It's here. Modest football lovers, this is your big party. A groundbreaking Playoff arrives, a double game, at headquarters and for the first time without a double chance for the group leaders. 16 banks of illusions travel to Extremadura. They know that what will happen in the next two weeks will change their lives forever. If they are awarded one of the four squares they will have the world at their feet. Many will leave their lives as ordinary citizens to collect millionaire salaries and be one step away from visiting the Wanda, the Camp Nou, the Bernabéu or the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. Fortunately, pandemic allows the public to crowd buses of hope. That football from before, sandwich crumbs between the seats and nail debris scattered around the stadiums. That anguish of playing life or death and changing the history of a town or small towns that long ago did not dream of getting to where they are today. Ladies, gentlemen, the PLAYOFF:
Sanse is in this promotion playoff on its own merits. A dream course in the Madrid team allows them to fight for the dream of being a silver team. An immaculate first phase with 10 wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats led them to finish first in the group and have a very good position in the second phase. There the Madrilenians could not snatch the leadership from the almighty Badajoz, remaining second. A second place that gives them a small advantage in this tie: in the event of a tie in a possible overtime, they will go through to the round.
Marcos Jiménez González (44 years old). In one season at Sanse he has managed to get the Madrid team into the playoff. Marcos Jiménez is an experienced coach in Madrid's modest football after his stint at DUX Internacional de Madrid and Trival Valderas. He is a technical studious of the world of football, Jiménez has been a teacher of physical trainers in various institutions such as the RFEF or the Francisco de Vitoria University.
Marcelo (23 years old). The Brazilian forward is one of the culprits that Sanse is in this playoff. His competitiveness and his aerial game stand out. Marcelo is playing this season at Sanse on loan from Burgos and wants to take his team to Second. In the ranks of the Madrid team, an old acquaintance of Spanish football also stands out: Gavilán, formerly of Valencia and Getafe, who at 35 is still active and in shape.
The club founded in 1971 is facing an opportunity to play in Segunda for the first time in its history. Sanse, who has won the Madrid Third Division title three times, does not want to miss the great moment in the form of the players and intends to go to the final of the playoff. The Madrilenians want to stop being veterans in Second B and become novices in Second. Algeciras will not make it easy.
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Algeciras had a great first phase this season with 9 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses that led the team coached by Save Crossbow to be classified as first in subgroup. In the second round, the Andalusians suffered a little more than expected, but looking at the rivals (Linares, UCAM, Betis B and At. Sanluqueño), the classification of Algeciras has great merit. Until the last day they had to fight to enter this playoff. Once inside, Salva's pupils aspire to everything.
Salva Ballesta (45 years old). The former forward's player stage is known to all. International with Spain and remembered for his time with teams such as Málaga or Atlético de Madrid, among many others. His version as a coach is not so well known by the general public, but Salva has been on the bench since 2013, when he embarked on the Atlético Malageño project, although his modest leap to football was in 2017 with Real Jaén. After passing through Móstoles, the former striker signed for Algeciras in January 2020. His teams are characterized by the claw and impetus that he gives them from the band.
Figueras (32 years old). The veteran central, with experience in First and Second, is the standard of this Algeciras. Veteran of a thousand battles in Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Valladolid or Brujas, he is an extension of the coach on the field since his arrival at the Cadiz team. Figueras arrived at the club last February and since then he has been a fixture in Salva Ballesta's line-ups. His experience, key in this Algeciras.
The Algeciras was officially born in 1912 and he played his first official match against Alexandra from Gibraltar leaving a zero draw. The team, which plays its matches at the Nuevo Mirador, a stadium with a capacity of 7,500 spectators, already has experience in the Second Division. It was in the 2003/04 season when we last saw the Andalusians in the silver category. Will they come back next year?
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El Plantío wants to re-live Second Division matches. His stint in the bronze category is well worth a promotion. An almost immaculate first phase with 12 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses are enough merits to enter a playoff, something that they confirmed in a second phase where Celta B and Zamora have not been able to do anything with the Castilian-Leon. Without a doubt, Burgos is one of the 'coconuts' of this playoff that takes place in Extremadura.
