Deportivo de la Coruña will play professional football next season after beating direct rivals Barça Athletic. A free kick certified their promotion to LaLiga Hypermotion as their sold-out stadium celebrated the goal euphorically. Their fans have been the most loyal of the division, never losing hope and attending every game to support their players. Better than many Champions League team fans. Riazor stadium have witnessed a perfect season, losing only four games all year but especially the second leg of the season, where they are yet to lose a game. A true motivational story that comes to an end.

After being relegated from LaLiga in the 2017/2018 season, Depor spent two seasons in La Liga Hypermotion before disappearing from professional football. Three seasons where Deportivo have always been close from being promoted as luck were not on their side hence losing in the playoffs every single time. However, an unexpected hero returned to his childhood club to help them fight back to where they belong too, Lucas Perez.

#AquíComezaOutraHistoria#RenacemosXuntos pic.twitter.com/vSuZMMzHDd

— RC Deportivo (@RCDeportivo) May 14, 2024

Where is Lucas Perez now?

In December 2022, the 35-year-old player was playing at the top flight with Cadiz F.C and unexpectedly decided to go two divisions lower to bring his club back to professional football. He had to put money of his own to pay for the one million euros release clause. The player paid 490.000 euros whilst Depor paid the remaining.

When Perez first signed, “I am very happy to be here. I come to the most difficult project of my career, to help the team of my city get promoted to professional football. I come to play for Depor, which is not the same than playing in Primera Federación (Third Division).

👀 pic.twitter.com/cZP4eVw0aH

— RC Deportivo (@RCDeportivo) May 12, 2024

Perez is so far their highest goalscorer, with a total of 12 goals and 17 assists in 30 games. Averaging nearly a goal contribution per game at his age is an incredible achievement.

“They called me crazy when I changed a first division for Depor… holy madness”, said Perez after the game.

“My satisfaction is enormous, remembering my grandparents, my debt with this club when I left after the club got relegated. This city is incredible, these images today in the streets of A Coruña, this is us and they will see us back in Primera (First Division), that’s for sure”.

Premier League fans will remember Perez as an Arsenal and West Ham player, when he joined back in the 16/17 season and 18/19 respectively. During his spell in the Premier League, the forward played a combined 26 games, scoring a total of four.

However, where he most excelled was in LaLiga, scoring 55 goals and 32 assists in 202 games, a true veteran of the game.

How big of a club are Deportivo?

Ranked 12th in the historical table (1843 points) after 46 seasons in the first Spanish Division, with only rivals Celta on the place above. Remembered internationally after their Champions League 03/04 campaign, reaching the semifinal and battling against Porto who ended up lifting the trophy.

😍 Deportivistas e coruñeses deron onte unha nova lección de civismo, sempre protexidos polo dispositivo de seguridade despregado por toda a cidade

🙏 Grazas @DelGobGalicia, @PCivilCoruna, @CruzRojaCoruna, @Policia_Coruna, @bombeiroscoruna e @policia polo voso enorme traballo! pic.twitter.com/efscyLqvDp

— RC Deportivo (@RCDeportivo) May 13, 2024

Champions of the Copa del Rey in the 94/95 & 01/02 season in addition to a LaLiga title in 99/00 season plus runner ups in five more occasions.

Which players have played for Deportivo de La Coruna?

Top class players have played for the blue and white club. A large list that includes the names of Juan Carlos Valerón, Lionel Scaloni, Mirosla Djukic, Joan Capdevilla, Roy Makaay, Djalminha, Bebeto, Andres Guardado, Filipe Luis, Federico Valverde and so on. The list could go on forever, showing the magnitude and the weight Deportivo used to have back in the day.