Founded: 1929 Number of Teams: 20 Relagation to: Segunda Division Domestic Cup: Copa del Rey International Cups: Champions League, UEFA Cup & Intertoto Cup Current Champions: Real Madrid HistoryThe Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Professional Football League), commonly known as La Liga or Liga BBVA, is the top professional footballl league in Spain. It is contested by 20 teams, with the three lowest placed teams relegated to the Segunda División and replaced by the top three teams in that division. A total of 58 teams have competed in La Liga, nine of which have been crowned champions. Since the 1950s, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have dominated the championship. The former have won the title 31 times while the latter have won it on 18 occasions. However, during the 1930s and 1940s and in the last two decades, La Liga has seen other champions including Valencia, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Deportivo de La Coruña, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Real Betis. In 2008, a new trophy has been awarded to the best player in the league overall: the Di Stéfano Trophy, also created by Marca. The 50 top players, chosen by visitors to Marca's official website every week of competition, made it into a final ballot, where a specialized jury, which included former football stars Jorge Valdano, Fernando Hierro, Emilio Butragueño, Andoni Zubizarreta, Spain's national teamhead coachLuis Aragonés and Alfredo Di Stéfano, decided the final winner. The first edition was won by Real Madrid star Raúl González, after three voting rounds since there was a tie between him and runner-up Sergio Agüero. Athletic Bilbao Full Name: Athletic Club Bilbao Nickname: Los leones Founded: 1898 Ground: San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain Capacity: 39,750 Chairman: Fernando Garcia Macua Manager: Joaquin Caporros HistoryAthletic Club is a Spanish football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions. They are known as the Rojiblancos or Zurigorri because of their red and white striped shirts and as Los Leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was an early Christian thrown to the lions by the Romans. The lions refused to eat Mames and he was later made a saint. The San Mamés Stadium is hence nicknamed "the football cathedral". The club is known for its cantera policy of bringing young Basque players through the ranks, as well as recruiting top Basque players from other clubs (like Joseba Etxeberria or Javi Martinez). Athletic only signs professional players native to one of the seven Basque provinces: Biscay, Guipúzcoa, Álava and Navarre in Spain and Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre in France. This has gained Athletic both admirers and critics. The club has been praised for promoting home grown players and club loyalty. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Gorka Iraizoz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Koikili</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Ustaritz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Fernando Amorebieta</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Joseba del Olmo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>David López</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Joseba Garmendia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Fernando Llorente</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Francisco Yeste</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Igor Gabilondo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Iñigo Vélez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Armando</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Markel Susaeta</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Andoni Iraola</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Pablo Orbaiz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Joseba Etxeberria (Captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Carlos Gurpegi</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Ander Murillo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Aitor Ocio</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Ion Vélez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Iñaki Muñoz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Javier Casas</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Javi Martinez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Iñaki Lafuente</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">26</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Ander Iturraspe</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">42</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Mikel Balenziaga</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Atlético Madrid Full name: Club Atletico de Madrid Nicknames: Los Colchoneros, Indios, Rojiblancos Founded: 1903 Ground: Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Spain Capacity: 54,854 Chairman: Enrique Cerezo Head Coach: Javier Aguirre HistoryThe Club was founded on 9 October1939. A previous club was originally founded on 26 April1903 as Athletic Club de Madrid by three Basque students living in Madrid. The founders saw the new club as a branch of Athletic Bilbao. In 1904 they were joined by dissident members of Madrid FC. They began playing in blue and white, as did Athletic Bilbao, but by 1911 they were playing in their current colours. The reason the club changed colours is not known for certain. However one theory is that red and white striped tops were the cheapest stripes to make because the same combination was used to make bed mattresses. The left over cloth was easily converted into football shirts. Although both Athletic Bilbao and Athletic Madrid started out with blue and white stripes, the discovery of a cheaper option probably persuaded them to change. The Madrid club did it first and they became known as los colchoneros—the mattress makers. Other more plausible account of the reason to change colours is that both Athletic Bilbao and Athletic Madrid used to buy Blackburn Rovers F.C. blue and white kits in England. Once in 1911 Juanito Elorduy, former player and member of the board of Athletic Madrid, went to England to buy kits for both teams. He did not find Blackburn Rovers F.C. kits and bought Southampton F.C. red and white ones instead. Athletic Bilbao adopted Southampton F.C. full kit with red and white shirt and black shorts, whereas Athletic Madrid adopted the red and white shirt but kept Blackburn Rovers F.C. blue shorts. First Atletico's ground, 'Ronda de Vallecas', was situated in the homonym working-class area south of the city. In 1919, the Compañia Urbanizadora Metropolitana—the company that ran the underground communication system in Madrid—acquired some land, near the Ciudad Universitaria. As part of that project the company built a sports stadium, named Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid. With