Silver Jubilee: UD Almería celebrates 25 years of unified football in Spain's southeast
From humble beginnings to La Liga dreams - how two rival clubs joined forces on January 10, 2001 to create a stronger football identity for Almería.
A quarter-century has passed since football in Almería found its unified voice. Last Saturday’s match against Mirandés coincided with the 25th anniversary of UD Almería’s birth - a moment that transformed the sporting landscape in Spain’s southeastern corner.
The Merger That Changed Everything
On January 10, 2001, after countless attempts and negotiations, Almería CF and Polideportivo Almería finally agreed to join forces. The announcement came during a packed press conference at City Hall, where Mayor Santiago Martínez Cabrejas stood alongside Guillermo Blanes and José Meca, the founders of the respective clubs.
The official transformation wasn’t completed until June 28 that year, when Almería CF shareholders approved the name change, but that January announcement represented the true beginning of something special.
A City United
The merger wasn’t just about administrative efficiency - it was about healing old wounds. The mayor, himself a former footballer, made an impassioned plea for supporters of both clubs to leave behind their rivalries and embrace the new entity.
This wasn’t just suits in boardrooms making decisions - this was proper grassroots stuff. The mayor had been pushing for this unification alongside local legend Juan Rojas (whose name adorns the stadium).
Early Support
The response was immediate and encouraging. Just three days after the announcement, a crowd of 8,000 packed into the Municipal Stadium Juan Rojas to support the team against Cádiz in their Segunda B Group IV fixture.
Survival in that division was absolutely crucial for the fledgling club’s future. As we say in London, it was proper squeaky bum time - but they pulled through, laying the foundation for everything that followed.
Local Heroes
That pioneering squad featured several hometown heroes including:
- Esteban Navarro (now working in the club’s scouting department)
- Antoñito (current commentator on UDA Radio)
- Local talents Moreno, Raúl Sánchez, Barbero, Pía, Álex Hita and José Ortiz
Lead by young local manager José María Salmerón, who had secured promotion to Segunda B, this team represented the beginning of something special.
The Legacy
In the 25 years since that watershed moment, UD Almería has:
- Celebrated three promotions to La Liga (2007, 2013 and 2022)
- Maintained 24 consecutive years in professional football
- Established itself as a respected name in Spanish football
From those early days of uncertainty to becoming a fixture in Spain’s top two divisions, the club born from unity has given Almería a football identity to be proud of. Not too shabby for a club that’s still younger than some of its players!