1997–98 Deportivo de La Coruña season

Deportivo La Coruña's 1997–98 season included its 33rd appearance in La Liga, where it ranked in 12th place. The club also competed in the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Cup.

Deportivo de La Coruña

1997–98 season
President	Augusto César Lendoiro
Manager	Carlos Alberto Silva (until 15 October)[1] José Manuel Corral (from 18 October)[2]
Stadium	Estadio Riazor
La Liga	12th
Copa del Rey	Quarter-finals
UEFA Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: Djalminha (8)[3] All: Djalminha (10)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

Summary

1997–98 was to be the first full season in charge for Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Silva, who had taken over from John Toshack following the Welshman's resignation in February.^[4][5] Silva had a strong start, guiding Deportivo to 3rd in La Liga by the end of the season, and earning them a return to European competition after a year away by qualifying for the 1997–98 UEFA Cup. Their first round opponents were Auxerre, but a 2–1 defeat at Estadio Riazor^[6] followed by a goalless draw in France saw Depor eliminated before the end of September.^[7]

Deportivo were also far from convincing in La Liga, and a 3–1 home defeat by Real Valladolid on 15 October left them 15th in the table, with just one win from their first six matches.^[8] Silva was sacked, and replaced by José Manuel Corral until the end of the season.^[9] Corral improved the club's league form slightly, but they were only able to finish the season a disappointing 12th, their lowest placing since 1991–92. They did reach the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, but were defeated 3–1 on aggregate by Segunda División side Deportivo Alavés.^[10]

Corral made way at the end of the season for Javier Irureta,^[11] paving the way for the most successful period of the club's history. Irureta would lead them to their first top flight title only two seasons later.

Players

Squad

Source:^[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  ESP Armando Álvarez 3 DF  POR Hélder 4 DF  MAR Noureddine Naybet 5 MF  BRA Djalminha 6 MF  BRA Mauro Silva 7 FW  ESP Javier Manjarín 8 MF  MAR Mustapha Hadji 10 MF  ESP Fran (captain) 11 FW  URU Sergio Martínez 12 MF  ARG Lionel Scaloni 13 GK  CMR Jacques Songo'o 14 DF  ESP Paco Jémez 16 MF  BRA Flávio Conceição 18 FW  MAR Salaheddine Bassir 19 DF  ESP Luis Miguel Ramis

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  ESP Donato 21 DF  FRA Jérôme Bonnissel 23 FW  URU Sebastián Abreu 25 GK  NGA Peter Rufai 28 GK  ESP Dani Mallo 29 DF  ESP José Manuel Aira 30 FW  ESP Deus 31 MF  ESP Carlos Padín 32 FW  ESP Maikel 33 DF  ESP Pablo Pinillos 34 MF  ESP Diego Pérez Míguez 35 DF  ESP Toni — GK  POR Nuno Espírito Santo — FW  VEN Carlos García

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 8 MF  FRA Corentin Martins (to Strasbourg) 9 FW  BRA Luizão (to Vasco da Gama) 15 MF  ESP Alfredo Santaelena (to Sevilla)

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  ESP Nando (to Sevilla) 22 FW  FRA Mickaël Madar (to Everton) 26 FW  ESP David Fernández (on loan to Sevilla)

Out on loan for the full season

Source:^[13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 MF  ESP Emilio Viqueira (on loan at Campomaiorense)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  BRA Renaldo (on loan at Corinthians)

Transfers

^[13][14]

In

#	Pos	Player	From	Notes
Summer
5	MF	Djalminha	Palmeiras
9	FW	Luizão	Palmeiras
18	FW	Salaheddine Bassir	Al Hilal SFC
19	DF	Luis Miguel Ramis	Sevilla
25	GK	Peter Rufai	Hércules
Winter
8	MF	Mustapha Hadji	Sporting CP
11	FW	Sergio Martínez	Boca Juniors	[15]
12	MF	Lionel Scaloni	Estudiantes	405 million Pta[16]
23	FW	Sebastián Abreu	San Lorenzo
26	FW	David Fernández	Sevilla	Loan return

