RC Deportivo celebrate 75th anniversary of first top-flight fixture

Juan Acuña, Antoni Montserrat, Victor Molaza, Cuqui Bienzobas, Francisco Reboredo, Ricardo Garcia Martínez (better known as Cuca), Manuel Guimerans, Juan Antonio Elicegui, Jose Gonzalez Caballero and Jose Gutierrez Verdin. Despite it being 75 years ago to the day, there's no doubt that any diehard Deportivo fan would have no trouble at all in naming the starting XI who took to the field for the Galician outfit's first-ever game in the Spanish top flight.

On 4 May 1941, the Blanquiazules saw off Murcia in their playoff showdown at Vallecas to clinch promotion to the top tier. The A Coruña side would go on to enjoy an unforgettable debut campaign the following season, which kicked off on home soil on 28 September.

Everything was in place at Riazor as Depor prepared to face CD Castellon in their curtain-raiser, an occasion that's indelibly etched into the memories of the Deportivo faithful, who were about to witness their team take their place alongside the leading lights of Spanish football. With 25 minutes on the clock, Julio Antonio Elicegui wrote his name into the club's history books by firing past Antonio Perez with a drilled left-footed effort following a Cuca assist. However, the visitors went on to restore parity in the 57th minute courtesy of a Vicente Hernandez strike. Later on in the second half, Caballero restored the hosts' lead - with Cuca once again claiming an assist - to make it 2-1, as the hosts secured maximum points. Deportivo really couldn't have wished for a better start to life in the top flight. During the course of that season, Depor registered 11 wins and succumbed to just two defeats on their own patch, with the league made up of 14 sides at this time.

Seventy-five years have passed since that momentous day. During this time, the Riazor outfit have lifted a LaLiga title (1999/00), two Copa del Rey crowns (1994/95, 2001/02) and three Spanish Super Cups (1995/96, 2000/01, 2002/03), with all of these triumphs coming during their spell in the top division. In addition, the club can also lay claim to boasting a side which left its mark on a whole footballing era, in the form of the early-90s Super Depor team which featured the considerable talents of Mauro Silva, Donato and Bebeto. Congratulations, RC Deportivo!