UE Lleida

Unió Esportiva Lleida was a Spanish football team based in Lleida, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. It was founded as Lérida Balompié-AEM on 30 October 1939, and became Unión Deportiva Lérida in 1947, after a merger with CD Leridano. It held home matches at Camp d´Esports, with a 13,500-seat capacity. It was dissolved in 2011 due to debts of €28 million, then acquired by a local entrepreneur and renamed Lleida Esportiu.

Lleida

Full name	Unió Esportiva Lleida
Nickname(s)	Els Blaus (The Blues) Els de la Terra Ferma (Firmlanders)
Founded	1939 (as Lérida Balompié-AEM) 1947 (as Unión Deportiva Lérida)
Dissolved	10 May 2011
Ground	Camp d´Esports, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
Capacity	13,500
Home colours Away colours

Lleida adopted the Catalan version of its name in 1978. The club spent most of its history in the lower divisions, but in the early 1950s and early 1990s, the club won promotion to La Liga.

During the 1990s the club was managed by Mané, Juande Ramos and Víctor Muñoz, all of whom subsequently became successful managers with other clubs. From 1987 the club organised its own summer trophy, the Ciutat de Lleida Trophy.

History

Early Lleida football clubs

Football was first introduced to Lleida in 1910 by Manuel Azoz, a Barcelona business man. Among the earliest clubs in the city were Montserrat, founded in 1913 by Marist Brothers, and FC Lleida founded in 1914. Both played their early games in the district of Pla d’en Gardeny. In 1915, the Associació Cultural Lleidatana was founded by Catalan nationalists.

By 1917 two other clubs, Club Colonial and Athlètic Metalúrgic, began playing at the Camp de Mart. In 1918 FC Joventut was formed by left-wing Catalan republicans and during the 1920s they emerged as the city's strongest side.

In 1919, Lleida became the first club to use the Camp d´Esports, but this team was dissolved in 1927. Other clubs of the 1920s included AE Lleida Calaveres, Lleida Sport Club and AEM Lleida, all of which disappeared during the 1930s.

Lérida Balompié and CD Leridano

After the Spanish Civil War, former members of AE Lleida Calaveres, Lleida Sport Club and AEM Lleida formed Lérida Balompié-AEM. After playing in regional leagues for four seasons they made their debut in the fourth division in 1943. The following year, the club split into two clubs, Lérida Balompié and AEM.

Meanwhile, in 1941 Spanish nationalists formed CD Leridano, and a local rivalry developed between that club and Lérida Balompié. On March 9, 1947, these two sides merged to become Unión Deportiva Lérida. The new team retained both the blue and white colours and club shield of Lérida Balompié, the first president of the new club being Eduard Estadella.

First golden era

UD Lérida enjoyed a golden age in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when they progressed from the third to the first division in just three seasons. In 1949, they won the third-tier and, the following season, 1949–50, they made their debut in Segunda División.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1949–50 season the club achieved their biggest league victory in their history with a 9–2 win against CD Lugo, along with finishing second in the league achieving promotion to the topflight for the first time ever. However, during its debut season, it was heavily defeated on several occasions: 9–0 to CD Málaga, 10–1 to Deportivo de La Coruña and 10–0 to Athletic Bilbao, being ultimately relegated back. Lleida's first eleven in the first division was: Rivero, Rigau, Telechea, Carrillo, Esquerda, Roca, Gausí, Pellicer, Ramón, Bidegain and Fustero.^{[citation needed]}

The Mané era

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Lleida enjoyed a second solid moment, under coach Mané. He joined the club in 1988 and took it from Segunda División B to La Liga.

1993–94 was the second topflight experience for the club; in spite of a 1–0 win over the FC Barcelona Dream Team at the Camp Nou, and another against Real Madrid, 2–1 at home, Lleida only won seven times altogether and was relegated once again.

The 1994–95 season saw the club finish third in the second division, with a subsequent promotion play-off defeat against Sporting de Gijón. In 2001, the team returned to level three and, in 2004–05 and the following campaign, played again in the second division. From 1996 and during an entire decade (with some interruptions), legendary player Miguel Ángel Rubio served as its manager.

Liquidation

On 10 May 2011, Lleida was placed in a liquidation auction due to a €28 million debt.^[1] On 12 July, the team's seat was acquired by local entrepreneur Sisco Pujol,^[2] with the new club being named Lleida Esportiu.

