Rayo Vallecano

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Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D. ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}),Template:Efn often abbreviated to Rayo (Spanish for "thunderbolt"), is a Spanish professional football club based in the Villa de Vallecas district of Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.

Founded on 29 May 1924, the club is known for its sociocultural tradition, recognized for representing the barrio-local culture and its working-class status. Its home matches have been played at the 14,708-capacity Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium since 1976.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During its history, Rayo has spent 22 seasons in the top-flight, and has played in one European competition, the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season. The club won the 2017–18 Segunda División. By historical performance, Rayo is the third best club in Community of Madrid, after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

History

Establishment and early years

Rayo Vallecano was founded on 29 May 1924 in the hometown of Prudencia Priego, wife of the club's first president Julián Huerta. Greatly inspired by River Plate (a Football club from Argentina), in 1949, after an agreement with Atlético Madrid, a red diagonal stripe was added to the team's kit, and the club reached Tercera División for the first time in its history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Yo-yo years

One of the perennial yo-yo clubs of Spanish football, and always in the shadow of the two biggest clubs in the city (Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid), Rayo Vallecano spent many years during the 1980s and 1990s moving back and forth between La Liga and Segunda División. The 1983–84 season was the worst during the 1980s. The club finished in the last position in Segunda División and was relegated to Segunda División B.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Due to a tragedy Rayo Vallecano turned out to be Laurie Cunningham's last club; he was killed in a car crash just outside Madrid in 1989, after a sole season. He had recently won an F.A. Cup winners medal with Wimbledon F.C. in England the previous year and had also represented neighbours Real Madrid for four years.

They appeared to have consolidated their top flight status after gaining promotion in 1999, and the team's most successful season came in 2000–01 when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, going out only to eventual runners-up Alavés;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rayo finished ninth in the previous campaign, but entered the competition via the fair play draw.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2003–11: Segunda División and below

File:Deportivorayo.JPG

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Rayo Vallecano

However, the club shortly thereafter fell on hard times, enduring successive relegations in 2003 and 2004. For 2005–06 manager Míchel, a Real Madrid legend in the 1980s and '90s, was hired.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rayo finished the 2006–07 season in second place in Segunda División B, winning the promotion play-off semifinal but losing in the final to Eibar (1–2 aggregate).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following campaign, the team returned to division two after a four-year absence after a victorious run in the playoffs, disposing of Benidorm in the semi-final and Zamora in the last game 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In its first seasons back in the second tier of Spanish football, Rayo finished comfortably, often either in or just outside the promotion places. In 2010–11, the team ranked in second position and returned to the top flight after an eight-year absence, only trailing champions Real Betis in spite of very serious economic problems.<ref>Dona Teresa takes off mask Template:Webarchive; Football Scouting, 1 March 2011</ref><ref>Unpaid Rayo have sights set on La Liga payday Template:Webarchive; Reuters, 30 March 2011</ref><ref>Los jugadores del Rayo Vallecano seguirán sin cobrar (Rayo Vallecano players will still not be paid) Template:Webarchive; El Correo Gallego, 26 February 2011 Template:In lang</ref>

2011–: La Liga and Segunda División yo-yo

File:Diego Costa 2012 Rayo Vallecano.jpg

Diego Costa with Rayo Vallecano in 2012

File:Rayo Vallecano de Madrid league performance 1929-present.svg

Chart of Rayo Vallecano league performance 1929–present

In March 2014, Huawei agreed to sponsor Rayo Vallecano for two league matches against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In August 2015, Rayo Vallecano purchased the majority of Oklahoma City FC, a NASL expansion franchise which had yet to officially play a game renaming the club to Rayo OKC, despite the stadium increasingly needing work. It was the first ever entry of a Spanish club into the American sports market and mirrored a 2013 sponsorship agreement with Qbao in terms of expanding the club's profile overseas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rayo OKC folded after a year due to Rayo Vallecano's relegation from La Liga and a dispute between the co-owners led to less finance for the U.S. side.

