Sevilla

180px
Full name	Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D.
Nickname(s)	Sevillistas Los Rojiblancos (Red-Whites) Los nervionenses Los palanganas
Founded	October 14, 1905; 106 years ago  (October 14, 1905)
Ground	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Andalusia, Spain (Capacity: 45,500[1])
Chairman	José María del Nido
Manager	Míchel González[2]
League	La Liga
2011–12	La Liga, 9th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Sevilla Football Club is a Spanish football team organized as a Sporting Limited Association, according to the Spanish law known as "LSAD". It has its headquarters in Seville, the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is currently one of the teams that play in the First Division. Its articles of association were approved on October 14, 1905, being its first president the Jerez-born José Luis Gallegos Arnosa.^[3]

The Stadium "Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán", property of the club, is the scenario that uses the team to play their local official games. It is located in the neighborhood of Nervión and owes its name to who was its President for 17 years. It has a capacity for 45,500 spectators.

The team has in its Honours numerous trophies and qualifications that make it the Andalusian team with most regional, national and international titles. It has been champion of the Spanish League one season, won five Spain Cups (one Republic Cup, two Generalisimo Cups and two King's Cups), two UEFA Cups, a Spain Super Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. The most prestigious honours were obtained in the first decade of the 21st century. It has been campaigning 67 seasons in the First Division and 13 in Second. The Club is located in the seventh position of the historical classification of the Spanish Football League.^[4] They were designated by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics as the best club in the World in 2006 and 2007, having been up to the current date (2012) the only team that has achieved this distinction two years consecutively. A historic long-standing rivalry is maintained with the other team of the city, Real Betis, against whom the club contests in the well-known and intensified Seville derby.

The entity has contributed several players to the Spain national football team throughout their history, from Spencer in 1922 to Jesús Navas, who was part of the team that in 2010 was proclaimed Champion of the World. Sevilla FC has also provided players to other national teams. It also has various teams at lower levels, such as Sevilla Atlético, founded in 1958, that currently plays in the Second Division B, having reached Second Division previously. In 2005 the Centennial of its foundation was celebrated with great amount of social and sporting events, having been, for this occasion, its hymn one of the most popular, the flag that was designed for the anniversary or the special main entrance (gate of access) to the "Feria de Abril" of the above mentioned year, as well as being awarded with the Medal of Andalusia.

History[link]

Pre-1928[link]

Letter published in the newspaper "La Provincia" on 28 February 1890 with the announcement for a game between "Sevilla Foot-ball Club" and Huelva Recreation Club.

The practice of football was introduced in Seville at the end of the 19th century by the large British expatriate population in the city, composed by owners or managers of manufacturing companies based there. It is documented that a match between a team from Seville with Huelva Recreation Club (current Recreativo de Huelva) was held. The roots of football in the city grew and various teams were founded. The oldest of those created in that period that still exists is Sevilla Fútbol Club, founded in 1905 as a 'Football Society'."^[5][6][7]

Seville and Province Official Trade and Industry Guide, 1905.

The articles of association of the Sevilla Football Club were approved by the civil governor of Seville on 14 October 1905 as a culmination of a process that took place after some meetings and assemblies that were held. The first club board of directors was composed by José Luis Gallegos, President; Manuel Jiménez de León, Secretary and Treasurer; Juan Mejías, Samuel Hammick, Manuel Zapata Castañeda and Charles Langdon, as members. The office of the club was settled in the home of the secretary-treasurer at Teodosio St, 14. Shortly after signing the articles of association the Board of Directors met in the "Pasaje de Oriente" (a popular restaurant at the time) at a dinner in which José Luis Gallegos pronounced a speech containing the phrase that eventually became emblematic of Sevilla FC:

All men of any social status, religious or political ideas will here be accommodated.

—José Luis Gallegos, speech after the founding of the club, 1905

The second team to be founded in Seville of which there is evidence dates back to 1909, when its articles of association were approved, although it had already been working as a football club since 1907. It was called Sevilla Balompié. It was formed mainly by sons of military personnel living in Seville, students of the Polytechnical School. On the other hand, Sevilla Balompié suffered that same year a split. As a result, another team was founded and was named Betis Football Club. In 1914, the liberal politician Pedro de la Borbolla y Serrano, delegate of the district of Cazalla de la Sierra, obtained the title of Real (Royal) for Betis. That same year, Sevilla Balompié and the new Real Betis joined permanently, known today as Real Betis Balompié, and being the long-established and therefore the biggest rival in the city.^[8]

First shield of Sevilla FC embroidered on the shirt of a player. Sevilla FC Museum

Soccer ball, (1924). Sevilla FC Museum

During its first years of existence many charity matches against teams of British sailors anchored in the port of Seville were played. Sevilla FC did not have a fixed place to play. Thus, it played, for example, at Tablada Racecourse. On January 30, 1909 it played a charity match against Recreativo de Huelva. In 1910 the Andalusian teams of the time began to play more or less official tournaments. To a semiofficial Andalusian Cup, a Town Hall of Seville Cup was joined.

