doragon sports

The Enduring Spirit: A Complete History of AD Ceuta FC

AD Ceuta

Introduction: A Club Between Continents

In the annals of Spanish football, few clubs embody the identity of their city as profoundly as Agrupación Deportiva Ceuta Fútbol Club. It is not merely a team, but a standard-bearer for the unique identity of its home, the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta. Geographically anchored to the African mainland but politically and culturally part of Spain, the club personifies the resilience, complexity, and spirit of a community that has forever existed between two continents. The recent, historic promotion to the Segunda División is not just a sporting triumph but the culmination of a long and often turbulent journey, one shaped by geopolitical shifts, financial hardship, and an unwavering community bond. This document serves to chronicle that remarkable history, charting the course of a club that is, in every sense, more than a game.

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1. Forged in History: The Origins of Football in Ceuta

To fully appreciate the modern incarnation of AD Ceuta FC, one must understand its convoluted but fascinating origins. The club’s lineage is not a straight line but a tangled web of mergers, dissolutions, and rebirths, deeply intertwined with the post-colonial history of North Africa and the unique geopolitical status of Ceuta. This history is the bedrock upon which the current club’s identity is built.

The story begins with the establishment of Ceuta Sport Club in 1932, an early pioneer of organised football in the city. However, the pivotal moment in the club’s formation arrived in 1956. Following Morocco’s declaration of independence from its status as a Spanish protectorate, the directors and Spanish players of Club Atlético Tetuán, a successful club based just 25 miles south of Ceuta, relocated to the city. They merged with the local Sociedad Deportiva Ceuta (which had been renamed from Ceuta Sport Club in 1941) to form a new entity: Club Atlético de Ceuta. This new club inherited Tetuán’s position in the Segunda División, immediately placing Ceuta on the national football map.

Over the subsequent decades, the city’s footballing landscape remained fluid, with various clubs rising and falling, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Ceuta’s sporting heritage.

Chapter in HistoryLegacy & Dissolution
Ceuta Sport Club (1932–56)An early pioneer of football in the city. Renamed Sociedad Deportiva Ceuta in 1941 and ultimately merged in 1956 to form Club Atlético de Ceuta.
Agrupación Deportiva Ceuta (1969–91)Formed by disenchanted members of Club Atlético de Ceuta, it achieved success, reaching Segunda B and even La Segunda for one season (1980-81). Dissolved in 1991 due to financial problems.
Club Ceutí Atlético (1996–97)A short-lived entity that laid the groundwork for the next major club in the city, playing on a dirt pitch at Campo José Benoliel.
Asociación Deportiva Ceuta (1997–2012)Rose from the foundations of Ceutí Atlético, enjoying 14 seasons in Segunda B. Demoted to the Tercera División and later withdrew from competition due to financial issues.

The current club, founded as Club Atlético de Ceuta in 1956, has undergone several official name changes, reflecting its complex journey and its eventual consolidation as the city’s sole standard-bearer.

A Timeline of Identity

This foundational period of constant evolution set the stage for the dramas that would unfold in the physical heart of Ceuta football: the Estadio Alfonso Murube.

2. The Fortress: A History of the Estadio Alfonso Murube

No history of Ceuta’s football is complete without chronicling its physical heart, the Estadio Alfonso Murube. The stadium’s very lifecycle—from its inauguration and renaming to its decay and stunning rebirth—serves as a stone-and-steel testament to the club’s own turbulent journey, a monument in stone and steel.

The stadium’s story begins on August 4, 1933, when it was inaugurated as the Campo Municipal de Deporte. It was colloquially known as Docker, a direct reference to the military hospital barracks located at the gates of the facility. In 1942, the stadium was officially renamed in honor of Alfonso Murube, a talented former Ceuta Sport player who tragically died at the age of 25 while fighting in the Spanish Civil War.

Following the dissolution of Agrupación Deportiva Ceuta in 1991, the Murube fell into a state of absolute disrepair. This period of neglect was so profound that when football began its revival with the formation of Club Ceutí Atlético (later Asociación Deportiva Ceuta), the team was forced to play its initial seasons at the old Campo José Benoliel, a basic ground with a dirt pitch and limited terracing.

The fortunes of the stadium turned with the club’s resurgence. The Murube was essentially rebuilt and celebrated its grand reopening on October 8, 1997. The inaugural match was a fittingly dramatic “derby of the Strait” against rivals Algeciras CF, which Ceuta won 4-2, setting the stage for a promotion-winning season. The rebuilt stadium soon became a fortress, hosting some of the most memorable moments in the city’s sporting history.

The rebirth of the Murube provided a worthy stage for the on-pitch sagas that have defined the club’s modern era.

3. The Modern Bastion: Reimagining the Murube for the Professional Era

The club’s historic promotion to the Segunda División for the 2025-26 season demanded more than just a team ready for professional football; it required a stadium to match. The most recent renovation of the Murube was not merely a structural upgrade but a statement of ambition—a rapid and comprehensive transformation to meet the stringent demands of LALIGA.

