Bengaluru, June 10: Over Cadiz CF's 100 years of history, there have been many unforgettable moments for their fans and for lovers of La Liga and Spanish football.
In 2020-21, the club secured survival in the country's top division by a significant margin, but it was much more stressful 30 years ago.
June 9 marked the 30th anniversary of the 'miracle of Cadiz CF', when the club managed to avoid relegation in the final 10 minutes of the campaign after spending almost the entire season - from early November onwards - in the relegation zone.
Logically, that 1990-91 season is still remembered fondly by the Cadistas who experienced it.
The club were a regular top flight team during the 1980s. That was when the legend of the Yellow Submarine was born, with Cádiz CF pulling off several remarkable feats. In 1990-91, it reached another level as they pulled off a frankly unimaginable comeback in the relegation battle. This is the story of that miraculous season.
A change in the dugout and the departure of a legend
The season started with difficulties for the club that was presided over by the charismatic Don Manuel de Irigoyen. Héctor 'Bambino' Veira took over as the club's new coach, but the Argentine tactician didn't have much success as the team won just twice over the first half of the season. Looking for a reaction, the club made a change in the dugout as Ramón Blanco was brought in for the final stretch of the campaign. He knew the club well from his playing days and his early coaching career.
Cádiz CF's struggles that year can also be linked to the fact that the magic departed, with Jorge 'Mágico' González's special run at the club coming to an end. It's impossible for Cádiz CF fans to forget the goals, dribbles and skill from the magician of El Salvador, whose charisma also made him a legend off the pitch. Yet this tale ended in the 1990/91 campaign, when he only played five matches in total, last wearing the famous yellow shirt in the eighth round of the season. His place was taken in the winter market by Óscar Dertycia, who helped out with eight goals.
The emergence of 'Quico' Narváez during the season's dramatic end
Kiko Narváez may now be known around the world after a successful career that saw him star for Atlético de Madrid and the Spanish national team through the 1990s, but back in 1990/91 he was just 18 and known as 'Quico.' The fact that Ramón Blanco had been coaching the Cádiz CF B team, before taking over the senior squad, meant that he knew the teenage striker very well and he promoted the local kid to the first team when searching for solutions.
Over the final weeks of the season, the Yellows improved significantly. Following a few draws shortly after Ramón Blanco arrived, the team thrashed Johan Cruyff's all-powerful FC Barcelona 'Dream Team' 4-0 at home, doing so when the Azulgrana visited the Ramón de Carranza stadium with the chance to become league champions with a victory. They did go on to lift the league title, but not that evening.
It was at home that Cádiz CF's miracle took place as they defeated Sevilla FC 2-1 in front of their home crowd in the third-from-last round and then, in the final matchday on June 9th 1991, they took the next step in their great escape. Going into the final round, Cádiz CF were 19th and second-bottom, in the direct relegation spots and set for relegation to LaLiga SmartBank. Real Zaragoza were the visitors to the Ramón de Carranza and they too were fighting for survival, looking for a result to avoid the relegation playoff spots of 17th and 18th. A goal from Higuera put Real Zaragoza ahead and the visitors still led 1-0 as the final 10 minutes arrived. For the final stages, Ramón Blanco substituted on Quico Narváez, who changed the match. He won a penalty that Dertycia converted and then, just moments later, he scored the miraculous goal that turned the scoreline around.
Cádiz CF's late 2-1 victory saw them finish 18th in the standings, avoiding direct relegation and putting them into the playoff spots instead. Having been stuck in the direct relegation spots for so long, that final matchday comeback was celebrated like a title... even if more drama was still to come.
Another comeback and ecstasy in the playoffs
Cádiz CF had avoided direct relegation, but they had another must-win battle in the playoffs, where they faced neighbours Málaga CF for a spot in Spain's top division for 1991/92. It was a two-legged tie and it was Málaga CF who won the first leg 1-0 at their home ground.
As had been the case all season long, Cádiz CF still had it all to do. The second leg was a survival final and the Yellows went in to the game down on the scoreboard. At the Ramón de Carranza, the fanbase pushed the players forward and helped the team secure a deserved 1-0 win thanks to a goal from hometown hero José González, who now coaches Dalian Professional in China and who has also coached Málaga CF during his managerial career. His goal brought about an aggregate draw that took the tie to penalties.
All Cadistas had their hearts in their mouths. Their team's fate would be decided from the spot and nerves were high as both sides held the advantage at different points. That was until Juan José scored for Cádiz CF in his final match, before 'Pepe' Szendrei saved the next Málaga CF penalty to keep Cádiz CF at LaLiga Santander level and to write one of the most extraordinary chapters in the club's history and in the history of La Liga Santander. This really was one of the most amazing moments since the league's birth in 1929.