2000's

2000's

Sporting excellence

Club Atlético Osasuna entered the new millennium in the Primera División, thanks to the leadership of President Javier Miranda and Head Coach Miguel Ángel Lotina, who helped the club maintain its status in the division. Fans will never forget the moment when the president was taken to the ocean at Playa de La Concha after securing their place in the league during the last match of the season at Anoeta. John Aloisi’s crucial goal kept Osasuna above the relegation zone in the second-to-last game of the year at San Mamés.

In May 2002, Pachi Izco became the club president after defeating Juan Manuel Pedreño and Miguel Ángel Jaime in the elections. During his tenure, the club reached new heights, although years later, irregularities during his mandate jeopardized its stability. Izco placed his trust in Javier Aguirre, who had led Mexico to the round of 16 in the 2002 World Cup. This decision proved to be a wise one, as 'El Vasco' guided the team for four seasons, achieving impressive accomplishments. One of his memorable nights was in April 2004, when Osasuna defeated the 'Galácticos' 3-0 at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. However, even greater successes were ahead.

On June 11, 2005, Osasuna reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time in its history. Los Rojillos lost 2-1 to Real Betis, despite forcing extra time with Aloisi's equalizer in the last 10 minutes. Dani scored the game-winner just before penalties. The road to the final was memorable, too, as Osasuna defeated Atlético de Madrid after holding on to their 1-0 lead in the second leg, with Valdo scoring the decisive goal at El Sadar.

The disappointment of not winning the title was compounded when Stade Rennes eliminated the team in the UEFA Cup playoff, 3-1 and 0-0. Additionally, during the summer, Osasuna lost a key player as Uruguayan Pablo García joined Real Madrid. Nevertheless, the team rebounded and continued to make history with key players like Savo Milosevic, Patxi Puñal, César Cruchaga, and Ludovic Delporte, alongside international goalkeeper Ricardo López, central defender Carlos Cuéllar, Iranian legend Javad Nekounam, and homegrown talent Raúl García.

The 2005-06 season is recorded as perhaps the best in Osasuna's history. The club finished fourth, matching their achievement from the 1990-91 season, while even contending for first place until the very last match of the first half of the season. They were particularly formidable at El Sadar, winning their first nine league matches there. The season concluded with a 2-1 victory over Valencia at home, with goals from Milosevic and David López, earning the team their first and only participation in the Champions League.

Between 2005 and 2008, Osasuna enjoyed impressive seasons, reaching the Copa del Rey final, qualifying for the Champions League after finishing fourth, and advancing to the semifinals of the UEFA Cup

However, their Champions League experience was short-lived. El Cuco Ziganda took over as coach after Aguirre left for Atlético de Madrid. In the qualifying round, Osasuna was drawn against Hamburger SV, featuring stars like Van de Vaart, Kompany, and De Jong. Ziganda made a surprising decision to give Nacho Monreal his debut in the first leg in Germany, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite taking the lead at El Sadar with a goal from Cuéllar, the match ended in a tie, and Osasuna missed out on the Champions League due to the away goals rule. Nevertheless, their European journey continued that season.

Los Rojillos rebounded from that setback and achieved their best-ever European run. In the UEFA Cup, hopes soared as they progressed through each round. After the qualifying stage, they faced Parma in the group stage and secured a 3-0 victory on the road. In the round of 32, Nekounam led the team to eliminate Bordeaux in extra time, with a 0-0 draw and a 1-0 win. In the round of 16, Osasuna returned to Glasgow and knocked out Rangers with a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 win. In the quarterfinals, Cuéllar, David López, and Webó delivered a stellar performance against Bayer Leverkusen, winning 0-3 and 1-0. Their remarkable run came to an end in the semifinals, where Raúl García scored the winner against Sevilla in the first leg, but the Andalusians triumphed 2-0 in the second leg.

Notably, in that year, Osasuna was named Club of the Month by the IFFHS after winning four consecutive league matches and one in the UEFA Cup. 

After reaching such heights, the team faced a reality check and returned to the fight to avoid relegation. In the following two seasons, Osasuna struggled for survival, with the 2008-09 season being particularly dramatic. José Antonio Camacho took over as coach after Ziganda was dismissed. With two matches left in the season, Osasuna needed victories against both Barcelona and Real Madrid to ensure safety—and they accomplished this feat with a 1-0 win at Camp Nou, thanks to a goal from Pandiani, and a 2-1 victory at El Sadar, highlighted by an unforgettable volley from Juanfran.