5 Things You May Not Know About Real Mallorca

The island club was once the home of Miguel Angel Nadal and Samuel Eto’o, while they currently have NBA legends as shareholders.

As one of just 11 clubs to have lifted the Copa del Rey trophy in the 21st century, RCD Mallorca hold a special place in Spanish football history. The club from the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea are nicknamed Los Bermellones, meaning The Vermilions in English, and they have returned to the Copa del Rey final after overcoming Real Sociedad in the semi-finals of the 2023/24 edition. Here come five facts you might not have known about this unique club.

The stadium is only 25 years old and recently redeveloped 

Mallorca play in Palma, the biggest city on the island of Mallorca. Their home ground is the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, which was built for the 1999 Summer Universiada and which has been used by the football team ever since. It was recently redeveloped to remove the athletics track and to enhance the matchday atmosphere, with the current capacity now at approximately 23,000 seats.

RCD Mallorca won the Copa del Rey in 2003

Without doubt, the greatest moment in RCD Mallorca’s history was the 2002/03 Copa del Rey final, where they defeated Recreativo de Huelva 3-0 with a Walter Pandiani penalty and a Samuel Eto’o brace. They had also won the 1998 Spanish Super Cup, as the club enjoyed a very successful few years around the turn of the century.

Rafael Nadal’s uncle used to be the club captain

The captain of Mallorca when they won the Copa del Rey in 2003 was Miguel Angel Nadal, who also used to play for Barcelona and who is the uncle of Rafael Nadal. The legendary tennis player is from Manacor on the island of Mallorca and has often been seen attending matches at the Estadi Mallorca