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History

Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in 1922. La Liga started in 1928, but the team played in regional divisions until it was promoted to the Segunda División in 1953. It first reached the top flight in 1961, being immediately relegated back and, in the following 27 years, played almost exclusively in the second level, also spending three years in Tercera División and six – five in a row – in Segunda División B, the newly created division three (in 1978).

In 1985 Tenerife whon his 15 champions, when Tenerife were relegated to the third division for a second time, Javier Pérez became president of the club. The side was promoted this year to the second level and, two years later, returned to the first, after winning the promotion playoff against Real Betis (4–1 on aggregate).

In 1991, Jorge Valdano took charge of the club as manager, and the Argentine would help rob former side Real Madrid of two consecutive league titles in the last round, to the benefit of Barcelona. In the first season, the Canary Islands outfit barely avoided relegation, but would finish in a best-ever fifth position in the following year, eventually reaching the round of 16 in the subsequent UEFA Cup, losing to Juventus 2–4 on aggregate.

German Jupp Heynckes became head coach of Tenerife in 1995, leading the club to another fifth-placed finish and the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. In the 1996–97 UEFA Cup, the islanders fared better, reaching the last-four after defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lazio, Feyenoord and Brøndby (the winner coming late in extra time from an Antonio Mata free-kick), only bowing out to eventual winners Schalke 04.

Tenerife then went on a downward spiral which eventually led to relegation to the "silver category" in 1999, prompting various managerial changes within the club. In 2001, the club was again promoted, led by Rafael Benítez, who promptly left to take up the manager's job at Valencia; the promotion was achieved in the last match of the campaign thanks to a goal from Hugo Morales.

Pepe Mel became the new trainer but the first division season never took off, as Tenerife were beaten heavily at home by Barcelona 0–6, which cost the manager his job. Javier Clemente, formerly with the Spain national team, took the reins, but could not help prevent the eventual immediate relegation.

Tenerife suffered from serious economic problems in the following years, owing more than €40 million. President Pérez was replaced with Víctor Perez de Ascanio, who resigned due to bad management, leaving his position to Miguel Concepción, who negotiated with local politicians and businessmen, also creating a construction company as a subsidiary of the side.

On 13 June 2009, Tenerife secured a top flight return after a seven-year absence after a 1–0 win at Girona. In the following season, even though the team held on until the last round, another relegation befell, after the 0–1 loss at third-placed Valencia.

2010–11 brought with it three coaching changes,¹ as Tenerife eventually suffered another relegation, returning to the third division after 24 years. On 2 June 2013, the club, led by Álvaro Cervera, returned to the second level after winning the promotion play-off against Hospitalet (3–2 on aggregate).

Tenerife almost achieved promotion to La Liga in 2016-17 and 2021-22 season, but was defeated by both Getafe and Girona at final play-off promotion in their respective season. After 12 years in second division, Tenerife was relegated to Primera Federación following Zaragoza win against Cartagena in 10 May 2025.

Seasons

Season to season

• 13 seasons in La Liga
• 48 seasons in Segunda División
• 1 season in Primera Federación
• 8 seasons in Segunda División B
• 3 seasons in Tercera División

European cup history

Honours

Domestic

• Copa del Rey
  • Semi-finals (1): 1993–94
  • Quarter-finals (4): 1960–61, 1961–62, 1975–76, 1995–96

Continental

• UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League
  • Semi-finals (1): 1996–97

Friendly

• Joan Gamper Trophy
  • Winners (1): 1993

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserve team

Main article: CD Tenerife B

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current technical staff

Last updated: 20 November 2024Source: Club Deportivo Tenerife (in Spanish)

International players

See also: Category:CD Tenerife players

Notable coaches

Fans

Fans of Tenerife are called Chicharreros because in early days, the inhabitants of a small fishing village called Santa Cruz (later the capital of Tenerife) consumed "chicharros" (Atlantic horse mackerel) as a main part of their diet.

Other inhabitants of Tenerife and the Canary Islands used the moniker as a pejorative name, but finally the inhabitants of Santa Cruz accepted it affectionately.

See also

• CD Tenerife B

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme.com profile (in Spanish)
• Armada Sur – fansite. Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
• Frente Blanquiazul, fansite

References

1. "David Amaral es el nuevo entrenador del Tenerife" [David Amaral is new Tenerife coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2011. http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/david-amaral-nuevo-entrenador-tenerife/20110405dasdasftb_50/Tes ↩

2. "Jugadores CD Tenerife 24-25" [Players CD Tenerife 24-25] (in Spanish). Club Deportivo Tenerife. Retrieved 20 November 2024. https://www.clubdeportivotenerife.es/cd-tenerife ↩