Julián Calero (50 years old). In his first season at Burgos, Julián Calero has managed to get his team into this playoff. The Madrid coach is living his first stage outside of football in his region (last year he directed Majadahonda) and he is doing it wonderfully, if not that they tell Burgos fans. In this promotion, Calero will follow the 4-4.2 that has given him so many joys. All attentive to Burgos.
Barovero (36 years old). Without a doubt, the banner of this team resides in the goal. The Argentine goalkeeper, who has gone through teams from the River Plate, Vélez or Monterrey entity, has not come to Spain to retire. Barovero, a historian of Spanish football, at 36 years old, is living his first experience on the European continent. Since his arrival last summer at Burgos he has been the owner and lord of the goal and He has only conceded 15 goals in the 24 games he has played.
Burgos CF was founded in 1922, although the club that we know today arises after the re-founding of the old Burgos, which played in the Second Division in the 1960s and was part of the First Division in 1971 and sadly ceased its activity in 1983. After clearing up the debts, in 1992 it was re-established. Years later, Burgos went through an administrative decline (in 2003), but that stage has already passed and the Castilian-Leon team has their accounts cleaned up. Since 2019, Antonio Castelli acquired 90% of the shares and appointed his son as president. Michu is currently the club's sporting director.
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Calahorra has reached this playoff thanks to being the best quarter of the second phase. The people of La Rioja have had to fight tooth and nail to get their presence in Extremadura this weekend. They do not think of throwing all the work done overboard and arrive with the intention of making anyone suffer, first of all to Burgos. For this, Calahorra has prepared a free trip for the more than 600 fans who travel to the Municipal Vicente Sanz.
Diego Martínez (37 years old). In his second season on the Calahora bench, Diego Martínez has managed to 'sneak' his team into the playoff. The Riojan coach is a lover of 4-2-3-1 and will continue to use it in this promotion.
Íñigo Amorrortu (26 years old). Amorrortu's goals, among other things, have made it possible for Calahorra to be in this playoff. The Gernika striker has arrived this season from Amorebieta and is key in Diego Martínez's system. Will it be the hero of Calahorra? This Saturday we will know.
The Rioja team was founded in 1923 and is facing the opportunity to play in the Second Division for the first time in its history. The Calahorra is a historic one of the modest categories of Second B (11 seasons) and Third (50 seasons). La Planilla is its stadium where more than 4,500 spectators hope to be able to vibrate with the silver category.
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The Sanse has been a steamroller all season. In both the first and second phases, Xabi's men have shown a brutal superiority, taking first place in both rounds. This will allow them to play these playoffs with a net since in the event of a tie at the end of a possible overtime, they would pass. In front they have an Andorra that will make it very difficult.
Xabi Alonso (39 years old). On the Sanse bench we have a future coach of the greats in the coming decades. The former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Real Sociedad player shows signs of great football theorist, something that was sensed after his 'preparation' with technicians from Guardiola, Mourinho or Ancelotti. Xabi Alonso is filling his team with tactical concepts and wisdom, which they are knowing how to translate on the pitch. Without a doubt, it is one of the attractions of this playoff.
Robert Navarro (18 years old). At just 18 years old, this Spanish international is called to be the great soccer player of the future for Real Sociedad. After growing up in Barcelona and going through Monaco, without being a center forward (he occupies a midfield position), he has scored a whopping 11 goals in the 22 games he has played for Sanse. With these figures in his first season at the Basque subsidiary, his future is promising to say the least.
Everyone knows the story of Zubieta, one of the best quarries in Spanish football. Just looking at the Real Sociedad first team is enough to see the importance of Sanse. Players like Oyarzabal, Zubimendi or Illarramendi They are the clearest example of what the players of this subsidiary can become.
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A comeback in extremis of Andorra in the second phase thanks, in part, to Gimnàstic disaster on the last day he has allowed Piqué's team to be in the playoff. The second phase of Andorra has been almost immaculate with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. The Andorran team, despite their inexperience in promotion, has players of the stature of Mantovani or Victor Casadesus, which bring seniority to the group.
Éder Sarabia (40 years old). The figure of Éder Sarabia is known by all due to being the second coach of Quique Setién during the stages of the Cantabrian in Betis and Barcelona. After the dismissal of the former Barça coach, Éder was left without a team, but that was solved earlier this year, when Piqué 'recruited' Sarabia for his project. Since their arrival, Andorra has achieved 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 wins, achieving the goal of fighting for the playoff.
