion.
In
1986, Zaragoza won its third Copa del Rey, defeating Barcelona 1–0. The club finished the
1990–91 season in 17th position, thus having to appear in the
promotion/relegation play-offs against
Real Murcia; on 19 June 1991, after a 0–0 away draw, a 5–2 home win meant the team managed to maintain its top level status.[citation needed]
The 2000s brought a further two Copa del Rey titles to Zaragoza's trophy cabinet, including the
2003–04 edition against Real Madrid in
Barcelona (3–2 after extra time).[16][17] However, the club also suffered top flight relegation in
2002[18] after
narrowly avoiding so the previous season,[19] but
achieved immediate promotion in 2003.[20] In late May 2006, Agapito Iglesias purchased Alfonso Solans' shares and took control of the club, promising to build one of the strongest teams in Spain and Europe. In his first year in charge, he purchased
Pablo Aimar from
Valencia for
€11 million,[21] and former manager Víctor Fernández also returned to the club.[22]
Mainly due to
Diego Milito's 23 goals in
2006–07 (he finished third to
Roma's
Francesco Totti and Real Madrid's
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 26 and 25 goals, respectively – in the
European Golden Shoe race), Real Zaragoza finished in sixth position, thus
qualifying to the
UEFA Cup. However,
the following season ended in relegation (18th position among 20 teams with only 10 wins in 38 matches, among them only 1 away win in 19 games)[23] – for the second time in the decade – with the side also being eliminated in the first round in
European competition. Legendary club coach Víctor Fernández returned for a second spell, although he was sacked in January 2008,[24] as the club had four managers during the campaign. On the last matchday, a brace from
Ricardo Oliveira proved insufficient in a 2–3 away loss against
Mallorca, with the team totalling 42 points to
Osasuna's 43.
Zaragoza achieved promotion from the second division
at the first attempt. On the last matchday, on 20 June 2009, the team drew 2–2 at
Rayo Vallecano with goals from youth graduate
David Generelo and ex-Real Madrid
defenderFrancisco Pavón, only trailing champions
Xerez in the table. Nevertheless, that season Zaragoza was the best team at home, gained 50 from their 81 points in home games.[25] However, after four seasons mainly spent in the bottom half of the table, Zaragoza was relegated following the
2012–13 Liga season after finishing last.[26]
In April 2022, the purchase of 51% of the shares of the SAD by an international investment fund led by
Jorge Mas was disclosed.[27]