In 1912, a commission of the most important Andalusian clubs (Recreativo de Huelva, Sevilla Balompié, Betis Foot-ball Club and Sevilla FC) held their first meeting in order to establish an association of clubs. Despite the intentions, it took place without success. The process was not completed and fulfilled until the establishment in 1915 of the Southern Federation, covering Andalusia, Extremadura, Canary Islands and the territories and Spanish possessions in North Africa, giving way to the Andalusian Football Federation.

On 1 January 1923 its new stadium was inaugurated, the "Campo del Mercantil" (Mercantile Stadium), in the municipal areas of el "Prado de San Sebastián", whose transfer for being the playing field of the Sevilla FC was achieved by the president of the club from the Town Hall. The field owed its name to its location behind the Círculo Mercantil (Commercial Circle) booth. On October 21, 1918 a change of stadium took place, passing to the so-called Queen Victoria Stadium ("Reina Victoria" Stadium), in the current Paseo de la Palmera. It held the first match played by the Spanish National Team in Andalusia in 1923.

Sevilla FC won its first official trophy, the Seville Town Hall Cup, in 1913 after winning 2 - 0 to Sevilla Balompié. Sporting successes continued arriving since the official founding of the Andalusian Cup in 1916.^[9]

The Southern Federation was formed in 1915, and the Sevilla FC's Chairman, Paco Alba, became its first President. The federation established the first official regional championship: the Cup of Andalusia, of which 23 editions were played, from 1916 until 1940. Sevilla FC won it in 16 occasions and in 2 he was runner-up. On the other hand, in "Copa del Rey" (only State Competition at the time) the best participation was in 1921, when they reached the semi-finals. The famous front known as "la línea del miedo" ("the line of fear"), composed by Enrique Spencer, Brand, and Escobar, among others, surprised the teams of the era, being the same Enrique Gómez Spencer the first international player Sevilla FC has had.

Sevilla FC played its first match outside Andalusia in 1915, in the capital of Spain, Madrid, against Real Madrid. On two consecutive days, Sevilla FC and Real Madrid played two matches, both won by Madrid.

From 1923 to 1925, the lawyer and liberal politician Manuel Blasco Garzón was President. Appointed as Secretary was President Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, of whom Sevilla's modern stadium bears the name. As regards football itself, Blasco Garzón introduced numerous innovations: he contracted a doctor to attend to the players, separated the positions of captain and trainer and instituted concentrations prior to important matches.

Beginning of the League Competition (1928-1934)[link]

To create the League competition in the 1928-29 season the Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed to compose in First Division ten teams: those six that had gained until that moment the Cup of Spain, three that had been runner-ups without going so far as to gain the championship and another that would go out of a qualifying round between the rest of teams. The final took place between the Sevilla FC and the Racing Santander, disputing double encounter. The Racing won the victory, obtaining the promotion to First Division, while the defeated Sevilla FC remained framed in the Second Division. No Sevillian team played in First Division at the start of the Spanish League.

On 7 October 1928 was inaugurated the last stadium of the Sevilla FC before the actual one: the Stadium of Nervion, in the avenue Eduardo Dato and adjacent to where the current Stadium is, which went down in the history of Sevilla FC like the first one in which a League match was played. The match, of Second Division, was the first derby between Sevilla Football Club and Real Betis Balompié in League, winning 1-2 this last one. This season, Sevilla FC won the Second Division Championship. Nevertheless, the promotion to First Division was not automatic and a match with the last classified of First Division, again the Racing from Santander, was organized. As in the previous occasion, in round knockout matches, Racing won the triumph, achieving permanence.

In 1932, the club lawyer, Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Muñoz took over the Presidency and presided the club until 1941 and, again, between 1948 and 1956. Reducing expenses, attention to the quarry and a careful policy of signings were the most outstanding achievements of his presidency.^[5][7][10] The beginning of Sánchez Pizjuán was, however, complicated, due to the fact that in the season 1932/33 the Sevilla FC was almost relegated to Third Division, after being second to last in the Second Division Championship that season.

Promotion to First Division (1934)[link]

On 18 February 1934, Sevilla FC won promotion to First Division, after beating in Madrid the "Atlético de Madrid" in the final match of the Championship and become leader (in any case, the following season it had been decided that in First Division the teams would be expanded to twelve, which is why the Sevilla FC could have been even second). For this reason numerous followers, "sevillistas," travelled to Madrid, but in the return trip a railroad accident caused nine deaths and more than 50 wounded. As a consequence the celebrations planned by the achieved promotion were suspended. That year Guillermo Campanal and Fede debuted as international players with Spain in the World Cup of Italy. The ideal eleven that achieved this promotion was composed by: Eizaguirre, Deva, Euskalduna, Fede, Segura, Alcázar, Caro, Tache, Campanal, Torrontegui and Tejada.^[11] In the following season, Sevilla FC won the cup of the President of the Republic, first trophy at the national level in his list of winners. In spite of it, during the 1935-36 season Sevilla FC was about to descend again to Second Division, on having been third to last (two teams descended), and achieving the continuation in the last game of the season against Atlético de Madrid.

