The alcoholcone and its peers wrapped up their quota last weekend as teams prepared for the second division in the 2023/2024 season. The region map of the silver tier shows many features, yet the most historically notable moment isn’t the first time the Andalusian squad has appeared in this category.
The rise of Granada and their ascent to the Primera RFEF opened a geographic exception. For the first time since 2014/2015, five Andalusian clubs will compete in the top tier this season: Betis, Sevilla, Cádiz, Almería, and Granada.
The Second Division’s geographic spread forms a triangle on the peninsula, with Ferrol Racing appearing in one corner after their recent promotion. The southeast corner hosts Cartagena, and the Northeast represents the region alongside Andorra as the foreign team in Spanish competitions.
Promoted: Eldense, Racing de Ferrol and Amorebieta
Apart from this triangle, Tenerife stands as the lone isolated representative of the category after UD Las Palmas’ promotion to the First Division. The Canary Islands team moved up, just as Granada and Alavés did through the playoffs, where Alavés defeated Levante with a last-ditch extra-time penalty by Asier Villalibre. Ponferradina, Málaga, Ibiza, and Lugo were relegated from the second tier.
The promoted clubs include Alcorcón, Eldense, Racing de Ferrol, and Amorebieta, champions of the last two groups. Alcorcón triumphed over Castellón in the promotion playoff final and edged Eldense in the final, which sent Eldense back to the second tier after six decades away.
In the 2023/2024 Second Division season, the Valencian Community is the most represented region in silver football with four clubs: Villarreal B (a reserve side), Levante, Elche, and Eldense. Castilla y León follows with three representatives: Mirandés, Burgos, and Real Valladolid. The Pucelanos were relegated on the last day, reinforcing their reputation as the league’s elevator club.
More and more “elevator” teams in Spain
One season in the top flight was enough for several clubs. A familiar pattern shows up again in Spain: Granada, after returning to the top tier, was in the same situation as Alavés. The truth is not so different for Elche, which after three years at the peak, dropped back to the second tier.
The promoted cadre mirrors this trend. After a single year in the Segunda, Granada made an immediate return to the First Division just as Alavés did. The trend is diverging with UD Las Palmas, which has not graced the First Division since 2018. Among those newly promoted to the silver category, two facts stand out: Alcorcón and Amorebieta have spent very little time in the First Division, while Eldense and Racing de Ferrol return after long absences of 60 and 15 years respectively.
When teams return quickly, there is financial support in play. This is the so-called return-to-competition aid that clubs receive in their first season after dropping a level to align their capital with the new reality. The aid can be charged to both the First to Second and Second to First RFEF and, used wisely, can give a real edge in the standings due to the financial advantage over rivals.
The team with the most appearances is Tenerife
Some opponents call Tenerife’s money infusion financial doping. The reality is more nuanced: some clubs split the strategy into two phases, avoiding all-in betting. When no quick response follows, a delayed knockback forces a restructuring in the second year.
This is common for many teams stuck in the Segunda. The gym, the second team with the most seasons (50) in the silver division, is surpassed by Real Murcia, a 53-year fixture now relegated administratively. Ahead of Tenerife with 46 seasons, the record for most games played belongs to Tenerife with 1,728, while Real Murcia sits at 1,692 games.
With Lugo relegated to the First RFEF after eleven seasons, Real Zaragoza remains the club with the longest streak in the Second Division. It will be in its eleventh consecutive season in 2023/2024, illustrating how the silver tier has become a proving ground for big names chasing a return to the elite while investors increasingly seek to place their bets on every level of the pyramid.