When I arrived in Zaragoza a little more than two years ago, I knew very little of Real Zaragoza apart from their mythical European Cup Winners Cup win over Arsenal in 1995 and THAT goal from Nayim which turned David Seaman into a blubbering wreck and propelled the ex-Tottenham midfielder into footballing folklore. They had finished a very respectable 6th in the 2006/2007 season, even smashing six past Real Madrid in a cup tie, and the UEFA Cup awaited.Agapito Iglesias, the man with the plan, had spent big and I witnessed the arrivals of Ricardo Oliveira, Roberto Ayala and Matuzalem. They had a wide array of world-class talent with Diego Milito a guaranteed goal machine and Sergio García rapidly making a name for himself on the right wing. It was their 75th anniversary, there was genuine excitement around the club and a feeling that they were on the edge of greatness.
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But what an absolutely disastrous season 2007/2008 was. The first match was a sign of things to follow as they succumbed to a miserable away defeat to Murcia. They were promptly knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Aris of Greece and almost knocked out of the Spanish Cup by little Pontevedra. Sergio Garcia saved them that night with an injury time goal, but they went out straight after to Racing Santander. Without Milito, Oliveira and Sergio Garcia they would have been down by Christmas. Players such as Gabi and Luccín offered nothing in midfield except mindless 'huff and puff', and Cesar (now enjoying a swansong in Valencia) was left exposed by a defence that made a habit of committing comic errors. They promptly sacked Victor Fernandez, considered only months previously as one of the most promising managers in Spain. Ander Garitano and Javier Irureta both came and went in quick succession, before they went down on the final day of the season in Mallorca with local hero Manolo Villanova in charge.
