Figure 1 Football might not be the first thing that comes to mind
Most people visit Ibiza for the golden beaches or the world-famous nightlife. But sports fans may be pleasantly surprised to discover that the island boasts its own football club. For opponents, this is one away trip that the supporters are always happy to make.
Although football has not always been a priority for many people on the island, there is a history here and there have been some big matches played at Can Misses, the multi-use sports stadium in the north of Ibiza Town. Most of the top rated sportsbooks might not have featured the local club too much over the years but there is a passionate and thriving fan base that is changing the perception of football in Ibiza.
There have been many ups and downs for football fans in the Balearics. But UD Ibiza is now the team to get behind. Visitors to Ibiza are as welcome as locals at Can Misses and it seems as if the only way is up for the Celestes.
History of Football Clubs in Ibiza
Although UD Ibiza is a relatively new club in the Spanish football system, the island has been represented well over the years. There has been a mixture of amateur and professional clubs calling the island home and the latest incarnation looks like being the best of the lot.
Sociedad Deportiva Ibiza was founded in 1956 and played mostly in the fourth and third tiers of Spanish football and once reached the third round of the Copa Del Rey. But serious financial issues forced the club to fold in 1997. By then a semi-professional side, UD Ibiza-Elvissa had formed and the proposed a merger to form a new club for the island to get behind.
The newly named Club Esportiu Elvissa spent most of its time in the fourth tier but managed to spend two seasons in Segunda Division B, the third tier, before financial problems raised their head again. With crippling debts, the club opted to take voluntary demotion down two divisions and a financial penalty. But the issues at the club were so severe that this amalgamation of Ibiza clubs folded in 2009 – and any semblance of professional football disappeared from the island.
The Birth of UD Ibiza
Football fans on the island looked like they had lost a local team to get behind. But in 2015 former Valencia club president, Amadeo Salvo stepped forward. He saw the opportunity to build a new club to represent the island – one that the people of Ibiza deserved. His grand plans predicted that the new Union Deportiva Ibiza would be playing in La Liga against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid by 2025.
That bold statement has not quite come true. But UD Ibiza has certainly attracted more attention than any of the previous clubs from the island and has even reached the second tier. Winning promotion in the Spanish football system can be notoriously difficult but the new club climbed from the fifth tier to the second in just seven seasons.
The idea of playing in La Liga suddenly didn’t seem too far-fetched. But after a middling first season in the Segunda Division, UD Ibiza were unable to push on and suffered relegation last year. Now the Celestes are competing back in the third tier and hoping that a more stable financial situation at the club can help them bounce back to compete higher up the football pyramid once again.
Playing Against Barcelona
Although Salvo’s prediction that UD Ibiza would be playing in La Liga by 2025 won’t now come true, the club has faced one of the most famous clubs in the Copa Del Rey. After overcoming Pontevedra and Albacete in the first and second rounds of the 2019-2020 competition, Ibiza was rewarded with a home tie against Barcelona in the round of 32.
A packed Estadi Can Misses exploded into delirium when Pep Caballe put Ibiza ahead in the first half and the home side was still leading with just 20 minutes to go. An improbable cup shock was not to be, however. French international Antoine Griezmann scored twice near the end to win the tie and Ibiza’s famous run was over.
Figure 2 The cup game against Barcelona has gone down in club history
Building for the Future
UD Ibiza was promoted a year after the Barcelona game but is now back in the third tier battling for the top spots that would see them back in the Segunda Division. But an entirely new culture has taken over at the club that suggests that UD Ibiza’s future is secure.
Amadeo Salvo has continued to pump his own money into the club to ensure its survival and competitive nature. But there has been a recognition that Ibiza needs to be nurturing its own talent too. There is a strong emphasis on community involvement and club scouts search for local talent to represent their hometown club. The financial issues of the past seem to be completely behind UD Ibiza now and the club is able to represent the island to its best ability.
Will Ibiza Ever Enjoy La Liga Football?
Other smaller clubs have shown in recent years that playing in La Liga does not have to be just a dream. What is most important is that a club has strong financial backing – and Amadeo Salvo has certainly provided that. It will not be easy, but if UD Ibiza can gain promotion back to the second tier again soon, the club could be just one season from playing at the highest level.
The most important thing is that UD Ibiza is still here and entertaining the fans. Everyone is welcome at the Estadi Can Misses and you can be guaranteed that the Celestes will always put on a show for all those in attendance.
