2023 in 12 months: CD Castellon's highlights of the year
As 2023 comes to a close, let’s have a quick look back at the year in world of CD Castellon, highlighting one big moment for each month.
JANUARY: The arrival of Jesus
While the appointment of Albert Rude as the (permanent) replacement of Ruben Torrecilla was of course significant for the rest of the season, the impact of the signing of Jesus De Miguel on deadline day will be even more so long term. After scoring four goals in eleven games in his first half season, Castellon’s number nine has gone from good to amazing in his first full season, notching up 12 goals in 17 appearances. He has stood out as the best striker in the Primera RFEF, and made the 100k transfer fee that Castellon paid look like a total steal. Along with Haris Medunjanin, he has arguably been Castellon’s best player in 23/24, and having signed a new deal until 2026, will hopefully also feature extensively in the second division, should the club achieve its objectives.
FEBRUARY: Eldense fall at Castalia
In what was possibly Castellon’s best result of the season (excluding the Deportivo game, more on that later), eventual promotion-winners Eldense fell 2-0 at Castalia, as goals from Cristian and Kochorashvili gave the home side all three points. In the end, it wasn’t enough to finish ahead of the azulgranas, but it sent a statement to the rest of the league and showed the ability of the squad.
MARCH: Defensive solidity
March and especially April were arguably Castellon’s worst months on the pitch, so there was not much to write home about. Only one 1-0 win against Alcoyano, and a loss to Amorebieta, alongside three draws. At least the team was defensively quite solid, with three clean sheets in the four games played.
APRIL: The emergence of Jeremy De Leon
Very little positive could be said about general team performance in April, with back-to-back losses to Calahorra and Sabadell. However Jeremy De Leon emerged as arguably Castellon’s best player that month, and established himself as a first team regular. His late winner against UD Logrones was a great reward for his efforts.
MAY: Undefeated and securing third place
May saw an improvement as Castellon closed out the “regular” season. The team went undefeated and secured its spot in the playoffs, but there was certainly still a lack of goals and only one win to show for it against SD Logrones.
JUNE: The greatest football match I have ever witnessed
In the end, Castellon didn’t get the promotion they wanted, falling at the last hurdle in the playoffs against Alcorcon. However what Castellon fans did get to enjoy was probably the greatest game of football any albinegro has ever seen, against Deportivo at Castalia. In game with more drama and twists than a Mexican soap opera, David Cubillas’s header deep in extra time gave Castellon the 4-3 win and sent them through to the playoff final. Seven goals, a red card, a missed penalty. It was a game for the ages and one I will never forget.
JULY: The Dutch-Bosnian revolution
Although Dick Schreuder was technically appointed at the end of June, Haris Medunjanin’s arrival was confirmed mid-July, and the duo haven’t looked back. Castellon made other significant summer signings, such as stopper Gonzalo Crettaz, but the tandem of manager Dick and player Haris has pushed Castellon to new heights, and they have gone on to achieve deity-like status in the city, with hopefully much more still to come.
AUGUST: A statement win
With a pre-season of learning and adapting more than winning, not all fans were confident going into the season opener against the recently relegated Malaga. However any doubts were soon forgotten, as the home side got a statement win at Castalia and sent a strong message to the rest of the league, with Jesus de Miguel getting the late winner.
SEPTEMBER: The steamroller gets going
The month that everyone truly understood how good Castellon were. The month that anyone who had predicted Castellon as merely a playoff team threw their predictions in the bin, or pretended they had known all along. Fourteen goals in five games, including a 5-1 win at home against Merida.
OCTOBER: Impressive wins against Ceuta and Real Madrid Castilla
Although the first loss of the season arrived at the end of October, the form continued to be exceptional, with wins against Ceuta and Real Madrid Castilla in particular standing out. The trip to Ceuta was the hardest one of the season logistically, and despite going behind, the team battled back to win with goals from Medunjanin, Villahermosa and Cristian.
NOVEMBER: Responding well to defeats
November was a month of answers after losses. After losing to San Fernando in the last game of November, the team responded with three straight wins, including an impressive away victory against Recreativo Granada. When the second loss of the season came against Ibiza, there was another statement response against Linares at home, 4-1. This Castellon side showed not only that they can win, but also recover well from defeats.
DECEMBER: Keeping the perfect home record
With home wins against Linares and Real Murcia, Castellon finished the year top of the league and with a perfect home record. Nine games, nine wins. Not just that, of those nine wins, only two were by a one goal margin. Castalia is by far the worst place for any team to visit in the Primera RFEF, and the team will want to keep it that way going into 2024.