Deportivo La Coruna's Journey from Glory to Despair in the Third Tier

Deportivo La Coruna's struggle continues as they face the prospect of a fourth season in Spain's third tier. The former La Liga champions suffered a devastating play-off defeat to Castellon, prolonging their wait for a return to higher ranks. The team's disappointment was compounded by a rollercoaster match, where they initially fell behind by two goals before rallying to take the lead, only to concede a last-minute equalizer.

Content: Deportivo's goalkeeper was shown a red card, and Castellon failed to convert the resulting penalty. Despite taking the lead once more in extra time, Deportivo were ultimately undone by a final equaliser in the 108th minute. After a gruelling two-hour match, Castellon advanced to the next round thanks to their superior league standing.

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"I am deeply saddened by this news," expressed Lucas Perez, the former Arsenal and West Ham forward and a beloved figure among the crowd. Perez had joined the club with the intention of leading them back to the top division, having served Deportivo with great distinction as recently as 2018.

"I extend my sincerest apologies. This hurts me more than anything. It's difficult to find the right words to say in such a situation. I share the frustration and disappointment of all those who have supported us, and the entire city. However, this is sport and we must continue to fight. No one person should be held responsible. Let's keep our heads up and push on."

Many fans who were unable to travel to Valencia and instead watched the match on a large screen in the city's streets are still processing their emotions and not ready to move on. The disappointment and frustration are palpable, with many pointing fingers and assigning blame. Captain Alex Bergantino expressed this sentiment, stating that "we did a lot of things wrong" if the goal was to finish first and yet they ended up in fourth place.

Deportivo was once a powerhouse with star players like Djalminha and Roy Makaay, known for conquering Spain, and Juan Carlos Valeron, who led their famous triumph against AC Milan in the Champions League 19 years ago. However, these are just distant memories now. According to Eugenio Cobas, a journalist with La Opinion, Deportivo's fate is one of constant rise and fall, with occasional resurrections that inevitably end in collapse and demise.

The timing of this stark reminder of defeat, falling on the same date as their previous playoff failure to move up from the third division, is an unfortunate coincidence. However, it is worth noting the significance of having the same coach involved in both instances. Ruben de la Barrera led the Albacete team that dashed Deportivo's promotion dreams last year, having previously coached Deportivo the season before. "I couldn't celebrate the promotion as a coach in the way I had hoped," he shared with We.

"It was a daunting situation to confront. Consider the scenario where Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of Tottenham and achieved victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Although not on the same level, the sentiment is comparable to how I feel about Deportivo and its significance to me."

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Ruben de la Barrera returned as head coach of Deportivo La Coruna in mid-May

After the conversation with De la Barrera last month, his return to Deportivo was confirmed just a few days later. The club had suffered a setback, with only one win in five games, and their hopes of automatic promotion dashed. With just two games left in the regular season, De la Barrera was brought in to help turn things around. The 38-year-old was visibly emotional upon his return, stating that he is from La Coruna and Deportivo is his club. However, the constant changes in coaching staff, with ten changes in the last five years and their third coach this season, highlight the turbulence that has plagued the club in recent history.

As impressive as their past accomplishments were, the present reality cannot be ignored. It's no longer 2000, and they must face the challenges of 2023 head-on. Upon my arrival in 2021, we faced numerous obstacles that needed to be overcome. Winning promotion was just one of the many goals we set out to achieve. We recognized the importance of establishing a solid foundation and implementing a comprehensive process. Although progress may be slow, I am proud of the progress we've made thus far. Building a successful team takes time and dedication.

The team's performance suffered during his absence. Despite initially choosing Borja Jimenez as their coach for the season, he was replaced in October and his successor, Oscar Cano, did not fare much better. Although five new players were signed in January, only one has seen significant game time.

The club's financial situation is also a worry, with the majority of shares now owned by Galician bank Abanca. As a result, more changes are on the horizon, as the current sporting directors have already tendered their resignations.

"The present is a consequence of the past," said De la Barrera.

And yet, this is still Deportivo La Coruna.

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De la Barrera's initial introduction to the full power of the team was hindered by the pandemic, but he was able to witness it during his second opportunity. His first game as head coach resulted in a triumphant 4-0 win, which was a stark contrast to the backdrop the team faced during their first leg against Castellon. As a result, he was able to appreciate what he had missed during his previous experience.

The Riazor was packed with 29,000 fans that day, most of whom were season-ticket holders. While it's an incredible advantage to play for Deportivo, it also comes with immense pressure. Only a select few are capable of wearing the team's jersey with pride.

Lucas Perez, however, is determined to continue wearing it. He has pledged his loyalty to the club until the end of his career or until they no longer require his services. In addition, he can count on the unwavering support of one of Spain's most reputable academies, which is a somewhat unexpected source of encouragement.

Retaining De la Barrera would be beneficial for the team's long-term reconstruction. As a promising young coach, his departure during his first stint with the team was already regrettable. However, he has since utilized his time wisely by traveling extensively throughout Spain and abroad, visiting notable cities such as Barcelona and Girona, as well as meeting with Xabi Alonso in Leverkusen. This past year has been a productive period for him as he actively seeks to improve his coaching abilities and continue his personal growth.

The club needs to adopt this type of forward-thinking to progress and make the right decisions after the fans have returned home from their long trip to Castellon and the debriefs are completed. Unfortunately, the truth still stands that Deportivo La Coruna continues to suffer.