Martí Riverola (30 years old). In a team with players with experience in the First Division such as Mantovani or Víctor Casadesus, we want to highlight the figure of Martí Riverola in this Andorra. Key piece for Sarabia in the center of the field. A good performance by his team goes through a great presence of the Catalan player in the development of the game. It wouldn't be fair not to mention Carlitos, the top gunner on this team.
The history of Andorra has a before and after since the arrival of the Kosmos group in 2018. The company chaired by Gerard Piqué took over the team and since then they have not stopped growing. Andorra went from playing in Primera Catalana to Segunda B in a year thanks to the payment of the place left by Reus, which fell due to administrative issues. Now, will Andorra continue to make history? Will they go up to LaLiga SmartBank?
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Will Linares Deportivo go up for the second consecutive year? The Andalusian team returns for a new season to play a promotion playoff, in this case, to the Second Division. After a difficult first round with the dominance of an overwhelming UCAM Murcia, the Andalusians took a turn in the steering wheel in the second phase and, with 4 wins and 2 draws, they got the first place in the group. Now they want to take advantage of the good dynamics in this playoff and reach the final.
Alberto González (41 years old). The effectiveness of Alberto González at Linares is more than proven. In his first season at the helm of the Andalusian team, the coach has secured a place in the promotion playoffs. Even more merit if it is a team that has just risen from Third. His teams are characterized by being compact thanks to the 4-2-3-1 that he uses so much.
Hugo Díaz (33 years old). The goal at Linares Deportivo is named after Hugo Díaz. The forward, who arrived at the beginning of the season, has worked from minute one in the Andalusian team. His 10 goals have made it possible for Linares to be in this playoff. Díaz has the gunpowder loaded for the Amorebieta and will not hesitate to use it if he has the opportunity.
The Linares Deportivo that we know today emerged in 2009 after the disappearance of CD Linares. Since then, the Andalusian team has not stopped growing and climbing categories. So much so that in just 12 years they have gone from playing in 2nd Andalusia to playing in the playoff for promotion to the Second Division.
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Amorebieta have survived the duopoly of the Basque subsidiaries (Sanse and Bilbao Athletic) and are in this promotion playoff on their own merits. The Basque club has finished the second phase of Group II as third place with 49 points and a balance of 14 victories, 7 draws and 5 defeats, 34 goals in favor and 21 goals against. They will face Linares Deportivo in one of the most even qualifying rounds of this playoff.
Íñigo Vélez (39 years old). Íñigo Vëlez's coaching career cannot be understood without SD Amorebieta. Since he made his debut on the bench, the Basque coach has been in the band of Nuevo Urritxe. Three seasons of idyll between coach and club that have reached their peak with qualification for this playoff. This season Vélez has chosen to wrap his team in a defense of five, something that has given him great profitability. Rocky team where there is Amorebieta.
Mikel Saizar (38 years old). The very veteran Basque goalkeeper is the star of this Amorebieta. At 38 years old and after going through teams such as Real Sociedad, Córdoba or Guadalajara, he gives security to a team that is built from defense. Hardened in a thousand battles, Saizar will be one of the pillars of the Basque team in this playoff.
The club was founded in 1925. With no experience in the Second Division, one of the club's most important milestones, as detailed by the team itself on its official website, was the inauguration of the New Urritxe in 2002, a natural grass pitch built to replace the historic Urritxe pitch where Amorebieta played. The field was inaugurated on October 12, 2002 with a friendly between Athletic Club and Racing de Santander.
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UCAM Murcia is a veteran team, forged for the great battle to go up to the Second Division. As second in the group, he would have to deal with penalties if he fails to beat Barça B by 120 minutes. It could be said that they know them all. Salmerón, his coach, is hardened after dozens of seasons training. His team barely scored: 31 goals in 24 games. But even fewer receive: 23 against. They only add five defeats throughout the season, although two of them came when their qualification for the Playoff had been mathematically confirmed.
