From regional football to the Europa League title. Villarreal CF’s journey through its hundred years of history, which it celebrates this Friday, has been exciting. Especially since Fernando Roig took over from its first two pillars: the founding president, José Calduch, and Pascual Font de Mora, the one who achieved the most promotions (7). Although the takeoff started in the 90s with a double jump from Third to Second, it was from Roig and his work team, in which the figure of Llaneza will never be forgotten nor now that of his son Roig Negueroles, when he sped up everything. Grogueta’s presence in the elite has been triumphant, from a league runner-up to the semifinals of the Champions League. Successes directly related to what continues to make the club groguet a benchmark: management. But, if in addition to a very determined philosophy of the game, there is something that distinguishes him from the others, that is his commitment to the quarry. It is no coincidence, as Roig himself writes in an open letter that we published in the special Centenary supplement, that Villarreal is the only one with a team in the First Division, a subsidiary in the Second Division and the women’s team also in the top flight. All the result of investment in sports and infrastructure, especially in Miralcamp and the revamped Estadio de la Cerámica. A venue that has been updated over the years and in which he has built his career, among the great stars who have worn his shirt, a legend such as Manu Trigueros, the footballer with the most games played.
