| Owner: | Solans Family (64%) |
| Club: | Real Zaragoza S.A.D. |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Manager: | Víctor Fernández (until 7 November 1996) Nieves (until 10 November 1996) Víctor Espárrago (until 27 January 1997) Luis Costa |
| Chairman: | Alfonso Solans |
| Chrtitle: | President |
| Mgrtitle: | Head coach |
| Stadium: | La Romareda |
| League: | La Liga |
| Cup1: | Copa del Rey |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | Fernando Morientes (15 goals) |
| Season Topscorer: | Morientes (16 goals) |
| Pattern La1: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern B1: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern Ra1: | _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes |
| Pattern Sh1: | _blue_stripes_adidas |
| Pattern So1: | _3_stripes_blue |
| Leftarm1: | FFFFFF |
| Body1: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm1: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts1: | 0000FF |
| Socks1: | FFFFFF |
| Pattern La2: | _black_stripes |
| Pattern B2: | _blackstripes |
| Pattern Ra2: | _black_stripes |
| Leftarm2: | FFDF00 |
| Body2: | FFDF00 |
| Rightarm2: | FFDF00 |
| Shorts2: | 000000 |
| Socks2: | 000000 |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
The 1996–97 season was the 62nd season for Real Zaragoza in its history. The club competed in La Liga and Copa del Rey.
During summer Alfonso Solans in his 5th season as President, reinforced the squad with several players such as midfielder Kily González[1] and Brazilian centre back Gilmar whom were transferred in from Boca Juniors and Cruzeiro respectively. Also arrived midfielder Vladislav Radimov, Austrian Goalkeeper Otto Konrad, two defenders from Real Madrid left back Miquel Soler and right back Quique Sanchez Flores the latter discarded by Fabio Capello during pre-season.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] On the contrary striker Sebastian Rambert, midfielder Sergio Berti, centre back Paqui, Goalkeeper Andoni Cedrun (after 12 campaigns),[10] José Aurelio Gay (after 5 years) and Defender Fernando Caceres (after three seasons) all of them left the club. However, in his 6th season as head coach Victor Fernández found a chaotic start of season and after 9 winless matches, left the club after six years on 7 November 1996.[11] President Solans appointed Víctor Espárrago as new manager only to drive the club to relegation zone.[12] Finally, Luis Costa returned back after several years to Zaragoza[13] and the squad avoided the Segunda Division on the final league rounds thanks to decent performances delivered by Gus Poyet, Fernando Morientes, Gustavo Adrián López and Kily González
Meanwhile, in Copa del Rey the club was early eliminated in Third round defeated by Racing Santander.
| In | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=32% | Name | width=30% | from | width=35% | Type |
| MF | Kily Gonzalez | ||||||
| DF | Gilmar | ||||||
| MF | Ander Garitano | ||||||
| DF | Miquel Soler | ||||||
| DF | Quique Sanchez Flores | ||||||
| MF | Vladislav Radimov | ||||||
| Out | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=32% | Name | width=30% | To | width=35% | Type |
| DF | Fernando Caceres | ||||||
| GK | Andoni Cedrun | ||||||
| DF | Paqui | ||||||
| MF | Sergio Berti | ||||||
| FW | Sebastian Rambert | loan ended | |||||
| MF | Jose Aurelio Gay | ||||||
| In | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=3% | Pos. | width=32% | Name | width=30% | from | width=35% | Type |
| FW | Jesús Seba | ||||||
| GK | Otto Konrad | Austria Salzburg | |||||
See main article: 1996–97 La Liga.
See main article: 1996–97 Copa del Rey.