RC Celta de Vigo facts for kids
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| Full name | Real Club Celta de Vigo, S.A.D. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Los/Os Celestes (The Sky Blues) O Celtiña (DIM) |
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| Short name | Celta | |||
| Founded | 23 August 1923 (as Club Celta) | |||
| Ground | Balaídos | |||
| Capacity | 24,870 | |||
| Coordinates | 42°12′42.6″N 8°44′22.9″W / 42.211833°N 8.739694°W | |||
| Owner | Grupo Corporativo Ges, S.L. | |||
| President | Marián Mouriño | |||
| Head coach | Claudio Giráldez | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2023–24 | La Liga, 13th of 20 | |||
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Real Club Celta de Vigo, usually called Celta Vigo, is a professional football club from Vigo, Galicia, Spain. They play in La Liga, which is the top football league in Spain.
The club is known as Os Celestes, meaning "The Sky Blues," because of their kit colors. Celta Vigo was started in August 1923. It was formed when two local teams, Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna, joined together. Their home stadium is Balaídos, which can hold 24,870 fans.
The name "Celta" comes from the Celts, an ancient group of people who used to live in the Galicia region. Celta Vigo has a big rivalry with another team from Galicia, Deportivo La Coruña. This match is called the Galician derby.
Celta Vigo has never won the main league title or the Copa del Rey (Spain's main cup competition). However, they have reached the Copa del Rey final three times! Their best league finish was fourth place in the 2002–03 season. This allowed them to play in the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, where they made it to the round of 16. In the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League, Celta reached the semi-finals for the first time. They also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2000.
Contents
History of Celta Vigo
How Celta Vigo Started
RC Celta de Vigo was created because teams in Vigo wanted to be more successful in national competitions. Manuel de Castro, a sports writer, pushed for the two main Vigo teams, Real Vigo Sporting and Real Club Fortuna de Vigo, to merge. He believed that joining forces would create a stronger team.
His idea, "All by and for Vigo," gained support from both clubs. On July 12, 1923, the merger was approved. On August 10, members decided on the name "Club Celta." This name was chosen because it connected to the ancient Celtic people of Galicia. Manuel Bárcena de Andrés became the first president.
The new team had 64 players and was managed by Francis Cuggy. Their first game was a friendly match against Portuguese team Boavista, which Celta won 8–2. In January 1927, Celta won the 'Copa del Rey Alfonso XIII' trophy. They beat an English sailors' team 4–1.
In the 1947–48 season, Celta finished fourth in the league, which was their best finish at the time. They also reached the Copa del Generalísimo final, but lost 4–1 to Sevilla FC. Their star striker, Pahiño, was the top scorer in the league that season.
"EuroCelta" and Later Years
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Celta Vigo was called "EuroCelta." This was because they played very well in European competitions. They beat Liverpool 4–1 over two games to reach the quarter-finals of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup. The next season, they again reached the quarter-finals. They had big wins against Juventus (4–0) and Benfica (7–0 at home).
During this time, Celta also reached the 2001 Copa del Rey final, but lost to Real Zaragoza. Some of the important players from this "EuroCelta" era included Alexander Mostovoi, Valery Karpin, Haim Revivo, Claude Makélélé, and Mazinho.
In the 2002–03 season, Celta finished fourth in the league. This was their highest-ever finish and meant they qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League. They made it to the round of 16, where they were knocked out by Arsenal. However, in the same year, they finished 19th in the Spanish league and were relegated to the Segunda División (second division).
Even though many players left, Celta quickly returned to the top league. They finished second in the 2004–05 season. In 2006–07, Celta was relegated again. For a while, they struggled and even faced the risk of going bankrupt. But in the 2010–11 season, new players and a new manager helped them improve.
Return to La Liga and European Football
On June 3, 2012, Celta Vigo returned to La Liga after five years away. In their first season back, they managed to stay in the top league on the very last day. They beat RCD Espanyol 1–0 to finish 17th.
Under coach Eduardo Berizzo, who was a player during the "EuroCelta" days, Celta had a great season in 2015–16. They finished sixth, their best result in ten years. This earned them a spot in the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. In this competition, Celta reached the semi-finals. They were eventually knocked out by Manchester United, who went on to win the tournament.