Jose Maria Salmerón. The UCAM Murcia coach was, in his day, a professional player. He spent most of his career between Second and Second B, although he made his debut in First, nothing more and nothing less, than at Real Madrid. As a technician, he has experience since before the beginning of the 21st century. At LaLiga SmartBank he has directed Poli Ejido, Lorca Deportiva, Alavés and UCAM Murcia itself. His first stage in the entity was in 2015-16. After brief stages in Murcia, Recreativo de Huelva and Burgos, has returned to achieve promotion.
Aketxe. He is a forward, although he can also play from behind. At 31 years old, he has starred in seven goals so far this season. He is far from the 20 who signed with the Cultural Leonesa or the 14 with Cartagena. He has understood that his work can also be very valuable without piercing the rival goal. The season started well, but it has been diluted. He ended up as a substituteAlthough his stripes could bring him back to eleven or turn him into a diamond for the second halves.
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It is a recent club. Born in 1999, has already had the honor of playing a season in the Second Division, in 2016-17. The goal of the project has always been to settle in the elite. In fact, the continuous changes of coaches mark it. Last season there were four. In this, with Salmerón fixed, they go for the promotion. Its stadium is known as BeSoccer La Condomina.
One more year, Barcelona B takes the floor as one of the best in Second Division B. It is already common to see the Blaugrana subsidiary in the Playoff and the time in which the dependency regulations was the main impediment to fight for promotion to LaLiga Santander is not so far away. This generation is also aiming high, despite having lost Mingueza or Ilaix Moriba on the way, already installed with the first team. Four consecutive victories as the closing of the intermediate phase did not leave him so far from Ibiza, who had dominated the category with an iron fist. His 42 goals point to the main endorsement.
Garcia Pepper. He's the perfect definition of club man. His work in the lower categories has led him to ring on several occasions to take command of the first team. It sounded with Valverde, with Setién and even now with Ronald Koeman. He was a footballer of the first team and, in fact, was under the command of Johan Cruyff. He ended up making a career in Second B and, after his retirement, he began to train to make the leap to the benches. Step by step, he ended up in the subsidiary and won the Youth League in 17/18.
King Manaj. He is not a traditional subsidiary player. Have 24 years, is already international with Albania, he was one of the great promises of Inter Milan and has played a lot in the Second Division with Albacete. He has been called up on occasion with the first team. He is an area striker, a scorer and that cost Barça close to three million euros. Messi gave his blessing: “He has a perfect technique for a '9'”. If the 'B' manages to ascend to Second Division, the most probable thing is that it continues. Otherwise, the entity could make cash for him.
Incredible but true: Barça B adds more seasons in Second Division than in Second Division B. With such a record, it is difficult that he has never been close to the elite. That's how it is. For example, in 2009-10 they were third, but they could not fight for promotion due to the RFEF regulations. Now, it links three consecutive campaigns in the bronze category, something unusual in its history. They have been trained by Luis Enrique or Guardiola and legends of the stature of Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta or Messi.
Before the world, one of the best teams of the season in Segunda B. The truth is that his 16 wins, four draws and four losses can be misleading. Nothing could be further from reality, the setbacks of Ibiza came when their situation was already comfortable and they have hardly worried far from those dates. Beyond the workouts of Enzo Zidane and the health problems of Manu Molina, the club has not made too much media noise this campaign. The spotlights have been taken by Andorra de Piqué, Barça B, Nàstic … Meanwhile, the perfect machine continued to function, which has only conceded ten goals Since August. Almost nothing.
Juan Carlos Carcedo placeholder image. It was a sure bet, with almost 15 years of experience on the bench. His name may not be familiar to them and it is for reason: he has never been head coach. However, he has dealt with Neymar, with Mbappé, with Aubameyang, he has led the Champions League, he has won a Europa League … Carcedo has been for many seasons second coach under Unai Emery. After finishing his stage at Arsenal, he decided to start a new stage as a professional, alone and at Ibiza. Of course, it has not gone wrong.
Rolled Angel. The 24-year-old striker responds to unusual characteristics in the Second B leaders. Normally, the bulk of the squad is made up of veteran footballers. This is not the case in Ibiza, except for the mythical Javi Lara or Morillas. In the case of Rodado, he has lived through a more complex season, after drilling the rival goal day after day in the last one. In this one, he only has four goals, but he always has the goal between eyebrows.
