Rayo Vallecano
The lightning bolt of Vallecas: a working-class club with a proud history.
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo (Spanish for "lightning bolt"), is a professional football club based in the Puente de Vallecas district of Madrid, Spain. The club competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. Founded on 29 May 1924, the club is known for its sociocultural tradition, recognized for representing the barrio-local culture and its working-class status. Its home matches have been played at the 14,708-capacity Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas stadium since 1976.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D.
- Founded
- 29 May 1924 as Agrupación Deportiva El Rayo
- Stadium
- Vallecas Stadium
- Capacity
- 12,194
- Owner
- Raúl Martín Presa
- Manager
- Beñat San José
- Position
- Rayo Vallecano3
Lore & Background
Rayo Vallecano was founded on 29 May 1924 in the hometown of Prudencia Priego, wife of the club's first president Julián Huerta. Greatly inspired by Argentina's River Plate, in 1949, after an agreement with Atlético Madrid, a red diagonal stripe was added to the team's kit. The club is one of the perennial yo-yo clubs of Spanish football, always in the shadow of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. During its history, Rayo has spent 22 seasons in the top-flight, and has played in two European competitions: the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season and the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League. The club won the 2017–18 Segunda División. By historical performance, Rayo is the third best club in the Community of Madrid, after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
Reader's Guide
Rayo Vallecano plays its home matches at Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, a stadium with a capacity of 14,708, which has been the club's home since 1976. The club's kit features a red diagonal stripe, added in 1949 after an agreement with Atlético Madrid. The club has a strong working-class and leftist identity, with supporters known for political activism and anti-fascist displays.
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