Valladolid is another famous “yo-yo club” in the Spanish league, but more than this nickname, the name of its owner Ronaldo is the team’s proudest feature. Returning to La Liga once again, with Ronaldo declaring that he will not sell the club in the short term, can they stabilize their position in La Liga this time?
A Long History, Ronaldo Making it Famous
Valladolid Club was founded in 1928. The current home stadium is Estadio José Zorrilla, named after the famous Spanish poet José Zorrilla y Moral, with a capacity of 26,500.
As an old club, Valladolid does not have much to boast about in terms of honors in its history; only four times winning the Segunda División title, twice finishing as runner-up in the Copa del Rey, and winning the Spanish League Cup in the 1983-84 season.
The event that brought Valladolid into the Chinese fans’ field of vision was Ronaldo’s acquisition. Valladolid had been ranked mid-table in La Liga for a long time, living a life without hope of winning titles or entering European competitions, yet free from relegation worries. However, after the club’s financial situation deteriorated sharply, Valladolid’s performance also plummeted.
In 2018, the ambitious “alien” Ronaldo became associated with Valladolid, spending 30 million euros to acquire 51% of the club’s shares, becoming the majority shareholder. Ronaldo later increased his stake to 82%, investing a total of 50 million euros.
However, under Ronaldo’s leadership, Valladolid’s performance did not improve much, becoming a famous “yo-yo club” like Espanyol. Even after successfully gaining promotion last season, rumors spread again that Ronaldo would sell the club, and Ronaldo explicitly stated that he had received three reliable offers.
But the latest news shows that Valladolid’s spokesperson Jorge Santiago clearly stated that Ronaldo would not sell the club in the short term, and even paid off the club’s debts out of his own pocket. This move by “the alien” may likely allow the newly promoted La Liga team to enter the new season without worries.
In the 2023-24 season, Valladolid achieved 21 wins, 9 draws, and 12 losses in the Segunda División, scoring 51 goals and conceding 36, securing second place by one point over Eibar, thus directly gaining promotion. Among the top teams in the Segunda División, Valladolid’s attack was not particularly outstanding, but their defense was the guarantee of their promotion success.
Small Club, Minimal Player Movement
After confirming promotion, Valladolid first renewed the contract with the 17-year-old Adrian Anunciado, signing him until 2027, followed by renewing the contract with Mamadou Sylla until the summer of 2026. Ivan Sanchez, Raul Moro, and Vieirinha also completed their contract renewals.
Goalkeeper Jordi Masip and midfielder Sergio Escudero ended their contracts and left the club after achieving promotion. Montchu, who joined on loan from Granada for two seasons, also departed in the summer.
While sending some players away, Valladolid signed Gumart from Valencia, and Selim Amara returned to the team after his loan spell at Valencia.
In general, Valladolid’s squad has not changed significantly compared to when they were competing in the Segunda División last season, which also proves that the team’s combat power for the new season is limited, and relegation avoidance remains the primary goal.
Key Players: No Big Names, Reliance on the Whole Team
Montchu was the only player to start all 42 Segunda División matches for Valladolid last season, contributing six goals and three assists, and making the most shots with 33. His departure means that the team, which scored only 51 goals last season, must rely even more on teamwork.
Without any standout offensive players, Mamadou Sylla, with eight goals, became Valladolid’s top scorer last season and will continue to bear the responsibility of leading the team’s offense in the new La Liga season.
In addition, Ivan Sanchez, wearing the number 10 shirt, is also a core player of the team. He has confirmed his stay for the new season. Last season, Ivan Sanchez played a total of 2,420 minutes, being an absolute contributor to the team’s promotion.
Players like Raul Moro and Vieirinha, who renewed their contracts, will become mainstays of the team in the new season. Gumar, loaned from Valencia, will undoubtedly be a defensive cornerstone. The 26-year-old defender not only excels in defense but also contributes offensively, scoring two goals during his time at Nantes last season, and also representing the Swiss national team in the European Championship and World Cup.
Coach Paulo Pezzolano, Former CSL Player, Managing Two of “The Alien’s” Teams
Paulo Pezzolano, as a player, won the golden boot in the Uruguayan league and played for Mallorca. In November 2010, he was scouted by then Hangzhou Greentown (now Zhejiang) coach Wu Jinye and moved to the Chinese Super League from Uruguay. In the first round of the 2011 season, Paulo Pezzolano scored his debut goal in the Chinese Super League, but in the second half of the season, he suddenly lost form and ultimately left the team after just one year.
In 2016, Paulo Pezzolano retired from playing for Montevideo City Torque and immediately took up the coaching reins. At the beginning of 2022, after Ronaldo acquired his former club Cruzeiro, Paulo Pezzolano followed “the alien” to manage Cruzeiro, leading the team back to the top division as champions of the second division.
However, after just half a season, due to the eruption of dissatisfaction among Cruzeiro fans towards Ronaldo, Paulo Pezzolano was also dismissed. Nevertheless, Ronaldo placed great trust in Paulo Pezzolano. When his other team, Valladolid, was in trouble, Ronaldo brought Paulo Pezzolano to Spain.
Although Paulo Pezzolano failed to keep Valladolid in La Liga in the 2022-23 season, he remained in charge and quickly secured the team’s return to La Liga as runners-up in the 2023-24 Segunda División. In the new season, Paulo Pezzolano doesn’t need to take over halfway or when the team is in crisis. Can he successfully lead Valladolid to avoid relegation?