Albacete Balompié

Albacete Balompié is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. Founded on 2 August 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a capacity of 17,524.[2]

Albacete Balompié

Full name	Albacete Balompié, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)	Queso Mecánico (Clockwork Cheese) Alba
Founded	1 August 1940 as Albacete Foot-ball Association
Ground	Estadio Carlos Belmonte
Capacity	17,524[1]
Owner	Skyline International
President	Georges Kabchi
Head coach	Alejandro Menéndez
League	Segunda División
2019–20	Segunda División, 17th of 22
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

History

This team is from Albacete a city from Castilla -La Mancha. It's been reported in at least three sources that football was first taught in Albacete by John Hulse, an English Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways Company, establishing the foundation of Locomotoras Albacete, after the same-named steam locomotive factory in the city, owned by the Goicoechea family, owners of Talgo[3]. Thus, like in Swindon, football in Albacete is originally linked to the railway industry.[4] Hulse introduces the Sheffield Rules in Albacete, and some of the first matches to be reported are against recreational clubs from Murcia (1897), Alcázar de San Juan (1899), and Villarrobledo (1899).[5]

After years of amateur and regional development of football, it would not appear formally in the shape we know until the end of the Spanish Civil War. The club was founded in 1940 under the name Albacete Foot-ball Association, being later changed in an attempt to make it sound "more Spanish". At the second division in 1985–86, repeating the feat five seasons later.

In 1989, Benito Floro consecutively promoted the club from the third division to La Liga, overachieving for a seventh place in the first season in the top level. Floro would later coach Real Madrid, returning to Alba two seasons later as the club was relegated in 1995–96.

After years in the second division facing serious economic and sporting difficulties, Albacete returned to the top flight in the 2002–03 campaign, led by César Ferrando (later of Atlético Madrid). However, Albacete dropped in 2004–05 after posting just 6 wins from 38 matches, going on to stabilize in the subsequent seasons in the second level.

The 2010–11 season brought two coaching changes, with both Antonio Calderón and David Vidal (who returned to the club only a few months after leaving) being fired, as Albacete returned to the third division after 21 years. That season the club finished last in Segunda División with only 32 points in 42 matches.[6] On 6 December 2011, Andrés Iniesta – who played for the club in his youth before joining Barcelona – became the club's major shareholder, donating €420,000 to the cash-strapped club.[7] The club managed to reach the round of 16 of the 2011–12 Copa del Rey, notably beating Atlético Madrid 3–1 on aggregate.[8]

In March 2013, Agustín Lázaro, chief executive officer (CEO) of Andrés Iniesta's winery enterprise, was appointed as Albacete's chairman.[9] In June, Iniesta loaned the club a further €240,000 to cover unpaid wages, thus preventing its administrative relegation to the fourth tier.[10]

In 2014, Albacete returned to the Segunda División, but was relegated two seasons later after finishing the season in the 21st position. The club again returned to the Segunda División in the 2016–17 season after winning against Valencia Mestalla in the last round of the promotion play-offs. Albacete finished the 2018-19 season in 4th position of the Segunda División, but then lost to RCD Mallorca in the La Liga play-offs and remained in Segunda División for the 2019-20 season.[11]

Seasons

Albacete Balompié "Andrés Iniesta" sports city.

Ciudad de Albacete trophy 1994.

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1940–41 4 1ª Reg. 3rd 1941–42 4 1ª Reg. 4th 1942–43 4 1ª Reg. 2nd 1943–44 3 3ª 2nd 1944–45 3 3ª 3rd 1945–46 3 3ª 1st 1946–47 3 3ª 1st 1947–48 3 3ª 3rd 1948–49 3 3ª 1st 1949–50 2 2ª 7th 1950–51 2 2ª 15th 1951–52 DNP 1952–53 3 3ª 3rd 1953–54 3 3ª 13th 1954–55 3 3ª 7th 1955–56 3 3ª 9th 1956–57 3 3ª 5th 1957–58 3 3ª 5th 1958–59 3 3ª 1st 1959–60 3 3ª 4th

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1960–61 3 3ª 1st 1961–62 2 2ª 13th 1962–63 3 3ª 4th 1963–64 3 3ª 1st 1964–65 3 3ª 1st 1965–66 3 3ª 3rd 1966–67 3 3ª 2nd 1967–68 3 3ª 4th 1968–69 3 3ª 8th 1969–70 3 3ª 14th 1970–71 4 1ª Reg. 7th 1971–72 4 Reg. Pref. 6th 1972–73 4 Reg. Pref. 14th 1973–74 4 Reg. Pref. 7th 1974–75 4 Reg. Pref. 1st 1975–76 3 3ª 17th 1976–77 4 Reg. Pref. 2nd 1977–78 4 3ª 2nd 1978–79 4 3ª 2nd 1979–80 4 3ª 2nd