In May 2016, Rayo Vallecano were relegated to the Segunda División, finishing 18th in the 2015–16 La Liga season. This ended their five-year streak in La Liga, their longest ever stay in the top-flight.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Their first season back in the second division was a poor one, with both problems on the field and off, and they finished in 12th position. Rayo went through three managers in the 2016–17 Segunda División season before finally settling on club legend Míchel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He revived the club from the relegation places to 12th, almost making the playoffs.

At the start of the 2017–18 Segunda División season, the club appointed their recently retired goalkeeper David Cobeño as the sporting director of the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They secured their promotion with a 1–0 over CD Lugo with one game remaining.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That season the club won Segunda División with 76 points in 42 games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Real Valladolid - Rayo Vallecano 2019-01-05 20.jpg

Rayo players during an away La Liga fixture versus Real Valladolid in January 2019

On 20 March 2019, the club appointed Paco Jémez as head coach,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and on 4 May, Rayo was relegated back to the Segunda División after losing 4–1 to Levante UD, eventually finishing last.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In August 2020, the club appointed Andoni Iraola as head coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They finished sixth and won promotion in the playoffs against Girona FC; despite losing the first leg at home 1–2, the team came back to win the second leg 2–0 away to claim a place in La Liga for 2021–22.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2022, Iraola's side defeated RCD Mallorca to make the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey; it was the second time in club history and first since 1982.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club finished 12th in La Liga. This was a big achievement as they were by far the league's smallest team, and most had predicted that they would be relegated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They once again qualified for European football after 24 years, entering into the UEFA Conference League play-offs by finishing 8th in 2024-25 season

Previous names

File:Bandera Rayo.jpg

Flag with the club's crest at Ciudad Deportiva Rayo Vallecano

• Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo (29 May 1924 – 13 November 1947)
• Agrupación Deportiva Rayo Vallecano (13 November 1947 – 1995)
• Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (1995–present)

N.B. Affiliate of Atlético Madrid in 1949–50

Honours

League

• Segunda División
  • Winners: 2017–18
  • Runners-up: 1988–89, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2010–11
• Segunda División B
  • Winners: 1955–56, 1964–65, 1984–85, 2007–08

Regional Titles

• Workers Federation of Soccer: 1931–1932
• First Regional Division: 1948–1949
• Second Regional Division: 1940–1941
• Copa de Castilla: 1952–1953, 1967–1968, 1970–1971, 1972–1973, 1981–1982
• Madrid Cup: 1952–1953, 1966–1967
• Copa Ramón Triana: 1971–1972, 1973–1974

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1940–41 5 Template:Abbr 2nd 1941–42 4 Template:Abbr 4th 1942–43 4 Template:Abbr 3rd 1943–44 4 Template:Abbr 7th 1944–45 5 Template:Abbr 2nd 1945–46 4 Template:Abbr 5th 1946–47 4 Template:Abbr 10th 1947–48 4 Template:Abbr 6th 1948–49 4 Template:Abbr 3rd 1949–50 3 3ª 14th 1950–51 3 3ª 13th 1951–52 3 3ª 9th 1952–53 3 3ª 7th 1953–54 3 3ª 17th 1954–55 3 3ª 2nd 1955–56 3 3ª 1st 1956–57 2 2ª 12th 1957–58 2 2ª 6th 1958–59 2 2ª 14th First round 1959–60 2 2ª 5th First round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1960–61 2 2ª 16th First round 1961–62 3 3ª 3rd 1962–63 3 3ª 2nd 1963–64 3 3ª 3rd 1964–65 3 3ª 1st 1965–66 2 2ª 9th First round 1966–67 2 2ª 6th First round 1967–68 2 2ª 4th Round of 32 1968–69 2 2ª 9th 1969–70 2 2ª 6th Round of 32 1970–71 2 2ª 5th Round of 32 1971–72 2 2ª 8th Fourth round 1972–73 2 2ª 11th Third round 1973–74 2 2ª 14th Round of 16 1974–75 2 2ª 8th Fourth round 1975–76 2 2ª 9th Second round 1976–77 2 2ª 3rd Third round 1977–78 1 1ª 10th Third round 1978–79 1 1ª 15th Round of 16 1979–80 1 1ª 16th Quarter-finals

