One of the typical alignments of the best Tenerife in history (CD Tenerife)
The CD Tenerife He is one of the historical figures of Spanish football. Not in vain, the Canarian team played during 13 seasons in the First Division and also occupies the first places in the historical classification of the Second.
Today we will focus on the golden age of the Canarian club. It was in the 1990s when the Argentine came to the island's bench Jorge Valdano first and german Jupp Heynckes after.
At that time, the CD Tenerife managed to bring together some of the best footballers in its history. César Gómez, Antonio Mata, Chano, Felipe Miñambres, Fernando Redondo, Dertycia, Juanele, Jokanovic, Makaay… are some examples.
As we say, the 90 They were the years of greatest splendor for the Tenerife club. Were 10 consecutive seasons in the highest category of Spanish football in which the Tenerife went from being a team that struggled not to descend, to play European competition up to two times.
The first time that the people of Tenerife managed to qualify to play the UEFA Cup it was in the season 1992-1993. The victory on the last day against the Real Madrid, that thus lost its second League on the island, allowed those of Valdano finish fifth in the domestic competition.
Fernando Redondo and Diego Armando Maradona in a Tenerife-Seville of the season 1993-1994 (The Journal)
In this first European experience, the CD Tenerife eliminated Auxerre and Olympiacos but was eliminated by Juventus Turin in the round of 16. A more than worthy participation.
The best CD Tenerife in history
Shortly after, already Heynckes on the blue and white bench, the Tenerife would graze the glory. It was the season 1996-1997 and the canaries were very close to reaching the UEFA Cup final. Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lazio, Feyenoord and Brondby succumbed to the colorful and cheerful game of a team that seemed unstoppable.
However, the European dream of the Canaries ended in the semifinals against Schalke 04. In the first leg played at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, the CD Tenerife won by a tight score 1-0. On lap, disputed in Germany, the local team came back and won by 2-0. The only consolation for the people of Tenerife was falling against the team that, in the aftermath, It would be the champion.
The end of the cycle came with the decline in the season 1998-1999. Since then, the CD Tenerife He has had the occasional return to the elite but sporadically, nothing to do with that glorious team that surprised locals and strangers and some of us remember with great nostalgia.
