Leganés, the Spanish football club owned by former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, accomplished a remarkable feat by securing promotion to LaLiga. This victory came four years after being relegated and two years after Luhnow’s investment group took charge of the modest club based in a neighborhood in southern Madrid. Leganés clinched the second-division title by defeating Elche 2-0, finishing the season with an impressive 74 points from 42 matches.
Valladolid, another notable club owned by former Brazil great Ronaldo, narrowly missed out on automatic promotion. Despite Valladolid’s loss to Tenerife, Leganés managed to edge them by two points in the final standings. Eibar, on the other hand, fell short by just one point, finishing behind Valladolid. The top two spots for automatic promotion were claimed by Leganés and Valladolid, while Eibar will now have to navigate through the playoffs along with Oviedo, Sporting Gijon, and Espanyol.
Luhnow’s Blue Crow Sports Group, which includes investors from various countries including the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has played a significant role in Leganés’ resurgence. The club, previously owned by a local couple since 2008, has undergone a transformation under Luhnow’s ownership. Taking over a debt-ridden team playing in the third division, the new ownership steered Leganés to their first-ever promotion to LaLiga in 2016.
Despite facing challenges, Leganés had its moments of glory, notably defeating powerhouse Real Madrid and reaching the semifinals of the Copa del Rey during the 2017-18 season. This remarkable journey showcases the resilience and determination of the club under new ownership. However, Luhnow’s tenure has also been marred by controversies, with both him and Astros manager AJ Hinch receiving one-year suspensions from Major League Baseball for their involvement in a sign-stealing scandal during the Astros’ 2017 World Series-winning campaign and the subsequent season in 2018.