The Manchego club could return to La Liga after an 18-year wait for top-flight action.
Albania Football signed a strong campaign in the second division during its return to silverware, and the team will celebrate by entering the promotion play-offs as the sixth seed. Reuben Albes has steered the project well, and Levante stands as the first hurdle on the road back to the first division for this ambitious club.
Promotion to La Liga Santander: how many years did Albacete play in the First Division and when did it last
For fans in La Mancha, reaching the highest level of Spanish football is not a mystery. The club has spent seven seasons in the top tier, spread across two eras: from 1991-92 through 1995-96 as a constant presence, and then in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons when they briefly rejoined as a promoted side. The club’s recent history mirrors a familiar cycle of ascent, struggle, and renewal that many supporters know by heart.
It has been 18 years since Alba last played in the First Division. During the 1990s, the team earned the nickname “Mechanical Cheese” as a badge of pride under the leadership of Benedict Flora, with standout players such as Salazar, Conejo, Antonio López Alfaro, Morientes, and Delfi Geli defining a memorable era. That legacy still echoes through the club today, fueling the belief that a sustained return to the top flight is within reach.
If the current momentum continues, another two-promotion sequence in two years would not be unprecedented for the club. History shows that Alba has climbed to the top flight off the back of optimistic campaigns and disciplined teamwork, and the current project has laid a solid foundation for that possibility. Reuben Albes embodies the aspirations of an entire city, and the squad is fueled by a shared dream of reaching the sky once again.
Note: The information reflects contemporary reporting and club history as observed in expert roundups and league records. (Goal)