Deportivo Rayo Zuliano
| Full name | Deportivo Rayo Zuliano | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Azul Amarillo | ||
| Founded | 2005 | ||
| Ground | Estadio José Pachencho Romero | ||
| Capacity | 40,800 | ||
| Chairman | Javier Portillo[1] | ||
| Manager | Johanny García | ||
| League | Liga FUTVE | ||
| 2025 | Liga FUTVE, 11th of 14 | ||
| Website | https://rayozuliano.com/ | ||
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Deportivo Rayo Zuliano is a Venezuelan professional football club based in Maracaibo. Founded in 2005, the club play in the Venezuelan Primera División, hosting their home matches at the Estadio José Pachencho Romero.
History
Founded in 2005, Deportivo Rayo Zuliano played in the 2005–06 edition of the Torneo Aspirantes, the third division in the country, before spending a year inactive. The club later entered the inaugural season of the Venezuelan Tercera División, narrowly missing out on promotion to Segunda División B in 2007–08 and then achieving mid-table campaigns in 2008–09 and 2009–10.[2]
In 2010, Rayo Zuliano ceased to play in the Tercera División, and only returned to a professional status in 2021, after merging with Atlético Furrial and being admitted in the year's Segunda División.[3] After an eighth position finish in their group in 2021, the club led their group in 2022, but were knocked out in the promotion phase.
On 12 December 2022, it was announced that Rayo Zuliano would merge with Primera División side Zulia, taking their place in the top tier.[4] The merger was officially confirmed on 28 January 2023.[5] Rayo Zuliano were able to place eighth in their first Primera División campaign, which allowed them to qualify for the 2024 Copa Sudamericana.[6]
Current squad
As of 11 March, 2026 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Managers
- Alex García King (2021–22)
- Elvis Martínez (2023–24)[7]
- Javier Villafráz (2024–25)
- Johanny García (2025–)
References
- ^ "Deportivo Rayo Zuliano inicia conformación de su equipo femenino" [Deportivo Rayo Zuliano start making their women's team] (in Spanish). Deportivo Rayo Zuliano. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Deportivo Rayo Zuliano" (in Spanish). Foro Vinotinto. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Directivos de Atlético Furrial expusieron a Fidel Madroñero como mala paga" [Board members of Atlético Furrial exposed Fidel Madroñero as the one who did not pay] (in Spanish). La Patilla. 27 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Extraoficial: Deportivo Rayo Zuliano y Zulia Fútbol Club conformarían una sola institución" [Unofficial: Deportivo Rayo Zuliano and Zulia Fútbol Club would form a single institution] (in Spanish). Versión Final. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "¡CONFIRMARON FUSIÓN CON EL ZULIA FC! Rayo Zuliano llegó a primera división de la liga Futve" [THEY CONFIRMED MERGER WITH ZULIA FC! Rayo Zuliano reached the Liga Futve's first division] (in Spanish). Red Digital Noticias. 29 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Caracas FC consiguió el último boleto a la fase final y la Libertadores" [Caracas FC claimed the last final stage and Libertadores berth] (in Spanish). La Vinotinto. 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Elvis Martínez asume la dirección técnica del Deportivo Rayo Zuliano en la Liga FutVe 2" [Elvis Martínez takes over the technical direction of Deportivo Rayo Zuliano in Liga FutVe 2] (in Spanish). Balonazos. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Spanish)