Xerez CD Preview

Coach: Jose Angel 'Cuco' Ziganda, most recently coach of Osasuna and Osasuna B
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Chapín, (20,300).
Region: Andalusia
Derby: Cadiz C.F. (Segunda)

Sponsor: Telefonica, a regional savings institution serving Huelva, Sevilla and Xerez.

Kit Description: Home: A blue LEGEA kit with white trim and highlights throughout. White shorts with blue trim. Away: White shirts with blue trim and blue shorts with white trim. Third kit: Black kit with white highlights and white shorts with blue highlights

History: While the current club was founded on September 24 1947, football in Andalusia, and in Jerez de la Frontera where they play, goes back to the latter part of the 19th century. Jerez wine, or sherry as the British would say, is a local export which explains the early rise of football in the area. For most of its existence the club settled in the lower division until 2001-2002 when then coach Berndt Schuster had them close to ascension, but the precarious financial position of the club had players playing without any financial compensation, so the club missed their chance. More recently, ex-President Joaquin Bilbao was arrested for participating in a drunken driveby shooting in front of a local brothel. Carlos Osma, the coordinator of the cantera and ex-goalkeeper for the club took over for Bilbao, and then ushered the club to a Segunda championship and into the first division for the first time in its existence. The club play in the Municipal Stadium of the City of Jerez and their shield is based on the colors of the city as well.

Trophy Room:

* Second Division (2009)

* Secon Division B (1982, 1986)

* Third Division (1953, 1960, 1965, 1967, 1971)

* Regional Preferente Cup (1947, 1949)

Famous Former Players: Jozy Altidore, Dani Guiza,

Main Story from last year: Not only securing promotion after spending their entire history in the lower divisions of Spanish Football. While the story of ex-President Bilbao's exploits shooting a Jerez brothel, some say that he had personal unfinished business with either the proprietor or one of the independent contractors there, took up most of the national press's attention towards little Xerez, the American press looked at Xerez as the place where striker Jozy Altidore of Villareal and USA MNT spent most of the year gathering dust in the Spanish second division, for a club unwilling to take a chance on an unknown commodity when they were pushing for promotion. Another interesting anecdote is that Cuco Ziganda's second in command is former Bilbao hitman Andoni Goikoetxea. Does that tell you that Xerez, lacking in attacking talent, might bring a bit of the hard-man's steel to the Primera, as Goiko is the man that broke Diego Maradona's ankle all those years ago?

Transfers: The main transfer this Summer is the signing of Brazilian GK Renan Brito Soares on loan from Valencia who at times last season was in the top 3 of keepers in Spain. They also signed oft-injured DF Leandro Gioda of Independiente in Argentina and Cameroon striker Lionnel Franck from CD San Fernando in Cadiz.
Squad Overview: GK: Renan Brito is a top quality keeper if a bit inexperienced in the top-flight but he did take the ball away from Santi Canizarez and Timo Hildebrand at the Mestalla so you have to give him props. The rest of the squad is a testament to the faith that Cuco has for the core of his squad that secured promotion.

Prediction: Bottom. This year's Numancia.