RCD Mallorca explained

Clubname:Mallorca
Fullname:Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, S.A.D.
Founded: as Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club
Nickname:Los Piratas (The Pirates)
Los Bermellones (The Vermilions)
Els Barralets (The Barralet)
Ground:Estadi Mallorca Son Moix
Capacity:26,020
Owner:Andy Kohlberg (majority)
Steve Nash (minority)
Steve Kerr (minority)
Chrtitle:President
Chairman:Andy Kohlberg
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Website:http://www.rcdmallorca.es/en
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Current:2024–25 RCD Mallorca season

Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, S.A.D. (pronounced as /es/, Catalan; Valencian: Reial Club Deportiu Mallorca in Catalan; Valencian pronounced as /rəˈjal ˈklub dəpuɾˈtiw məˈʎɔɾkə/, Royal Sporting Club Mallorca), commonly known as Real Mallorca or RCD Mallorca, is a Spanish professional football club based in Palma on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, they currently compete in La Liga, holding home games at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix with a 23,142-seat capacity.

The club had its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reaching a best-ever third place in La Liga in 1999 and 2001 and winning the Copa del Rey in 2003 following final defeats in 1991, 1998 and 2024. Mallorca also won the 1998 Supercopa de España[1] and reached the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final.

Mallorca traditionally play in red shirts with black shorts and socks.

History

The early years

Founded on 5 March 1916, what would later become RCD Mallorca was registered at the Spanish Football Federation under the name of Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.

Weeks after its establishment, the club wasted little time forming the directors of Alfonso XIII FBC, headed by engineer Adolfo Vázquez Humasqué and eight other football fans. Their first stadium, the Buenos Aires field, was inaugurated with a competitive fixture against FC Barcelona just 20 days after registering further fast-tracked development. Despite the fixture ending in a disappointing 8–0 defeat, it was not long before King Alfonso XIII himself requested the royal adoption of ‘Real’ in the team's title, therefore becoming Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.In 1917, the Catalan Federation granted Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII admission into the second-tier league championship as an unofficial champion of the Balearic Islands. Booking a place in the final, Los Bermellones went on to record their first title with a resounding 3–1 victory over Futbol Club Palafrugell, in Barcelona.

Until the 1930s, the board of directors managed to organise fixtures against peninsular clubs such as RCD Espanyol and Real Murcia, while also hosting rare exhibitions against foreign sides including: Ajax in 1923, Uruguay's national team in 1925, Chilean outfit Colo-Colo in 1927 and one of the Czech Republic's oldest teams, Prague Meteor, in 1930, the latter under coach Jack Greenwell, and with Antolín Arnau, Felipe Ferrer, and Pedro Pizá among its players.[2]

In 1931, following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic which prohibited any form of reference to monarchy, the club was renamed to Club Deportivo Mallorca.

Although major fixtures and competitions across Spain were soon interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936, the squad enjoyed a highly successful spell by winning every possible championship they entered into, as football on the island remained resistant to the deferral experienced throughout the country. When the war finally ended, matches with teams from the Peninsula were quick to resume and the Second Division was inaugurated, based on five groups of eight teams each.

It was during a period in the Second Division that, on 22 September 1945, the time had come to wave goodbye to Buenos Aires Field and up sticks to Es Fortí, a 16,000-maximum capacity stadium which would be called home for over half a century and undergo several expansions. A line-up featuring forward Sebastián Pocoví, defender Saturnino Grech and goalkeeper Antoni Ramallets beat Jerez 3–0 on the opening game of the new campaign the following day, with Carlos Sanz scoring Es Fortí's first goal in front of packed-out terraces. The title Es Fortí was short-lived however, with the board later changing the name of the stadium to Lluís Sitjar, in honour of the man who had driven the construction of the field.

