UD Las Palmas
Spanish football team.
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, commonly known as Las Palmas, is a professional football club based in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. Founded on August 22, 1949, the club has played an important role in Spanish football, representing the Canary Islands in La Liga for many seasons.
Las Palmas play their home games at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, which has a capacity of 32,400 spectators. The stadium, opened in 2003, replaced the old Estadio Insular, which had been the club's home since its foundation. The team's colors are yellow and blue, which has led to their nickname "Los Amarillos" (The Yellows).
Throughout its history, Las Palmas has had several spells in La Liga, with their most successful period coming in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, the club finished as high as second in La Liga in the 1968–69 season, their best-ever finish in the top flight. They also reached the final of the Copa del Rey in 1978, losing to Barcelona.
The most famous player to come through Las Palmas' youth system is David Silva, who went on to become a key player for Manchester City and the Spanish national team.
In recent years, Las Palmas has experienced a period of fluctuation between La Liga and the Segunda División. Their most recent spell in La Liga lasted from 2015 to 2018, during which they played an attractive, possession-based style of football that won them many admirers. However, maintaining their top-flight status proved challenging, and they were relegated in 2018.
Las Palmas has a passionate fan base, with strong support both in the Canary Islands and among Canarian communities on the Spanish mainland.
One of the unique aspects of Las Palmas is its geographical location. Being the only professional club from the Canary Islands to regularly compete in the top two tiers of Spanish football, they face unique logistical challenges. Every away game involves a flight to mainland Spain, which can be taxing on players and staff over the course of a long season.
As of the 2023-24 season, Las Palmas have achieved promotion back to La Liga, marking their return to the top flight after a five-year absence.