Almeria

As a football fan, there is no one club that I wish to support as much as Almeria. The reasons for this are manifold; they are a relatively new club, they play in Spain’s top division and they have a passionate and dedicated fanbase.

The club was founded in 2002, but it didn’t take long for them to make an impact in the Spanish league. They finished their debut season in the third tier, but made an immediate move up the divisions over the following years. In 2013, Almeria achieved their first ever top division promotion after finishing in second place behind Barcelona. They only lasted one season in the top flight, but were able to finish in fifth place, which was good enough for a place in the Europa League. Almeria reached the group stage of the Europa League, where they were pitted against Serie A sides Lazio and Juventus. They were lucky to win their group and progress to the knockout stage, where they were able to beat Slovan Bratislava, Lyon and Hapoel Beer Sheva. Unfortunately, they were knocked out of the Europa League in the semi-finals by Atlético Madrid.

In the domestic league, the club has been more successful. They have won the league title on three occasions, in 2005, 2009 and 2014. They also reached the Copa del Rey final in 2013, but lost 2–0 to Barcelona. They reached the European cup final in 2009, but lost 2–1 to Manchester United. Almeria also reached the Spanish cup final in 2009 and 2014, but lost both times to Barcelona.

All in all, Almeria are a very consistent club, who have been able to achieve a lot both on and off the pitch. They are a passionate club, who play with a lot of heart and commitment. They have a great fan base, who are very dedicated to the team. I absolutely love watching Almeria play, and I can’t wait to see them achieve even more success in the coming years.