CF Extremadura explained

Clubname:Extremadura
Fullname:Club de Fútbol Extremadura
Founded:1924
Dissolved:2010
Ground:Francisco de la Hera
Almendralejo, Extremadura,
Spain
Capacity:11,580
Season:2009–10
Position:Regional Preferente, 19th
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Club de Fútbol Extremadura was a Spanish football team based in Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1924, it played two seasons in La Liga, and held home games at Estadio Francisco de la Hera, with a capacity of 11,580 seats. The club folded in 2010 following several years of financial problems.

History

Extremadura was founded in 1924, and spent the first 30 years of its existence in the regional leagues, promoting to the second division after winning the regional championship in the third.

The club lasted seven seasons in the category, finishing in fifth position in the 1958–59 season. Subsequently, the following 29 years were spent in the third level – in 1977 it became the fourth, after the creation of Segunda División B – with the addition of three relegations to the regional championships.

In 1990, after finishing first, Extremadura promoted to division three. Four years later, after winning its group, it returned to the second after an absence of 34 years; during that period of time, football in the region of Extremadura experienced a rise, with CD Badajoz and CP Mérida also competing in that level in the mid-1990s.

Extremadura finished in fifth position in the 1995–96 campaign. However, Real Madrid Castilla was ineligible for the playoffs, and Extremadura took its place, achieving promotion to La Liga for the first time ever after disposing of Albacete Balompié 2–0 on aggregate – Iosu Ortoundo was the manager.

The first season in the top flight was difficult as expected: the team lost its first nine matches and only won one of the first 19, but eventually recovered, finishing only one point from the safety zone. In the following year, with a young Rafael Benítez in charge, immediate promotion back was easily attained, as runner-up.

In the 1998–99 season Extremadura finished in 17th position, and the second top flight campaign also ended in relegation, after losing in the playoffs against Rayo Vallecano. The club's financial situation was precarious, and it dropped another division in 2002; in the first season in level three, a fifth position meant a narrow miss in the subsequent promotion playoffs, and the following four years were also spent in the division, with the club never finishing higher than tenth.

After the regular season in 2006–07, Extremadura faced UD Pájara Playas de Jandía from the island of Fuerteventura in the relegation playoffs: after a 0–3 away loss, a 1–1 home draw returned the club to the fourth division, after 17 years. Shortly afterwards it emerged that the club could not settle its economic problems, with players being due several months in wages. After confirmation by the Royal Spanish Football Federation on 1 August 2008, the club was relegated a further category.[1]

Extremadura's sporting and financial troubles continued in the following years, with the club never ranking higher than 16th. In August 2010 it folded, being dissolved by its major shareholder, the Almendralejo City Hall;[2] that fate had already befallen Mérida, with Badajoz being saved in the last minute, replaced by another team in the city and being dropped to level four.

Season to season

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1950–5143rd
1951–5241st
1952–5333rd
1953–5431st
1954–55211th
1955–5627th
1956–5729th
1957–5829th
1958–5925thRound of 32
1959–60212thFirst round
1960–61215thFirst round
1961–6234th
1962–6336th
1963–6432nd
1964–6538th
1965–6631st
1966–6733rd
1967–6836th
1968–69315th
1969–70315th
|valign="top" width=0%|
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1970–7142nd
1971–7241st
1972–73318th
1973–7441st
1974–75319th
1975–7642nd
1976–7741st
1977–7846th
1978–79416th
1979–80413th
1980–81411th
1981–82413th
1982–83413th
1983–8444th
1984–8542nd
1985–8645th
1986–8744th
1987–8843rd
1988–8942nd
1989–9041st
|}
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1990–9132ª B14th
1991–9232ª B3rd
1992–9332ª B6thThird round
1993–9432ª B1st
1994–95215th
1995–9625th
1996–97119thRound of 16
1997–9822ndRound of 16
1998–99117thThird round
1999–200028thFirst round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
2000–01211thRound of 16
2001–02221stRound of 64
2002–0332ª B5thRound of 64
2003–0432ª B13thFirst round
2004–0532ª B10th
2005–0632ª B11th
2006–0732ª B16th
2007–08517th
2008–09517th
2009–10519th
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Stadium

CF Extremadura's first permanent ground was called Campo de Santa Aurora, which was located on Camino Alange. It was used from 1928 to 1935, when the club moved to nearby Campo Santa Elvira.

In 1950, the idea of building a municipal stadium was formed, and the club moved to a plot of land adjacent to the proposed stadium. For just over one season, it played at the site, called Los Cañizos. On 12 October 1951, Extremadura played Sevilla FC in the inaugural match at the new grounds, Estadio Francisco de la Hera. The stadium remained relatively unchanged until 1996, when it was demolished to make way for a revamped one, with and a seated capacity of 11,580.

Famous players

Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

Famous coaches

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.hoy.es/prensa/20070801/deportes/extremadura-preferente_20070801.html El Extremadura, en Preferente (Extremadura, in Preferente)
  2. http://www.hoy.es/v/20100805/deportes/mas-futbol/agonia-extremadura-llega-20100805.html La agonía del CF Extremadura llega a su fin (CF Extremadura's agony comes to an end)