The Civil War[link]

Due to the Civil War, the League was suspended for three seasons and football practice was under the control of the military authorities, due to the interest of the rebels to maintain the practice of this sport. In Seville, most of the players of the local teams that were in the pro-Franco zone were allowed to continue the practice of the sport, being given destinations in their home city and surroundings. Multiple charitable matches and regional tournaments were played. However, many of the players of the Sevillian teams from other regions of Spain had gone home for the holidays, and some of them who remained on the republican side joined the army. Of the "sevillistas", Campanal was surprised by the outbreak of war in his homeland, Asturias, and after serving in the Republican Army and the fall of the northern front, returned to Seville. Eizaguirre, the goalkeeper, enlisted as a volunteer in the Legion, becoming captain and being wounded several times.^[12]

Between October 1936 and December 1938, Sevilla FC played 66 friendly matches, winning 55.^[13] However, the most important event in the history of Sevilla FC that took place during the Civil War was the acquisition in 1938 of the land where the stadium of Nervión stood, which until then was simply rented. The acquired lot not only included the land occupied by the stadium but also some lands annexed, where two decades later a new stadium would be built.

The First League (1946)[link]

The decade after the Civil War would be one of the most fruitful for Sevilla FC: a League, a sub-championship and two Cups.

After the end of the war, Sevilla FC won the first "Copa del Generalísimo" (its second Cup in Spain), which preserves in property. The League was resumed and in the season 1939-40, the team achieved resounding victories: to FC Barcelona by 11-1, to Valencia CF by 10-3 or to Hercules CF by 8-3. However, the title escaped in the last game, in a tie with the "Hércules". Their forward line, "los stukas" (called in the same way as the devastating German aircraft), scored 216 goals in four seasons. It was formed by: Lopez, Torrontegui, Campanal, Raimundo, Berrocal and Pepillo.^{[7] [14]}

In 1941 Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán left the Presidency of the club to become Manager of the Spanish Football Federation. That year, the decree of February 22 which created the National Delegation of Sports, had placed the Spanish sport under the control of the government, limiting the social functions of the football clubs. The National Delegation, presided by José Moscardó, indirectly appointed the Presidents of the different football clubs (the heads of the different federations were designated and they named the Presidents of the clubs). After the leaving of Sánchez Pizjuán, Antonio Sánchez Ramos occupied temporarily the presidency up to the appointment of Jerónimo Domínguez y Pérez de Vargas, Marquess of Contadero, who was president of the club for six years until the return of Sánchez Pizjuán.^[15]

The good results in League were obtained between 1942 and 1946. Sevilla FC was runner-up in the 1942/43 season and third in the following. In the 1945/46 season the first and only Liga (League) up to now was won.^[16] The Coach of the team was Ramón Encinas and the eleven ideal players of that season were: Busto, Joaquín, Villalonga, Alconero, Félix (Antúnez), Eguiluz, López, Arza, Araujo, Herrera and Campos. In 1948, the club was proclaimed champion of the Spanish Cup for the third time in its history.

The most significant signing of those years was the striker Juan Arza, who, along with Alconero, was several times international player in the Spanish National Team. There was also the debut of the Campanal's nephew, defender Campanal II, with his uncle as trainer. In the 1950-51 season, with Campanal acting as the coach, the team was runner-up in the League.

1950s[link]

Bond issue to build the new stadium (1957)

Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán's bust placed at the stadium.

In the 1952/53 season Campanal II played in the Spanish International Team. For the 1953/54 season coach Helenio Herrera was hired. In the League Competition, Helenio Herrera managed to be 5th in the 1953/54 season, 4th in the 1954/55 and 1955/56 seasons and 2nd in 1956/57. In 1954 the club put the construction of the new stadium out to tender because Nervión Stadium was already small. In the 1954/55 season, Arza was proclaimed best scorer achieving the so-called Pichichi trophy with 28 goals,^[17] and the team was runner-up in the Spanish Cup. In 1955, in order to celebrate the Club's 50th anniversary, a triangular tournament was organized against the French Stade Reims and the Swedish IFK Norrköping, being Sevilla FC the champion in this comptetition.

On 28 October 1956 club President Sánchez-Pizjuán died suddenly. As an appreciation to the deceased leader under whose chairmanship Sevilla FC had won three Copas del Rey, the fans decided that the new stadium to be constructed would be named after him.^[18] In the 1956/57 season the team achieved the runner-up in League, only behind Real Madrid of Di Stefano, what allowed Sevilla FC to compete, for the first time, in the European Cup, due to the fact that Real Madrid had won the previous year that same competition. The team that obtained this sub-championship was formed by Javier (Busto), Valero, Campanal II, Romero, Pepín (Ramoni), Herrera II (Enrique), Pepillo, Arza, Pahuet, Loren and Domenech, being coach Helenio Herrera who left the club at the end of the season.^[19] The following season Sevilla FC went through an absolute contrast. While in the League Sevilla FC was about to descend, saving itself in the last match of the season, in the European Cup it reached the quarter-finals, being defeated by Real Madrid who became eventual Champions.

After the death of the president, Ramón de Carranza assumed the presidency for four years. It is said that he spoke these words at Sánchez Pizjuán's tomb:

"Dear Ramón, now your friends, among who I am honoured to be one, are going to give you Christian burial, and on the following day, giving your body to the ground, we will start working and your dream that the Sevilla FC has a grand stadium will become a reality. Ramón, go in peace to heaven because your wishes will be fulfilled."