During the 1949–1950 season, the Balearic club recovered their "Real" title, becoming Real Club Deportivo Mallorca

1990s and 2000s: Peak

In 1990–91, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time, losing by one goal to Atlético Madrid.[3]

Argentine Héctor Cúper was hired as manager in 1997. In his first season, the club reached the 1998 Copa del Rey Final, and lost on penalties to FC Barcelona after a 1–1 draw in Mestalla. However, as Barcelona also won the league, Mallorca were their opponents in the 1998 Supercopa de España and won 3–1 on aggregate for their first major honour.[4] Barcelona's double also meant Mallorca entered the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the final staging of the tournament – they lost the final 2–1 to Italy's S.S. Lazio at Villa Park.[5]

In 1999, Mallorca also finished a best-ever 3rd and qualified for the first time to the UEFA Champions League, but were eliminated on the away goals rule by Molde FK of Norway before the group stage. Luis Aragonés matched 3rd place in 2001, before leaving for an Atlético Madrid still in the second tier.[6] On 28 June 2003, Mallorca won the Copa del Rey with a 3–0 win over Recreativo de Huelva in the final in Elche; the goals were scored by Walter Pandiani and Samuel Eto'o (two).[7]

2010s: Decline and return

Mallorca was relegated from La Liga on the last day of the 2012–13 season.[8] In January 2016, with the team at risk of relegation to the third tier, American investor Robert Sarver and former NBA player Steve Nash bought the club for just over €20 million.[9]

On 4 June 2017, Mallorca fell into the third tier for the first time since 1981, with one game of the season still to play.[10] A year later, they bounced back in the 2017–18 season after winning the play-off final against CF Rayo Majadahonda, under new manager Vicente Moreno.[11] In June 2019, Mallorca secured a second consecutive promotion to the 2019–20 La Liga, following a 3–2 win on aggregate over Deportivo de La Coruña in the 2019 Segunda División play-offs – having lost the first game 2–0.[12] However, they were relegated a year later.[13] A year later, Mallorca bounced back to the top tier following an Almería defeat to Cartagena.[14] In 2024, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since last winning the competition in 2003.

Season to season

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1931–3234thRound of 32
1932–3342ndDid not play
1933–3444thDNP
1934–3543rdDNP
1935–3641stSecond round
1939–4027thDNP
1940–4142ndDNP
1941–4241stDNP
1942–4341stDNP
1943–4431stRound of 32
1944–45211thFirst round
1945–4628thFirst round
1946–4725thFirst round
1947–48213thFifth round
1948–4933rdFifth round
1949–50211thRound of 16
1950–51212thDNP
1951–5226thDNP
1952–5328thSecond round
1953–54216thDNP
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1954–5531stDNP
1955–5632ndDNP
1956–5731stDNP
1957–5831stDNP
1958–5931stDNP
1959–6021stQuarter-finals
1960–6119thRound of 16
1961–62111thRound of 16
1962–63113thRound of 32
1963–6423rdRound of 32
1964–6521stRound of 16
1965–66115thRound of 16
1966–6725thRound of 32
1967–6824thFirst round
1968–6923rdDNP
1969–70115thRound of 32
1970–7129thRound of 32
1971–72212thFourth round
1972–73210thFourth round
1973–74211thThird round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1974–75217thRound of 32
1975–7639thFirst round
1976–7733rdSecond round
1977–7832ª B18thFirst round
1978–79413thDNP
1979–8041stThird round
1980–8132ª B1stThird round
1981–8226thFourth round
1982–8323rdFourth round
1983–84117thThird round
1984–8527thRound of 16
1985–8623rdFourth round
1986–8716thQuarter-finals
1987–88118thRound of 32
1988–8924thQuarter-finals
1989–90110thFirst round
1990–91115thRunners-up
1991–92120thFourth round
1992–9324thRound of 16
1993–9425thThird round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1994–95212thQuarter-finals
1995–9623rdSecond round
1996–9723rdSecond round
1997–9815thRunners-up
1998–9913rdQuarter-finals
1999–2000110thSecond round
2000–0113rdQuarter-finals
2001–02116thRound of 16
2002–0319thWinners
2003–04111thRound of 32
2004–05117thRound of 32
2005–06113thThird round
2006–07112thRound of 16
2007–0817thQuarter-finals
2008–0919thSemi-finals
2009–1015thQuarter-finals
2010–11117thRound of 16
2011–1218thQuarter-finals
2012–13118thRound of 16
2013–14217thSecond round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
2014–15216thSecond round
2015–16217thSecond round
2016–17220thThird round
2017–1832ª B1stSecond round
2018–1925thRound of 32
2019–20119thRound of 32
2020–2122ndSecond Round
2021–22116thQuarter-finals
2022–2319thRound of 16
2023–24115thRunners-up
2024–251
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Players

Reserve team

See main article: RCD Mallorca B.

