The city is the birthplace of Francisco de Asís Tárrega y Eixea (21 November 185215 December 1909) who was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist of the Romantic period. He is also the composer of "Gran Vals", an excerpt of which was used in a popular Nokia ringtone. In modern times Vila-real is well known for its football club that bears the city's name, a club that in spite of the city's small size has played a semi final in the Champions League and finished among the top teams in Spain on several occasions.