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1980–81 2 2ª 5th Quarter-finals 1981–82 2 2ª 7th Semi-finals 1982–83 2 2ª 9th Round of 16 1983–84 2 2ª 20th Third round 1984–85 3 2ª B 1st Third round 1985–86 2 2ª 15th Fourth round 1986–87 2 2ª 5th First round 1987–88 2 2ª 5th Round of 32 1988–89 2 2ª 2nd First round 1989–90 1 1ª 20th Second round 1990–91 2 2ª 11th Fifth round 1991–92 2 2ª 2nd Fourth round 1992–93 1 1ª 14th Fourth round 1993–94 1 1ª 17th Fourth round 1994–95 2 2ª 2nd Quarter-finals 1995–96 1 1ª 19th Third round 1996–97 1 1ª 18th Quarter-finals 1997–98 2 2ª 8th Second round 1998–99 2 2ª 5th First round 1999–2000 1 1ª 9th Quarter-finals

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2000–01 1 1ª 14th Round of 16 2001–02 1 1ª 11th Quarter-finals 2002–03 1 1ª 20th Round of 64 2003–04 2 2ª 21st Round of 64 2004–05 3 2ª B 3rd Round of 64 2005–06 3 2ª B 5th Third round 2006–07 3 2ª B 2nd Round of 16 2007–08 3 2ª B 1st Third round 2008–09 2 2ª 5th Round of 32 2009–10 2 2ª 11th Round of 16 2010–11 2 2ª 2nd Third round 2011–12 1 1ª 15th Round of 32 2012–13 1 1ª 8th Round of 32 2013–14 1 1ª 12th Round of 16 2014–15 1 1ª 11th Round of 32 2015–16 1 1ª 18th Round of 16 2016–17 2 2ª 12th Third round 2017–18 2 2ª 1st Second round 2018–19 1 1ª 20th Round of 32 2019–20 2 2ª 7th Round of 16

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2020–21 2 2ª 6th Round of 16 2021–22 1 1ª 12th Semi-finals 2022–23 1 1ª 11th Round of 32 2023–24 1 1ª 17th Round of 16 2024–25 1 1ª 8th Round of 16 2025–26 1 1ª TBD

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• 23 seasons in La Liga
• 38 seasons in Segunda División
• 5 seasons in Segunda División B
• 11 seasons in Tercera División (third level before 1977–78)

European history

Season	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2000–01 UEFA Cup	Qualifying round	Template:Flagicon Constel·lació Esportiva	6–0	10–0	16–0
	First round	Template:Flagicon Molde	1–1	1–0	2–1
	Second round	Template:Flagicon Viborg	1–0	1–2	2–2 (a)
	Third round	Template:Flagicon Lokomotiv Moscow	2–0	0–0	2–0
	Fourth round	Template:Flagicon Bordeaux	4–1	2–1	6–2
	Quarter-finals	Template:Flagicon Alavés	2–1	0–3	2–4
2025–26 UEFA Conference League	Play-offs	TBC

Current squad

Reserve team

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end

Notable former players

Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

Template:Flagicon Ildefons Lima Template:Flagicon Francisco Cerro Template:Flagicon Franco Di Santo Template:Flagicon Alejandro Domínguez Template:Flagicon Leonel Galeano Template:Flagicon Paulo Gazzaniga Template:Flagicon Sebastián Saja Template:Flagicon Aras Özbiliz Template:Flagicon Manucho Template:Flagicon Toni Polster Template:Flagicon Elvir Baljić Template:Flagicon Elvir Bolić Template:Flagicon Guilherme Template:Flagicon Jorge Valdivia Template:Flagicon Fernando Vergara Template:Flagicon Zhang Chengdong Template:Flagicon Johan Mojica Template:Flagicon Hernán Medford Template:Flagicon Stjepan Andrijašević Template:Flagicon Gaël Kakuta Template:Flagicon Søren Andersen Template:Flagicon Nicki Bille Template:Flagicon Laurie Cunningham Template:Flagicon Sergio Akieme Template:Flagicon Iván Zarandona Template:Flagicon Derek Boateng Template:Flagicon Lass Bangoura