Celta Vigo's Identity
Club Crest
Celta's first crest was simple. It had a red shield with two "C" letters for "Club Celta" and a royal crown. The club was given the right to use "royal" in its name by King Alfonso XIII. The next year, the shield became sky blue, matching the team's colors.
Like many clubs in Galicia, Celta's crest also has the red cross of Saint James. This cross was added in 1928. During the Spanish Second Republic (1931–1936), the "royal" title and crown were removed. However, they were brought back later.
Team Kit
Celta Vigo's home kit colors are sky blue and white. When the club first started, their home kit was a red shirt, black shorts, and blue socks. Later, they changed to the current sky blue and white. These colors represent the Galician flag.
       1923–1924
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 Current
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Celta had a very long-lasting sponsorship deal with the French car company Citroën. This deal lasted from 1985 to 2016. Citroën had a factory near Celta's stadium. In 2016, the sponsor changed to Estrella Galicia, a brewery from Galicia. Estrella Galicia had already been advertising on the back of the shirts since 2011. Celta also had a long partnership with their kit supplier, Umbro, from 1986 to 2010.
| Years | Kit manufacturer | Sponsor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Company | ||
| 1980–1982 | Meyba | None | |
| 1982–1986 | Adidas | ||
| 1986–2010 | Umbro | Citroën | Citroën Automóviles España, S.A. |
| 2010–2013 | Li-Ning | ||
| 2013–2016 | Adidas | ||
| 2016–2024 | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | Hijos de Rivera, S.A.U | |
| 2024–present | Hummel | ||
Players of Celta Vigo
First-team Squad
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Reserve Team
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Players on Loan
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Club Records
As of November 23, 2024, here are some of Celta Vigo's club records:
- Most league goals: 191, Iago Aspas (2008–2013, 2015–present)
- Most La Liga goals: 157, Iago Aspas (2012–2013, 2015–present)
- Most goals in a season: 69 (1998–99)
- Most league appearances: 462, Manolo (1966–1982)
- Biggest win and biggest home win: 10–1 (against Gimnàstic, October 23, 1949)
- Biggest away win: 6–1 (against Athletic Bilbao, March 24, 2002)
- Biggest defeat and biggest away defeat: 0–10 (against Athletic Bilbao, January 11, 1942)
- Most home points in a season: 46 (1997–98)
- Most away points in a season: 27 (2015–16)
Player Records
As of November 23, 2024, here are some individual player records. Current players are in bold.
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Club Management
Ownership
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Real Club Celta de Vigo is a sports company. It is owned by the Spanish-Mexican businessman Carlos Mouriño. He became the main owner in May 2006. He owns most of the club through his company, Grupo Corporativo Ges, S.L.
Board of Directors
The board of directors helps run the club.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Marián Mouriño |
| Vice presidents | Ricardo Barros |
| Pedro Posada | |
| Board of directors | María José Táboas |
| Primitivo Ferro | |
| Carmen Avendaño | |
| José Fernando Rodilla | |
| Managing director | Antonio Chaves |
| Financial director | María José Herbón |
| 'Fundación Celta' director | Germán Arteta |
| Academy director | Carlos Hugo García |
| Business development director | Carlos Cao |
| Commercial director | Carlos Salvador |
| Marketing director | Maruxa Magdalena |
| Security director | Julio Vargas |
Last updated: December 2023
Source: RC Celta
List of Presidents
Here is a list of the people who have been president of Celta Vigo over the years.