a capacity for 35.800 spectators, in 1923 it was rented by Atlético de Madrid, which used it until 1966 when they moved to the new Estadio Vicente Calderón. After the move, the Metropolitano was demolished, being replaced with university buildings. In 1921 Athletic Madrid became independent of Athletic Bilbao and by 1923, the club built its first stadium, the Metropolitano. During the 1920s Athletic won the Campeonato del Centro three times and in 1921 and 1926 they were Copa del Rey runners-up. Based on this record, they were invited to join the Primera División of the inaugural La Liga in 1928. During their debut La Liga season the club were managed by Fred Pentland. However in 1930 they were relegated to Segunda División. They briefly returned to the Primera División in 1934, again with Pentland in charge. The club were relegated again in 1936 after Josep Samitier took over in mid-season from Pentland. However the Spanish Civil War gave the club a reprieve and both La Liga and Athletic's relegation were postponed. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Grégory Coupet</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Giourkas Seitaridis</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Antonio López</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Mariano Pernia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>John Heitinga</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Diego Forlán</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Raúl Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Luis Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Sergio Agüero</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Maxi Rodriguez (Captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Paulo Assunção</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Florent Sinama-Pongolle</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Éver Banega (loan from Valencia CF)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Tomáš Ujfaluši</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Maniche</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Miguel</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Simão</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Luis Amaranto Perea</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Pablo Ibáñez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Ignacio Camacho</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Leo Franco</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">27</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Ángel Bernabé</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">28</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Sergio Keko</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Out on Loan<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">––</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Diego Costa (at Albacete)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">––</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>José Manuel Jurado (at Mallorca)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">––</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>José Antonio Reyes (at Benfica)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">––</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Cléber Santana (at Mallorca)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> UD ALMERIA Full Name: Union Deportiva Almeria Founded: 1989 Ground: Estadio Mediterraneo, Andalucia, Spain Capacity: 22,000 Chairman: Alfonso Garcia Gabarron Head Coach: Gonzalo Arconada HistoryAD Almeria was a team that played in the first division between 1979-1981, but disappeared in 1982, and was arguably UD Almeria's predecessor. In 1989, a club named Almeria Club de Fútbol was born, but in 2001 was renamed Unión Deportiva Almeria. After playing one season in the second division, they got relegated to the second B and the third divisions. After spending several seasons in the second division, the side was first promoted to the top flight after finishing runner-up in 2006-07. After some outstanding performances, the team achieved a final 8th league place in 2007-08. At the club's helm was coach Unai Emery, as strikerÁlvaro Negredo finished team top scorer with 13 goals. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Diego Alves</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Bruno</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Guilherme</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Julio Álvarez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Kalu Uche</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Iriney</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Miguel Nieto</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Albert Crusat</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Álvaro Negredo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>José Ortiz (captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Pablo Piatti</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Chico</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Esteban</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Corona</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Michel</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Juan Manuel Ortiz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Santiago Acasiete (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Natalio</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Esteban Solari</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Carlos Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Mané</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Fernando Soriano</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Juanito</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Hernán Pellerano</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> FC Barcelona Full Name: Futbol Club Barcelona Nicknames: Blaugrana, Farca, Cules Founded: 1899 Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain Capacity: 98,772 Chairman: Joan Laporta Head Coach: Josep Guardiola HistoryFutbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça, is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team, which was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English, and Catalan men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto Més que un club (More than a club). They were founding members of La Liga in 1928, and, together with Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, they have never been relegated from the top division. The club were also the first La Liga champions, winning a total of 18 La Liga, 24 Copa del Rey, 7 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Champions League, 4 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 3 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and 2 European Super Cup trophies. The club's