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First Division debut
The 1990’s
The 1990’s began with promotion to the National 2nd Division B. The following year later they finished in second place and for the second consecutive year Villarreal C.F. were promoted, this time to the National 2nd Division A.
The “yellow team” began the 1992-1993 season in the silver division of the Spanish football league from which they would not descend again. Since then, and until they reached their first promotion to the elite category, Villarreal C.F. occupied the middle to lower part of the table. However, in the 1997-1998 season Villarreal C.F. finished the league in fourth place and entered a play-off with the chance to gain promotion to the National 1st Division. The opponents were Sociedad Deportiva Compostela. The first match was played at El Madrigal and ended 0-0 with the return leg at the Multiusos de San Lázaro on 24th May 1998. This historic game ended 1-1 with Alberto getting the all important goal. After 65 years Villarreal C.F. were promoted for the first time to the Liga de las Estrellas.
One team more in the ‘Liga de las estrellas’
  A new team in the ‘Liga de las estrellas’ Villarreal C.F. proudly played their first National 1st Division match on 31st August 1998, against the mighty Real Madrid in the world famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium. A week later, El Madrigal opened its doors to the Liga de las estrellas with the visit of Celta de Vigo. During that historical season even though the team had a fantastic start the “yellow team” were relegated to the National 2nd division. However, the stay in second would be short lived. In the 1999-2000 season they finished in 3rd position and were promoted to the National 1st Division, a place where they remain to this day. Incredibly the following year Villarreal C.F. finished an amazing 7th. Villarreal C.F. ended the 20001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons in 15th place. In the summer of 2003 Villarreal C.F. won their first European trophy beating Heerenven in the final of the Intertoto Cup. This fantastic achievement allowed them to play in the prestigious UEFA Cup where they astonishingly reached the semi-finals. It goes without saying that the appearance in an UEFA Cup semi-final was one of the greatest successes of this proud club. In the 2003-2004 campaign, Villarreal C.F. ended in 8th position in the Spanish league coming tantalisingly close to automatic qualification to European competition.
From strength to strength
 Villarreal C.F. were improving rapidly and there was a feeling that something special was about to happen. And it really did!! The “Yellow Submarine” achieved an historic third position in ‘Liga de las estrellas’ at the end of the 2004/2005 season finishing with 65 points, behind the giants of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF. This incredible accomplishment was based on a collective team spirit and the phenomenal goal scoring power of Diego Forlán whose 25 goals saw him awarded the prestigious “Pichichi” as the most prolific goal-scorer in the entire football leagues of Europe.
That unbelievable triumph was rewarded with qualification to the esteemed Champions League, the most important club competition in world football. Automatic qualification was assured after Villarreal C.F. beat the English team Everton. Villarreal C.F. were not in the Champions League just to make up the numbers and qualified for the knock-out stages by finishing top of their group, a group which included the mighty Manchester United. Astoundingly this small team in Spain whom 16 years before were playing in the 4th “division” of Spanish football, beat Glasgow Rangers and Inter Milan to progress to the Champions League semi-final. In a close fought game against Arsenal, Villarreal C.F. agonisingly failed at the final hurdle. The dream had ended but I’m sure it won’t be the last. |