Being true to his words, he made obligation bonds amounting to 50 million pesetas and a month and a half after Sánchez-Pizjuán's death, the first stone was placed. The architect was Manuel Muñoz Monasterio, coauthor a few years before of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The stadium was inaugurated on September 7, 1958 in a friendly match against Real Jaén C F. Its first official match was at the opening of the 1958/59 League with victory by 2-4 of the eternal rival Real Betis Balompié.^[20]

Economic and Sport Crisis (1960-1975)[link]

Marcelo Campanal, clearing a ball in the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on 11/15/1961

In the 1960s, Sevilla FC entered an economic crisis due to the debts acquired to build the new stadium, reason for which the club was obliged to the selling of its best players: the first one was Ruiz Sosa, to the Athletico de Madrid; then Francisco Gallego, to the Barcelona Football Club, with great anger among the fans; and the Paraguayan Agüero, to Real Madrid. Part of the adjacent land to the stadium was also sold to a bank.

In the 1967-68 season Sevilla FC descended to Second Division after having spent 31 consecutive seasons in First Division. But the following year the club finished leader in the Second Division, ascending again to First. The eleven players that managed this achievement were: Rodri, Santos Bedoya, Costas, Toni, Pazos, Hita, Berruezo, Bergara, Lebrón, Eloy II and Lora, being the coach Juan Arza and the President of the club Cisneros Palacios.

In the 1969-70 season, an Austrian coach came to the club, Max Merkel, nicknamed "Mister whip" for using very severe and harsh discipline techniques and training purposes.^[21] That season the club finished third in the League competition, and strikers Lora and Hita reached the internationality. However, a short time later, the club again faced a new crisis being relegated in the season 1972/73 back to Second Division, when it reached the lowest classification of its history. The player Pedro Berruezo died suddenly during a match in the "Municipal de Pasarón" Stadium, playing against the Pontevedra Football Club. In the 1973/74 season, proceeding from Gambia, the first black player in the history of the club was incorporated. He would be known as Biri Biri and the fans grew very fond of him. In the 1974/75 season, with Eugenio Montes Cabeza as president and Roque Olsen as trainer, the club obtained again the promotion to First Division and settled in this category with great stability. At the end of the 1970s came from Argentina players such as Héctor Scotta and Daniel Bertoni.^[10][22]

Stability without Titles (1976-1995)[link]

In the 1980s the team included players such as Buyo, Francisco and Pintinho, who scored 4 goals to Ral Zaragoza, the day Manolo Cardo.^[23] made his debut as coach. Directed first by Miguel Muñoz and later by Manolo Cardo the team participated during two consecutive seasons in the UEFA Cup, in 1981/1982 and 1982/83. The players Nimo, Maraver and Diosdado ascended to the first team from the Sevilla Atlético. The 75th anniversary of the club was celebrated with a variety of social events and a match against the Santos Futebol Clube from Brazil.

In 1982, the FIFA World Cup was held in Spain and Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium was one of its main sites. On this occasion, the stadium suffered a major remodeling and improvement of its facilities, especially with the lighting, that made the transmission of night matches for color television possible. Another novelty of the remodeling was the placement of a large mural, work of the sculptor from Córdoba Santiago del Campo. The most out-standing match was the semi-final in which the selection of France was defeated by the German in the midst of a polemic arbitral decision that has remained engraved in the memory of the French.^[24]

In 1984 Eugenio Montes Cabeza finished, after eleven years, his presidency and was replaced by the cattle businessman Gabriel Rojas, who as vice president had worked hard and made a great effort to make possible the finishing of the Satdium. In the 1985/86 season Manolo Cardo ceased as coach after five seasons and Francisco played the World Cup in 1986. In the 1986/87 season Luis Cuervas came to the presidency. In 1987, under the leadership of the coach Javier Azcargorta, new players such as Bengoechea, Dasayev, Polster, Salguero and De la Fuente came to the team. Nevertheless, these reinforcements did not achieve significant progress in the classification of the League and the club accumulated a debt for 900 million pesetas (5, 4 million euros). In the season 1989/90, with Vicente Cantatore as coach, the club obtained a new participation in the UEFA Cup. That year the Austrian striker Polster managed to reach 33 goals, being the "sevillista" player that has achieved the greatest amount of goals in one season.^[7][25]

In the 1992-93 season, after several months of negotiations, Diego Maradona signed from Napoli for a fee of $7.5 million. His time at the club was unsuccesful and he was released, due to his injuries and problems with coach Bilardo.^[26] In the following seasons Luis Aragonés became manager and the team, in one of them, qualified for the UEFA Cup (1994-95).

