Last update 6 April, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
We do in Colgados for football a review of those Spanish provinces which unfortunately never have been able to enjoy football in First Division. Generally sparse populations, with frigid climates and in regions where there are other cities more hogging. The shift in our post today is for Guadalajara: the only province which has never even been out a professional football player for the top flight of Spanish football. O, Yeah?.
Well before entering the question raised, for many who do not know the land, I must say Guadalajara is the 78th most populated town in Spain with 84.808 inhabitants. Their 708 meters turn it into a cold region, difficult access to the media because they just lie more in local institutions, more public or private entities that essential. However, It is a dormitory town, because much of its population sleep on it thanks to 22 kilometers separating him from Alcala de Henares or 55 which is far from Madrid.
footballing, We are talking about an area with little experience in the football elite. Club Deportivo Guadalajara is the representative team of the city and the province. Play in the field of Pedro Escartín, a stadium with a capacity for 8.000 personas, that pays tribute to Madrid's former player and referee. administratively down this summer, in the last two seasons he came to tread the silver category of Spanish football for the first time in its history, after doing the same in 2007 with the Second Division B. Until that year, Guadalajara had never been able to boast a team even in the Third Division.
¿El motivo?. As we noted in Teruel, the difficulties encountered young people to continue their studies in the city once they reach adulthood and lack of facilities, cause to develop their future better prepared in other locations. Yes ok, increasingly they are putting solutions to these problems, as the initiative itself Deportivo Guadalajara, which opened in summer a scholarship program for young footballers of Guadalajara and the club's youth with a cash prize ranging from 150.000 y 180.000 seeking euros 150 talents of the area.
Something that, definitely, You can get save that terrible reputation enjoyed by Guadalajara in the world of football and pointing it as the only Spanish province where has not born any professional player able to reach the First Division. Something not entirely accurate because Jesus Ruiz Medrano, Jesusin (natural Sacedón), Yes he played with Real Betis and Oviedo in First although in the years 30, when professionalism was not yet football, the same as was Manuel Román Ruiz, who played for Sporting in the season 1958-59, but only he played one match in Primera and not as professional.
