Forty years later, Levante returned to the First Division. It was in the 2003-2004 season with Manuel Preciado as the driver of the azulgrana ship tied to the bench. Levante crowned the classification in the Silver Division in an outstanding season. The trophy is part of the furniture located in the Ciutat de València’s noble area.
The Champions Cup evokes a legendary milestone in the centenary history of the institution. It was the second promotion to the top flight of Spanish football for the Azulgrana team. The main and notable difference with the leap undertaken at the end of the 1962-1963 season was that Levante reached the elite with the status of Second Division champions.
The transit took place at the Chapín Stadium in Xerez on a June afternoon in 2004 (1-2). Reggi and Rivera turned the scoreboard upside down after Canito’s goal. Levante celebrated a long-awaited promotion to the First Division. Four decades of disappointment and uncertainty were behind them.
Manuel Preciado’s Levante were the epitome of consistency in a sharp ecosystem. With the exception of the third matchday of the league competition, they were always among the top three in the table. On matchday 37, he retook the lead, which he never relinquished. Levante scored 79 points after 22 wins, 13 draws and 7 defeats.