New Crisis (1995-2001)[link]

In mid-1995 the Spanish law of sport came into force, obligating the teams that had become sporting limited associations to present endorsements as a prevision of debts before 1 August 1995. Sevilla FC and Celta de Vigo could not meet such deadlines, and therefore they were administratively descended to Second Division B. In its place, were promoted to First Division Valladolid and Albacete, and to Second Division Club Deportivo Leganés and Getafe CF, teams that had fallen the previous season for sporting reasons. Tens of thousands of fans of both clubs took the streets repeatedly to defend the interests of their teams. The board of directors of the Sevilla FC confirmed that the endorsements had been presented on time. In the end, the pressure of the fans managed to make the Federation retract itself, although this did not return Valladolid and Albacete to Second Division. Therefore First Division eventually became a competition with 22 teams, which lasted for two years.^[27]

These events led to an institutional instability. That year the club had four Presidents and three different coaches. First, came the resignation as President of Luis Cuervas, who was replaced internally by José Maria del Nido. Then, Francisco Escobar assumed the Presidency and afterwards Jose Maria Gonzalez de Caldas (1996–1997) succeeded him. In 1997 Rafael Carrión became President until the year 2000. In the season 1996-97, Sevilla FC descended to Second Division, where it remained for two years, achieving the promotion back to First Division in the 1998-99 season.^[28]

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Presidency of the club was assumed by Roberto Alés who was backed up with the general mass of the fans.^[29] The situation of the club was at that time very delicate because the team had dropped back to Second Division (2000/01 season) and lacked relevant players because the veterans had retired, while others such as Marchena, Jesuli and Tsartas had been transferred to other clubs with the object of obtaining economic capital. In those delicate moments, the club opted for a relatively unknown trainer: Joaquín Caparrós. In his first season at the club, he made the team champion in Second Division three matches before the end of the season. His ideal eleven was composed by: Notario, David, Pablo Alfaro, Prieto, Héctor, Fredi, Casquero, Podestá (Francisco), Gallardo (Tevenet), Zalayeta (Michel)and Olivera.^[30]

The Period of International Titles (2001-2010)[link]

2007 UEFA Cup Final in Glasgow

Beginning of a UEFA Champions League game between Arsenal F.C. and Sevilla FC

Sevilla FC players during season 2010/11

In May 2002 Roberto Alés resigned as president and the sevillian lawyer Jose Maria del Nido assumed the presidency. One of his first decisions was to confirm that all the technical team of the club was to be headed by Caparrós as coach and Monchi as Sports Director.

On October 6, 2002, in a match between Sevilla FC and Real Betis, that took place in the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, an incident that would cause great repercussion took place when a minor along with three other young men brutally beat up a security guard moments before the match had begun. As a result, the Stadium, Sánchez Pizjuán, was closed for four matches, being this the largest punishment ever imposed on a First Division Club. On the sports side, the team went better and better, and in the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

The 2005/06 season started with a new coach, Juande Ramos, celebrating the club brilliantly its centennial and winning for the first time in its history a European title, the UEFA Cup, in a final played in the Dutch city of Eindhoven.^[31] In the semifinals of this tournament, Antonio Puerta scored a memorable goal that facilitated the pass to the final. The ideal eleven that managed to be champion that season was composed by Palop, David, Javi Navarro, Escudé/Dragutinovic, Daniel Alves, Martí, Maresca, Adriano/Puerta, Kanouté, Jesús Navas and Saviola/Fabiano.^[32]

The season 2006/07 was probably the most successful of its history, when at the beginning of it, the team managed to win the European Super Cup beating FC Barcelona in Monaco.^[33] The club also conquered its second consecutive UEFA Cup in a final played in Glasgow against the Spanish Real Club Deportivo Espanyol.^[34] The match had an extra time and the title was decided in penalty shootout, being the goalkeeper Andrés Palop hero for stopping three throwings (Palop in one of the qualifying rounds prior to this match had scored a head goal after a corner kick, allowing this way the extra time of the match and the subsequent triumph of his team). In addition, Sevilla FC also won the Spanish King's Cup and finished third in the League with record scores and right to participate in the Champions League the following year. As a result of these successes, Sevilla FC received the trophy as best team of the World^[35] by the IFFHS in 2007, something that the club has also achieved previously in 2006. The ideal eleven during this season was composed by Palop, Alves, Javi Navarro, Escudé/Dragutinovic, Puerta, Jesús Navas, Poulsen, Renato, Adriano, Kanouté and Luís Fabiano, being Coach Juande Ramos.

The 2007/08 season was opened with a fifth title, the Spanish Super Cup,^[36] won against Real Madrid. However, this season was overshadowed by some incidents that had nothing to do with the sport itself and that marked the subsequent performance of the team. First, there was the sudden death of the player Antonio Puerta, who fainted in the first game of the League on August 25, 2007, and died on the 28th. Three days later, Sevilla FC lost in the European Super Cup final against Milan AC. Secondly, in October, Juande Ramos resigned as coach signing for the English club Tottenham Hotspur. After his departure, Manolo Jimenez, who was training Sevilla Atlético, became the new coach. Despite these problems, the club achieved first place in the Champions League group round, ahead of Arsenal, but falling in the second round on penalties to Fenerbahçe.

The 2008/09 season began with Manolo Jiménez as coach, and the sale of players such as Poulsen, Keita and Daniel Alves. In spite of this, the season was good, and Sevilla FC finished third in League, obtained the historical record of victories out of home, and was able to equal the best record of victories in League (21) achieved two years earlier.