Amadeo Salvo has a significant share of responsibility for the successes of Ibiza. He left Valencia and came to the island with the aim of the entity reaching professional football and forging a united hobby with great prospects. The president made media moves like Marco Borriello's, but most of them have been destined to the growth of the team in all aspects. From Preferential Regional, it has managed to reach the bronze category. Now, it is launched for Second.
It was not an easy season for the men of Raúl González Blanco. The last one was far from the Playoff when the pandemic forced the competition to stop. This generation aims high and the objective, without a doubt, was to tie up the place in the First RFEF so as not to leave the promising kids in the fourth category of Spanish football. Little by little they took the ideas of the eternal '7' and became a fearsome group. Castilla is more scorer than defensive, without a doubt. In fact, it is the most thrashed of the six that make up the subgroup. He has remained only three goals in favor of Badajoz, the undisputed leader with 14 more points in his locker. This team is nice to see. Even against Talavera, gambling for qualifying for the qualifying rounds, he did not tie up the result and proposed a frenzied swing of occasions. The balance tipped in his favor. In the absence of knowing what will happen against Ibiza, his modus operandi gives him an important endorsement in extremely demanding duels: the goal. It remains to be seen if Zinedine Zidane deprives some footballers of helping their usual teammates to fill the call for the first team.
Raúl González Blanco has in his mind an order of discipline, work, perseverance and distance from luxuries. That has instilled in his pupils, who obliges them to dress in club clothes and not wear expensive watches, external costumes or drive high-end cars. It is his idea, to train footballers and not rock stars and it has helped him to plant Castilla in the qualifying rounds for promotion after a year away from the level of the best. A Real Madrid legend has a hand in this great generation, who knows first-hand what it costs to compete and earn a place in the first team. Nobody better than him to protect them. But he also has football on his mind and has made his Castilla a very offensive team with fast ball circulations. In Germany they tempt him with a first bench for next season and everything indicates that he is the maximum candidate to replace Zinedine Zidane if he decides to take a sabbatical.
Sergio Arribas. He has the first team on his mind. In fact, he has played eight games this season due to the plague of injuries suffered by Zinedine Zidane's men. He is an exceptional talent. He can play for both sides and for the center, although his most natural position is the far right. Born in 2001, since 2012 he has dedicated most of his time to reaching high places with Real Madrid. He is a player of highlights, as he demonstrated, for example, against Badajoz, with a goal from the center of the field. He still has to improve his dribbling skills. You try many and, of course, they come out. It remains that the experience makes him come out with more precision from these duels. It is a great centering device. For sure, he will do the tour with the grown-ups. It is a differential talent.
Unlike other clubs, it is complex to tell a deep story of a team that is still dependent on another main team. However, Real Madrid Castilla has had throughout its history an autonomy that many other entities that now fill First Division fields would have signed. In the 1979-80 season, the subsidiary, when the 'B' could still play the Copa del Rey, began to surprise historical figures such as Athletic and Real Sociedad. In the semifinals, Sporting de Gijón threatened to put him out of sleep, winning 2-0 in the first leg. On the return, he took a 1-4. That a dependent team sneaks into a final of the KO tournament is unthinkable today. Paradoxically, he was close to facing Atlético, who fell on penalties… against Real Madrid! Yes, the Cup final was played by the majors against the best homegrown players. Naturally, the first team won by six goals to one. Remember, we are talking about a subsidiary …
Few overshadow Badajoz this season. Only six draws and two defeats stain his pristine record, although it should be noted that many of the points he lost were due to the fact that he already had guaranteed passes to the next phases. He has a solid core that could fly to professional football if the team doesn't make it in this Playoff. Kike Royo, under sticks, is life insurance. The central pair formed by César Morgado and Pablo Vázquez make life even easier for their goalkeeper. Corredera and Dani Aquino are the two most prominent men in attack. The strength, however, and as each leading team scores every season, is in the block. Is he highest scoring team in its subgroup with 43 goals and the least goalscorer with only 13 against in 24 games. He will go up to Second if no one else fits, since he has the leading factor in his favor.
Fer Estévez was a front-line gladiator when the pandemic hit the country and collapsed hospitals. He is a doctor by profession and helped in those months of not leaving home. Later, he returned to his great passion. Because he himself recognizes that football is his great vocation: “It is much more complex to be a coach and for me it is also more beautiful. Sometimes a doctor saves lives, with football you can make thousands of people happy“In addition to his obvious merits as a coach, this season he came to the rescue of Adighie, a Talavera player. He fell collapsed to the grass after a collision and the coach accompanied the medical assistance to avoid a greater evil. His reference is Diego Martínez, from Granada.
