When people talk about sport in León, it’s impossible not to mention Ademar León, a club that has carried the city’s name all over Spain and Europe thanks to its handball success. From its foundation in 1956 to the present day, Ademar has become one of the big teams in the Liga ASOBAL, with an enviable list of honours, golden generations of players and a loyal fan base that fills the Municipal Sports Palace for every game.
The club’s origins from the Marist school to the elite
Ademar León was born thanks to the initiative of a group of former students from the Marist school Colegio Marista San José who, after finishing their school years, wanted to keep playing handball. In 1956, the club was set up as a sports association of Marist alumni. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the team grew in importance within Spanish handball until it established itself in the elite of the sport.
It was not an easy journey. For decades, Ademar competed with far more modest budgets than other handball giants, but made up for it with hard work, a strong youth academy and deep social roots in León. With effort and perseverance, the club went from being a school project to becoming a symbol of the city and an international reference.
The Sports Palace the home of handball in León
The Palacio Municipal de los Deportes de León, with capacity for more than 5,000 spectators, is Ademar’s home. There, fans have witnessed unforgettable matches, thrilling European nights and victories that are now part of the city’s collective memory.
Ademar’s supporters are known throughout Spain for their loyalty and passion. Supporting the team at the Palacio is a unique experience: drums, scarves, chants and an atmosphere that carries the players along and impresses visitors. Thanks to Ademar, León became one of the great handball capitals in Spain, with a level of support that few clubs can match.
Honours of Ademar León
Ademar has not only competed at the highest level, it has also lifted trophies that place it among the most important clubs in the country.
Liga ASOBAL: champions in the 2000–2001 season. This title was the definitive confirmation that Ademar could compete with and beat the giants of Spanish handball.
Copa del Rey: winners in the 2001–2002 season, confirming the club’s excellent sporting moment at the start of the 21st century.
Copa ASOBAL: two-time champions, in 1998–1999 and 2008–2009.
European Cup Winners’ Cup (EHF Cup Winner’s Cup): champions twice, in 1998–1999 and 2004–2005. They were also runners-up in 2000–2001 and 2006–2007.
To these achievements we can add many appearances in European competitions, consolidating Ademar as a regular in international tournaments and one of León’s great sporting ambassadors in the world.
The golden generation
The late 1990s and early 2000s marked Ademar León’s golden era. In the 1998–1999 season, the club achieved a historic double: the Copa ASOBAL and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. That team, coached by Manolo Cadenas, marked a turning point in the history of handball in León.
Names such as José Javier Hombrados, Juanín García, Garralda or Vega became legends. The playing style, the atmosphere at the Palacio and the titles won placed Ademar at the very top of Spanish handball, just behind powerhouses like Barcelona.
That team has been remembered and honoured many times, because it achieved what once seemed impossible placing a club from León at the summit of European handball.
Youth academy and iconic players
One of Ademar’s great strengths has always been its youth academy. From it have emerged players who have left their mark on the sport, such as Juanín García, the all-time top scorer for the Spanish national team and one of the most recognisable names in world handball.
Other star players who passed through the club include Julen Aguinagalde, the Entrerríos brothers, Viran Morros, Garralda and Hombrados. All of them helped Ademar reach extraordinary levels of competitiveness and cement its prestige.
The club also continues to firmly back the development of young talents, which guarantees its continuity and keeps alive the spirit of effort and ambition that has defined it since the very beginning.
The present and future of Ademar
Today, Ademar remains a key club in Liga ASOBAL, regularly taking part in European competitions and keeping its fans’ dreams alive. Although current budgets are not as strong as they were in the golden years, the club is still competitive and a major reference in Spanish handball.
Sponsorship by ABANCA has brought economic stability in recent years, and experienced coaches such as Dani Gordo have helped keep the team in respectable positions. The future challenge is to continue developing players, stay competitive in Spain and, as far as possible, recover the international prominence that has been such an important part of its history.
A club that is part of León
Ademar León is more than just a sports club it is a symbol of the city. Its victories have united generations of locals, its matches have filled bars and squares, and its story is an inseparable part of León’s sporting heritage.
Anyone visiting the city who has the chance to attend a game at the Sports Palace will experience first-hand the spirit of a club that has grown from humble beginnings to rub shoulders with Europe’s elite.
Official website: https://www.ademar.com/
Where to stay to enjoy handball in León
If you want to experience an Ademar match at the Palacio de los Deportes and discover the city at the same time, the best option is to stay in the centre. At León Apartamentos we offer you the perfect location to combine sport and sightseeing you’ll be close to the Cathedral, the Barrio Húmedo and just a short walk from the Sports Palace. Our apartments are modern, comfortable and fully equipped so you can make the most of your cultural and sporting getaway to León.
