Levante

Levante UD – Club History

Levante Unión Deportiva was founded in 1909 in Valencia, competing in the same city as the more celebrated Valencia CF. Playing in blue and red vertical stripes, Levante have carved out a distinct identity as Valencia's "other club" and have been consistent competitors in both La Liga and the Segunda División. Their most remarkable achievement was achieving La Liga survival as a newly promoted club and then establishing a sustained period of top-flight competition, including a Copa del Rey final appearance in 2011–12 and European qualification that brought continental football to the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.

Levante's surprising Copa del Rey final appearance in 2012 against Athletic Club was one of the competition's more unexpected showpiece events, with a modest Valencian club from the city's working-class neighborhoods competing for major silverware. The club's Europa League participation that season brought European football to Valencia's second club for the first time in their history and generated enormous pride across the city's blue-and-red supporting community.

Estadio Ciudad de Valencia

Levante play at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, a ground with a capacity of approximately 26,000 supporters. Located in the Orriols district of Valencia, the stadium provides a reasonable La Liga venue and has hosted Europa League matches during the club's qualification periods. The ground's modest scale compared to the nearby Mestalla reflects Levante's position as Valencia's secondary club, but the passion of the Granotes (Frogs) supporters fills the stadium with genuine atmosphere on important occasions.

Key Milestones

1909 – Club founded in Valencia. 1963 – La Liga debut. 2004 – Promoted to La Liga; establishing top-flight presence. 2011 – Copa del Rey final appearance. 2012 – Europa League group stage participation. 2015 – Relegated from La Liga. 2017 – Promoted back to La Liga. 2021 – Relegated from La Liga. 2023 – Segunda División competition; La Liga promotion push.