Template:Flagicon Jordi Amat Template:Flagicon Idan Tal Template:Flagicon Ousseynou Cissé Template:Flagicon Javier Aquino Template:Flagicon Nery Castillo Template:Flagicon Guillermo Mendizábal Template:Flagicon Hugo Sánchez Template:Flagicon Andrija Delibašić Template:Flagicon Dave van den Bergh Template:Flagicon Uche Agbo Template:Flagicon Wilfred Agbonavbare Template:Flagicon Stole Dimitrievski Template:Flagicon Jan Berg Template:Flagicon Luis Advíncula Template:Flagicon Christian Cueva Template:Flagicon Licá Template:Flagicon Paulo Torres Template:Flagicon Zé Castro Template:Flagicon Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem Template:Flagicon Răzvan Raț Template:Flagicon Viktor Onopko Template:Flagicon Abdoulaye Ba Template:Flagicon Mohamed Diamé Template:Flagicon Ivan Tomić Template:Flagicon Josip Višnjić Template:Flagicon Miguel Albiol Template:Flagicon Antonio Amaya Template:Flagicon Gregorio Benito Template:Flagicon Bolo

Template:Flagicon Raúl Bravo Template:Flagicon Antonio Calderón Template:Flagicon Rubén Cano Template:Flagicon Luis Cembranos Template:Flagicon David Cobeño Template:Flagicon Coke Template:Flagicon Juan José Collantes Template:Flagicon Pedro Contreras Template:Flagicon Diego Costa Template:Flagicon Cota Template:Flagicon Ramón de Quintana Template:Flagicon Adri Embarba Template:Flagicon Felines Template:Flagicon Patxi Ferreira Template:Flagicon Javi Fuego Template:Flagicon Ricardo Gallego Template:Flagicon Antonio García Navajas Template:Flagicon Antonio Guzmán Template:Flagicon Pablo Hernández Template:Flagicon Carlos Llorens Template:Flagicon Diego Llorente Template:Flagicon Julen Lopetegui Template:Flagicon Míchel Template:Flagicon Michu Template:Flagicon José María Movilla Template:Flagicon Juan Muñiz Template:Flagicon Álvaro Negredo

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Coaches

Dates Name 1944–46 Template:Flagicon Cayetano Sardinero 1946–47 Template:Flagicon Julián Antón 1947–48 Template:Flagicon Luis Pérez 1948–49 Template:Flagicon Tomás Rodríguez Rubio 1949–50 Template:Flagicon Ramón de la Fuente 1950–51 Template:Flagicon Anselmo Nogales 1951–52 Template:Flagicon Félix Huete 1952–53 Template:Flagicon Lorenzo Sánchez Villar 1954–55 Template:Flagicon Cándido Machado 1953–54 Template:Flagicon Patricio Sánchez Calleja 1954–55 Template:Flagicon Manuel Alepuz 1955–56 Template:Flagicon Cándido Machado 1956–58 Template:Flagicon Ramón Colón 1958 Template:Flagicon Cándido Machado 1958–59 Template:Flagicon Lino Taioli 1959 Template:Flagicon Heriberto Herrera 1959–60 Template:Flagicon Ramón Colón 1960 Template:Flagicon Alfonso Aparicio 1960–61 Template:Flagicon Martín Camino 1961 Template:Flagicon Ramón Cobo 1961 Template:Flagicon Joseíto 1961–64 Template:Flagicon Herrero 1964–67 Template:Flagicon Pedro Eguiluz July 1967 – June 1969 Template:Flagicon José Antonio Olmedo July 1969 – Feb 1971 Template:Flagicon Manuel Peñalva Feb 1971 – Jun 1972 Template:Flagicon Enrique Orizaola

