CA Osasuna facts for kids
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| Full name | Club Atlético Osasuna | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Gorritxoak Los Rojillos |
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| Short name | OSA | |||
| Founded | 24 October 1920 | |||
| Ground | El Sadar | |||
| Capacity | 23,516 | |||
| President | Luis Sabalza | |||
| Head coach | Vicente Moreno | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2022–23 | La Liga, 7th of 20 | |||
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Club Atlético Osasuna, or simply Osasuna, is a professional football club from Pamplona, Navarre, in Spain. It was founded on October 24, 1920. The club plays its home games at the El Sadar Stadium, which can hold 23,516 fans.
Osasuna's home kit is a red shirt with navy blue shorts. The club is special because it's one of only four professional La Liga clubs owned by its members. This means fans get to elect the club president.
Osasuna is the only club from Navarre to have played in Spain's top football league, La Liga. While they haven't won a national trophy, they have reached the final of the Copa del Rey twice, in 2005 and 2023. Their best league finishes were fourth place in 1990–91 and 2005–06.
The club's nicknames are "Los Rojillos" or "Gorritxoak," which both mean "The Little Reds." The name "Osasuna" comes from the Basque language. It means "health," but in this case, it's used to mean "strength" or "energy." This makes Osasuna the only team in La Liga with a Basque name. Like many football clubs, Osasuna has a strong youth system. This system has helped many talented players become successful.
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Club History and Achievements
Early Years and First Promotions
Osasuna was founded on October 24, 1920. Its name, Osasuna, was chosen by Benjamín Andoian Martínez. When Spanish football became professional in 1928, Osasuna started in the third division. They quickly moved up to the Segunda División after the 1931–32 season. Just three seasons later, they reached La Liga, Spain's top division.
In the 1935 Copa del Rey, Osasuna made it to the semi-finals but lost to Sevilla. The next season, they reached the semi-finals again. This time, they lost to Barcelona, even though they won the first game.
Challenges and Stadium Opening
The club faced difficulties during the Spanish Civil War. Many players and staff were affected. When official competitions restarted, Osasuna was offered a place in the top league. However, they ended up in a play-off game and did not return to La Liga until 1953–54. They managed to stay in the top division for three more years after 1956–57.
In September 1967, Osasuna's new home, El Sadar Stadium, opened. The first match there was against Vitoria de Setubal, and Osasuna won 3–0.
European Adventures and Top Finishes
Osasuna first qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1985–86. They finished sixth in the league that season. They beat Scottish club Rangers but were then knocked out by Belgian club Waregem.
In the 1990–91 season, Osasuna achieved their best league finish at the time, coming in fourth place. This earned them another spot in the UEFA Cup. They reached the third round, beating teams like Slavia Sofia and Stuttgart. After being relegated in 1993–94, they spent six years in the second division. They were finally promoted back to La Liga in 1999–2000.
Copa del Rey Finals and Champions League Dream
In the 2002–03 Copa del Rey, Osasuna reached the semi-finals. They had a great run, beating teams like Eibar and Sevilla. However, they lost to Recreativo de Huelva in the semi-finals.
In 2005, Osasuna made it to the Copa del Rey final for the very first time. They had a tough journey to the final, winning many close games. Unfortunately, they lost to Real Betis after extra time.
The 2005–06 season was historic for Osasuna. They finished fourth in La Liga, matching their best-ever league position. This meant they qualified for the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. It was a very exciting finish to the season, as they tied with Sevilla on points but finished higher due to their head-to-head record. However, they were eliminated by Hamburger SV and moved to the UEFA Cup.
UEFA Cup Semi-Finals and Recent Years
In the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, Osasuna had an amazing journey. They made it through the group stage and then beat Bordeaux and Rangers in the knockout rounds. In the quarter-finals, they faced German side Bayer Leverkusen. Even though they were not expected to win, Osasuna won both games and reached the semi-finals! There, they played against fellow Spanish club and defending champions, Sevilla, and lost by a narrow margin.
After their European success, Osasuna had some tough seasons in the league. They narrowly avoided relegation in 2007–08 and 2008–09. In 2013–14, they were relegated to the second division.
However, Osasuna fought back. In the 2015–16 season, they finished sixth and won the promotion play-offs. This brought them back to La Liga. They were relegated again in 2016–17. But on May 20, 2019, Osasuna secured promotion back to La Liga once more. They even won the 2018–19 Segunda División championship!
In October 2020, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary with a league victory. In 2023, Osasuna finished seventh in La Liga, which meant they qualified for the UEFA Conference League. There was a challenge to their participation, but after an appeal, they were allowed to compete.
Team Kit Colors
Red and navy blue are the main colors of CA Osasuna. You can see these colors in their home kit and club logo. The away kit often looks very different from the home kit.
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Club Rivalries
Osasuna has several rivalries with other football clubs. These include Real Zaragoza, Real Madrid, and some other Basque clubs, especially Athletic Bilbao.
The rivalry with Real Madrid started in December 1990. Osasuna won a game against them with a score of 4–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The rivalry with Real Zaragoza became heated in October 1987. During a match, Zaragoza fans threw an object at Osasuna's goalkeeper. Since then, games between these two clubs often have tense moments.
Honours and Trophies
Osasuna has won several titles, especially in the lower divisions of Spanish football.
- Copa del Rey
- Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2022–23
- Segunda División (Second Division)
- Winners (4): 1952–53, 1955–56, 1960–61, 2018–19
- Runners-up (2): 1934-35, 1999-20
- Tercera División (Third Division)
- Winners (7): 1931–32, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1976–77
Current Team Squad
First Team Players
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Players on Loan
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Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Head coach |  Vicente Moreno |
| Assistant coach |  Dani Pendín |
| Match delegate | Iñaki Ibáñez |
| Physiotherapist | Unai Miqueleiz Pablo Suárez Fernando Urtasun Asier Urkia |
| Goalkeeping coach | Ricardo Sanzol |
| Match analyst | Ramón Alturo |
| Fitness coach | Pablo Iriarte Juantxo Martín Dani Pastor |
| Podiatrist | Javier Rada |
| Kit man | Iker Galarza David Armendáriz Andrés Ocampo |
| Head of medical services | Andrés Fernández |
| Sporting director | Braulio Vázquez |
Last updated: June 2018
Source: CA Osasuna
Notable Players and Coaches
Famous Players
Here are some well-known players who have played for Osasuna. This list includes players who have played in at least 100 league games or have played for their national team.
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World Cup Players
These players were chosen to play for their country in the World Cup while they were playing for Osasuna:
Savo Milošević (2006)
Francisco Silva (2014)
Ante Budimir (2022)
Ez Abde (2022)
Famous Coaches
Here are some well-known coaches who have managed Osasuna:
Javier Aguirre
Ivica Brzić- Rafael Benítez
- José Antonio Camacho
- Miguel Ángel Lotina
- José Luis Mendilibar
- José Ángel Ziganda
- Jagoba Arrasate
Women's Football
Osasuna also has a women's football team, called CA Osasuna Femenino.
Other Teams and Youth System
- CA Osasuna B – This is Osasuna's B team.
- CD Subiza – This is an affiliated team.
- CA Osasuna cantera – This is the club's youth system. It trains young players up to 19 years old.
- Xota FS – This is an affiliated futsal club.
