Marbella FC

History

Unión Deportiva Marbella was founded in 1997 immediately after the defunction of Club Atlético Marbella, which was founded 38 years before and was owned by Jesús Gil, also the chairman of Atlético de Madrid. In 2000–01, the team won its Tercera División group but came second to Real Betis B in the promotion play-offs. It subsequently qualified to the Copa del Rey for the first time, losing 0–1 at home to CD Díter Zafra in the preliminary round. In 2003, it was finally promoted to Segunda División B.

Marbella was taken over by businessmen Ian Radford and Wayne Elliott of the HI Group, an international sports, leisure, property and travel company in September 2007. In 2009, the club contested the play-offs for promotion to Segunda División for the first time, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Lorca Deportiva. In the ensuing domestic cup season, it reached the last 32 before an 8–0 aggregate loss to Atlético; the league campaign ended with relegation after seven years in the third tier.

On 28 June 2013 Unión was renamed Marbella Fútbol Club, by consent of the Russian ownership presided by Alexander Grinberg, in order to appeal to a wider foreign fanbase. At the end of the season, it ended four years in the fourth division with a 3–2 aggregate win over CD Eldense after extra time in the play-offs. By finishing second in the regular season, Marbella played in the 2018 Segunda División B play-offs, and lost on penalties in the first round to Celta de Vigo B.

Grinberg sold the club to Chinese investor Zhao Zhen in November 2018. In 2019–20, the team again came second and qualified for the play-offs, where all games were held in the local area due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, they lost 2–0 in the first round to SCR Peña Deportiva. A league restructuring meant that Marbella were relegated from the last season of the Segunda División B in 2020–21, dropping to the fifth-tier Tercera Federación.

After two years in the fifth tier, Marbella achieved promotion in April 2023 as champions of their group. Goalkeeper Alberto Lejárraga celebrated the occasion by coming out as gay.

Marbella's first season in the Segunda Federación ended in success, with promotion to the Primera Federación in June 2024. They defeated Getafe B and then UD Logrones in two two-legged play off games. Following promotion, it was announced that Brazilian midfielder Casemiro would be investing in the club.

Club background

• Atlético Marbella: 1947–1997
• UD Marbella: 1997–2013
• Marbella FC: 2013–present

Season to season

• As UD Marbella

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• As Marbella FC

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• 2 seasons in Primera Federación
• 13 seasons in Segunda División B
• 1 season in Segunda Federación
• 9 seasons in Tercera División
• 2 seasons in Tercera Federación/Tercera División RFEF

Current squad

Honours

• Tercera División: 2001–02, 2013–14
• Tercera Federación: 2022–23
• Segunda Federación: 2023–24 play-off winners

Former players

Former coaches

• ESP Juan López Muñiz
• ESP Oli
• ESP Alfredo Santaelena

Stadium

Marbella's traditional home ground is at Estadio Municipal de Marbella. However, with this stadium being redeveloped, Marbella currently plays its home games at Dama de Noche football ground, a training pitch that has been converted into a very basic stadium by the addition of temporary stands, and has a capacity of around 1,500 spectators. As a result of the basic and limited facilities at Dama De Noche, the local council and football club have been under pressure from the supporters to conclude the restoration of Estadio Municipal de Marbella.

Affiliated clubs

The following club is currently affiliated with Marbella FC:

• IND Hyderabad FC (2020–present)

References

References

1. (22 October 2007). "HI Group Acquire Second Division Spanish Club "UD MARBELLA"". HI Group.
2. "El Marbella paga los platos rotos del derbi". [[Marca (newspaper).
3. (28 June 2013). "La UD Marbella hace oficial su cambio de nombre por Marbella FC". Marbella 24 Horas.
4. (24 May 2014). "Épico ascenso del Marbella a Segunda B". [[Diario Sur]].
5. (27 May 2018). "El Celta B elimina al Marbella en los penaltis y sueña con el ascenso". [[Faro de Vigo]].
6. (19 November 2018). "Zhao Zhen compra el Marbella FC". Marca.
7. (19 July 2020). "La Peña Deportiva le da un revolcón al Marbella y sigue haciendo historia". [[Diario AS]].
8. (23 May 2021). "El Marbella consuma el doble descenso en la peor temporada de su historia". Marbella 24 Horas.
9. (26 April 2023). "El beso del ascenso: el portero del Marbella hace pública su homosexualidad". Marca.
10. (26 April 2023). "Pro-Soccer Player Alberto Lejárraga Celebrates Team's Win and Comes Out". [[The Advocate (LGBT magazine).
11. (1 June 2024). "Zamora CF, Barakaldo CF, Betis Deportivo, Marbella FC y Yeclano Deportivo ascienden a Primera Federación". Royal Spanish Football Federation.
12. Cariño, Carlos. (4 June 2024). "Casemiro se une al Marbella". as.com.
13. "Marbella FC » Squad 2025/2026". WorldFootball.
14. (27 January 2023). "Financing is now in place for construction of Marbella's new football stadium". SUR in English.
15. (29 October 2020). "Hyderabad FC, Spanish club Marbella FC announce strategic tie-up".