Founded in 1976 asGimnástico Melilla Club de Fútbol after a merger ofMelilla CF andClub Gimnástico de Cabrerizas,[2] the club immediately took Cabrerizas' place inTercera División. RenamedUnión Deportiva Melilla (as an honour to the club founded in the 1940s) in 1980, it reachedSegunda División B in 1987.
The Ceuta-Melilla derby was between Melilla andAD Ceuta, who were dissolved in 2012. The two clubs travelled to face each other via theSpanish mainland to avoid entering Morocco.[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Their reserve team,UD Melilla B, played for several years inPrimera Autonómica Melilla and inTercera División before ceasing activities in 2012. In 2013,Casino del Real CF became their reserve side, and was subsequently renamed to Melilla B in 2014.