Dates Name Jul 1972 – Jan 1973 Template:Flagicon Manuel Vences Jan 1973 – Jun 1974 Template:Flagicon José Antonio Olmedo Jun 1974 – Jun 1975 Template:Flagicon Héctor Núñez Jun 1975 – Feb 1976 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Alfredo Di Stéfano Feb – Jun 1976 Template:Flagicon José Antonio Olmedo Jul 1976 – Jun 1977 Template:Flagicon García Verdugo Jun 1977 – Jun 1978 Template:Flagicon Héctor Núñez Jul 1978 – Jun 1979 Template:Flagicon Eduardo González Jun 1979 – Feb 1980 Template:Flagicon Héctor Núñez Feb – Jun 1980 Template:Flagicon Rafael Iriondo Jun 1980 – Dec 1981 Template:Flagicon Eduardo González Dec 1981 – Jun 1982 Template:Flagicon Manuel Peñalva Jun 1982 – Jun 1983 Template:Flagicon Juanjo García Jul – Nov 1983 Template:Flagicon Máximo Hernández Nov 1983 – Jun 1984 Template:Flagicon Antonio Ruiz 1984–85 Template:Flagicon Eduardo Caturla 1985–87 Template:Flagicon Héctor Núñez Jul 1987 – Jan 1990 Template:Flagicon Felines Jan – Jun 1990 Template:Flagicon Emilio Cruz Jul 1990 – Feb 1992 Template:Flagicon Eusebio Ríos Feb 1992 – Jun 1993 Template:Flagicon José Antonio Camacho Jul – Nov 1993 Template:Flagicon Felines Nov 1993 – Feb 1994 Template:Flagicon Fernando Zambrano Feb – Nov 1994 Template:Flagicon David Vidal Nov 1994 – Jun 1995 Template:Flagicon Paquito Jun – Oct 1995 Template:Flagicon Pedro Mari Zabalza

Dates Name Oct 1995 – Apr 1996 Template:Flagicon Marcos Alonso July 1996 – Feb 1997 Template:Flagicon Paquito Feb – Mar 1997 Template:Flagicon Fernando Zambrano Mar – Jun 1997 Template:Flagicon Máximo Hernández 1997–98 Template:Flagicon Josu Ortuondo Jul 1998 – Jun 2001 Template:Flagicon Juande Ramos Jul – Oct 2001 Template:Flagicon Andoni Goikoetxea Oct 2001 – Jun 2002 Template:Flagicon Gregorio Manzano July 2002 – Jan 2003 Template:Flagicon Fernando Vázquez Feb – Apr 2003 Template:Flagicon Gustavo Benítez Apr – Jun 2003 Template:Flagicon Antonio Iriondo Jun – Nov 2003 Template:Flagicon Julen Lopetegui Nov 2003 – Feb 2004 Template:Flagicon Jorge D'Alessandro Feb – Jun 2004 Template:Flagicon Txetxu Rojo Jun 2004 – Jun 2005 Template:Flagicon Carlos Orúe Jul 2005 – Jun 2006 Template:Flagicon Míchel Jun 2006 – Feb 2010 Template:Flagicon Pepe Mel Feb – Jun 2010 Template:Flagicon Felipe Miñambres Jul 2010 – Jun 2012 Template:Flagicon José Ramón Sandoval Jul 2012 – May 2016 Template:Flagicon Paco Jémez Jun – Nov 2016 Template:Flagicon José Ramón Sandoval Nov 2016 – Feb 2017 Template:Flagicon Rubén Baraja Feb 2017 – Mar 2019 Template:Flagicon Míchel Mar 2019 – Aug 2020 Template:Flagicon Paco Jémez Aug 2020 – Jun 2023 Template:Flagicon Andoni Iraola Jul 2023 – Feb 2024 Template:Flagicon Francisco

Club presidents

Dates Name 1924–26 Julián Huerta 1926–27 José Montoya 1927–28 Galo Andrés 1929–30 José Antonio Sánchez 1930–31 Anastasio Sánchez 1931–36 Ángel Martínez

