Castellón

Club Deportivo Castellón, commonly known as CD Castellón, is a professional football club based in Castellón de la Plana, Spain. Founded on 20 July 1922, the club has a rich history that spans nearly a century, marked by notable achievements and challenges that have shaped its identity.

CD Castellón started its journey in the regional leagues before making its debut in the Tercera División in the 1929-1930 season. The club's first major breakthrough came in the 1940-1941 season when it was promoted to La Liga, Spain's top-tier football league. Despite facing relegation multiple times, CD Castellón has always shown resilience, bouncing back to the top division on several occasions.

The club's golden era was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when it spent a decade in La Liga, achieving its highest-ever finish, fifth, in the 1972-1973 season. During this period, the club also reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals twice, cementing its place in Spanish football history.

CD Castellón's home ground is the Estadio Municipal de Castalia, a stadium with a capacity of over 15,000 spectators. Known for its passionate fan base, the club's supporters are referred to as "orelluts," a term derived from the Valencian word for snails, a popular dish in the region.

However, the club has also faced its share of difficulties. Financial troubles led to a series of relegations, pushing CD Castellón to the Tercera División in 2011. The club spent several years in the fourth tier, struggling with economic instability and ownership issues. In 2011, the club was declared bankrupt and was administratively relegated to the Tercera División.

Despite these challenges, CD Castellón has shown remarkable resilience. A turning point came in 2017 when a group of local businessmen bought the club, promising to restore its former glory. Their efforts paid off when the club won the Tercera División in the 2017-2018 season and later achieved promotion to the Segunda División in the 2019-2020 season, marking its return to professional football after a decade.

Throughout its history, CD Castellón has produced several notable players who have made significant contributions to Spanish football. These include Vicente del Bosque, a former player who later managed the Spanish national team to victory in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

Today, CD Castellón continues to compete in the Segunda División, striving to return to La Liga. Despite its ups and downs, the club remains a symbol of pride for the people of Castellón de la Plana, embodying their passion for football and their unwavering spirit of resilience.