Villarreal
La Liga / Spain
Matches
Team Form
(Last 5 Matches)
4
Win
1
Draw
0
Loss
Upcoming Matches
Villarreal Club de Futbol (Villarreal CF) is one of the most renowned Spanish clubs that currently compete in the top flight – La Liga. The club was founded on March 10, 1923, with an aim to promote sports, but mainly football. While they aren’t the most illustrious clubs in Spain, they represent a small yet successful model.
Villarreal CF are nicknamed El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine) due to their club colors of yellow. Their home stadium is named El Madrigal, which was previously named Estadio de la Ceramica and was inaugurated in 1923.
Villarreal trophy cabinet makes for interesting reading as they have European trophies to their name, but no major trophies in their domestic league. The Yellow Submarine lifted back-to-back Intertoto Cups in 2003 and 2004 before lifting their first Europa League in 2021.
Currently, they are regular contenders for European spots and always pack a punch in knockout competitions.
Club Deportivo Villarreal is based on Spain's eastern coast. The club was formed to remain rooted within the local community and establish organised football in the area. Jose Calduch Almela, a local pharmacist, acted as their first president and was instrumental in building their first home stadium, the Campo de Deportes.
They played their first competitive match against Castellon. The Yellow Submarine spent a lot of time in the lowest divisions of Spanish football before the Spanish Civil War.
Villarreal CF then started gaining promotion after the war in 1939, and then they changed their name to CF Villarreal, which is their current name. They saw multiple promotions and some demotions before eventually getting promoted to the Spanish top-flight La Liga in 1998.
Barring two seasons, they have been in La Liga since and have been competing well across competitions.
| Founded | 1923 |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | Fernando Roig |
| Country | Spain |
| City | Villarreal |
| Nickname | The Yellow Submarine (El Submarino Amarillo) |
| League | La Liga |
| Stadium | Estadio de la Ceramica |
| Capacity | 23,008 |
| Manager | Marcelino |
| Squad Size | 24 |
After the most recent report in 2023, Villarreal is the 36th most valuable football club in the world according to Brand Finance. The club's official website reported the figures, and the club was worth €137 million. There was a staggering increase in value thanks to their growing brand value.
The club registered no profits from the 2023/24 season, with €143 million in revenue cancelling out the same amount of expenses.
| Net Worth | €137 million |
|---|---|
| Villarreal Squad Valuation (2024/25) | €220 million |
| Revenue Sources | Mathcay Renvue, Sponsorship Deals, Promotions |
Villarreal's primary sponsor is Pamesa Ceramica. The Spanish ceramics company belongs to the owner, Roig, and has been a key sponsor for several years. Their logo is displayed on home and away kits. The Spanish sports clothing and footwear manufacturer Joma Sport is their primary kit maker and supplies them with their entire matchday, training, and leisure wear. Caixa Bank, ASISA, and Ascale all have deals running for multiple years with the club.
| Sponsor | Type of Sponsorship |
|---|---|
| Pamesa Ceramica | Primary Sponsor |
| Joma | Technical Sponsor (kits) |
| Ascale | Official Sponsor |
| Caixa Bank | Financial Partner |
| ASISA | Healthcare Sponsor |
Villarreal hasn't got any major rivalries with top clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Atletico Madrid. However, they do always raise the bar to trouble the opposition. They do enjoy some local derbies.
They share a long rivalry with CD Castellon since both sides are from the province of Castellon. Players are often threatened while transferring from one club to the other.
The two most competitive teams from the Valencian Community share an immense hatred of each other. Villarreal has been the favourite in the recent season as they overtook Valencia on the pitch and slightly off the pitch as well.
Advertisement
Villarreal was searching for success throughout their history. They spent plenty of seasons in the lower divisions and were never competing for titles. After reaching the top flight in the late 1990s, their fortunes changed.
They lifted two Intertoto Cups in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004 to end their major trophy drought. Benito Floro Sanz oversaw the success in 2003, where they beat the Dutch side Heerenveen 2-1 in the finals over two legs.
Their legendary manager Manuel Pellegrini took over and was the mastermind behind the triumph in 2004 as they bested Spanish side Atletico Madrid on penalties after the two legs ended 2-2 on aggregate.
The trophy drought then went on for nearly two decades. They came close to winning multiple cup competitions but fell short. Unai Emery, the Europa League specialist, arrived at the club to hand them another major European trophy in 2021. Villarreal beat Manchester United after an epic penalty shoot-out, which saw 21 of the 22 players on the pitch score. They won 11-10 after their entire XI, including the goalkeeper, scored and his opposite number, David De Gea, missed his kick.
| Competition | Titles | Season |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa League | 1 | 2020/21 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 2 | 2002/03, 2003/04 |
Villarreal is a town with fewer people than many of England's top stadium capacities. However, they are all passionate fans of the Yellow Submarine and back their club with utmost loyalty and passion. They sing their famous Acapella anthem throughout the game and create the best atmosphere every game.
The club also treats the entire town as a family. They provide scholarships to multiple athletes in all sports and give a community feeling to everyone involved. Through extensive outreach, they gained an international fanbase as well. It is one of the most followed clubs in China and plans to expand aggressively into the US market as well.
Villarreal established itself in La Liga firmly in the last decade. They are regulars in European competitions now, and with success in the Europa League and a Champions League semifinal run, they believe they could beat anyone in the world. With a talent factory for an academy and smart transfer signings, they are a well-run machine. However, domestic success will be high on the agenda of the club as they aim to win the Copa del Rey and compete for La Liga.
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Villarreal?
Villarreal is owned by businessman Fernando Roig Alfonos, who also acts as the President of the club.
How many trophies has Villarreal won?
Villarreal has won three major trophies as of today.
When was Villarreal founded?
Villarreal was founded in 1923.
What is Villarreal's Nickname?
Villarreal are nicknamed The Yellow Submarine.
What is Villarreal's highest-ever league finish?
Villarreal's highest finish was a 2nd place finish in La Liga in the 2007-08 season.
Who are some of the legends of Villarreal?
Manu Trigueros, Bruno Soriano, Marcos Senna, Juan Roman Riquelme and Santi Cazorla are some of the club legends of Villarreal.
Who are some of the best managers of Villarreal?
Manuel Pellegrini, Unai Emery, Marcelino Garcia Toral, and Benito Floro are considered some of the best managers of Villarreal.
-1754464166153.webp "Where to Watch Arsenal vs Villarreal: Live Stream and TV information")
