Deportivo de La Coruna

They are the most successful football club in Galicia, having won one La Liga title, two Spanish Cups, and three Spanish Super Cups. They have also participated in the UEFA Champions League five times and also the UEFA Cup another five times. They hold a national rivalry with fellow Galicians R.C. Celta de Vigo, and traditionally play in blue and white striped shirts with blue shorts and socks.

HISTORY

The very beginning

In 1902 José María Abalo, a Coruña local who returned to his hometown after studying in England, introduced football to La Coruña. It started when he introduced the game to his group of friends who practiced it in the Bullring; little did they know this sport would turn into a phenomenon.

In 1904, Abalo and his group of friends formed a football team called Coruna. The game reached a new popularity as members of a prestigious gymnasium called Sala Calvet took notice and began to practice this new sport considered "exotic" by the young people of the city. This was the start of football's passage of time in Corunna.

The start of Deportivo

In December 1906 these young men from Sala Calvet gymnasium created their own team called Club Deportivo da Sala Calvet, that in time would become Deportivo de A Coruña. Two and a half years later the club was given the mark of royalty by King Alfonso XIII and from then on would be known as Real Club Deportivo de A Coruña. At the time things were looking up as Deportivo moved into a new stadium called the Riazor (now called the Velho Riazor).

Deportivo turns professional

Deportivo would continue to play in various leagues in Galicia for two decades until 1928, when the Spanish league was formed. Deportivo would fail to achieve qualification for the "Primera División" and so would begin playing in the Segunda División. Deportivo remained in the Segunda División, their greatest achievement eliminating Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey until finally achieving promotion to the Primera División in 1941.

For a century, Coruña has lived through moments of sadness and joy, ups and downs, hope and disillusionment. Through uncertain periods immersed in great debt and relatively unknown; through resounding defeats and epic triumphs, until the greatest moment in Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña's history - the first League title of their history in the season of 1999-2000 - through the Champions League nights at Riazor.

Deportivo has supported a long national rivalry with fellow Galicians the Celta de Vigo due to the geographical situation and with Valencia due to the big duels disputed between both as those of league which is the most remembered of '98 since Deportivo was playing the league against Valencia in the last game, the final of the Copa del Rey of '95 or the "Supercopa de España". To the clash between both was named "El Otro Clasico", referring to the clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Kit and Badge

The official badge depicts a knights belt encircling the original banner of Sala Calvet Gymnasium. The crown in the centre represents the clubs Royal decree and the diagonal blue stripe its identity as a Galician club (Galician flag).

Deportivo La Coruña have always played in their famous blue and white stripes, but it was not until 1912 that the club made these colours official for matches. Deportivo continues to wear blue and white striped shirts with blue shorts and socks, yet their second and third kits change annually according to commercial interests. Their current shirt sponsors are Estrella Galicia, with Lotto manufacturing the kits.