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1939–40 6 2ª Reg. 1940–41 6 2ª Reg. 1st 1941–42 4 1ª Reg. B 1st 1942–43 3 1ª Reg. A 6th 1943–44 3 3ª 9th Fourth round 1944–45 3 3ª 9th DNP 1945–46 3 3ª 10th DNP 1946–47 3 3ª 3rd DNP 1947–48 3 3ª 4th Fifth round 1948–49 3 3ª 1st Second round 1949–50 2 2ª 2nd First round 1950–51 1 1ª 16th DNP 1951–52 2 2ª 7th DNP 1952–53 2 2ª 6th Second round 1953–54 2 2ª 3rd DNP 1954–55 2 2ª 10th DNP 1955–56 2 2ª 12th DNP 1956–57 2 2ª 20th DNP 1957–58 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1958–59 3 3ª 7th DNP

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1959–60 3 3ª 6th DNP 1960–61 3 3ª 6th DNP 1961–62 3 3ª 6th DNP 1962–63 3 3ª 4th DNP 1963–64 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1964–65 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1965–66 2 2ª 11th Round of 32 1966–67 2 2ª 12th Round of 32 1967–68 2 2ª 12th First round 1968–69 3 3ª 5th DNP 1969–70 3 3ª 10th First round 1970–71 4 Reg. Pref. 1st DNP 1971–72 3 3ª 5th Second round 1972–73 3 3ª 4th Second round 1973–74 3 3ª 11th Third round 1974–75 3 3ª 15th DNP 1975–76 3 3ª 5th DNP 1976–77 3 3ª 9th Third round 1977–78 3 2ª B 16th Second round 1978–79 3 2ª B 11th Third round

Season Division Tier Place Copa del Rey 1979–80 3 2ª B 6th Third round 1980–81 3 2ª B 10th Second round 1981–82 3 2ª B 14th First round 1982–83 3 2ª B 10th DNP 1983–84 3 2ª B 8th First round 1984–85 3 2ª B 6th Second round 1985–86 3 2ª B 4th Round of 16 1986–87 3 2ª B 2nd First round 1987–88 2 2ª 6th Third round 1988–89 2 2ª 19th Round of 32 1989–90 3 2ª B 1st First round 1990–91 2 2ª 6th Third round 1991–92 2 2ª 5th Fourth round 1992–93 2 2ª 1st Round of 16 1993–94 1 1ª 19th Fifth round 1994–95 2 2ª 3rd Round of 16

Season Division Tier Place Copa del Rey 1995–96 2 2ª 11th Second round 1996–97 2 2ª 11th Round of 16 1997–98 2 2ª 5th Second round 1998–99 2 2ª 11th Third round 1999–2000 2 2ª 5th Round of 16 2000–01 2 2ª 22nd Second round 2001–02 3 2ª B 9th Round of 32 2002–03 3 2ª B 8th First round 2003–04 3 2ª B 1st DNP 2004–05 2 2ª 15th Round of 16 2005–06 2 2ª 19th Fourth round 2006–07 3 2ª B 14th Second round 2007–08 3 2ª B 13th DNP 2008–09 3 2ª B 8th DNP 2009–10 3 2ª B 11th DNP 2010–11 3 2ª B 5th DNP

• 2 seasons in La Liga
• 24 seasons in Segunda División
• 19 seasons in Segunda División B
• 22 seasons in Tercera División (until 1976–77 as third level)

Honours

Official

• Segunda División: 1992–93
• Segunda División B: 1989–90, 2003–04
• Tercera División: 1948–49
• Regional Preferente: 1970–71
• Segunda Regional: 1939–40, 1940–41
• Copa Catalunya: Runner-up 1991–92, 1998–99

Friendly

• Nostra Catalunya Trophy: 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1990
• Ciutat de Lleida Trophy: 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

Records

Club

• Best league performance: 16th, La Liga, 1950–51
• Best cup performance: Last 16 (six times), 1986, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2005
• Most league points: 68, 2003–04 (three points for a win) 60, 1957–58 (two points for a win)
• Most league goals: 102, 1957–58
• Most league wins in one season: 26, 1957–58
• Best league win home: 9–0 v. Calella, 30 November 1941
• Best league win away: 8–1 v. Europa, 22 February 1942
• Best cup win: 7–0 v. Sant Andreu, 19 December 1985

Player

• Most league appearances: 460, Miguel Rubio (1982–96)
• Most league goals: 82, Mariano Azcona (1984–91)
• Most league goals in a season: 25, Mariano Azcona (1989–90)
• Most league goals in a match: 5, Mariano Azcona 6–1 v. Fraga, 15 October 1989 and Vallejo 7–1 v. Alavés, 23 May 1965
• Most international appearances: 12, Miguel Mea Vitali (Venezuela) (2000–01)

