Estadio de la Cerámica

Amazing people and fantastic atmosphere

THE YELLOW SUBMARINEnIn April 2006, Villarreal were just one penalty kick away from making football history. The Champions League debutants had surprised everyone by getting to the semi-final, where Arsenal were awaiting them. After Arsenal won the first leg in London 1-0, Villarreal had the chance to level the tie from the penalty spot in the return fixture at El Madrigal. The 22,000 home supporters held their breath as the playmaker and fan-favourite Juan Román Riquelme stepped up to take the spot kick. But the Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved the penalty and torpedoed the Champions League dreams of the Yellow Submarine. At that point, it seemed like a heavy defeat, but with a little distance from that historic miss, Villareal’s European adventure must be seen as some kind of heroic achievement.nThe town Villarreal has just over 50,000 inhabitants, making it the second smallest ever to play a semi-final in the Champions League. (Monaco, who reached the final in 2004, had a population of 35,000 at the time). Villarreal’s fight against the European giants looks even more impressive considering that the club entered La Liga as late as 1998. Although their rival, Valencia, are the big team in the region, Villareal quickly established themselves in the top division and in the course of just 13 seasons qualified for both the Champions League and the Europa League. During this period the team built its successes on young Spanish talent and the financially sound purchases of players who had not been successful at bigger clubs – players such as Riquelme, but also Diego Forlán and Giuseppe Rossi. And it is by following this same model that Villareal continue their hunt for new successes.nnCLUB: Villarreal CFnNICKNAME: El Submarino Amarillo (the Yellow Submarine)nFOUNDED: 1923nSTADIUM: Estadio de la Cerámical, Vila-real (24,890 capacity)nHISTORIC PLAYERS: Marcos Senna, Juan Román Riquelme, Diego Forlán, Giuseppe Rossi and Bruno SorianonnArgentian playmaker Juan Román Riquelme represented Villarreal from 2003-2007. In 2005 Spanish sports newspaper Marca awarded Riquelme the title of ‘Most Artistic Player’.

Nice atmosphere here

I was in israeli team game and they behaved very bad to us. I wont give them a good review. The stadium itself is old but nice. Good soccer field.

Expectacular