User:Woodenchipper/sandbox/RCD Mallorca

RCD Mallorca new History sections

1990-1997: Copa del Rey Final, Relegation, and Promotion

Mallorca finished 10th in its first season back in La Liga, which included a ten match unbeaten run highlighted by a 1-0 home win against Barcelona. The 1990-91 season was less successful in the league as Mallorca only narrowly avoided the relegation playoff, but the club did reach the Copa del Rey Final for the first time in its history, losing 0-1 to Atlético Madrid after extra time.

The following season was disastrous as Mallorca spent most of the season at or near the bottom of the table and finished 20th to relegate the club back to the Second Division. Serra Ferrer remained with the club for one more season and guided Mallorca to the promotion playoff, which it lost 3-4 to Albacete Balompié, before leaving to join Real Betis. Mallorca barely missed out on reaching the promotion playoff again in 1993-94 before falling to 12th in the table the following season. The club bounced back to 3rd place in the following two seasons, both of which culminated in a promotion playoff against Rayo Vallecano. Mallorca lost 1-2 to Rayo in 1996 but won the following year 2-2 on away goals to achieve promotion back into La Liga.

1997-2013: La Liga Regulars and European Contenders

To ensure a successful return to top-flight football, Héctor Cúper was appointed as Mallorca's manager. The Argentine had previously coached Huracán and Lanús in his home nation but this was Cúper's first time managing in Europe. Cúper impressed as Mallorca manager and oversaw a 5th place finish in La Liga and a second trip to the Copa del Rey final, which Mallorca lost 4-5 on penalties to eventual league winners Barcelona after extra time finished 1-1. As runners-up Mallorca qualified for the 1998-99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, marking the first time the club would compete in Europe.

The 1998-99 season started with Mallorca exacting revenge against Barcelona in the Supercopa de España, winning 3-1 on aggregate to capture the club's first top-flight silverware. Mallorca's ensuing league campaign saw it finish a club record third, behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid, thereby qualifying for the 1999-2000 UEFA Champions League. In the Cup Winners' Cup Héctor Cúper led the European newcomers past defending champions Chelsea in the semifinals to face Lazio in the final, which it lost 1-2. At the conclusion of the season, Cúper left Mallorca to become manager of Valencia.

After a brief stint by Mario Gómez, during which Mallorca were demoted to the UEFA Cup after losing 1-1 on away goals to Molde in the Champions League third qualifying round, Fernando Vásquez was appointed manager. Mallorca were ultimately eliminated in the quarterfinals 2-6 on aggregate by eventual winners Galatasaray and finished 10th in La Liga, leading Vásquez to be replaced as manager by Luis Aragonés.

Under Aragonés Mallorca achieved a second 3rd place finish in La Liga in three years with 71 points, a club record points tally that brought them back into the Champions League. This would be Aragonés' only season at Mallorca as he returned to Atlético Madrid the following season and was replaced by Bernd Krauss. Krauss led Mallorca to the Champions League first group stage for the first time after defeating Hajduk 2-1 on aggregate in the third qualifying round. Placed in Group C with Arsenal, Panathinaikos, and Schalke 04, Mallorca beat Arsenal 1-0 at home in their first match but by October the club's fortunes had reversed and, with Mallorca in the relegation zone after eight La Liga matches, Krauss was sacked on the 17th after a 0-4 home defeat in the Champions League to Schalke. Mallorca was ultimately demoted to the UEFA Cup again after finishing 3rd in Group C and was immediately eliminated from that competition by Slovan Liberec in a 5-2 aggregate defeat in the third round. The club finished 16th place in La Liga, only narrowly avoiding relegation.

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