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Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team, founded on 23 December 1889. This makes it the oldest football team in Spain; but unlike most other "firsts" in their respective countries who preferred to stay in the amateur ranks, Recre is competing in the country's top flight.
[edit] Foundation/Early history
It all began courtesy of Dr. Alexander Mackay and overseas British workers at the Rio Tinto mines, and it was originally named Huelva Recreation Club. Due to its long-standing existence (it is the oldest surviving team of Spanish professional football), the team is often referred to as El Decano ("The Dean," i.e. the oldest one) of the Spanish football fraternity.
Commonly known as Recre, they play in white with blue vertical stripes and white shorts. Their home ground is the Nuevo Colombino stadium that seats 19,860. They have hosted the Trofeo Colombino there, since 1965.
After three seasons in Segunda División, Recre achieved promotion to the top flight after beating Numancia on 4 June 2006, mathematically securing promotion with two matches left to be played.
[edit] 2006-08: La Liga promotion/Consolidation
The new season in La Liga was one of over achievements. They finished eighth in the table, at 54 points. Among the victories was a 3-0 win against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu and 2-0 against Valencia. The club's leading goalscorer was Florent Sinama-Pongolle with 12 goals to his name. Coach Marcelino García Toral announced on 30 May 2007 that he would leave the club at the end of the season, subsequently joining Racing Santander, after also being the coach that previously achieved the 2006 promotion for Recreativo.
"Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and this is the moment to end my time at Recre," Marcelino told a news conference.
This fueled speculation in June 2007 that Recreativo had offered Danish legend Michael Laudrup a contract to coach the club in 2007-2008. According to Laudrup's agent, the negotiations were ongoing and "very serious." However, Laudrup turned down the offer, and took the vacant manager's job at Getafe in July 2007. Recre' season was a rocky one, as they only achieved to maintain first division status in the very last matchday, drawing with Real Valladolid 1-1. Also, Mallorca's 3-2 success against Real Zaragoza, contributed to Huelva's final 16th position. However, Recre lived the worst performance in La Liga in 2008-2009 season and relegated to Segunda Division.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Season to season
[edit] Current squad
The numbers are established according to the official website:www.recreativohuelva.com and www.lfp.es
As of 23June 2009
[edit] Non-EU players
[edit] Famous players
see also Cat:Recreativo de Huelva footballers
[edit] Famous coaches
[edit] External links
Francisco Mendoza