In the season 2009/10 the sport successes kept on accompanying the club, on having gained the Spanish King's Cup (Copa del Rey) and having achieved again the classification for the Champions League. On May 19, 2010 Sevilla FC was proclaimed champion of the King's Cup disputed in Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona against the Atlético de Madrid.^[37] The final result was 0-2 with goals by Diego Capel and Jesus Navas. The team that achieved this victory was formed by the following players: Palop, Konko, Squillaci, Escudé, Luna, Zokora, Renato, Navas, Negredo, Kanouté, and Capel. Also to mention are Romaric y Perotti who came in during the second part of the match. The coach was Antonio Álvarez.^[38]

On the other hand, the player Jesús Navas was part of the Spanish National team that won the World Cup 2010 held in South Africa.^[5]

In 2010 Sevilla FC lost the Spanish Super Cup final to FC Barcelona by a total of 5-3 and was eliminated in the qualifying round of the Champions League before the Braga Sporting Clube 5-3, classifying thus for the European League.

Club Data[link]

• Entity: Sevilla Football Club, S.A.D
• Address: C/ Sevilla Fútbol Club, s/n 41005 Sevilla.
• Federation: Andalusian.

Shareholders Meeting Report[link]

Sevilla FC held on December 10, 2009 its General Meeting of Shareholders in which a budget of revenue and expenditure for the season 2009/10 was announced amounting to 95.5 million EUR. President José María del Nido reported that the current debt of the club is 34 million Euros and that the exercise 2008/09 closed with a positive balance for almost 16 million Euros thanks to the income obtained by transfer of players. The club's own funds amounted to 44.5 million Euros.^[39]

Main Shareholders[link]

• Sevillistas de Nervion S.A. (Jose Maria del Nido, Roberto Alés, José Castro, José Martín Baena, Francisco Guijarro, and José Gómez Miñán)
• Rafael Carrión Moreno
• José María del Nido Benavente (main individual shareholder)
• Sevilla FC Fan Clubs Federation "San Fernando"

Symbols[link]

Hymns[link]

El Arrebato, author and interpreter of the Centennial Hymn.

Sevilla FC shield Mosaic located on the main facade of the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

Sevilla FC has two official anthems:

• Official Anthem of Sevilla FC. This anthem dates back to the year 1983. The lyrics were written by Ángel Luis Osquiguilea de Roncales and the music was composed by Manuel Osquiguilea de Roncales.

• Centennial Anthem of Sevilla FC. Composed in 2005 by singer Javier Labandón El Arrebato on the occasion of the celebration of its centennial. The anthem of the centenary became number one in sales in the singles category in Spain and became the most sold anthem of a football club in the whole history of a Spanish football club, reaching the 2nd most sold record in 2006.^[40] On October 9, 2006 he was awarded, in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, the golden record for sales for the centennial anthem.

Shield[link]

From its foundation, the team used a double circled shield. On the exterior circle the name of the club and the date of its foundation were written: "SEVILLA FOOT-BALL CLUB 1905». The interior circle, in white background, was drawn the letters SFC interlaced between themselves as they appear in the current shield. This first shield was designed by Juan Lafita, who was very linked to the entity and was the son of the Sevillian painter José Lafita y Blanco.

The second shield was designed in 1922 by Pablo Rodríguez Blanco, who was a draftsman of the Water Company. He divided the shield in three parts and together they formed the silhouette of a heart. The three figures that appear correspond to those of the shield of the city; San Isidoro, San Fernando and San Leandro, on the right side appear the initials SFC that were on the official shield from 1905 to 1922.^[41] 47 In the union of the three parts there is the silhouette of a ball with the seams that they had at the time. Regarding the red and white stripes there are various theories, but it seems that the most coherent is that from the first time, the club wished that the official uniform would be red and white. Another version indicates that the lower part is inspired on the flag that King Fernando III the Saint carried in the conquest of Seville in 1248.^[5]

Flag[link]

The definition of the flag of Sevilla FC is in the articles of association of 1982, which is a modification of the old ones which were formed and deposited in the Record of Associations and Sports Federations of the Higher Council of Sports. Its title 1, article 6 states that this is a distinctive emblem of the Sevilla FC:

The flag, which will be rectangular, divided by a diagonal line that goes from the lower left angle to the upper right angle, which divides it in two triangles, the superior is white and the inferior red.

Uniform[link]

José María del Nido, President of the Club since 2003

As selling t-shirts and sports equipment of the club represents a major economic income, its board has agreed to, as other prestigious teams do, change each year its equipment, while maintaining a classical approach of its vestments, by which each season a small modification is made in them.

For the competitions of League and Cup of the 2011/12 season, the team wears white, with red-striped sleeves and black socks, for home games and red, with white-striped sleeves, for away games. The third equipment combines black with red rims. The three shirts have V-neck collars. The first uniforms’ socks are black, as it has been used lately in the sevillian team.^[42] For the European competitions the team uses a special design.

Their kit is provided by the sports clothing and equipment manufacturer Li Ning Company Limited.

