RCD Mallorca

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.[[File:RCD Mallorca first match.jpg|thumb|325x325px|RCD Mallorca first match on 25 March 1916 against FC Barcelona reserve team.]]

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.

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

1960–1990

On 17 April 1960 Mallorca beat Levante 2-1 which confirmed promotion to La Liga for the first time in the clubs 44 year history.

In their first season in the Spanish First Division, the 1960/61 season, Mallorca finished 9th out of 16 teams, on 28 points just 2 points Oviedo in the relegation playoffs. They were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey in the round of 16 to Sevilla 4-3 across two legs.

Mallorca were then relegated back down to the Segunda Division after finishing 13th in the 1962/63 season, losing to Espanyol in the playoffs.

After finishing first in the 1964/65 Segunda Division season they were relegated again in the 1965/66 La Liga season after finishing a disappointing 15th, tied on points with Sabadell in 14th and Real Betis in 16th.

Mallorca would spend a few more seasons which saw them finish in the top 5 every season but were not promoted until the 1968/69 season which saw them finish 3rd, just 3 points off of first place Sevilla.

Despite this, Mallorca once again were relegated immediately, ending the 1969/70 La Liga season in 15th, only above Pontevedra who finished on just 13 points.

Mallorca would then sit in the lower half of the Segunda Division until the 1974/75 season which saw them finish a lowly 17th and ultimately being relegated to the Tercera División for the 1975/76 season, in which they finished 8th in their group.

Mallorca would then fall further down the Spanish football divisions being relegated to the 4th division for the 1978/79 season.

These tough times would not last however, as Mallorca would get back-to-back promotions, finishing first in the 1979/80 fourth division season and then again in the 1980/81 Tercera División.

Mallorca continued this streak of form with another promotion back to La Liga after finishing third in the 1982/83 Segunda Division.

These good times would end as Mallorca would end up relegated again after finishing the 1983/84 La Liga season in 17th on a mere 21 points.

Once again, Mallorca would come back after finishing the 1985/86 Segunda Division in 3rd, gaining promotion to La Liga for the 1986/87 season.

1990s and 2000s: Peak

In 1990–91, despite finishing the season 15th, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time, losing by one goal to Atlético Madrid.

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.

Barcelona's double also meant Mallorca entered the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the final staging of the tournament – they lost the final with a 2–1 score to Lazio at Villa Park.

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.

Mallorca's 2001–02 season was turbulent, with the club going through three different coaches and finishing 16th in the table.

For the 2002–03 season, Gregorio Manzano was appointed as the club's manager. Mallorca finished ninth in the table with inconsistent form. That season Mallorca won their first Copa del Rey title; in their route to the final, they beat Real Madrid in the quarterfinals 4-0, and then eliminated defending champions Deportivo La Coruña.

In the final on 28 June 2003, Mallorca beat Recreativo de Huelva 3–0 in Elche with goals scored by Walter Pandiani and Samuel Eto'o. The Copa Del Rey title gave the club a berth in the UEFA Cup; they progressed through three rounds before being eliminated by Newcastle 7-1 on aggregate.

In the next few seasons the club comfortably finished mid-table; in the 2009–10 season the club had a great campaign and finished 5th while making the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. However, their Europa League spot was ceded to Villarreal due to Mallorca's economic difficulties.

2010s: Decline and return

Mallorca was relegated from La Liga on the last day of the 2012–13 season.

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.

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. A year later, they bounced back in the 2017–18 season after winning the group winners promotion play-off against Mirandés, under new manager Vicente Moreno.

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. However, they were relegated a year later.

A year later, Mallorca bounced back to the top tier following an Almería defeat to Cartagena.

In 2024, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since last winning the competition in 2003.

Season to season

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• 33 seasons in La Liga
• 37 seasons in Segunda División
• 3 seasons in Segunda División B
• 12 seasons in Tercera División
• 7 seasons in Divisiones Regionales

Players

Current squad

– List ONLY players who are fully featured with the first team squad in the official website. – Do not add new players before the season start. – Do not add club number until it is official. – Remove players after they officially left the club. – This is Wikipedia, not a football newspaper. Any unconfirmed and unsourced signing will be removed on sight. – Thanks in advance.

