Celta de Vigo History

In the beginning Celta played its home matches on different playgrounds of the city until in 1928 the new stadium Estadio Municipal de Balaídos was finished. The inauguration took place September 20, 1928 against one of the strongest Spanish teams of that time - Real Unión de Irún. Celta won the match with 7-0 and Graciliano was the first player to inscribe his name as goal scorer in Balaídos.

In 1936 Celta achieved its first participation in the Primera División, the highest Spanish football league but due to the Spanish Civil War the debut followed only in 1940. The first win in the Primera División was an away-match against Sevilla. But the most important victory in that season was the one against the eternal rival, Deportivo La Coruña, with a 1-0 win in a decisive relegation match with Nolete as scorer.

Celta stayed in the highest league until 1959 with only one exception, the season 44/45. The greatest success was achieved in 47/48 with a fourth place and the great Pahiño as key player who scored 21 goals and finished the season as top scorer of the league. But the best was yet to come: The first participation in the Cup-Final. Although Celta led after 6 minutes they finally lost the match against Sevilla with 1:4. At that time the substitution of players were not allowed and Celta finished that match with only eight players on the field because two players were injured and Pahiño was ejected.

The period of 1959 and 1969 was a "grey era" in the club's history. Celta stayed for ten years in the Segunda División and lost at three occasions in a decisive final game the opportunity to ascend. Finally, in the 68/69-season a second place gave Celta the promotion back to the highest category of Spanish football.
 

In the beginning Celta played its home matches on different playgrounds of the city until in 1928 the new stadium Estadio Municipal de Balaídos was finished. The inauguration took place September 20, 1928 against one of the strongest Spanish teams of that time - Real Unión de Irún. Celta won the match with 7-0 and Graciliano was the first player to inscribe his name as goal scorer in Balaídos.

In 1936 Celta achieved its first participation in the Primera División, the highest Spanish football league but due to the Spanish Civil War the debut followed only in 1940. The first win in the Primera División was an away-match against Sevilla. But the most important victory in that season was the one against the eternal rival, Deportivo La Coruña, with a 1-0 win in a decisive relegation match with Nolete as scorer.

Celta stayed in the highest league until 1959 with only one exception, the season 44/45. The greatest success was achieved in 47/48 with a fourth place and the great Pahiño as key player who scored 21 goals and finished the season as top scorer of the league. But the best was yet to come: The first participation in the Cup-Final. Although Celta led after 6 minutes they finally lost the match against Sevilla with 1:4. At that time the substitution of players were not allowed and Celta finished that match with only eight players on the field because two players were injured and Pahiño was ejected.

The period of 1959 and 1969 was a "grey era" in the club's history. Celta stayed for ten years in the Segunda División and lost at three occasions in a decisive final game the opportunity to ascend. Finally, in the 68/69-season a second place gave Celta the promotion back to the highest category of Spanish football.
 

In 70/71 Celta finished the season in sixth place and qualified for the first time for a Cup but were eliminated in the first round by the Scotsmen of Aberdeen. In 74/75 Celta had to descend to the Secunda División and began its era as "elevator-team", reaching the darkest moment in its history in 79/80 when the club even descended to the Segunda División B, the third highest league.

During the 80's Celta played five years in Primera and then for the subsequent five years in Segunda. But the most important and tragic incidents happened outside of the playground: In 1988 Alvelo had to terminate his career after a car crash and two months later the ex-player and member of the board Quinocho was murdered in the club-office.

The most successful era in the club's history started with the comeback in the Primera División in the 1992/93 season where they stayed until 2003/04.

On April 20, 1994 Celta played its second Cup-Final against Zaragoza. Although they were considered the underdog Celta dominated the match but was unable to score and so the match went into overtime and penalty-shootout. There Alejo failed the fifth and last penalty which gave the title to Zaragoza.
 

In 70/71 Celta finished the season in sixth place and qualified for the first time for a Cup but were eliminated in the first round by the Scotsmen of Aberdeen. In 74/75 Celta had to descend to the Secunda División and began its era as "elevator-team", reaching the darkest moment in its history in 79/80 when the club even descended to the Segunda División B, the third highest league.

During the 80's Celta played five years in Primera and then for the subsequent five years in Segunda. But the most important and tragic incidents happened outside of the playground: In 1988 Alvelo had to terminate his career after a car crash and two months later the ex-player and member of the board Quinocho was murdered in the club-office.

The most successful era in the club's history started with the comeback in the Primera División in the 1992/93 season where they stayed until 2003/04.