Dani aquino. In a team as harmonious as Badajoz, it is difficult to opt for a single footballer. But the narrative accompanies Dani Aquino, a player who was aiming for a national and even world star when he commanded a generation of the Selection of names like De Gea, Bojan or Asier Illarramendi. The club, aware of his talent, shielded him with a high termination clause so that no one could take him away. What's more, in winter they tried without success. He scored in the First Division with 17 years with Real Murcia and debuted with Simeone. He flew abroad seeking to return to being who he was and now he has found his place in Badajoz. El año que viene lo tendrá en la élite, quién sabe si con su actual camiseta.
El Badajoz es un alto presupuesto dentro de la categoría, si bien eso no es suficiente para firmar el año impoluto que han escrito en su libro de historia. El director deportivo, David Vizcaíno, ha impulsado una red de ojeadores insólita en Segunda División B. Tienen estudiosos del fútbol en Portugal y Francia y buscan allí a jóvenes talentos y jugadores consagrados que sirvan al club para crecer económica y deportivamente. Por el momento, trabajan en ello once personas, aunque la idea es extender dicha red si las condiciones lo permiten. Más de 40 partidos cada fin de semana son estudiados al detalle por los trabajadores del club. Innovar como respuesta a la exigencia de la categoría.
El Zamora firmó una de las clasificaciones más épicas de toda la categoría. Durante la mayor parte de la última jornada, Unionistas era el equipo clasificado. Sin embargo, la remontada cerca de la bocina frente a la Cultural Leonesa, le dio a los zamoranos la alegría de la temporada. Su año, passe lo que pase, ya es sumamente brillante. Junto al Linares, es el único equipo que llega a Extremadura como recién ascendido. Es un equipo con recursos en ataque, que brilla desde la defensa. Además de la zaga, para Movilla es fundamental la figura del mediocentro defensivo. Trabaja a conciencia el contragolpe y el desarrollo físico de la plantilla.
David Movilla ha hecho del Zamora un equipo de autor. Su principal premisa es que el esfuerzo no se negocia. Los suyos compiten del 1 al 120 si fuera necesario. Son intensos y muy agresivos. Es más, hasta sus propios futbolistas reconocen que el técnico les transmite que no le gusta la posesión si esta no lleva a ningún sitio. Recién estrenado en esto de los banquillos, tiene 40 años y apenas cuenta con un par de experiencias profesionales. No le hizo falta más para imponer su sello.
Dani Hernández. Este atacante fue reclutado por el Getafe, pero pronto volvió a Zamora, el club que le vio nacer. No tuvo reparos en jugar en Tercera División, pese a tener nivel para disputar categoría de bronce. El fútbol le recompensó con el ascenso y con una de las mejores temporadas de su carrera deportivo. Es la clase de jugador que todo entrenador quisiera tener en su plantilla. Atención: esta temporada ha jugado de mediocentro, mediapunta, en ambas bandas, de interior, de delantero centro e incluso de defensa central.
Ni una sola temporada en Segunda División es un dato que motiva todavía más al Zamora de cara al tramo decisivo de la temporada. Un Zamora, por cierto, que cambió su denominación en 2020 tras convertirse en una SAD (Sociedad Anónima Deportiva). Su estadio, el Ruta de la Plata es de los más conocidos de la categoría, gracias en parte al apoyo constante. Es de los pocos equipos de capital provincia que no ha tenido representación en el fútbol profesional… Por ahora.
El Bilbao Athletic es un equipo atrevido. De hecho, es el más goleador de su grupo junto a la Real Sociedad B, con 46 tantos en 26 partidos. Es una cifra alta para una competición de tanto rigor táctico y partidos embarrados. El Badajoz privó en la tanda de penaltis al filial de pelear por el ascenso la pasada temporada, pero solo un año después volverá a estar en la pelea. El club cuida mucho su cantera, consciente de que no tantos futbolistas pueden ser fichados. Y talento no falta. Aitor Paredes es un central muy seguro; Beñat, un centrocampista de mucho criterio; Juan Artola, un mediapunta de gran potencial; Y Nico Serrano, un prometedor talento con el que hay que tener paciencia. Nico Williams merece capítulo aparte.