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1980–81 4 3ª 2nd 1981–82 4 3ª 1st 1982–83 3 2ªB 3rd 1983–84 3 2ªB 5th 1984–85 3 2ªB 2nd 1985–86 2 2ª 17th 1986–87 3 2ªB 17th 1987–88 3 2ªB 3rd 1988–89 3 2ªB 12th 1989–90 3 2ªB 1st 1990–91 2 2ª 1st 1991–92 1 1ª 7th 1992–93 1 1ª 17th Round of 16 1993–94 1 1ª 13th Fourth round 1994–95 1 1ª 17th 1995–96 1 1ª 20th First round 1996–97 2 2ª 4th Second round 1997–98 2 2ª 14th Second round 1998–99 2 2ª 15th Second round 1999–00 2 2ª 10th Second round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2000–01 2 2ª 5th Round of 64 2001–02 2 2ª 10th Round of 32 2002–03 2 2ª 3rd Round of 64 2003–04 1 1ª 14th Round of 64 2004–05 1 1ª 20th Round of 32 2005–06 2 2ª 13th Third round 2006–07 2 2ª 6th Second round 2007–08 2 2ª 12th Third round 2008–09 2 2ª 15th Third round 2009–10 2 2ª 15th Second round 2010–11 2 2ª 22nd Second round 2011–12 3 2ªB 4th Round of 16 2012–13 3 2ªB 3rd Second round 2013–14 3 2ªB 1st Second round 2014–15 2 2ª 14th Round of 32 2015–16 2 2ª 21st Second round 2016–17 3 2ªB 1st Third round 2017–18 2 2ª 17th Second round 2018–19 2 2ª 4th Second round 2019–20 2 2ª 17th Second round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2020–21 2 2ª Qualified

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• 7 seasons in La Liga
• 24 seasons in Segunda División
• 11 seasons in Segunda División B
• 29 seasons in Tercera División
• 10 seasons in Categorías Regionales

Recent seasons

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2002–03	2D	3	42	17	20	5	51	30	71		Promoted
2003–04	1D	14	38	13	8	17	40	48	47
2004–05	1D	20	38	6	10	22	33	56	28	3rd round	Relegated
2005–06	2D	13	42	14	12	16	44	57	54
2006–07	2D	6	42	16	12	14	49	48	60
2007–08	2D	12	42	13	13	16	37	40	52
2008–09	2D	15	42	13	12	17	42	54	51
2009–10	2D	15	42	12	16	14	60	62	52
2010–11	2D	22	42	7	11	24	35	64	32		Relegated

Current squad

The numbers are established according to the official website: www.albacete-bp.es and www.lfp.es

As of 7 February 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ESP Bernabé Barragán 2 DF  ESP Álvaro Arroyo 3 DF  ESP Fran García 4 DF  ARG Nico Gorosito 6 DF  ESP Alberto Benito 8 FW  ESP Manu Fuster 10 FW  UKR Roman Zozulya 11 MF  ESP Álvaro Jiménez 12 MF  ESP Tana 13 GK  ESP Tomeu Nadal (captain) 14 DF  ESP Diego Caballo 16 MF  SEN Pape Maly Diamanka (on loan from Girona)

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  ESP Javi Jiménez (on loan from Valencia) 19 FW  ESP Alfredo Ortuño 20 MF  AZE Eddi İsrafilov 21 MF  ESP Álvaro Peña 23 DF  MNE Ivan Kecojević 24 MF  CMR Jean Jules 26 DF  ESP Carlos Isaac (on loan from Alavés) 27 MF  ESP Cedric Teguia (on loan from Atlético Madrid) 29 FW  ESP Diego Vargas 35 FW  URU Emiliano Gómez (on loan from Sassuolo) 37 DF  FRA Flavien Enzo Boyomo — MF  COL Dani Torres

Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 28 MF  ESP Víctor Segura 30 MF  GHA Abdul Awudu 32 FW  ESP Samu Vázquez 33 GK  ESP Ismael de Andrés

No. Pos. Nation Player 34 FW  ESP Javi Verdú 38 MF  ESP Jesús Parada 39 MF  ECU Emerson Espinoza (on loan from Boston River)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ESP Fer Navarro (on loan at Villarrobledo until 30 June 2021) — MF  ESP David del Pozo (on loan at Las Rozas until 30 June 2021) — MF  ESP Liberto Beltrán (on loan at UCAM Murcia until 30 June 2021) — MF  ESP Pedro Sánchez (on loan at Hércules until 30 June 2021)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ESP Chema Núñez (on loan at Real Betis B until 30 June 2021) — MF  VEN Yaimil Medina (on loan at Recreativo until 30 June 2021) — FW  ESP Miguel Ángel (on loan at Getafe B until 30 June 2021) — FW  ESP Alfon (on loan at Celta B until 30 June 2021)

