Editing Real Zaragoza (section)

==History==

===Early years===
Real Zaragoza was originally formed from two rival teams: ''[[Iberia SC]]'' and ''[[Zaragoza CD|Real Zaragoza CD]]''. In 1939, after three years without football due to the [[Spanish Civil War]], the team made its first appearance in [[La Liga]], [[1939–40 La Liga|ending in 7th position out of 12 teams]], but [[1940–41 La Liga|being relegated in 1941]]. The club returned to the top division one year later, only to be [[1942–43 La Liga|immediately relegated back]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist3949.html Spain 1939/40]; at [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]]</ref> It remained in [[Segunda División]] until the end of the [[1950–51 Segunda División|1950–51 campaign]], when it achieved promotion by finishing second in a play-off league.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist4959.html Spain, Final Tables 1949–1959]; at RSSSF</ref>

On 8 September 1957, the team left its original stadium, El Torrero, for its current stadium, [[La Romareda]].

===The golden era===
Beginning in the [[1960–61 La Liga|1960–61 season]], Zaragoza enjoyed a period of great success, showcasing some of the greatest players playing in Spain during that decade, which earned for themselves the designation of ''Los Magníficos''. While the team failed to capture the league title, it finished in the top five every year until [[1968–69 La Liga|1968–69]], with two third-place finishes, and also won its first two [[Copa del Rey]] titles and the [[1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]].

Zaragoza's famous attacking line included [[Canário]], [[Carlos Lapetra]], [[Marcelino Martínez|Marcelino]], [[Eleuterio Santos]] and [[Juan Manuel Villa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2008/01/28/actualidad/1201508526_850215.html|title=Muere Santos, uno de los "cinco magníficos" del Zaragoza|trans-title=Santos, one of Zaragoza's "magnificent five", dies|work=[[El País]]|language=es|date=28 January 2008|access-date=29 July 2013}}</ref> The Peruvian [[Juan Seminario]], who started his career in Spain with ''Los Maños'' before moving to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], won the [[Pichichi Trophy]] in the [[1961–62 La Liga|1961–62 campaign]], scoring 25 goals in 30 matches as Zaragoza finished in fourth position.

===1970s to the end of the century===
[[File:Real Zaragoza 1994-1995.svg|thumb|right|200px|The starting XI in the [[1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|1995 Cup Winners' Cup final]]]]
Zaragoza finished third in [[1973–74 La Liga|1973–74]] and a best-ever second in [[1974–75 La Liga|the following season]], losing the title in the last round to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]. The club was also defeated 0–1 in the [[1975–76 Copa del Rey|1976 domestic cup final]] against [[Atlético Madrid]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1976.html Spain – Cup 1976]; at RSSSF</ref> spending two seasons in the second level during the decade, with promotion at the first attempt on either occasion.

In [[1985–86 Copa del Rey|1986]], Zaragoza won its third Copa del Rey, defeating Barcelona 1–0. The club finished the [[1990–91 La Liga|1990–91 season]] in 17th position, thus having to appear in the [[Promotion and relegation|promotion/relegation]] play-offs against [[Real Murcia]]; on 19 June 1991, after a 0–0 away draw, a 5–2 home win meant the team managed to maintain its top level status.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

[[Víctor Fernández]] was appointed manager in 1991. On 10 May 1995, [[1994–95 Real Zaragoza season|one year]] after [[1993–94 Copa del Rey|winning the Copa del Rey]] against [[Celta de Vigo]], Zaragoza [[1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|won]] the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] at the [[Parc des Princes]], [[Paris]], after having disposed of the likes of [[Feyenoord]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] ''en route''. With the score level at 1–1, the two teams entered [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]] and, in the 120th minute, [[Nayim]] hit a half-volley from just past the halfway line, putting it beyond the reach of goalkeeper [[David Seaman]] for the final [[1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|2–1]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind=4/newsid=3429.html|title=1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal|publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 1995|access-date=14 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822203449/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/news/kind%3D4/newsid%3D3429.html|archive-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> The club then contested the [[1995 UEFA Super Cup]] against [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], losing 1–5 on aggregate despite a home draw in the first leg.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100704100738/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1995/index.html 1995: Ajax on a roll]; UEFA, 1995</ref> Víctor Fernández was dismissed from his post in early November 1996, after only winning one league match [[1996–97 La Liga|that season]].<ref>[http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1996/11/08/MD19961108-022.pdf Víctor y Brzic, cesados (Víctor and Brzic, sacked)]; [[El Mundo Deportivo (newspaper)|El Mundo Deportivo]], 8 November 1996 {{in lang|es}}</ref>

