Albacete Balompié Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Albacete Balompié

Full name

Albacete Balompié, S.A.D.

Nickname(s)

Queso Mecánico
(Clockwork Cheese)
Alba

Founded

5 July 1939; 85 years ago (as Albacete Foot-ball Association)

Ground

Estadio Carlos Belmonte

Capacity

17,524

Owner

Skyline International

President

Georges Kabchi

Head coach

Alberto González

League

Segunda División

2022–23

Segunda División, 6th of 22

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

Albacete Balompié is a Spanish football team. It is based in Albacete, a city in the region of Castile–La Mancha. The club was started on July 5, 1939. Currently, it plays in Segunda División, which is the second-highest football league in Spain. Their home games are played at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, which can hold 17,524 fans.

History of Albacete Balompié
Seasons Summary
Current squad
Honours
Stadium
International players
Famous coaches
Images for kids
See Also

History of Albacete Balompié

Chart of Albacete Balompié league performance 1929–present

The football club from Albacete officially started after the Spanish Civil War. It was first called Albacete Foot-ball Association in 1939. Later, its name was changed to sound more Spanish. The team reached the Segunda División (second division) in the 1985–86 season. They did this again five seasons later.

In 1989, a coach named Benito Floro helped the club move up two leagues in a row. They went from the third division (Segunda División B) all the way to La Liga, which is the top league in Spain! In their first season in La Liga (1991–92), they finished in an amazing seventh place. Floro later coached Real Madrid. He came back to Alba a couple of seasons later, but the club was relegated (moved down a league) in 1995–96.

After some tough years in the second division, Albacete returned to the top league in the 2002–03 season. This was thanks to their coach, César Ferrando. However, they were relegated again in 2004–05 after winning only 6 out of 38 matches. They then stayed in the second division for several seasons.

The 2010–11 season was difficult. Albacete went back to the third division after 21 years. They finished last in the Segunda División that season. On December 6, 2011, Andrés Iniesta became a major owner of the club. Iniesta is a famous football player who played for Albacete when he was young before joining Barcelona. He gave the club €420,000 to help them with money problems. The club also did well in the 2011–12 Copa del Rey (a cup competition), even beating Atlético Madrid!

In 2013, Agustín Lázaro became the club's chairman. In June, Iniesta loaned the club more money (€240,000). This helped them pay wages and stopped them from being moved down to the fourth league.

Albacete returned to the Segunda División in 2014. But they were relegated again two seasons later. They quickly came back to the Segunda División in the 2016–17 season after winning their promotion play-off games. In the 2018–19 season, Albacete finished 4th in the Segunda División. However, they lost in the play-offs to get into La Liga. The next season, they finished last in the second division and were relegated again. This ended their four-year stay in the second division.

Albacete was promoted back to Segunda División in the 2021–22 season. They won their play-off match against Deportivo de La Coruña by scoring a goal in extra time!

Seasons Summary

7 seasons in La Liga (top league)
27 seasons in Segunda División (second league)
1 season in Primera División RFEF (third league, new format)
11 seasons in Segunda División B (old third league)
29 seasons in Tercera División (fourth league)
9 seasons in Regional Categories (lower leagues)

Current squad

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Cristian Rivero (on loan from Valencia)
2	DF	Álvaro Rodríguez (3rd captain)
3	DF	Juan María Alcedo
4	MF	Agus Medina
5	DF	Juan Antonio Ros
6	MF	Rai Marchán (4th captain)
7	FW	Juanma García
8	MF	Riki Rodríguez (captain)
9	FW	Higinio Marín (vice-captain)
10	FW	Fidel
11	FW	José Carlos Lazo
13	GK	Raúl Lizoain

No.	Position	Player
14	DF	Jon García
15	FW	Nabil Touaizi
16	DF	Diego González
17	MF	Ale Meléndez
18	MF	Javi Villar
20	MF	Antonio Pacheco
21	FW	Alberto Quiles
22	FW	Jon Morcillo
24	DF	Jaume Costa
27	DF	Lalo Aguilar (on loan from Leganés)
29	DF	Javi Rueda (on loan from Celta)

Reserve team

No.	Position	Player
28	FW	Joan Pulpón
30	GK	Mario Ramos
31	FW	Alex Willy
32	MF	Eduardo de la Casa

No.	Position	Player
33	MF	Neco Rubayo
34	FW	Marcos Moreno
36	MF	Capi

Out on loan

No.		Position	Player
		FW	Dani Escriche (at Cartagena until 30 June 2025)
		FW	Jovanny Bolívar (at Kolos Kovalivka until 30 June 2025)

Current technical staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Alberto González
Assistant coach	Enrique González
Goalkeeping coach	Carlos Cano
Fitness coach	Juanjo Rico
Technical assistant	Salva Todolí
Delegate	José Manuel León
Match delegate	Borja Longueira
Kit man	Alberto Rodenas Cristian Martínez
Doctor	Javier Soro
Rehab fitness coach	Sergio García
Physiotherapist	Germán Schwarz Juanfer Pardo Pablo Ruiz
Nutritionist	Ángel Moreno

Last updated: 20 November 2024
Source: Albacete Balompié

Honours

Albacete Balompié has won several titles throughout its history:

Segunda División: (1) 1990–91
Segunda División B: (2) 1989–90, 2013–14, 2016–17
Tercera División: (8) 1945–46, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1981–82
La Liga promotion: (2) 1990–91, 2002–03
Segunda División promotion: (2) 1984–85, 1989–90

Stadium

Estadio Carlos Belmonte

The club plays its home games at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte. This stadium has seats for 17,524 people. It was first built in 1960. The stadium was updated twice, with the last big changes happening in 1998.