Fútbol Club Cartagena, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the Region of Murcia, Spain. Founded in 1995 it currently plays in , holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators.
The club is considered to be a continuation of Cartagena CF, founded in 1919.
History Cartagena was founded on 25 July 1995, in the place of Club Deportivo Balsicas, due to serious economic problems of the first team of the city, Cartagena FC, the first president Florentino Manzano was the founder. In the first eight years it was known as Cartagonova Fútbol Club, and first played in the third division in the 1998–99 season.
The club then changed its name to Fútbol Club Cartagena and Luis Oliver took over as president, starting his tenure with the club immerse in economic problems and close to relegation. Being saved from folding by local entrepreneur Francisco Gómez after the 2002–03 campaign, it consolidated itself in the third level and achieved another promotion, now to division two, in 2009.
Historic side Cartagena FC, which was founded much earlier, acted as reserve team between 2003 and 2009, eventually re-gaining its independence. In 2009–10's second division season Efesé nearly achieved another promotion, finishing eventually in fifth position; all promotion hopes were dashed in the 41st and penultimate matchday, with a 0–1 away loss against Recreativo de Huelva.
Cartagena was relegated from the second tier at the end of 2011–12. In May 2015, a late goal from Carlos Martínez saved the club from a further drop by winning a play-off on the away goals rule against Las Palmas Atlético. Three years later, the team fell at the final promotion hurdle to Extremadura UD by a single goal.
On 19 July 2020, Cartagena was promoted to Segunda Division after an 8-year absence.
On 13 April 2025, Cartagena was relegated to third division after five years stay in second division following a 1-2 defeat to Almería.2-1: UD Almería secure crucial victory to keep promotion hopes alive Website UD Almeria, 13 April 2025
Season to season SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey1995–9652nd1996–9743ª1st1997–9843ª1st1998–9932ª B2ndSecond round1999–200032ª B8thPreliminary2000–0132ª B13th2001–0232ª B12th2002–0332ª B11th2003–0432ª B15th2004–0532ª B13th2005–0632ª B1st2006–0732ª B5thSecond round2007–0832ª B8thSecond round2008–0932ª B1st2009–1022ª5thThird round2010–1122ª13thSecond round2011–1222ª20thSecond round2012–1332ª B2ndFirst round2013–1432ª B2ndRound of 322014–1532ª B16thFirst roundSeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey2015–1632ª B7th2016–1732ª B4thSecond round2017–1832ª B1stRound of 322018–1932ª B2ndSecond round2019–2032ª B1stSecond round2020–2122ª16thFirst round2021–2222ª9thRound of 322022–2322ª9thRound of 322023–2422ª14thRound of 322024–2522ª22ndRound of 322025–2631ª Fed.6thSecond round2026–2731ª Fed.TBD
8 seasons in Segunda División 2 seasons in Primera Federación 19 seasons in Segunda División B 2 seasons in Tercera División
Players Current squad
Out on loan
Reserve team
Current technical staff
Reserve team FC Cartagena B is FC Cartagena's reserve team since 2015. It was founded in that year and plays in Tercera División.
In the past, other sides such as Cartagena Promesas, FC Cartagena-La Unión, Cartagena FC and CD Algar were the club's B-team.
Stadium Cartagena holds home matches at Estadio Cartagonova. Inaugurated on 7 February 1988, it has a capacity of 14,532 spectators, measuring 105 x 68 meters; it underwent renovation in January 2000.
The ground's biggest attendance was recorded 30 June 1999 in a second division promotion play-off match against Córdoba CF, with 20,000 spectators in the stands. On 26 January of the following year, the first Spain national team game ever hosted in the Region of Murcia took place, a friendly with Poland.
Kit evolution
Famous players Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games, have reached international status, or both. Armando Sadiku Javier Balboa Sergio Barila Iván Bolado Juvenal Pascal Cygan Sándor Kiss Alberto Quintero Juan González-Vigil Marcin Bułka Đorđe Jovanović Kiko Casilla Enrique de Lucas Ander Lafuente Mariano Sánchez Toché Víctor
Famous coaches Víctor Manuel Fernández Juan Ignacio Martínez Francisco Jémez José Murcia
References
External links
Futbolme team profile Peña Goto Cartago, fansite