14-Year Wait Over: Racing Santander Back in Spain’s Top Flight

Santander Seal La Liga Promotion

Santander last played in La Liga in 2011-12 and dropped to the third tier the following season.

One of the founding members of La Liga, Santander will return to the top flight next season...

Racing Santander booked their spot back in La Liga with a 4-1 win over Valladolid at El Sardinero on Saturday.

Two games from the end of the season, the club sits seven points clear at the top of the Segunda División. That gap locks in one of the two automatic promotion spots for the founding La Liga member.

The last time Racing Santander played in La Liga was 2011/12, when Jose Mourinho was Real Madrid's manager.

They are promoted back to La Liga for 2026/27, with Jose Mourinho set to return as Real Madrid's manager. pic.twitter.com/VWKP4Dozcs

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 16, 2026

Deportivo La Coruna, who play on Monday, could still overtake Santander for the title. Almería in third are out of the race after letting in two late goals to lose 2-1 at home to Las Palmas.

Santander’s last La Liga campaign was 2011-12, when they finished bottom. They dropped to the third division the season after.

They finished fifth in Liga 2 last year but fell in the playoff semifinals.