main stadium is the Camp Nou and the fans of FC Barcelona are known as culers or culés. In Spain, about 25% of the population are said to be Barça supporters. In June 2007, the number of socis (club members/owners) reached 156,366, while in June 2006 the number of penyes (officially-registered supporter clubs) reached 1782 worldwide.During the 2006-07 season, FC Barcelona was the third richest club in the world with a revenue of €291.1 million Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Victor Valdés (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Martin Cáceres</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Gerard Piqué</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Rafael Márquez (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Carles Puyol (Captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Xavi (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Eiður Guðjohnsen</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Andrés Iniesta (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Samuel Eto'o</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Lionel Messi</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Bojan Krkić</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>José Manuel Pinto</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Thierry Henry</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Seydou Keita</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Sylvinho</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Gabriel Milito</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Daniel Alves</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Aliaksandr Hleb</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Éric Abidal</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Yaya Touré</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Albert Jorquera</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">27</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Pedro</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">28</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Sergi Busquets</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">29</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Victor Sánchez</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Real Betis Full Name: Real Betis Balonpie Nicknames: Beticos del universo, Verdiblancos Founded: 1907 Ground: Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, Sevilla, Spain Capacity: 52,700 Chairman: Pepe Leon Head Coach: Paco Chaparro HistoryReal Betis Balompié is a Spanish football club in Sevilla founded in 1907. The team currently plays in La Liga. Its home stadium is the 52,700-seat Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera and its home colours are green and white. Real Betis celebrated their centenary year this past year 2007/2008La Liga season. Real Betis were noted as the 32nd best followed team in Europe as regard average attendances during the 2006/2007 season Real Betis holds the distinction of being the first Andalusian football team to play in the La Liga and to reach the UEFA Champions League although city rivals Sevilla already played this competition but with a different format, known as European Cup, in the 1957-58 season. Betis are also the only Spanish club to have won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd division leagues. Supporters of Real Betis are known as béticos. The club came close to folding in the summer of 1992 when they were saved by then vice-chairman Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, who later became chairman and is the current owner of the club. Betis have won the La Liga once - in 1935 under the guidance of Patrick O'Connell - and won their first Copa del Rey in 1977. They made it to the final in 1997 but lost to FC Barcelona. Betis made it to the final again on 11 June2005 against CA Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium and won their second Copa del Rey 2-1. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Ricardo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Melli</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Fernando Vega</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Juanito <SMALL>(Captain)</SMALL></TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>David Rivas</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Branko Ilič</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Juanma</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Arzu</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Sergio Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Edú</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Mark González</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Damian Abella</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Casto</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Capi</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Fabián Monzón</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Mariano Pavone</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Marko Babić</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Alberto Rivera</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Xisco</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Achille Emana</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Mehmet Aurélio</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Willian Lima</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Nélson</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>José Mari</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">27</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Juande</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Deportivo de la Coruña Full Name: Real Club Deportivo de la Coruña Nicknames: Depor, Herculinos, Turkos Founded: 1906 Ground: Estadio Municipal de Riazor, Galicia, Spain Capacity: 34,600 Chairman: Augusto Cesar Lendoiro Head Coach: Miguel Angel Lotina HistoryReal Club Deportivo de La Coruña, S.A.D. is a Galician (Spain) football club, member of the LFP. The club was founded in 1906. Its home stadium in A Coruña (Galicia) is called Estadio Municipal de Riazor with a capacity of 34,600 spectators. In December 1906 these young men of Sala Calvet gymnasium created their own team called Club Deportivo de la Sala Calvet, that with time would become the Deportivo de Coruña. In about two and half years the club would be given the mark of royalty by King Alfonso XIII and be called Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña. At this time things were looking up as Deportivo would move into a new stadium called the Riazor (now called the Viejo Riazor). Deportivo would continue to play in various leagues in Galicia and outside for two decades until 1928, when the Spanish league was formed. Deportivo would fail to achieve qualification for the "Primera División" and so would begin playing in the Segunda División. Deportivo