Reserve team

Main article: RCD Mallorca B

Out on loan

Management and staff

Technical staff

Board of directors

Sports directors

Steering committee

Presidents

Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Football Club

• Adolfo Vázquez Humasqué (1916)
• Antoni Moner (1916–19)
• Josep Ramis d'Ayreflor (1919–24)
• Antoni Moner (1924–26)
• Lluís Sitjar (1926–27)
• Sebastià Sancho (1927)
• Manuel Villalonga (1927–29)
• Josep Ramis d'Ayreflor / Sebastià Sancho (1929–30)
• Antonio Parietti / Lluís Sitjar (1930–31) Club Deportivo Mallorca
• Lluís Sitjar / Josep Sancho / Ramón Cavaller (1931–32)
• Miquel Seguí (1932–34)
• Llorenç Lladó / Andreu Homar (1934–35)
• Andreu Homar (1935–43)
• Lluís Sitjar (1943–46)
• Félix Pons Marqués (1946–47) Real Club Deportivo Mallorca
• Joaquín Fuster / Andreu Homar / Joan de Vidal (1948–51)
• Antoni Buades / Josep Tous (1951)
• Antoni Buades / José María del Valle (1952)
• Llorenç Munar (1955)
• Jaume Rosselló (1956–61)
• Llorenç Munar (1961)
• Joan de Vidal (1964–66)
• Josep Barona (1966–67)
• Josep Barona / Pau Servera (1967–68)
• Pau Servera / Guillem Ginard (1969–70)
• Guillem Ginard / Josep Fandós (1970–71)
• Josep Fandós (1971–72)
• Joan de Vidal (1972–74)
• Joan de Vidal / Antoni Seguí (1974–75)
• Antonio Seguí / Joan Ferrer (1975–76)
• Guillem Ginard (1976-77)
• Guillem Ginard / Miquel Contestí (1977–78)
• Miquel Contestí (1978–92)
• Miquel Dalmau (1992–95)
• Bartomeu Beltrán (1995–98)
• Guillem Reynés (1998–00)
• Mateu Alemany (2000–05)
• Vicenç Grande (2005–08)
• Mateu Alemany (2008–09)
• Tomeu Vidal (2009–10)
• Josep Maria Pons (2010)
• Jaume Cladera (2010–12)

Honours

Domestic competitions

• Copa del Rey
  • Winners (1): 2002–03
  • Runners-up (3): 1990–91, 1997–98, 2023–24
• Supercopa de España
  • Winners (1): 1998
  • Runners-up (1): 2003
• Segunda División
  • Winners (2): 1959–60, 1964–65
  • Play-off Winners (1): 2019
• Segunda División B
  • Winners (2): 1980–81, 2017–18

Continental competitions

• UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1998–99

League records

Team

• Best La Liga position: Third (1998–99, 2000–01)
• Record La Liga win: 7–1 v Recreativo de Huelva (h), 9 March 2008
• Record La Liga defeat: 7–0 v Atlético Madrid (a), 7 February 1988
• Fastest goal: 22 seconds - Spain Dani García v Real Oviedo, 21 February 1999.
• Most goals scored in a season: 69 (2007–08)

Individual

Notable players

Most appearances

• Pichichi Trophy
  • La Liga
    • Spain Daniel Güiza – 27 (2007–08)
• Ricardo Zamora Trophy
  • La Liga
    • Argentina Carlos Roa – 1998–99
  • Segunda División
    • Morocco Badou Zaki – 1988–89

World Cup players

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

• YUG Zoran Vulić (1990)
• ESP Iván Campo (1998)
• ARG Carlos Roa (1998)
• ESP Albert Luque (2002)
• ESP Miguel Ángel Nadal (2002)
• CMR Samuel Eto'o (2002)
• CMR Pierre Webó (2010)
• ALG Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba (2014)
• KOR Lee Kang-in (2022)
• SRB Predrag Rajković (2022)

