About Deportivo Alavés

Deportivo Alavés is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country, founded on 23 January 1921. It was originally established as Sport Friends’ Club and later adopted its current name, becoming one of the key sporting institutions in the region. The club plays its home matches at the Estadio de Mendizorroza, a historic stadium that has been its base since the early decades of its existence. Alavés is known for its blue-and-white colours and strong regional identity within Basque football.

Throughout most of its history, Alavés has moved between Spain’s top two divisions, spending long periods in the Segunda División while also having multiple spells in La Liga. The club’s greatest modern breakthrough came in the early 2000s, when it established itself in the top flight and achieved its most famous success. In 2001, Alavés reached the UEFA Cup final in its debut European campaign, where it narrowly lost 5–4 to Liverpool in one of the most dramatic finals in European football history. The club also reached the Copa del Rey final in 2017, finishing as runner-up to Barcelona.

In more recent years, Deportivo Alavés has continued to alternate between La Liga and the Segunda División, often fighting for stability in Spain’s top tier. Despite financial and sporting challenges, the club has maintained its status as a competitive side capable of producing strong performances against bigger opponents. Alavés remains an important Basque club with a reputation for resilience, and it continues to aim for long-term consolidation in La Liga while preserving its historic identity.