Rayo Vallecano kvinner
Wikipedia - Rayo Vallecano Femenino
Rayo Vallecano Femenino is the women's football section of Madrid-based club Rayo Vallecano, currently playing in the Primera Federación. Between 2008 and 2011 it won three national championships and one national cup.
History
Rayo Vallecano established its women's team in 2000, absorbing local club CD El Buen Retiro. In 2003 it earned promotion to the top league, and after two seasons in mid-table it established itself in the top positions from 2006. The team's golden era started in 2008, winning the national cup and narrowly missing a double, with Levante UD winning the championship on goal average.
This first trophy was followed by three championships in a row until 2011, becoming the second team to achieve this after Athletic Bilbao. Rayo Vallecano thus took part in the first three editions of the UEFA Women's Champions League after its relaunch in 2010. In its debut Rayo was knocked out in the first round by WFC Rossiyanka, while both in 2011 and 2012 it was defeated by Arsenal FC in the Round of 16 after overcoming Valur and PK-35 respectively.
Following the 2011 season the team had to cut down its budget, and it couldn't fight for the title in the next two seasons. In 2013 it was sixth, its worst result since 2005. In 2022, they relegated to Primera Federación for the first time after spending 19 years on the top league.
Rayo Vallecano kvinner har en sterk tilknytning til Rayo Vallecano masculino, og deler stadion med dem på Vallecas Stadium. Klubben er kjent for sin angripende spillestil og har produsert flere spanske landslagsspillere, inkludert Marta Cardona og Sheila García.
I 2022-23-sesongen endte Rayo Vallecano kvinner på 6. plass i Primera División Femenina og nådde kvartfinalen i Copa de la Reina. Klubbens nøkkelspillere inkluderer keeper Patricia Larqué, forsvarer Lucía Rodríguez og spiss Isadora Freitas.
Rayo Vallecano kvinner er en ambisiøs klubb med mål om å konkurrere på toppen av spansk kvinnefotball og representere Spania i europeiske konkurranser.