Out on loan

Management and staff

See also: List of RCD Mallorca managers.

Board of directors

President: Andy Kohlberg

Board of Directors Member: Robert Sarver

Board of Directors Member: Steve Nash

Board of Directors Member: Graeme Le Saux

Board of Directors Member: Utz Claassen

Honorary Secretary: Rosemary Mafuz

Sports directors

Football Director: Joe Metcalf

Steering committee

CFO: Steve Washington

Head of Sales & Marketing: Phillip Tisdell

Legality Department: Waylon Wilkinson Jr.

Head of Communications: Stan Cooper

Ticketing & Social area: Charity Donalds

Presidents

Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Football Club

Club Deportivo Mallorca

Real Club Deportivo Mallorca

Honours

Domestic competitions

International competitions

Records

Team

Individual

Most appearances

Name Matches
255
222
206
204
197
183
175
171
168
10° 167
11° 164
12° 161

Top scorers

Name Goals
70
52
46
37
28
27
27

World Cup players

The following players have been selected by their country in the World Cup Finals, while playing for Mallorca.

Club information

Stadium information

Affiliated teams

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 August 2017. 22 August 1998 Supercopa de España Barcelona - Mallorca 0-1. 19 February 2021. Football Memories Football History and Actuality. it.
  2. Web site: Squad of Alfonso XIII 1930-31 Republic President Cup . www.bdfutbol.com . 5 May 2024 .
  3. News: Mazarrasa . Gonzalo . Atlético 1-0 Mallorca: Al Mallorca se le escapó su primera Final. Atlético 1-0 Mallorca: Their first final got away from Mallorca . 27 February 2020 . RCD Mallorca . 29 June 2011 . es.
  4. News: Bazúa . J. . Supercopa de España 1998: el club estrena la vitrina . Supercopa de España 1998: the club starts off the trophy cabinet. 7 February 2020 . Diario de Mallorca . 7 March 2016 . es.
  5. News: Freeze frame Villa Park May, 1999: Lazio win the last ever UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final . 7 February 2020 . The Scotsman . 23 May 2009.
  6. News: Aragones bound for Atletico Madrid . 28 February 2020 . BBC News . 13 June 2001.
  7. News: Mallorca win King's Cup . 28 February 2020 . Eurosport . 28 June 2003.
  8. News: Lowe . Sid . Celta Vigo defy odds as four becomes relegated three in La Liga finale . 27 February 2020 . The Guardian . 3 June 2013.
  9. News: Corrigan . Dermot . Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, Steve Nash seal Mallorca takeover. 27 February 2020 . ESPN FC . 5 January 2016.
  10. News: Dunne . Robbie . Former NBA star Steve Nash's Mallorca relegated to Spanish third tier, Girona promoted . 27 February 2020 . Diario AS . 4 June 2017.
  11. News: Mallorca champions of Segunda B . 27 February 2020 . Majorca Daily Bulletin . 10 June 2018.
  12. News: Mallorca return to La Liga after stunning turnaround over Deportivo . 27 February 2020 . Euronews . 24 June 2019.
  13. News: Real Mallorca are relegated . 16 July 2020 . Majorca Daily Bulletin . 16 July 2020.
  14. Web site: 2021-05-18. Real Mallorca are promoted to La Liga. 2021-11-01. www.majorcadailybulletin.com. en.
  15. News: Jaume Cladera nuevo presidente del RCD Mallorca. Jaume Cladera new RCD Mallorca president. RCD Mallorca. es. 27 September 2010. 28 November 2010.
  16. Web site: es. Palmarés en . . 22 June 2010.
  17. Web site: Spain – List of Super Cup Finals . Carnicero, José . Torre, Raúl . Ferrer, Carles Lozano . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) . 28 August 2009 . 22 June 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100308121247/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spansupcuphist.html . 8 March 2010 .
  18. News: Caixabank partnership extension. (official website). 17 September 2020.
  19. Web site: Club stadium . (official website) . 27 August 2020.
  20. Web site: Son Bibiloni, RCD Mallorca's heart . 27 August 2020.