Villarreal CF

Villarreal CF is one of the most surprising cases in modern European football, a small-town club that became a continental reference. The nickname 'Yellow Submarine' reflects both the colors of the uniform and the sneaky way the club emerges in competitions. The club reached the Champions League semi-final in 2006 and won the Europa League in 2021.

History

Founded in 1923 in the small city of Villarreal, with only 50,000 inhabitants, the club spent decades in the lower divisions of Spanish football before rising to La Liga in the 1990s. The great rise happened under the presidency of Fernando Roig, who transformed the club into a powerhouse with intelligent investments and modern management. In 2006, Villarreal reached the Champions League semi-finals, eliminating Inter Milan along the way. The greatest title in the club's history came in 2021, when it won the Europa League on penalties against Manchester United, with Gerónimo Rulli saving the penalty from David de Gea.