Dates Name 1939–43 Miguel Rodríguez Alzola 1943–46 Ezequiel Huerta 1946–48 José Rodríguez Rubio 1948–55 Miguel Rodríguez Alzola 1955–58 Jerónimo Martínez 1958–61 Tomás Esteras

Dates Name 1961–65 Iván Roiz 1965–73 Pedro Roiz 1973–78 Marcelino Gil 1978–80 Francisco Encinas 1980–81 Luis Quer 1981–89 Francisco Fontán

Dates Name 1989–91 Pedro García Jiménez 1991–94 José María Ruiz Mateos 1994–2011 Teresa Rivero 2011– Raúl Martín Presa

Stadium

File:Estadio de Vallecas.jpg

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas

Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas is a football stadium located on Calle Payaso Fofó 1, Vallecas. Opened on 10 May 1976, at first it was called "New Stadium Vallecas", but in January 2004, 13 years after the arrival of the Ruiz-Mateos family in 1991, it changed denominations, as the wife was also named by her husband, businessman José María, the first woman president of an elite football team.

It has a capacity of 14,708 spectators in an all-seated format and dimensions of 100×67 m. after the enlargement of the width and the reduction of the length of the pitch after the remodelling of the grandstands, compulsory due to the elimination of the fences surrounding the pitch. The pitch is one the smallest in La Liga. Additionally, one of the goal ends does not have a grandstand, just a big wall with information panels.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2009, the club announced plans for the construction of a new stadium. Nevertheless, the Autonomous Community of Madrid, owner of the stadium, has not any plan as far as it is known in 2023.

Club culture and supporters

The fans do not have a good relationship with the current owner Raúl Martín Presa and regularly chant for him to leave.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In late March 2012, in support of the 2011–12 Spanish protests, the squad decided to take one day off from training to join the demonstrations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2014, 85-year-old Vallecas resident Carmen Martínez Ayuso was evicted from her house after living there since the 1960s. Rayo Vallecano and particularly coach Paco Jémez were touched by her story, and subsequently offered to fund Martínez for the foreseeable future.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In February 2017, Ukrainian player Roman Zozulya left the club after one training session due to chants of "Nazi" by Rayo fans accusing him of belonging to far-right groups; Zozulya denied ever belonging to any far-right groups, and immediately returned to his parent club Real Betis. In 2019, when Zozulya was playing for Albacete, a match was called off at half-time after fans once again sang "Zozulya you are a Nazi".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Anthems and songs

Although most people recognise the supporting songs by ska-punk band Ska-P (Rayo Vallecano and Como un rayo), Rayo Vallecano has an official anthem which played at their home stadium before matches.

The club is also known for chanting the song "La Vida Pirata" (Template:Langx), a song about pirates, which the Bukaneros are named after.

Spanish:

La vida pirata es la vida mejor (bis)

sin trabajar (bis)

Sin estudiar (bis)

Con la botella de ron (bis)

Soy capitán (bis)

del Santa Inés (bis)

Y en cada puerto tengo una mujer (bis)

La rubia es (bis)

Fenomenal (bis)

Y la morena tampoco esta mal (bis)

Las inglesas con su seriedad (bis)

Y las francesas que todo lo dan (bis)

Si alguna vez (bis)

Me he de casar (bis)

Me he de casar (bis)

Con la del Rayo, una, una y nada más (bis).

English:

''The pirate life is the best life (bis)

without working (bis)

without studying (bis)

With the bottle of rum (bis)

I am captain (bis)

of the "Santa Inés"' (bis)

and in each port, I have a woman (bis)

the blonde is (bis)

phenomenal (bis)

and the brunette is not bad either (bis)

The English women with their seriousness (bis)

And the French women who give everything (bis)

If ever (bis)

I have to marry (bis)

I have to marry (bis)

with the one of Rayo, one, one and no more (bis)''

External links

• Template:Official website Template:In lang
• Official Radio website Template:In lang
• Official Community VK Template:In lang
• Futbolme team profile Template:In lang
• BDFutbol team profile
• Pasión por el Rayo – Non-official website – Rayo Vallecano news Template:In lang
• Rayo Herald – Updated club info Template:In lang