Out

#	Pos	Player	To	Notes
Summer
1	GK	Petr Kouba	1. FC Kaiserslautern
5	DF	Miroslav Đukić	Valencia	Free
11	FW	Rivaldo	Barcelona	4 billion Pta ($26 million)[17]
18	FW	Txiki Begiristain	Urawa Red Diamonds
19	DF	José Luis Ribera	Rayo Vallecano
21	MF	Rafael Martín Vázquez	Atlético Celaya
22	FW	Renaldo	Corinthians	Loan
26	FW	David Fernández	Sevilla	Loan
27	MF	Emilio Viqueira	Campomaiorense	Loan
Winter
8	MF	Corentin Martins	Strasbourg
9	FW	Luizão	Vasco da Gama
15	MF	Alfredo Santaelena	Sevilla
17	DF	Nando	Sevilla
22	FW	Mickaël Madar	Everton	Free[18]

Statistics

Last updated on 14 April 2021.^[3][19][20]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		La Liga		Copa del Rey		UEFA Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
13	GK	CMR	Jacques Songo'o	36	0	31	0	3	0	2	0
2	DF	ESP	Armando Álvarez	36	2	31+1	2	2	0	2	0
4	DF	MAR	Noureddine Naybet	33	4	31	4	0	0	2	0
14	DF	ESP	Paco Jémez	34	0	28+1	0	4	0	1	0
21	DF	FRA	Jérôme Bonnissel	33	0	26+1	0	4	0	2	0
10	MF	ESP	Fran	40	4	35	4	3	0	2	0
6	MF	BRA	Mauro Silva	34	0	30+1	0	1	0	2	0
16	MF	BRA	Flávio Conceição	31	3	26+1	3	2	0	2	0
20	MF	ESP	Donato	33	2	22+8	1	3	1	0	0
5	MF	BRA	Djalminha	31	10	26	8	3	1	2	1
18	FW	MAR	Salaheddine Bassir	24	6	13+8	5	2	1	1	0
25	GK	NGA	Peter Rufai	9	0	6+2	0	1	0	0	0
12	MF	ARG	Lionel Scaloni	22	2	18	2	3+1	0	0	0
3	DF	POR	Hélder	19	1	13+2	1	3	0	1	0
23	FW	URU	Sebastián Abreu	18	4	12+3	3	3	1	0	0
19	DF	ESP	Luis Miguel Ramis	22	1	11+7	1	4	0	0	0
8	MF	MAR	Mustapha Hadji	10	0	8+2	0	0	0	0	0
7	FW	ESP	Javier Manjarín	8	0	7+1	0	0	0	0	0
33	DF	ESP	Pablo Pinillos	9	0	4+3	0	0+2	0	0	0
32	FW	ESP	Maikel	10	1	3+7	1	0	0	0	0
11	FW	URU	Sergio Martínez	6	0	1+2	0	3	0	0	0
28	GK	ESP	Dani Mallo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	DF	ESP	José Manuel Aira	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
30	FW	ESP	Deus	8	0	0+5	0	0+1	0	0+2	0
31	MF	ESP	Carlos Padín	2	0	1+1	0	0	0	0	0
34	MF	ESP	Diego Pérez Míguez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	DF	ESP	Toni	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
	GK	POR	Nuno Espírito Santo	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	VEN	Carlos García	7	1	1+6	1	0	0	0	0
Players who have left the club after the start of the season:
8	MF	FRA	Corentin Martins	4	0	3	0	0	0	1	0
9	FW	BRA	Luizão	15	4	13	4	0	0	2	0
15	MF	ESP	Alfredo Santaelena	10	0	3+7	0	0	0	0	0
17	DF	ESP	Nando	9	0	6+3	0	0	0	0	0
22	FW	FRA	Mickaël Madar	7	3	3+4	3	0	0	0	0
26	FW	ESP	David Fernández	13	0	4+7	0	0+2	0	0	0

Competitions

La Liga

Main article: 1997–98 La Liga

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
10	Espanyol	38	12	17	9	44	31	+13	53	Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round
11	Valladolid	38	13	11	14	36	47	−11	50
12	Deportivo La Coruña	38	12	13	13	44	46	−2	49
13	Zaragoza	38	12	12	14	45	53	−8	48
14	Racing Santander	38	12	9	17	46	55	−9	45[a]

Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. RAC: 8 pts; SAL: 4 pts → SAL 2-0 TEN; TEN: 4 pts → TEN 2-0 SAL

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38
Deportivo La Coruña	12	13	16	11	11	15	14	14	15	16	12	13	15	14	14	15	17	17	17	14	14	14	11	12	13	12	14	13	14	11	13	12	12	11	12	13	13	12

	Play-off relegation to 1998–99 Segunda División

Source: LFP 1-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-20

Matches

Tenerife v Deportivo La Coruña

31 August 1997 1	Tenerife	0 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
	Felipe Miñambres Jokanović Juanele Makaay Robaina	Report	Conceição Nando	Stadium: Heliodoro Rodríguez López Referee: Celino Gracia Redondo

Deportivo La Coruña v Mallorca

7 September 1997 2	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 1	Mallorca	A Coruña, Spain
	Campo 44' (o.g.) Nando Naybet Ramis	Report	43' Moya Campo Olaizola Stanković	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Alfonso Pérez

Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruña

13 September 1997 3	Barcelona	2 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Barcelona, Spain
	Enrique 23' Anderson 87' Nadal Sergi	Report	89' Luizão Fran	Stadium: Camp Nou Referee: Arturo Daudén Ibáñez

Deportivo La Coruña v Racing Santander

27 September 1997 4	Deportivo La Coruña	4 – 1	Racing Santander	A Coruña, Spain
	Luizão 31', 67' (pen.) Djalminha 43' (pen.) Conceição 87' Silva	Report	17' Beschastnykh Ceballos Merino Sánchez Jara	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Manuel Mejuto González

Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña

5 October 1997 5	Real Madrid	0 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Madrid, Spain
	Carlos Karanka Seedorf	Report	Jémez Luizão Naybet Songo'o	Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Valladolid

15 October 1997 6	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 3	Real Valladolid	A Coruña, Spain
	Hélder 3' Luizão Naybet	Report	14' (pen.), 28' Peternac 33' Víctor Carlos Gutiérrez Manga Quevedo	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: José Victor Esquinas Torres

Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo La Coruña

18 October 1997 7	Athletic Bilbao	1 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Bilbao, Spain
	González 54' Ríos	Report	69' Naybet Djalminha Luizão	Stadium: San Mamés Referee: Juan Ansuátegui Roca

Deportivo La Coruña v Celta Vigo

25 October 1997 8	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 1	Celta Vigo	A Coruña, Spain
	Luizão 31' Armando Álvarez Fran Naybet Silva	Report	37' Salinas Mostovoi Revivo	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Juan Brito Arceo

Real Oviedo v Deportivo La Coruña

2 November 1997 9	Real Oviedo	1 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Oviedo, Spain
	Rivas 53' Berto Onopko	Report	89' Madar Conceição Hélder	Stadium: Estadio Carlos Tartiere Referee: José Luis Prados García

Deportivo La Coruña v Mérida

9 November 1997 10	Deportivo La Coruña	0 – 1	Mérida	A Coruña, Spain
	Bonnissel Fran Jémez Naybet	Report	84' Gabrich Momparlet	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Juan Fernández Marín

Real Zaragoza v Deportivo La Coruña

12 November 1997 11	Real Zaragoza	1 – 2	Deportivo La Coruña	Zaragoza, Spain
	Yordi 51' Gilmar	Report	17' Djalminha 89' Fran Bonnissel Manjarín	Stadium: La Romareda Referee: Eduardo Iturralde González

Deportivo La Coruña v Espanyol

16 November 1997 12	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 1	Espanyol	A Coruña, Spain
	Donato 13' Armando Álvarez Hélder Maikel Naybet	Report	5' Arteaga   Gâlcă Pacheta Pochettino	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Carlos Megía Dávila

Real Betis v Deportivo La Coruña

23 November 1997 13	Real Betis	1 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Seville, Spain
	Alexis Trujillo 72' (pen.) Jaime Olías Vidaković	Report	Armando Álvarez   Djalminha Jémez	Stadium: Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Referee: José Manuel Andradas Asurmendi

