Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. (Valencian: Vila-real Club de Futbol, S.A.D.), usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or simply Villarreal, is a professional football club based in Villarreal, in Castellón in eastern Spain, that plays in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.
Founded in 1923, the club spent much of its history in the lower divisions of Spanish football and made their La Liga debut only in 1998. In the 21st century, Villarreal gained some league stability, and the club made its first appearance in the UEFA Champions League in 2005, reaching the semi-finals in 2006 and 2022. The club also appeared in the UEFA Europa League during this time, but sustained relegation in 2012, rebounding the next year and then remaining in the top division to date. Villarreal won its first major honour in 2021, by defeating Manchester United in the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final.
The club is nicknamed El Submarí Groguet or El Submarino Amarillo (Yellow Submarine) due to its yellow home kit, and due to being a low-profile team compared to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and regional rivals Valencia. They play their home games at the Estadio de la Cerámica, and have been touted as an example of a small but successful club.