Presidency[link]

Sevilla FC is governed by a presidential management system, but with a Board of Directors that discusses and approves those important decisions that must be carried out. The President is supported by a General Director and a Sport Director.^[5]

Throughout its history, Sevilla FC has had 29 Presidents, being the first since its foundation the Jerez born José Luis Gallegos Arnosa. Those who have occupied the Presidency for the most time have been Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Eugenio Montes Cabezas, Luis Cuervas Vilches and the current President José María del Nido Benavente.

In 1992, the entity became a Sporting Limited Association, following the entry into force of the law that regulated them and therefore the system of election of the President was amended from being elected by the members to be elected by the shareholders of the club.

Players[link]

As of 12 December 2011

Current squad[link]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Andrés Palop (captain) 2 DF Federico Fazio 3 DF Fernando Navarro 6 DF Emir Spahić 7 MF Jesús Navas (vice-captain) 8 MF Gary Medel 9 FW Álvaro Negredo 10 MF Diego Perotti 11 MF Ivan Rakitić 12 FW Frédéric Kanouté 13 GK Javi Varas 14 DF Julien Escudé

No. Position Player 15 MF Piotr Trochowski 16 MF José Campaña 17 MF Tiberio Guarente 19 DF Antonio Luna 20 FW Manu del Moral 21 MF José Antonio Reyes 23 DF Coke 24 MF Tom De Mul 25 FW Baba Diawara 31 DF Cala GK Diego López

Out on loan[link]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 5 DF Alexis (at Getafe CF) — DF Bernardo Espinosa (at Racing de Santander) — MF Lautaro Acosta (at Racing de Santander)

No. Position Player — MF Romaric (at Espanyol) — FW Arouna Koné (at Levante)

Coaches[link]

Juande Ramos Juande Ramos, head coach who has achieved more wins for Sevilla FC.

Throughout its history, Sevilla FC has had many and varied coaches among which noteworthy Ramón Encinas is to be mentioned, since under his direction, the team was Champion in the League competition (1946) and won its first Spain Cup in 1935; Helenio Herrera, who managed a runner-up in the 1956/57 season; Maximillian Merkel, who left the team 3rd classified having been newly promoted from Second Division; Manolo Cardo, the coach with most matches in First Division; Joaquín Caparrós, assending the team from Second to First Division, supported in the quarry of the club; and Juande Ramos, who oversaw the club winning the only European trophies that, until now, adorn its showcases.

Coaching Staff 2011/12[link]

• Coach: Michel
• Assistant Coaches: Javi Navarro
• Assistant Coach: Victor Sánchez del Amo
• Goalkeeper Coach: Javi García
• Physical Trainers: Ignacio "Nacho" Oria

Coaches in History[link]

see also Category:Sevilla FC managers

Stadium[link]

Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium

In the first fifty years of existence of the club it disputed its games in fields situated in different areas of the city:^[43] la Trinidad Field, the Mercantile Field, 'La Victoria' Stadium and Nervión Stadium.

The Stadium Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán began to be projected in 1937 when the land where the stadium New Stadium of Nervión was thought to be built was bought. However, it was not until 1954 when the first steps of construction would begin. A contest was held for its design and the architect Manuel Muñoz Monasterio won. He had participated in the construction of the stadium Santiago Bernabéu. Its coordinates are 37°23′01″N 5°58′17″W / 37.38361°N 5.97139°W / 37.38361; -5.97139

The construction of the stadium was completed in the summer of 1958 and was inaugurated on September 7. of the same year, with a friendly match Sevilla FC played against Real Jaén. However, the stadium did not have yet the East and West grandstands. In 1974, under the presidency of Eugenio Montes Cabezas, the stadium was finally finished, reaching, at that time, its major capacity, with more than 70,000 spectators.

The visor, the mosaic on the main facade and the new lighting were added for the 1982 World Cup. In addition, the capacity of the stadium was reduced to around some 66,000 spectators. The last modification was in the middle of the 1990s when, complying with the FIFA rules, all the areas where you could see the game standing had to be eliminated. Since then, the stadium's capacity is 45,500 spectators.

During the 1982 World Cup, a match belonging to the group round of the competition was held between URSS and Brazil, as well as the semifinals between Federal Germany and France.^[44] The final of the European Cup (current Champions League) was also played in 1986 between Steaua Bucharest and FC Barcelona.^[45] It has been one of the usual sites of the Spanish National Football team, who has won 19 of 22 matches played in it, tying the 3 remaining and never suffering defeat.

In 1982, on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup, a mosaic by Santiago del Campo was constructed in the main front. On the occasion of the centenary in 2005, in the Southern gate an allegorical mosaic designed by Ben Yessef showing the city of Seville was built, and above it, floating in the wind, the shield of the club.^[5][46]

Now the stadium houses the headquarters of the media of the club, a store of items related to it, a Museum and a Hall of trophies.

