Bebeto celebrates Deportivo's return to top flight: "It's where they should never have left"

Bebeto, Deportivo's legendary 1990s striker, celebrated the club's return to La Liga after eight years away, calling it their rightful place.

José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known as Bebeto, was inducted into the International Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class in Pachuca, Mexico. The Brazilian striker, who scored over 100 goals for Deportivo La Coruña during the club's golden era in the 1990s and won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994, reflected on his time at the Galician club and its recent promotion back to La Liga after an eight-year absence.

"La Coruña will always be in my heart," Bebeto told AS. "They have returned to the top flight — it's where they should never have left. Deportivo belongs in the first division!" He credited the club's success during his era to the collective effort, particularly praising manager Arsenio Iglesias, whom he described as "like a father."

Bebeto finished the 1992-93 season as Pichichi (top scorer) with 29 goals in 37 matches and remains Deportivo's third all-time leading goalscorer with 102 goals.