WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS (1965 - 1988)

Real Oviedo’s return to Second Division meant the onset of a really long grey period in the history of the Carbayón football club. For more than two decades, Real Oviedo would not manage to excel in any aspect of the game. Therefore, they had a long dull spell in the second tier of Spanish football, far from that team which used to be a tough contender in the battle for promotion. Apart from few exceptions, Real Oviedo had as their main concern not to get relegated to Third Division, but given these conditions their gradually declining performances lead to a relegation play-off in 1971. Fortunately, Real Oviedo beat Palencia to secure their stay in the second tier.

After overcoming that ordeal, in the early 1970s the Blues would return to the top flight in brief spells reminding the ups and downs from the 1950s as they could only remain at the top in the 1972-1973 season. However, the only outstanding fact was that Real Oviedo would get to score their thousandth goal in the first tier, the striker Marianín would net it with an amazing header against Atlético Madrid at Vicente Calderón Stadium on 28th January 1973.

All those few years switching between Second and First Division would give way to a time when they would hit rock bottom in the late 1970s. Real Oviedo would get an all-time low in the 1978-1979 as they were relegated to the third tier of the Spanish football: a newly created division coined as 2ndB. However, that unfortunate spell would only last for one season as they got back to Second Division the following season only to become a low-profile squad that could only aim to avoid relegation in the seasons to come, something that they narrowly did on some occasions.

Amid a worrying lack of any outstanding successes, the only relief happened when in the 1984-1985 season, Real Oviedo won their only silverware to this day: the Second Division League Cup, beating  Atlético Madrid reserves after a spotless run during that competition. Though it was minor official championship, that title enabled the Blues to play against First Division sides the following season, a dubious honour for a squad whose urges were based on their necessity to return to the top flight as soon as possible. However, against all odds, Real Oviedo would get promoted in 1988, when they least expected it.  The plan was to build up a team not to be promoted overnight, but to rise above in the long run with their former manager from the mid-70s, Vicente Miera, now in charge.