remained in the Segunda División, their greatest achievement eliminating Real Madrid from the Copa Del Rey till finally achieving promotion to the Primera División in 1928. During a century, Coruña has lived through moments of sadness and joy, ups and downs, hope and disillusionment. Through uncertain periods immersed in strong debts and forgotten; through resounding defeats and epic triumphs, till the greatest moment in Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña's history- the first League title of its history to obtained in the season of 1999-2000- through the Champions League nights at Riazor. <SUP></SUP>The official badge depicts a knights belt encircling the original banner of Sala Calvet gymnaisum. The crown in the centre represents the clubs Royal decree and the diagonal blue stripe its identity as a Galician club (Galician flag). Deportivo la Coruña have always played in their famous blue and white stripes, but it was not until 1912 that the club made these colours official for matches. Deportivo continue to wear blue and white striped shirts with blue shorts and socks, yet their second and third kits change annually according to commercial interests. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Daniel Aranzubia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Manuel Pablo (captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Filipe Luis</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Alberto Lopo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Zé Castro</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Julián de Guzmán</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Piscu</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Sergio (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Omar Bravo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Joan Verdú</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Riki</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Mista</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Gustavo Munúa</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Pablo Álvarez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Laure</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Antonio Tomás</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Ángel Lafita</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Andrés Guardado</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Diego Colotto</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Cristian</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Juan Carlos Valerón (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Juan Rodriguez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Rodolfo Bodipo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Pablo Amo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Dudu Aouate</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">30</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Fabricio</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> RCD Espanyol Full Name: Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona Nicknames: Periquitos, Blanquiblaus Founded: 1900 Ground: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain Capacity: 55,959 Chairman: Daniel Sanchez Llibre Manager: Tintin Marquez HistoryRCD Espanyol de Barcelona (Catalan: Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona) is a sports club based in Barcelona. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, which also hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics; having previously played at Estadi de Sarria. The stadium, which seats 55,926 spectators, is also known as Estadi Olimpic de Montjuïc. Despite being overshadowed by FC Barcelona, they are the sixth most successful football team in Spain and are looking to move into a new stadium by the end of next season in Cornella-El Prat which will hold 40,000 spectators. Espanyol were founded on 28 October 1900 by Ángel Rodriguez, an engineering student at the Universitat de Barcelona. The club's original home was in the well-off district of Sarria and was initially known as the Sociedad Española de Football. One year later, the club changed its name to "Club Español de Fútbol". Espanyol were the first club in Spain to be formed exclusively by Catalan and Spanish fans of the game as opposed to expatriates who formed other clubs such as FC Barcelona. The club originally played in bright yellow shirts, with the colour of the shorts being left to the individual player. A friend of the club founder owned a textile business and happened to have an abundance of yellow material left over from a job. In 1910, the club changed its name to Club Deportivo Español and chose blue and white stripes as shirt colours and as the central colours of the club badge. Blue and white was chosen in homage to the colours appearing on the shield of the great Catalan Admiral Roger de Lluria, who sailed the Mediterranean protecting Catalonia’s interests in the Middle Ages. The club were successful from the very beginning, winning the Campionat de Catalunya in 1903 and subsequently playing in the Copa del Rey. In 1906 the club folded due to financial reasons and most of the players joined the X Sporting Club. This club won the Campionat de Catalunya three times between 1906 and 1908. In 1909 this club was effectively relaunched as Club Deportivo Español and in 1910 they adopted the present day colours in honour of Admiral Roger de Llúria, a Catalan naval hero. Espanyol are one of several Spanish football clubs granted patronage by the Spanish crown and thus entitled to use Real in their names and the royal crown on their badge. This right was granted to Espanyol in 1912 by Alfonso XIII and the club subsequently became known as Real Club Deportivo Español. Following the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931 and the declaration of the Second Spanish Republic, due to prohibition of royal symbols, the club adopted the more Catalan/republican friendly name Club Esportiu Espanyol. After the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent prohibition of the Catalan language, the name reverted to Real Club Deportivo Español. The club took the Catalan spelling for its name in February 1995. The word "Deportiu" in Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona means sport for fun; while "Esportiu" is reserved to professional sport. The correct word would have been "Esportiu"; because of tradition, "Deportiu" has been kept. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Carlos Kameni</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Javier Chica</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>David Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Jesús Lacruz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Sergio Sánchez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Román Martinez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Valdo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>José Callejón</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Iván de la Peña</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Luis Garcia</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Lola</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Grégory Béranger</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Javi Ruiz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Ángel</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Steve Finnan</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Nicolás Pareja</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Nenê</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Francisco Rufete</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Marc Torrejón</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Coro</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Daniel Jarque (vice-captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Moisés Hurtado</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Raúl Tamudo (captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Jonathan Soriano</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Cristian Álvarez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">27</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Julián</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">28</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Óscar Sielva</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Getafe CF Full Name: Getafe Club de Futbol Nicknames: Azulones, El Geta Founded: 1983 Grounded: Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Madrid, Spain Capacity: 16,300 Chairman: Angel Torres Sanchez Manager: Victor Munoz History Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Getafe, a city in the metropolitan area of South Madrid, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983. Their stadium is the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. It is currently the fifth season of the club that has played in La Liga. The first incarnation of Getafe Club de Fútbol existed since 1945, when five Getafe locals, Enrique Condes Garcia, Aurelio Miranda Olavaria, Antonio Corredor Lozano, Manuel Serrano Vergara and Miguel Cubero Francés, decided to form a team from the area while meeting at the "La Marquesina" bar. Officially founded on the 24 February 1946, the club was called Club Getafe Deportivo. The earliest days of this club were played out of the Campo del Regimiento de Artilleria, which did not have goals. Shortly after, the club moved to San Isidro, where the current Municipal Sports Center of San Isidro exists today. Here, Club Getafe gained promotion to the third division following a victory against CP Villarrobledo in the 1956/57 season. Getafe even came close to promotion into Segunda during 1957/58, before being defeated by C.D. Almeria. On September 2, 1970, the club finally inaugurated its own stadium as they gained promotion back into Tercera División. Presided over by chairman Francisco Vara, Las Margaritas was founded with a 3-1 victory over Michelin. The team survived in the third level that season, and six years later gained a historic promotion to second division. Current Squad <TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Jacobo Sanz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Cosmin Contra</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">3</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>"Cata" Diaz</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>David Belenguer (captain)</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Mario</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">6</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Fabio Celestini</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">7</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Mario Cotelo</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">8</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Jaime Gavilán</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">9</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Roberto Soldado</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">10</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Juan Albin</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">11</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Francisco Sousa</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">12</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Lucas Licht</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">13</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>"Pato" Abbondanzieri</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">14</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Manu del Moral</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width="1%"></TD><TD vAlign=top width="48%" bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aad0ff><TH width="1%">No.</TH><TH width="1%"></TH><TH width="1%">Position</TH><TH width="75%">Player</TH></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">15</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Rafa</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">16</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Joffre Guerrón</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">17</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Kepa</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">18</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">FW</TD><TD>Ikechukwu Uche</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">19</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>Franck Signorino</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">20</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Eugen Polanski</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">21</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>David Cortés</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">22</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Javier Casquero</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">23</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Adrián González</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">24</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">DF</TD><TD>İbrahim Kaş</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">25</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">MF</TD><TD>Esteban Granero</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">31</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Gonzalo Gutiérrez</TD></TR><TR class="vcard agent"><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">-</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">GK</TD><TD>Oscar Ustari </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> *Work in progress
What is that face? Ferrets running up your trousers, and you are like... Doing that smiley screamy face?