On April 20, 1994 Celta played its second Cup-Final against Zaragoza. Although they were considered the underdog Celta dominated the match but was unable to score and so the match went into overtime and penalty-shootout. There Alejo failed the fifth and last penalty which gave the title to Zaragoza.
 

 In 2001 history seemed to repeat itself as Celta and Zaragoza met again in the Cup-Final which the club reached for the third time. Celta got the advantage thanks to an early goal of Celta's Mostovoi, its starplayer at the time. But Celta, who this time started the game as favourite, had some key players missing or playing injured and at the end the match was lost by 3-1 and Zaragoza got the Cup again!

Between 1998 and 2004 Celta qualified every year for the European competition with the highlight in the 02/03-season when a fourth place opened the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In all these years Celta played great first round matches against some of the biggest European Clubs, eliminating clubs such as Aston Villa, Liverpool, Juventus, Benfica or Red Star. In the Champions League Celta surprisingly qualified for the second round by achieving sensational victories over AC Milan and Ajax Amsterdam. But in this round Celta was finally eliminated by Arsenal London, losing both games: 2:3 in a spectacular game at Balaídos and 2:0 on the away match at Highbury.

The euphoria over the great achievements in Europe was abruptly ended in the same season with an unexpected and tragic relegation to the Segunda Divsión. But one year later, on June 18, 2005 Celta came back to the Primera with a win in Lleida (0:2) in a decisive last game of the season. Actually the people in Vigo were already celebrating the promotion (after a 0:3 win at Xérez) two weeks earlier but the federation took Celta these three points away because of a mistake in the line-up with the young player Toni Moral.
After ascending to first division twice in the same year, Celta turn out one of the most successful seasons of their history, breaking their record of victories and equalizing their record of points, among other achievements. After achieving a superb sixth place in the 05/06-season, Celta goes back again into Segunda División in the season 06/07.
 

 In 2001 history seemed to repeat itself as Celta and Zaragoza met again in the Cup-Final which the club reached for the third time. Celta got the advantage thanks to an early goal of Celta's Mostovoi, its starplayer at the time. But Celta, who this time started the game as favourite, had some key players missing or playing injured and at the end the match was lost by 3-1 and Zaragoza got the Cup again!

Between 1998 and 2004 Celta qualified every year for the European competition with the highlight in the 02/03-season when a fourth place opened the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In all these years Celta played great first round matches against some of the biggest European Clubs, eliminating clubs such as Aston Villa, Liverpool, Juventus, Benfica or Red Star. In the Champions League Celta surprisingly qualified for the second round by achieving sensational victories over AC Milan and Ajax Amsterdam. But in this round Celta was finally eliminated by Arsenal London, losing both games: 2:3 in a spectacular game at Balaídos and 2:0 on the away match at Highbury.

The euphoria over the great achievements in Europe was abruptly ended in the same season with an unexpected and tragic relegation to the Segunda Divsión. But one year later, on June 18, 2005 Celta came back to the Primera with a win in Lleida (0:2) in a decisive last game of the season. Actually the people in Vigo were already celebrating the promotion (after a 0:3 win at Xérez) two weeks earlier but the federation took Celta these three points away because of a mistake in the line-up with the young player Toni Moral.
After ascending to first division twice in the same year, Celta turn out one of the most successful seasons of their history, breaking their record of victories and equalizing their record of points, among other achievements. After achieving a superb sixth place in the 05/06-season, Celta goes back again into Segunda División in the season 06/07.
 

Since 2006 Manuel Carlos Mouriño Atanes is the president of Celta.

In the seasons 1971/1972, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2006/2007 Celta played the -Cup. In the season 03/04 Celta qualified for the Champions League. The greatest successes were the wins over Aston Villa, Liverpool, Juventus, Milan and Ajax Amsterdam as well as the 7-0 home-win against Benfica Lissabon.

In 1948 (against Sevilla), 1994 and 2001 (against Zaragoza) Celta played the Cup-final. In all three games Celta began as favourite, but in the end all three matches were lost. In the year 2000, Celta won their first and only international title, the Intertoto Cup.

Since 2006 Manuel Carlos Mouriño Atanes is the president of Celta.

In the seasons 1971/1972, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2006/2007 Celta played the -Cup. In the season 03/04 Celta qualified for the Champions League. The greatest successes were the wins over Aston Villa, Liverpool, Juventus, Milan and Ajax Amsterdam as well as the 7-0 home-win against Benfica Lissabon.

In 1948 (against Sevilla), 1994 and 2001 (against Zaragoza) Celta played the Cup-final. In all three games Celta began as favourite, but in the end all three matches were lost. In the year 2000, Celta won their first and only international title, the Intertoto Cup.