levante ud was formerly registered as levante football club on 9 september 1909 (celebrating its 100th anniversary on 9 september 2009). levante union deportiva (football club) has the eastern region of the iberian peninsula as its namesake. levante is spain's east coast, the coast where the sun always rises (rise in spanish being levantar). levante ud's name is likewise attributed to the levant wind that comes from the east and reminiscent of the levante beach in la malvarrosa, where levante football club (as levante union deportiva was originally named) clashed some of its earliest fixtures. historically backed, levante union deportiva is the most senior football club in valencia. local rival team valencia cf was not formed until 1919.