CD Badajoz · History

Club Deportivo Badajoz traces its roots to 15 August 1905, when a group of football enthusiasts from the Liceo Artístico y Literario in Badajoz founded Sporting Club del Liceo. The club changed its name several times in its early decades, becoming Club Sportivo Pacense, Badajoz Sporting Club and then Sport Club Badajoz, a name it kept from 1915. On 21 January 1941, under a rule banning foreign words, it was renamed Club Deportivo Badajoz. The club was liquidated in 2012, refounded by its supporters that same summer and took back its historic name in 2014.

Early decades and colours

Black and white were adopted in 1915, and the team has worn black-and-white vertical stripes with white shorts ever since, which explains the nickname «Blanquinegros»; supporters also call the side «Lobos» (the Wolves). In its early years the club played at El Vivero, a ground it used from 1917 and which was bequeathed to it in 1931. In 1936 Sport Club Badajoz merged with Racing Club in a bid for promotion to the Spanish second division, but the project ended with the outbreak of the Civil War. Between 1934 and 1943 the club won five regional championships.

The second-division years

Promotion to the second tier first came with the 1952-53 Tercera División title under coach Pepe Sierra, and the club made its debut in 1953-54. In all, Badajoz spent 20 seasons in the Spanish second division. It returned in 1992 after finishing second in its Segunda B group and winning the promotion play-off, and in the mid-1990s it finished sixth three seasons running, in 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98, its best placing at that level. In 1995-96 it finished level on 62 points with CF Extremadura, who went up to the top flight instead. The club became a sporting limited company in 1994. In the Copa del Rey it reached the last 16 in 1993-94, 1994-95 and 2001-02. José Antonio «Tigre» Valverde holds the record for official appearances (401) and Rafa Pozo is the all-time top scorer with 107 goals.

Nuevo Vivero

The Nuevo Vivero stadium opened on 2 December 1998, replacing the old ground after almost ninety years. The natural-grass venue, with a 105 by 68 metre pitch, has hosted Spain national team matches in 1999, 2006, 2021 and 2024. In 1998-99 the club reached a record 5,600 season-ticket holders, during the period when it was run by Argentine businessman Marcelo Tinelli.

Decline and liquidation

Badajoz dropped to Segunda B in 2002-03 after finishing 22nd. In 2006 it was sent down to Tercera for failing to pay its players within the deadline set by the players' union, although it won the Tercera title again in 2009-10 and returned to Segunda B. In 2010-11 the club entered insolvency proceedings with debts estimated at around eight million euros. On 19 June 2012 the tax agency and Social Security rejected its repayment plan, the company was liquidated and the team was not registered for Segunda B.

The 2012 refoundation

On 26 July 2012, driven by supporters and fan clubs, Club Deportivo Badajoz 1905 was created and started out in the Extremadura regional leagues. In 2013 it bought the crest, brand and trophies of the original club at auction, and on 9 July 2014 it reverted to the name Club Deportivo Badajoz. It won regional titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and on 15 June 2014 it earned promotion to Tercera División with a 3-0 win over La Estrella. In 2017 it reached Segunda B after knocking out Bergantiños, Antequera and Calahorra in the play-offs.

Segunda B, Primera Federación and back to the fifth tier

In the 2019-20 Copa del Rey Badajoz eliminated UD Las Palmas and SD Eibar before losing 3-2 to Granada in the last 16, in front of around 15,000 spectators at Nuevo Vivero. In 2020-21 it won its Segunda B group and reached the decisive promotion match for the second division, losing 1-0 to SD Amorebieta. It played in Primera Federación in 2021-22, finishing ninth, and was relegated in 2022-23 after a 3-1 home defeat to Córdoba in the closing match of the league. On 28 April 2024 a 3-2 loss to Sanse confirmed a second straight relegation, to Tercera Federación. Its regional rivals are CP Cacereño and Mérida.

Return to Segunda Federación

After finishing fifth in 2024-25, Badajoz were runners-up in Group XIV of Tercera Federación in 2025-26 with 71 points from 34 matches. In June 2026 they beat CD Cuarte in the play-off final and won promotion to Segunda Federación.