A €5 million renovation project was undertaken to prepare the stadium for its debut in La Liga Hypermotion. In a remarkable feat of logistics and dedication, the works were completed in “record time,” a success attributed heavily to a deliberate strategy to rely on local, Ceuta-based companies for everything from painting to electrical work. This decision ensured the investment circulated within the local economy, reinforcing the club’s bond with the city it represents. The key LALIGA-mandated upgrades were extensive:

  1. Pitch and Turf: The entire playing surface underwent a revolution. The old sand was replaced with silica, a compound that acts as a superior draining agent. A new, professional-grade Tauma 31 grass was imported from Portugal in refrigerated trucks to preserve its quality. Notably, the entire pitch was shifted two meters towards the main stand to comply with LALIGA’s strict broadcast camera angle requirements.
  2. Infrastructure & Facilities: The stadium’s interior was completely overhauled. This included significant improvements to locker rooms, press facilities, and VIP areas, as well as the installation of advanced audiovisual equipment to incorporate VAR technology. To enhance capacity and amenities, a new modular stand was constructed in the preference area.
  3. Capacity and Management: Following the renovations, the stadium’s capacity was established at 6,500. In a forward-thinking move, the club signed a management agreement with MolcaWorld, a leading company recognised for modernising top-tier stadiums, including the Metropolitano and Balaídos. The goal is to transform the Murube into a “sporting and commercial reference,” enhancing the fan experience and creating new revenue streams.

The immense effort required to complete this project on time was not lost on the team’s leadership.

“What has been done is of an enormous merit; you can’t stop applauding this club. I am not talking about sports now; I am talking about the remarkable work that the president and Javier Ortega have done, allowing the people of Ceuta to watch their first LALIGA HYPERMOTION match at home. It is of enormous merit.”

— José Juan Romero, Head Coach

This physical transformation of the stadium was a direct result of the team’s sporting transformation, which had earned them the right to play in it.

4. A Legacy of Resilience: The Journey Through the Tiers

The on-pitch history of AD Ceuta FC is a reflection of its city’s own story—one of fluctuating fortunes, persistent challenges, and profound resilience. The club’s journey through the Spanish football league system has been anything but linear, marked by periods of both promise and prolonged struggle.

Following its 1956 formation, Club Atlético de Ceuta enjoyed a sustained period of success, spending 11 seasons in the Segunda División. The high point of this era came in the 1960-61 season, when the team finished second in its group, earning a place in the promotion play-off to La Liga. Though Elche CF ultimately defeated them, it remains the closest the city has ever come to top-flight football.

The club’s relegation in 1968, however, precipitated a long and difficult decline. For decades, Ceuta’s primary team languished in the lower tiers, fluctuating between the Tercera División and regional leagues, far from the national spotlight.

The modern resurgence began with the arrival of President Luhay Hamido in 2016 and was accelerated by the pivotal return of Head Coach José Juan Romero. Under their leadership, the club embarked on a meteoric ascent through the divisions, defined by back-to-back promotions that captivated the city:

This rapid climb culminated in the triumphant 2024-25 season. Displaying a potent combination of tactical nous and relentless determination, the team won its Primera Federación group, securing direct promotion to the Segunda División. This historic achievement, secured on May 11, 2025, with a 2-1 victory over Fuenlabrada, marked the end of a 57-year absence for the club’s direct lineage from the second tier. Furthermore, it marked the first time in 45 years that the city of Ceuta, through any of its historical clubs, would have a representative in the professional ranks of Spanish football.

This hard-won success was more than a league title; it was a powerful statement about the city of Ceuta and its place in the wider Spanish community.

5. More Than a Club: Identity, Community, and the Road Ahead

The story of AD Ceuta FC is inextricably linked to the unique identity of its city—a proud Spanish and European outpost on the African continent. This singular geographical and cultural position shapes the club in every way, presenting both profound challenges and a source of immense strength.

The logistical and financial hurdles are unlike those faced by any other club in the league. Every away match requires a journey by ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar, followed by a lengthy coach trip, a costly and arduous affair. This reality makes financial support from bodies like the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the city council not just helpful, but essential for survival. This strategic location also means that Ceuta’s borders are not merely fences between two states; they represent “the most southern border of the European Union and the only one terrestrial border between Europe and Africa,” adding a layer of geopolitical significance to the club’s operational challenges.

Yet, it is this very isolation that has forged the club’s powerful role as a unifying force. In a city with a unique cultural mix, home to a significant Muslim population of around 40% and where both Spanish and Darija Arabic are widely spoken, the football club is a common ground. Under President Luhay Hamido, the club has reinforced this bond with two core principles: players are always paid on time, and they are required to live in the city of Ceuta. This mandate prevents players from commuting from the mainland, ensuring they become integrated members of the community they represent.

Looking ahead, the challenges of competing in the highly competitive Segunda División are immense. The club will face teams with far greater resources and established professional pedigrees. However, if its history has proven anything, it is that AD Ceuta FC possesses an enduring spirit of resilience. Fueled by an unbreakable bond with its community and standing as a proud ambassador for its unique city, the club is ready to write the next chapter of its incredible story on the national stage.

9–13 minutes
Délcio Adéwale

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