Ponferradina

Three times in six seasons Ponferradina climbed out of Segunda B as champions — 2004-05, 2007-08 and again in 2009-10 — and each promotion pushed a club from a mining town of the El Bierzo region into a division it had never been built for. The reward was ten seasons in Segunda across its history.

The founding, on 7 June 1922, gave the town a side that has carried the same name ever since. It has never merged with anyone, never been refounded, and never reached La Liga.

What holds the century together is a Brazilian forward. Yuri de Souza arrived in 2009, left, came back, and had played 511 matches and scored 197 goals — both club records. He was part of three promotions to Segunda and was made an honorary citizen of El Bierzo.

For one season the goal behind him belonged to Kepa Arrizabalaga, on loan from Athletic Bilbao in 2014-15. He conceded 19 in 20 league games and went 306 minutes without conceding, a club record.

Money has stayed the recurring problem: the club became a SAD in 2007-08 to bring investment in, and after relegation from Segunda the 2023-24 budget was cut by 52%, to €4.8m.

In the Copa del Rey, Ponferradina has never gone beyond the last 32.