Villarreal’s team with intellectual disabilities lift the Compañerismo League trophy in the final stage held in Bilbao
Villarreal’s team with intellectual disabilities, known as EDI, have brought their LALIGA Genuine campaign to a spectacular close with three victories in the final stage of the competition, securing the title in the Compañerismo League in Bilbao.
The Yellows pulled off an unexpected triumph, climbing from fourth to first place in this last stage. To do so, they had to beat the hosts Athletic Club Fundazioa, the then-leaders Fundación Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad. It was a perfect weekend in one of the most special and respected competitions in inclusive football in Spain.
The 16 outstanding players who made this historic achievement possible are: Adrián Centelles, Ismael Montiel, Javier Ruiz, Eric Villegas, José Gonzalbo, José Manuel Vicent, Iván Mengual, Marc Gimeno, Miguel Ángel Archela, Francisco Pinel, David García, David Pliego, Óscar Conesa, Iván Centelles, Juan Víctor, Andrés Sanchez and Juan Ramón Lara. This success would not have been possible without the hard work, care and dedication of coaches Ana Roig, Sonia Alcón, Rafael Julián and Marta Cádiz.
A title with great meaning
From the very beginning, Villarreal CF have believed in and supported this project. The Yellow Submarine were one of the founding clubs of LALIGA Genuine and hosted the very first stage of the inaugural edition at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground in October 2017. The club’s facilities also staged the final phase of the 2022/23 season, as well as the third stage of the tournament this season.
This trophy is a well-earned reward for the club’s efforts in creating an inclusive EDI team, made up of ambitious players who play with passion and joy. The players celebrated the title with pride during the trophy ceremony in Bilbao and continued the celebrations in Vila-real, where they were welcomed back to the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground with songs, flags and dancing in a joyful celebration shared with the Yellows faithful.
With this exceptional end to the season, Villarreal have completed the objectives across all their teams: Villarreal Women secured safety with a dramatic goal from Claudia Enseñat in the 90th minute of the final game; Villarreal B also achieved survival in the final stretch of the season; the first team qualified for the Champions League, finishing fifth; and finally, the EDI team were crowned champions. A historic season to frame and remember forever.