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Club Achievements
National Titles
- Segunda División (Second Division)
- Winners: 1935–36, 1981–82, 1991–92
- Segunda División B (Third Division)
- Winners: 1980–81
- Tercera División (Fourth Division)
- Winners: 1930–31
- Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup)
- Runners-up (reached the final but didn't win): 1947–48, 1993–94, 2000–01
European Titles
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Winners: 2000
Regional Titles
- Galician Championship
- Winners (6): 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1933–34
- Asturian-Galician Championship (Galician Group)
- Winners: 1934–35
- Regional Government of Galicia Cup
- Winners: 2006
- Copa Galicia
- Winners: 2008
Friendly and Unofficial Tournaments
- Trofeo Cidade de Vigo
- Winners (21): 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012
- Trofeo Memorial Quinocho
- Winners (21): 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023
- Trofeo Luis Otero
- Winners (13): 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2007, 2010, 2014
- Trofeo Emma Cuervo
- Winners (9): 1954, 1961, 1968, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1997, 2010
- TIM Trophy
- Winners: 2016
- Teresa Herrera Trophy
- Winners: 1999
- Trofeo Xacobeo
- Winners: 1999
- Trofeo Federación Galega
- Winners: 2014
- Copa Comunidad Gallega
- Winners: 2016
Celta Vigo Seasons
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- 59 seasons in La Liga (top league)
- 32 seasons in Segunda División (second league)
- 1 season in Segunda División B (third league)
- 1 season in Tercera División (fourth league)
European Competitions
Here's how Celta Vigo has performed in European tournaments. Celta's score is always listed first.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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| 1971–72 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Aberdeen |
0–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 |
| 1998–99 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Argeș Pitești |
7–0 | 1–0 | 8–0 |
| Second round |  Aston Villa |
0–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | ||
| Third round | Liverpool |
3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | ||
| Quarter-finals |  Marseille |
1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | ||
| 1999–2000 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Lausanne |
4–0 | 2–3 | 6–3 |
| Second round |  Aris |
2–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | ||
| Third round |  Benfica |
7–0 | 1–1 | 8–1 | ||
| Fourth round |  Juventus |
0–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | ||
| Quarter-finals | Lens |
0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | ||
| 2000 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Third round |  Pelister |
3–0 | 2–1 | 5–1 |
| Semi–finals | Aston Villa |
1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||
| Finals |  Zenit Saint Petersburg |
2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | ||
| 2000–01 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Rijeka |
0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Second round |  Red Star Belgrade |
0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | ||
| Third round |  Shakhtar Donetsk |
0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
| Fourth round |  VfB Stuttgart |
0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | ||
| Quarter-finals |  Barcelona |
3–2 | 1–2 | 4–4 (a) | ||
| 2001–02 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Sigma Olomouc |
4–0 | 3–4 | 7–4 |
| Second round | Slovan Liberec |
3–1 | 0–3 | 3–4 | ||
| 2002–03 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Odense |
2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Second round |  Viking |
3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | ||
| Third round | Celtic |
2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 (a) | ||
| 2003–04 | UEFA Champions League | Third qualifying round | Slavia Prague |
3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Group H |  Ajax |
3–2 | 0–1 | 2nd | ||
 Club Brugge |
1–1 | 1–1 | ||||
| Milan |
0–0 | 2–1 | ||||
| Round of 16 | Arsenal |
2–3 | 0–2 | 2–5 | ||
| 2006–07 | UEFA Cup | First round | Standard Liège |
1–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 |
| Group H | Eintracht Frankfurt |
1–1 | N/A | 2nd | ||
| Newcastle United |
N/A | 1–2 | ||||
 Fenerbahçe |
1–0 | N/A | ||||
| Palermo |
N/A | 1–1 | ||||
| Round of 32 | Spartak Moscow |
1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | ||
| Round of 16 | Werder Bremen |
0–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | ||
| 2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | Group G | Ajax |
2–2 | 2–3 | 2nd |
| Standard Liège |
1–1 | 1–1 | ||||
| Panathinaikos |
2–0 | 2–0 | ||||
| Round of 32 | Shakhtar Donetsk |
0–1 | 2–0 (aet) | 2–1 | ||
| Round of 16 | Krasnodar |
2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | ||
| Quarter-finals | Genk |
3–2 | 1–1 | 4–3 | ||
| Semi-finals | Manchester United |
0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Images for kids
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Campo de Coia (1908–1928), an early stadium.
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The 'Copa del Rey Alfonso XIII' trophy won by Celta in 1927.
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Celta Vigo playing against S.C. Braga in 1945.
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Celta fans before a match against their rivals, Deportivo La Coruña.
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Carlos Mouriño was the club's president from 2006 to 2023.
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Celta Vigo won the 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup trophy.
See also
In Spanish: Real Club Celta de Vigo para niños