Club information

• Members: 12,107 (2020–21)
• Total Attendance in La Liga: 205,828 (2019–20)
• Average Attendance: 10,836 Spectators (2019–20)
• Official shirt manufacturer: Nike
• Official shirt sponsors: αGEL
• Other sponsors: Coca-Cola, CaixaBank, Estrella Damm, PayPal, Fibwi, juaneda, Air Europa, Specialized Bicycle Components, okmobility, Alua Hotels & Resorts

Stadium information

• Name – Visit Mallorca Stadium
• City – Palma de Mallorca
• Capacity – 23,142
• Inauguration – June 1999
• Pitch size – 107 m x 69 m
• Other Facilities: – Antonio Asensio Sports Complex (aka "Son Bibiloni")
• Google Maps Location – Visit Mallorca Stadium

Affiliated teams

• SPA RCD Mallorca B – Reserve team

References

References

1. (22 August 2017). "22 August 1998 {{!}} Supercopa de España {{!}} Barcelona - Mallorca 0-1".
2. "Squad of Alfonso XIII 1930-31 Republic President Cup".
3. "Classification Second Division 1959-60 {{!}} BDFutbol".
4. "History".
5. "Classification First Division 1960-61 {{!}} BDFutbol".
6. "Generalísimo Cup 1960-61 {{!}} BDFutbol".
7. "Promotion to 1st division 1962-63 {{!}} BDFutbol".
8. "Classification First Division 1965-66 {{!}} BDFutbol".
9. "Classification Second Division 1968-69 {{!}} BDFutbol".
10. "Classification First Division 1969-70 {{!}} BDFutbol".
11. "Classification Second Division 1974-75 {{!}} BDFutbol".
12. "Classification 2nd Division B Group II 1980-81 {{!}} BDFutbol".
13. "Classification Second Division 1982-83 {{!}} BDFutbol".
14. "Classification First Division 1983-84 {{!}} BDFutbol".
15. "Classification Second Division 1985-86 {{!}} BDFutbol".
16. (29 June 2011). "Atlético 1-0 Mallorca: Al Mallorca se le escapó su primera Final". RCD Mallorca.
17. (7 March 2016). "Supercopa de España 1998: el club estrena la vitrina". [[Diario de Mallorca]].
18. (23 May 2009). "Freeze frame Villa Park May, 1999: Lazio win the last ever UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final". The Scotsman.
19. (13 June 2001). "Aragones bound for Atletico Madrid". BBC News.
20. Sochon, Mark. (2019-09-22). "Eto'o, Pandiani and Ibagaza: remembering Real Mallorca's stunning Copa del Rey triumph of 2003".
21. (28 June 2003). "Mallorca win King's Cup". Eurosport.
22. (March 25, 2004). "Shearer strike seals Newcastle win". [[UEFA]].
23. (2010-07-22). "La UEFA expulsa al Mallorca de la Europa League".
24. (3 June 2013). "Celta Vigo defy odds as four becomes relegated three in La Liga finale". The Guardian.
25. (5 January 2016). "Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, Steve Nash seal Mallorca takeover". ESPN FC.
26. (4 June 2017). "Former NBA star Steve Nash's Mallorca relegated to Spanish third tier, Girona promoted". Diario AS.
27. (10 June 2018). "Mallorca champions of Segunda B". Majorca Daily Bulletin.
28. (24 June 2019). "Mallorca return to La Liga after stunning turnaround over Deportivo". Euronews.
29. (16 July 2020). "Real Mallorca are relegated". Majorca Daily Bulletin.
30. (2021-05-18). "Real Mallorca are promoted to La Liga".
31. "Jugadores". RCD Mallorca.
32. (27 September 2010). "Jaume Cladera nuevo presidente del RCD Mallorca". RCD Mallorca.
33. "Palmarés en". [[MARCA]].
34. (28 August 2009). "Spain – List of Super Cup Finals". [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] (RSSSF).
35. [https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/e/egols24.html Mallorca players]; BDFutbol
36. (17 September 2020). "Caixabank partnership extension". (official website).
37. "Club stadium". (official website).
38. "Son Bibiloni, RCD Mallorca's heart".