{"id":296800,"date":"2023-11-07T08:24:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T08:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=296800"},"modified":"2023-11-07T08:24:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T08:24:07","slug":"inside-europes-most-remote-club-on-holiday-island-that-hosts-world-cup-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/inside-europes-most-remote-club-on-holiday-island-that-hosts-world-cup-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Europe’s most remote club on holiday island that hosts World Cup winners"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Based 1000km from the Spanish mainland off the coast of Morocco – the Canary Islands aren't best known for their footballing pedigree.<\/p>\n

    In reality, Las Palmas Gran Canaria has produced one of the best footballers in Premier League history as well as one of Barcelona's best young stars in a rich sporting pedigree that dates back centuries. <\/p>\n

    Forming part of Europe's most remote island group alongside Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote as part of eight main islands, the biggest sporting attraction is UD Las Palmas. Their history dates back to 1949 when a bid to keep their most talented players from leaving for the mainland, five local clubs joined forced.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: LaLiga teen sensation swapped milking cows and running rodeo shows for football stardom <\/b><\/p>\n

    LAS PALMAS: Meet the Canary Islands club making waves in LaLiga with Barcelona and Norwich connection <\/b><\/p>\n

    Arenas Club, Club Deportivo Gran Canaria and Atletico were part of the collaboration, as were notable rivals Marino Futbol Club and Real Club Victoria.<\/p>\n

    The latter, who were inspired by Newcastle United and named after Queen Victoria formed the bulk of the new team including 10 players and the manager. <\/p>\n

    The club was an immediate success with back-to-back promotions, since spending 35 of 75 seasons in the top flight and finishing as La Liga runners-up behind Real Madrid in 1968\/69 and losing in the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona in 1977\/78. <\/p>\n

    Although David Silva was plucked from his Gran Canaria home to play for Valencia before writing his name in the Premier League record books, success stories included club icon Paquito Ortiz and Barcelona prospect Pedri who left Las Palmas to win the Kopa Trophy in 2021.<\/p>\n

    Who are your LaLiga club? Tell us in the comments section below.<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

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    Despite having a population of under 500,000, their famous faces include Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem and Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera-Bello.<\/p>\n

    Moving to the Estadio Gran Canaria back in 2003 before it was expanded to 32,000 seats, the yellow and blue stadium is a fitting home for La Liga's most exciting new comers<\/p>\n

    The colours were selected back in 1949 to reflect the island flag as well as the sun and sea that attracts tourists from around the world to their home.<\/p>\n

    The stadium has hosted three Spain international fixtures including a European Qualifying win over Northern Island, returning in 2018 with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n

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    Atletico Madrid were the visitors in early November as manager Garcia Pimienta's Barcelona pedigree was on full show with a battling 2-1 victory in which they dominated chances.<\/p>\n

    The opening goal came from fan favourite local boy and captain Kirian Rodr\u00edguez, who had to take time away from the first-team last season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.<\/p>\n

    Speaking to Daily Star Sport<\/b> before the fixture, Rodr\u00edguez touched on what makes the island special to the 27-year-old, as well as his colleagues and their loyal fans.<\/p>\n

    He said: "Here on the island people that are born here all dream of playing here. Everyone is so connected to our club.<\/p>\n

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    "A lot of players that leave end up returning because people that grew up here want to raise their families here. The lifestyle as well as the club is special.<\/p>\n

    "The island lives on tourism too so having the club in the top flight gives us more of a platform and means we're helping to support local people and businesses."<\/p>\n

    Pimienta's side have turned around a difficult start to their top-flight return after automatic promotion, with five wins from seven games including the aforementioned 2-1 triumph over Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n

    That victory in front of a sold-out crowd was called one of the most important in the history of the club by staff members with just three points between the club and European qualification after 12 matches.<\/p>\n

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