Deportivo La Coruña v Atlético Madrid

30 November 1997 14	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 2	Atlético Madrid	A Coruña, Spain
	Madar 39' Naybet 85' Armando Álvarez Donato	Report	8' Lardín 80' Andrei Frascarelli Aguilera Bejbl Prodan	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Luis Ruiz Campo

Salamanca v Deportivo La Coruña

7 December 1997 15	Salamanca	4 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Salamanca, Spain
	Pauleta 65', 70', 89' Brito 79'	Report	16' Madar Armando Álvarez Hélder	Stadium: Helmántico Stadium Referee: Fernando Carmona Méndez

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Sociedad

14 December 1997 16	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 1	Real Sociedad	A Coruña, Spain
	Fran 8' Luizão	Report	42' Gracia Adepoju de Pedro Gómez Imaz	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Celino Gracia Redondo

Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña

18 December 1997 17	Valencia	1 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Valencia, Spain
	Vlaović 54' Farinós Ortega	Report	Naybet Ramis Silva	Stadium: Mestalla Stadium Referee: Manuel Mejuto González

Compostela v Deportivo La Coruña

21 December 1997 18	Compostela	0 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Santiago de Compostela, Spain
	Chiba Passi	Report	Bassir Bonnissel Jémez Madar	Stadium: Estadio Multiusos de San Lázaro Referee: José Losantos Omar

Deportivo La Coruña v Sporting de Gijón

4 January 1998 19	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 1	Sporting de Gijón	A Coruña, Spain
	Naybet 70' Abreu 85' Fran Silva Songo'o	Report	24' Fernández Mingo Nikiforov Tomás Hervás Trotta Villarroya	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Arturo Daudén Ibáñez

Deportivo La Coruña v Tenerife

11 January 1998 20	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 0	Tenerife	A Coruña, Spain
	Djalminha 87' Silva	Report	Paz Slovák	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Manuel Mejuto González

Mallorca v Deportivo La Coruña

18 January 1998 21	Mallorca	0 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Palma de Mallorca, Spain
	Campo	Report	Conceição Pinillos	Stadium: Lluís Sitjar Referee: Juan Ansuátegui Roca

Deportivo La Coruña v Barcelona

25 January 1998 22	Deportivo La Coruña	3 – 1	Barcelona	A Coruña, Spain
	Fran 3'   Abreu 75' Djalminha 84'	Report	85' (o.g.) Donato Sergi	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: José Manuel Andradas Asurmendi

Racing Santander v Deportivo La Coruña

1 February 1998 23	Racing Santander	0 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Santander, Spain
	Abeijón López Sietes	Report	55' Scaloni Abreu Armando Álvarez Conceição Naybet	Stadium: El Sardinero Referee: Juan Fernández Marín

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Madrid

8 February 1998 24	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 2	Real Madrid	A Coruña, Spain
	Fran 10' Djalminha 21' Armando Álvarez Jémez Ramis Scaloni	Report	19' Víctor Sánchez 78' Morientes Jaime	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Juan Brito Arceo

Real Valladolid v Deportivo La Coruña

14 February 1998 25	Real Valladolid	1 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Valladolid, Spain
	Peternac 52' Klimowicz Lozano Peña Santamaría	Report	Armando Álvarez Fernández Pinillos	Stadium: José Zorrilla Referee: Miguel Pérez Lasa

Deportivo La Coruña v Athletic Bilbao

22 February 1998 26	Deportivo La Coruña	3 – 0	Athletic Bilbao	A Coruña, Spain
	Armando Álvarez 56' Maikel 59' García 85' Conceição	Report	Nagore	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Celino Gracia Redondo

Celta Vigo v Deportivo La Coruña

1 March 1998 27	Celta Vigo	2 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	Vigo, Spain
	Mostovoi 70' Ramis 72' (o.g.) Ito Mazinho Sánchez Vales	Report	6' Ramis Abreu Naybet	Stadium: Balaídos Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Oviedo

8 March 1998 28	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 1	Real Oviedo	A Coruña, Spain
	Abreu 31' Djalminha 83'	Report	65' González Bento Dely Valdés Gamboa Manel Pompei	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: José Japón Sevilla