Top goalscorers by season

Season	Top scorer	Goals
2011–12	Asier Eizaguirre	10
2010–11	Rubén Rayos	19
2009–10	Marc Sellarés	12
2008–09	Mikel Álvaro	13
2007–08	Keko	7
	Fernando Esparza	7
	Luismi Gracia	7
2006–07	Luis Tevenet	14
2005–06	Mate Bilić	18
2004–05	Nakor Bueno	13
2003–04	Nakor Bueno	16
2002–03	Nano	15
2001/02	Raúl Caballero	11
2000–01	Renaldo	8
1999–00	Josemi	15
1998–99	Josemi	12
1997–98	Óscar Arias	8
	Vicente Fernández	8
1996–97	Estefan Juliá	8
1995–96	Paco Salillas	10
1994–95	Paco Salillas	18
1993–94	Nikola Milinković	6
1992–93	Xabi Gracia	13
1991–92	José Emilio Amavisca	14
1990–91	James Cantero	17
1989–90	Mariano Azcona	26
1988–89	Mariano Azcona	6
	Álvaro Sánchez Pose	6
1987–88	Mariano Azcona	13
1986–87	Mariano Azcona	16
	Ignacio Alcelay	16
1985–86	Mariano Azcona	9
1984–85	José María Serna	17
1983–84	José García Juárez	10
1982–83	Javier Lozano	13
1981–82	Ramón Clotet	15
1980–81	Luis Alonso	21
1950–51	Ignacio Bidegain	8

Appearance records

La Liga appearances

• Mauro Ravnic: 37
• Urbano Ortega: 36
• Virgilio Hernández: 35
• Miguel Rubio: 35
• Jaime Quesada: 34
• Txema Alonso: 34
• Gonzalo Arguiñano: 32
• Guillermo Ramón: 28
• Sebastián Herrera: 27
• Nikola Milinković: 26

Goalscoring records

La Liga goals

• Ignacio Bidegain: 8
• Luis Pellicer: 7
• Nikola Milinković: 6
• Juan Manuel Martínez: 5
• Guillermo Ramón: 5
• Francisco Nogués: 4
• Virgilio Hernández: 4

Selected former players

Only international players or UEFA Champions League winners. Flags represent national teams player appeared for.

• Tito Vilanova
• José Emilio Amavisca (1991–92)
• Estanislao Basora (1955–56)
• Carles Busquets (1999–2002)
• Canito (1975–76)
• Enric Gensana (1954–56)
• Marià Gonzalvo (1955–56)
• Tomás Hernández (1955–56)
• Eladio Silvestre (1960–61)
• Raúl Tamudo (1999)
• Unai Vergara (2005–07)
• Ali Benhalima (1990–93)
• Renaldo (2000–01)
• Mate Bilić (2005–06)
• Søren Andersen (1993–94)
• Goran Stanić (1998–2000)
• Michael Emenalo (1997–98)
• Carlos González (2000–01)
• Melanio Olmedo (1956–57)
• Ilija Stolica (1998–00)
• Dmitri Kuznetsov (1994–95)
• Julio Rodríguez (1995–98)
• Gustavo Matosas (1993–94)
• Manny Lagos (1991–92)
• Miguel Mea Vitali (2000–01)
• Boban Babunski (1994–96)
• Jovan Stanković (2004–05)
• Mauro Ravnić (1992–94)

See also: Category:UE Lleida footballers

Selected former coaches

• Mané (1988–95)
• Víctor Muñoz (1999–2000)
• Juan José Nogués (1954–55)
• Juande Ramos (1997–98)
• Manuel Ruiz Sosa (1971–72)
• Marcel Domingo (1962–63)
• Nicolae Simatoc (1959–60)

See also: Category:UE Lleida managers

See also: List of UE Lleida managers

Presidents

• Sebastià Tàpies: 1939–40
• Joan Porta: 1941–47
• Eduard Estadella: 1947–51
• Llorenç Agustí: 1951–54
• Josep Servat: 1954–57
• Antoni Rocafort: 1957
• Laureà Torres: 1957–60
• Antoni Teixidó: 1960–62
• Ramon Vilaltella: 1962–67
• Josep Jové: 1967–68
• Pere Roig: 1968–69
• Manel Rosell: 1969–70
• Miquel Martínez: 1970–72
• Josep Montañola: 1972–74
• Lluís Nadal: 1974–77
• Josep Esteve: 1977–79
• Joan Planes: 1979–82
• Antoni Gausí: 1982–86
• Màrius Durán: 1986–96
• Josep Lluís González: 1996–97
• Màrius Durán: 1997–98
• Antoni Gausí: 1998–2002
• Miquel Pons: 2002–06
• Xavier Massana: 2006–07
• Ignasi Rivadulla: 2007–10
• Anabel Junyent: 2010–11

See also

• List of UE Lleida records and statistics

References

1. El juez abre el proceso de subasta de la Unió Esportiva Lleida (Judge starts liquidation of Unió Esportiva Lleida) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine; La Vanguardia, 10 May 2011 (in Spanish)
2. El juez resuelve a favor de Sisco Pujol la adjudicación de la UE Lleida (Judge rules UE Lleida's allocation in favor of Sisco Pujol) Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine; La Vanguardia, 12 July 2011 (in Spanish)

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
• Unofficial website (in Spanish)
• Unofficial website #2 (in Spanish)

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