Current technical staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Alejandro Menéndez
Assistant coach	Juanma Barrero
Assistant coach	Fran Noguerol
Fitness coach	José Luis Ibáñez
Goalkeeping coach	Carlos Cano

Last updated: December 2020
Source: Albacete Balompié

Honours

• Segunda División: (1) 1990–91
• Segunda División B: (2) 1989–90, 2013–14, 2016–17
• Tercera División: (8) 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1981–82
• La Liga promotion: (2) 1990–91, 2002–03
• Segunda División promotion: (2) 1984–85, 1989–90

Stadium

Estadio Carlos Belmonte

The club plays its home matches at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, which has an all-seated capacity of 17,524. Originally built in 1960, the stadium underwent two major redevelopments, the last being in 1998.

International players

Oscar Dertycia Carlos Roa Andy Bernal Vali Gasimov Ronny Gaspercic Marco Etcheverry Zago Ivaylo Andonov Albert Meyong Mark González Danny Carvajal Luis Conejo Keylor Navas Nenad Bjelica Ivan Jurić Trésor Kandol

Javier Balboa Rachid Rokki Moussa Yahaya Abass Lawal Rommel Fernández Nelson Cuevas Andrés Iniesta Fernando Morientes Cătălin Munteanu Roman Zozulya Joe Bizera Darío Delgado Nicolás Olivera Antonio Pacheco Horacio Peralta José Luis Zalazar

Famous coaches

Dagoberto Moll (1960–61) Enrique Orizaola (1976–78) Máximo Hernández (1979–80) Ignacio Bergara (1981–84) Julián Rubio (1984–85) Pachín (1985–86) Julián Rubio (1989) Benito Floro (1989–92) Julián Rubio (1992) Ginés Meléndez (interim) (1992) Víctor Espárrago (1992–94) Luis Suárez (1994) Ginés Meléndez (interim) (1994) Benito Floro (1994–96) Iñaki Sáez (1996)

Manolo Jiménez (1996) Mariano García Remón (1996–97) Luis Sánchez Duque (1997) Ginés Meléndez (1998) Luigi Maifredi (1998–99) Julián Rubio (1999–01) Paco Herrera (2001–02) César Ferrando (2002–04) José González (2004–05) César Ferrando (2005–07) Quique Hernández (2007–08) Máximo Hernández (2008) Juan Ignacio Martínez (2008–09) Máximo Hernández (2009) José Murcia (2009)

Julián Rubio (2009–10) David Vidal (2010) Antonio Calderón (2010–11) David Vidal (2011) Mario Simón (2011) Antonio Gómez (2011–13) Luis César (2013–16) César Ferrando (2016) José Manuel Aira (2016–17) Enrique Martín Monreal (2017–18) Luis Miguel Ramis (2018–20) Lucas Alcaraz (2020) Aritz López Garai (2020–)

See also

• Atlético Albacete, Albacete Balompié's reserve team
• Fundación Albacete, Albacete Balompié's women's team.
• Albacete FS, a futsal club from the same city.

References

1. Cope.es (16 June 2019). "Mallorca - Deportivo, final del play off de ascenso a Primera". COPE (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
2. "Estadio Carlos Belmonte - Albacete Stadium Guide". Football Tripper. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
3. Camacho Cabello, José (1999). "2". La población de Castilla-La Mancha: (siglos XIX y XX) (in Spanish). Toledo, Spain: Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha, Consejería de Cultura. p. 21. ISBN 84-7788-219-3.
4. Galdón Hoffenheimmer, Otto (18 November 2020). "Ottoleaks". Ottoleaks.
5. Panadero Moya, Carlos (1983). "4". Albacete, tierra de encrucijada: un reconocimiento a través de su historia, su arte y su cultura (PDF) (in Spanish). Albacete, Spain: Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses. p. 203. ISBN 8450092019. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
6. "Histórico Albacete – Segunda División". www.resultados-futbol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2019.
7. "Iniesta throws 420,000-euro lifeline to indebted Albacete". El País. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
8. Manzano sacked by Atletico Archived 29 July 2012 at Archive.today; ESPN Star Sports, 23 December 2011
9. Agustín Lázaro, gerente de Bodegas Iniesta, nuevo presidente del Albacete Balompié (Agustín Lázaro, Iniesta Winery manager, new president of Albacete Balompié); ABC, 5 March 2013 (in Spanish)
10. "Iniesta loans Albacete 240,000 euros to prevent relegation". as.com. EFE. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
11. "La historia del Club". Albacete Balompié (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2020.

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)