Mérida v Deportivo La Coruña

15 March 1998 29	Mérida	1 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Mérida, Spain
	Cléber Arado 31' Hoyas Molina Ruano Sabas Sierra	Report	Abreu Armando Álvarez Conceição Pinillos Songo'o	Stadium: Estadio Romano Referee: José Victor Esquinas Torres

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Zaragoza

22 March 1998 30	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 1	Real Zaragoza	A Coruña, Spain
	Conceição 8' Bassir 66' Abreu	Report	80' Aguado Sundgren	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Juan Ansuátegui Roca

Espanyol v Deportivo La Coruña

29 March 1998 31	Espanyol	2 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Barcelona, Spain
	Esnáider 17' (pen.) Pralija 62' Cobos Gâlcă Pochettino	Report	Naybet	Stadium: Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc Referee: Carmelo Rodríguez Martel

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Betis

4 April 1998 32	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 0	Real Betis	A Coruña, Spain
	Djalminha 52' Bassir 80' Conceição	Report	Cuéllar   Olías	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Carlos Megía Dávila

Atlético Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña

11 April 1998 33	Atlético Madrid	3 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Madrid, Spain
	Mari 2' Jémez 20' (o.g.) Santi 44' (pen.) Andrei Frascarelli Pantić Ramón	Report	Abreu Armando Álvarez Ramis Scaloni	Stadium: Vicente Calderón Stadium Referee: José Luis Prados García

Deportivo La Coruña v Salamanca

19 April 1998 34	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 0	Salamanca	A Coruña, Spain
	Bassir 58' Scaloni	Report	Pavličić	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Miguel Pérez Lasa

Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruña

27 April 1998 35	Real Sociedad	1 – 1	Deportivo La Coruña	San Sebastián, Spain
	Cvitanović 50' de Paula Mild	Report	24' Armando Álvarez Bonnissel Djalminha	Stadium: Anoeta Referee: Antonio López Nieto

Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia

2 May 1998 36	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 2	Valencia	A Coruña, Spain
	Scaloni 81' Bassir Silva	Report	65' (pen.), 89' Mendieta Carboni	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: José María García-Aranda

Deportivo La Coruña v Compostela

10 May 1998 37	Deportivo La Coruña	2 – 6	Compostela	A Coruña, Spain
	Naybet 36' Djalminha 39' (pen.) Abreu Fran Scaloni	Report	16', 50', 55' Sion 32' Bellido 52' Fabiano 73' Juan Viedma Nacho	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Referee: Eduardo Iturralde González

Sporting de Gijón v Deportivo La Coruña

16 May 1998 38	Sporting de Gijón	0 – 3	Deportivo La Coruña	Gijón, Spain
	Kaiku Mingo Otero	Report	5', 55' Bassir 89' Conceição Donato   Naybet	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Fernando Carmona Méndez

Copa del Rey

Main article: 1997–98 Copa del Rey

  Win   Draw   Loss

Round	Opponent	Aggregate	First leg			Second leg
			Venue	Result	Ref	Venue	Result	Ref
Round of 16	Osasuna	3–1	A	1–0	[21]	H	2–1	[22]
Quarter-finals	Deportivo Alavés	1–3	A	1–3	[23]	H	0–0	[24]

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1997–98 UEFA Cup

First round

Deportivo La Coruña v Auxerre

16 September 1997 First leg	Deportivo La Coruña	1 – 2	Auxerre	A Coruña, Spain
21:00	Djalminha 87' Luizão  26' Armando Álvarez  64' Silva  87'	Report 1 Report 2	72' Diomède 84' Guivarc'h  24' Goma  40' Lamouchi  60' Sibierski	Stadium: Estadio Riazor Attendance: 24,000 Referee: Georg Dardenne (Germany)

Auxerre v Deportivo La Coruña

30 September 1997 Second leg	Auxerre	0 – 0	Deportivo La Coruña	Auxerre, France
20:00	Ciechelski  30' Silvestre  88'	Report 1 Report 2	24' Conceição  57' Armando Álvarez  68' Jémez	Stadium: Stade Abbé-Deschamps Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)

Auxerre won 2–1 on aggregate