Being promoted to a top European division is widely acknowledged as a transitional time for most clubs, with many struggling to survive and heading straight back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

That grim fate does not appear to be on the cards for Villarreal CF, who returned to La Liga this term after a 12-month stint in the Segunda Division. El Submarino Amarillo have looked like they have never been away from top-flight action this season, sitting pretty in fourth place in the league after ten games.

It has been quite the journey for the El Madrigal faithful since the Castellón-based side made their debut in Spain’s top flight back in 1998.

Instant relegation and an immediate return was followed by a period of consolidation. From there the side rose to become one of Spain’s most-entertaining and respected sides, competing in the Champions League and possessing world-class players in their team.

An unfortunate but notable demise followed in 2011-12, with the club being relegated, despite a fourth-placed finish the season before.

In their 13 completed seasons in La Liga, Villarreal have finished as high as second and third. In 2007-08, the Yellow Submarine finished ten points ahead of Barcelona.

In Europe, Villarreal were a constant fixture in the Champions and Europa League’s for the bulk of the mid-to-late 2000’s, reaching the semi-finals of the top competition in 2006.

Some fantastic players have graced the stage at El Madrigal, none more so than Juan Román Riquelme. An iconic player of the 2000’s generation, the unparalleled skill and poise of the Argentine midfielder is synonomous with the good days at Villarreal, and it is widely acknowledged that the playmaker’s best days were at the club.

Other notable players to have donned the yellow of the club include Giuseppe Rossi, Diego Forlán, Marcos Senna and Martín Palermo.

Despite the exodus of the likes of Rossi, Nilmar, Borja Valero and current Real Madrid number one Diego López after the side was relegated in 2011-12, a rebuilding process has been led by boss Marcelino García Toral.

Villarreal have won six of their first ten La Liga fixtures this term, including an excellent 4-1 victory over Valencia at the weekend. Some players, such as influential defender Mateo Musacchio, have been to the Segunda Division and back with the club, while new faces like Giovani Dos Santos have added quality to the cause. The former Barcelona and Tottenham man has netted six goals already this season.

El Madrigal seems transformed back to the heady days of the late 2000’s, where many domestic and European opponents fell victim to a dominant host. The attacking brand of football has captivated the home faithful once more, with Villarreal scoring 19 goals already this term – only one less than Real Madrid.

It remains to be seen just how the rest of the season will pan out for the newly promoted side, but the dark clouds seem to have left El Madrigal. The Castellón-based outfit have a rich recent history to live up to, but the early signs from their promotion back to La Liga are overwhelmingly positive.