===The 21st century===
[[File:Celebracion Real Zaragoza 2013 postiga (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|Players celebrate a goal by [[Hélder Postiga]] during the [[2012–13 La Liga|2012–13 season]].]]
[[File:Real Zaragoza league performance 1929-2023.svg|thumb|Chart of Real Zaragoza league performance 1929–2023]]
The 2000s brought a further two Copa del Rey titles to Zaragoza's trophy cabinet, including the [[2003–04 Copa del Rey|2003–04 edition]] against Real Madrid in [[Barcelona]] (3–2 after extra time).<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup01.html Spain Cups 2000/01]; at RSSSF</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3516028.stm|title=Beckham misses out on Cup|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 March 2004|access-date=29 July 2013}}</ref> However, the club also suffered top flight relegation in [[2001–02 La Liga|2002]]<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/span02.html Spain 2001/02]; at RSSSF</ref> after [[2000–01 La Liga|narrowly avoiding so the previous season]],<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/span01.html Spain 2000/01]; at RSSSF</ref> but [[2002–03 Segunda División|achieved immediate promotion in 2003]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/span03.html Spain 2002/03]; at RSSSF</ref> In late May 2006, Agapito Iglesias purchased Alfonso Solans' shares and took control of the club, promising to build one of the strongest teams in Spain and Europe. In his first year in charge, he purchased [[Pablo Aimar]] from [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] for [[Euro|€]]11&nbsp;million,<ref>[http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2006/07/29/futbol/1154176461.html Aimar confirma su traspaso al Zaragoza (Aimar confirms Zaragoza move)]; [[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]], 29 July 2006 {{in lang|es}}</ref> and former manager Víctor Fernández also returned to the club.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/06/05/spain.zaragoza/ Fernandez agrees new Zaragoza deal]; [[CNN]], 5 June 2006</ref>

Mainly due to [[Diego Milito]]'s 23 goals in [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07]] (he finished third to [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]'s [[Francesco Totti]] and Real Madrid's [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]] – 26 and 25 goals, respectively – in the [[European Golden Shoe]] race), Real Zaragoza finished in sixth position, thus [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|qualifying]] to the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]. However, [[2007–08 La Liga|the following season]] ended in relegation (18th position among 20 teams with only 10 wins in 38 matches, among them only 1 away win in 19 games)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resultados-futbol.com/primera2008|title=Primera División, Temporada 2007/2008 - laliga, liga santander, la liga santander, campeonato nacional de liga de primera división, liga española|website=resultados-futbol.com|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> – for the second time in the decade – with the side also being eliminated in the first round in [[UEFA|European competition]]. Legendary club coach Víctor Fernández returned for a second spell, although he was sacked in January 2008,<ref>[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=498355&&cc=5739 Garitano succeeds Fernández at Zaragoza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013202123/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=498355&&cc=5739 |date=13 October 2012 }}; [[ESPN Soccernet]], 14 January 2008</ref> as the club had four managers during the campaign. On the last matchday, a brace from [[Ricardo Oliveira]] proved insufficient in a 2–3 away loss against [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]], with the team totalling 42 points to [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]]'s 43.

Zaragoza achieved promotion from the second division [[2008–09 Segunda División|at the first attempt]]. On the last matchday, on 20 June 2009, the team drew 2–2 at [[Rayo Vallecano]] with goals from youth graduate [[David Generelo]] and ex-Real Madrid [[Defender (association football)|defender]] [[Francisco Pavón]], only trailing champions [[Xerez CD|Xerez]] in the table. Nevertheless, that season Zaragoza was the best team at home, gained 50 from their 81 points in home games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resultados-futbol.com/primera2008|title=Primera División, Temporada 2007/2008 - laliga, liga santander, la liga santander, campeonato nacional de liga de primera división, liga española|website=resultados-futbol.com|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> However, after four seasons mainly spent in the bottom half of the table, Zaragoza was relegated following the [[2012–13 La Liga|2012–13 Liga season]] after finishing last.<ref>[http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/268564/report Real Zaragoza relegated]; [[Sky Sports]], 1 June 2013</ref>

In April 2022, the purchase of 51% of the shares of the SAD by an international investment fund led by [[Jorge Mas]] was disclosed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/04/08/companias/1649427688_589197.html|website=[[Cinco Días]]|via=[[El País]]|title=Un grupo inversor compra la mayoría accionarial del Real Zaragoza|date=9 April 2022}}</ref>