Joseba Etxeberría. Un clásico que no necesita demasiada presentación. Ha jugado un Mundial y dos Eurocopas. Pasó de la Real Sociedad al Athletic y ha llegado a marcar hasta en cuatro temporadas más de diez goles en Primera División. Fue la Bota de Oro en un Mundial Sub-20. Como entrenador, tampoco le va nada mal. Comenzó en el Basconia, luego pasó por el Amorebieta e incluso llegó a probar el fútbol profesional con el Tenerife. El año pasado ya se quedó a las puertas del ascenso tras ser el equipo más goleador de toda Segunda División B.
Nico Williams. El hermano de Iñaki ha sido blanco de medios de comunicación en las últimas semanas por su debut con el primer equipo y por compartir espacio con su familiar. Con él, hay muchas esperanzas. Tiene 18 años y puede llegar a ser más técnico y habilidoso que la estrella del primer equipo. Esta temporada ha firmado nueve goles y once asistencias en 24 partidos con el filial. Con los mayores aún no se ha estrenado.
El Bilbao Athletic no acoge tal denominación como mezcla del primer equipo, sino como homenaje a los dos primeras entidades futbolísticas nacidas en la ciudad: el Athletic Club y el Bilbao Fútbol Club. Siempre ha sido uno de los filiales más potentes del país. Tanto es así que en 1984 hubiera logrado el ascenso a Primera División si el reglamento lo hubiera permitido. Por la filosofía del club, la mayoría de chavales prometedores acaban llegando al primer equipo. Es más, desde su creación en 1964, 70 futbolistas del 'B' han acabado superado los cien partidos con los mayores.
El Celta B ha sido una de las grandes revelaciones de la temporada en Segunda B. No ha sido un año natural. Las lesiones del primer equipo han provocado que numerosos futbolistas del filial estén continuamente subiendo con los mayores. El club confía plenamente en el talento de sus chavales y ha fichado a base de talonario a jugadores más formados que ayuden a los más jóvenes a explotar al máximo su talento. Es el caso de Soni, Cunha y, en menor medida, Holsgrove. Pampín, Sergio Carreira, Sequeira, Lautaro de León, Alfon, Solís, Miguel Rodríguez… Los candidatos a élite son inagotables.
Onésimo. Un clásico del fútbol español, en su etapa como jugador llegó a jugar con la camiseta del FC Barcelona. Como técnico, ha entrenado al Valladolid en Primera División en el año 2010. También ha pasado por los banquillos del Huesca, el Murcia, el Toledo o el Girona. En esta última ocasión como segundo entrenador. el Celta le confió el mando del filial. Nadie como él, con su experimentada carrera, para formar a un grupo de chavales para el recuerdo. Paradójicamente y pese a que los resultados han sido brillantes, no tiene garantizada la continuidad de cara a la próxima temporada. Yago Iglesias, actualmente en el Compostela, es muy del agrado de la directiva y podría convertirse en el próximo técnico del 'B' pase lo que pase en el Playoff.
Jordan Holsgrove. Este joven centrocampista escocés vino procedente del Reading. Coudet deposita mucha confianza en él y le ha dado minutos de calidad con el primer equipo. Es un timonel en el juego. Está totalmente implicado en el club y dedica varias horas al día a aprender español, tal y como ha desvelado él mismo en una entrevista. Además de él, en la cantera del Celta, hay mucho talento y también cartera para aprovechar al máximo la calidad de los jóvenes. Mismamente, Kevin Soni llegó procedente del Girona.
El Celta de Vigo B, a diferencia de otros muchos filiales, no adquiere una denominación diferente. No siempre fue así. Su origen data de 1927, todavía sin la dependencia del Celta, y conocido como el Turista Sport Club. En 1989, ahogado por las deudas, fue absorbido por el club fuerte de la ciudad y cambió su nombre a Club Celta Turista. Posteriormente, adoptó el de la actualidad. Nunca ha jugado en Segunda División, pese a que sí ha disputado fases de ascenso.
Infografías vía BeSoccer.
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