Albacete

Predecessor teams

There are records of the simultaneous foundation of two clubs, La Normal and La Liga, two entities that began to promote the practice of this sport in the city at the beginning of the 20th century. Throughout 1917, thanks to Franklin Albricias Goetz, a teacher and pastor of the evangelical church in the Castilian-Manchegan capital, both teams merged into the first football club in the city of Albacete, Club Deportivo Albacete, which would form part of the foundation for what later became Albacete Balompié.

Foundation and early years (1939–1989)

After years of amateur and regional development of football, it would not appear formally until the end of the Spanish Civil War, due to the merger of 'Club Deportivo Nacional' and 'Albacete Foot-Ball Club'. The club was founded in 1939 under the name Sociedad Deportiva Albacete Foot-ball Association, being later changed due to the forced castellanization of all football names imposed by Francoist Spain in 1941. Albacete debuted in Segunda División in 1949, being relegated due to economic problems, but returning ten years later.

Promotions to La Liga (1989–2005)

In 1989, Benito Floro consecutively promoted the club from the third division to La Liga, overachieving for a seventh place in the first season in the top level. Floro would later coach Real Madrid, returning to Alba two seasons later as the club was relegated in 1995–96.

After years in the second division facing serious economic and sporting difficulties, Albacete returned to the top flight in the 2002–03 campaign, led by César Ferrando (later of Atlético Madrid). However, Albacete dropped in 2004–05 after posting just 6 wins from 38 matches, going on to stabilize in the subsequent seasons in the second level.

Financial struggles and Iniesta's rescue (2010–2013)

The 2010–11 season brought two coaching changes, with both Antonio Calderón and David Vidal (who returned to the club only a few months after leaving) being fired, as Albacete returned to the third division after 21 years. That season the club finished last in Segunda División with only 32 points in 42 matches. On 6 December 2011, Andrés Iniesta – who played for the club in his youth before joining Barcelona – became the club's major shareholder, donating €420,000 to the cash-strapped club. The club managed to reach the round of 16 of the 2011–12 Copa del Rey, notably beating Atlético Madrid 3–1 on aggregate.

In March 2013, Agustín Lázaro, chief executive officer (CEO) of Andrés Iniesta's winery enterprise, was appointed as Albacete's chairman. In June, Iniesta loaned the club a further €240,000 to cover unpaid wages, thus preventing its administrative relegation to the fourth tier.

Recent years: Instability and Copa del Rey success (2014–present)

In 2014, Albacete returned to the Segunda División, but was relegated two seasons later after finishing the season in the 21st position. The club again returned to the Segunda División in the 2016–17 season after winning against Valencia Mestalla in the last round of the promotion play-offs. Albacete finished the 2018–19 season in 4th position of the Segunda División, but then lost to RCD Mallorca in the La Liga play-offs and remained in Segunda División for the 2019–20 season. On next season, Albacete finished last in second division and were relegated to the third division. Thus ending their four-years stay in the second division.

Albacete were promoted to Segunda in the 2021–22 Primera RFEF season playoffs, after defeating Deportivo de La Coruña at the Estadio Riazor. The team came back from a 1–0 deficit, winning 2-1 with a goal in extra time.

On 14 January 2026, Albacete reached the Copa del Rey quarter-finals for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in the 1994–95 season; they won 3–2 against La Liga club Real Madrid (who were runners-up in 2024–25) in the 2025–26 round of 16.