Levante UD has a storied history in Spanish football, boasting a journey that spans multiple eras and memorable spells in the sport’s top tier. The club’s long arc begins with a landmark achievement: promotion to the First Division in the summer of 1963, a moment that marked the start of a new chapter for Valencian football. The following season, the team known as the Granota made its official debut in the highest league, stepping onto a larger stage and facing a different level of competition, intensity, and scrutiny.
Over the decades, Levante would navigate through the promotion-and-relegation cycle that characterizes many long-standing clubs. In total, the club secured five promotions that paved the way for sixteen seasons spent in the Primera Division. These campaigns created a framework in which the team could build rivalries, develop its playing identity, and establish a persistent presence in Spain’s elite, even as the landscape around them shifted with changes in management, strategy, and talent.
The most remarkable stretch in Levante’s Primera experience came between 2010 and 2016. During these years the club not only competed at the highest level but also pressed for honours and continental participation. Levante established itself as a force within La Liga, and its performances propelled the team into European competition, culminating in a Europa League appearance that stands as a milestone in the club’s history. That era showcased a modern version of Levante: disciplined defensively, opportunistic in attack, and capable of competing against bigger, more resource-rich clubs while delivering results that resonated with supporters across the Valencian Community and beyond.
After a period of sustained effort to return to the top flight, the team achieved promotion again in the 2016-2017 season. Finishing first in the Segunda Division, Levante reclaimed its place in the Primera Division and resumed contesting Spain’s premier league for five more seasons. The subsequent years tested the squad with higher-stakes moments, including battles against relegation threats and the pressure of maintaining a stable position among the league’s mid-table clubs. In the 2021-2022 season, a tough campaign culminated in relegation after finishing 19th, a setback that shook the club but did not erase the ambition that has defined its history.
With resilience as a guiding principle, Levante focused on returning to top-tier football. The following season found the team navigating the challenges of the Segunda Division once more, seeking another chance to ascend. Although the path back to the Primera was not straightforward, the club remained competitive. The season featured important playoff opportunities as Levante pursued what would be a sixth promotion to the Primera Division, reflecting a consistent pattern of perseverance and strategic planning in response to the competitive realities of Spanish football.
Throughout this ongoing narrative, Levante’s identity has endured as a club rooted in the Valencian community, with supporters who have followed every twist of fortune, celebrated milestones, and endured setbacks with a shared sense of pride. The club’s history is more than a sequence of promotions and relegations; it’s a reflection of a city’s passion for football, a reminder of the importance of labor, teamwork, and the belief that a club can rise again after difficult seasons. As Levante continues its efforts to reestablish itself at the pinnacle of Spanish football, fans and analysts alike watch closely, recognizing that a club’s true strength often lies in its ability to rebound, rebuild, and pursue new opportunities with renewed energy and clarity of purpose. The road ahead remains challenging, but the Granota have shown, time and again, that persistence can open doors to the highest levels of competition in Spanish football and beyond.
Source: Goal