From Vilalba to the elite: Diego Villares makes history with Deportivo | OneFootball

The blue-and-white captain becomes the third player in the club’s history to score in the First, Second, and Third Divisions

Diego Villares has written a new golden chapter in his love affair with Real Club Deportivo after opening his scoring account in the First Division in the recent clash against Real Betis. His header in the closing minutes at Riazor not only rescued a valuable point before the international break, but also unleashed the pent-up emotion of a player who arrived at Abegondo in 2018 and has climbed every step of Spanish football before reaching the summit in the top flight. With this goal, the midfielder from Vilalba joins a very exclusive list—shared with a club icon like Lucas Pérez—of players capable of finding the net wearing the Dépor badge in the First, Second, and Third Divisions (as well as in Segunda B and Primera RFEF), bringing his total to 22 goals across five different tiers during his time at the club.

Villares’ journey has not been an easy one. After making his debut for Fabril in Segunda B and completing a return loan spell at Racing Vilalbés, the Chairego became the cornerstone of the reserve team in the Third Division, playing 36 matches as a starter and scoring five goals before making the definitive leap to the first team. His impact in the third tier was immediate: he scored nine goals in Primera RFEF, with unforgettable performances such as his goal and assist against Tudelano, his strike in the derby against Racing de Ferrol, and the unforgettable rocket into the top corner against Barça Atlètic at Riazor, a decisive goal that helped set the club on course for its long-awaited return to professional football.

Far from struggling with the step up in level, the midfielder established himself as captain and an undisputed starter in the second tier, making close to 80 appearances and scoring six goals in the Second Division, including standout strikes against Castellón and a spectacular bicycle kick against Las Palmas. Now, with more than eight years at the club and having cemented himself as the leading figure in the Hércules dressing room, his first goal in the First Division represents the culmination of years of quiet work and consistency. To commemorate the milestone, Deportivo shared an emotional compilation thread on its official channels featuring the best moments of the '8' in blue and white

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.