Training Field José Ramón Cisneros Palacios[link]

The sports facilities known as "la ciudad deportiva" (property of the club) are the scenario where the first team trains and the lower categories dispute their matches. These facilities started functioning in 1974. It is located on the outskirts of the city on the road to Utrera. It is composed of four natural grass fields and three artificial grass fields to practice football and football 7. It also has an artificial grass field for the School of Soccer "Antonio Puerta"; dressing rooms, gymnasium, press room, cafeteria, medical center and a recovering room.^[47]

Classification in the League Competition[link]

Since the Club promoted to First Division in the 1934/35 season, Sevilla FC has almost always been among the most important clubs in Spain, having won the Spanish League in the 1945/46 season, being runner-up four times (1939/40, 1942/43, 1950/51 and 1956/57) and occupying the seventh position in the historical classification. However, the club has also descended four times to the Spanish Second Division, where Sevilla FC was champion twice.^[48]

Honours[link]

2006 IFFHS trophy as best football team in the world.

UEFA Cup won by Sevilla FC. May 10, 2006

These awards are updated to April 2012.

Throughout its history, the Club has managed several international, national and regional titles that have made it occupy the top position in the ranking of the Andalusian football teams, being considered one of the most outstanding Spanish football clubs.^[49] Sevilla FC has obtained in property its second King´s Cup because the last one the club won in 2010 has been granted in property due to the success of Spain in the FIFA World Cup, as it was agreed by the Board of Directors of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This has happened because sometimes, in exceptional occasions, the property is granted for other reasons, not established in the general rules, like the one given to Real Madrid for being the last team to win this competition during the Republic, or the first and last Generalísimo Cup that Sevilla FC and Atlético Madrid have.^[50]

National Tournaments[link]

• Spanish League (1): 1945/46.
• The King's Cup (5): 1935, 1939, 1948, 2007, 2010.
• Spain Super Cup (1): 2007.
• Second Division (4): 1928/29, 1933/34, 1968/69, 2000/01.
• Andalusia Cup (17): 1916/17, 1918/19, 1919/20, 1920/21, 1921/22, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1924/25, 1925/26, 1926/27, 1928/29, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1931/32, 1935/36, 1938/39 and 1939/40.
• The Spanish League runners-up (4): 1939/40, 1942/43, 1950/51 and 1956/57.
• The King's Cup runners-up (2): 1955/56 and 1961/62.
• The Spain Super Cup runners-up (1): 2010.
• The Cup of Andalucía runners-up (2): 1915/16, 1927/28.

International Tournaments[link]

• UEFA Cup (2): 2005/06, 2006/07.
• UEFA Super Cup (1): 2006.
• The UEFA Super Cup runners-up (1): 2007.

Friendly Tournaments[link]

• Trophy Antonio Puerta (3): 2008, 2009 and 2011.
• Trophy Ramón de Carranza (6): 1955, 1956, 1957, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
• Trophy Costa del Sol (2): 1964 and 2004.
• Trophy Achile Bortolotti (1): 2010.
• Trophy Ciudad de la Línea (3): 2001, 2002, 2003.
• Trophy Teresa Herrera (4):1946, 1954, 1960 and 2011.
• Trophy Colombino (4):1975, 1985, 1996 and 2005.
• Trophy City of Seville (7): 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1984 and 1994.
• Trophy Fundación Xerez CD (1)): 2011.

Other Awards and Recognitions[link]

• Medal of Andalusia (2005)),^[51] issued by the Junta de Andalucía.
• Best team of the world in 2006 and 2007 according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics(IFFHS).
• Award to the team leader of the Federation of Sports Journalists of Andalucía 2006.
• Prize for the best team of 2006 according to the Spanish Sports Press Association.^[52]
• In January 2007 it was awarded with the 15th. Communication Award granted by the Seville Press Association.^[53]
• Sport Merit Royal Order granted by the Superior Council of Sports.^[54]
• Gold medal of the Royal Chamber of Commerce for its economic-administrative management.

Individual Trophies[link]

• Trophy Top goal-scorer: Juan Arza (1955)
• Trophy Zarra: Alvaro Negredo (2011)

Sports statistics[link]

• Updated to July 2010.

Sports general information[link]

Major goals in favor obtained in the League Competition[link]

Major goals against in the League Competition[link]

Statistics in European Competitions[link]

The debut of the Sevilla FC in European competitions took place in the season 1957/58 as participant of the European Cup for having remained runner-up of the Spanish League and for having been Real Madrid champion of League and also champion of the European Cup, what allowed the runner-up to participate in the competition.^[55]

Players' Statistics[link]

Malian forward Frédéric Kanouté is Sevilla's fourth highest goalscorer of all time, with 143 goals.

Top scorers in the history of the Club

Players who have played more official matches for Sevilla FC

Manuel Jiménez Jiménez, Sevilla FC player who has played most games in the Club

• Manuel Jiménez (354)

• Juan Arza (350)

• Campanal II (349)

Note: Updated to season 2010-2011.

Celebrations[link]

Sports Successes[link]

The "sevillista" fans and supporters traditionally celebrate its qualifications and titles at Puerta de Jerez and at the outskirts of the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. The most multitudinous celebrations took place on having obtained the European trophies, in the years 2006 and 2007. In these celebrations, the players paraded through the streets of the city in an opened- bus and visited the Town Hall and the Cathedral finishing the trip at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

50th. anniversary (1955)[link]

In 1955 the club celebrated its 50th. anniversary and for this occasion played a triangular tournament against Stade Reims and the Swedish IFK Norrköping, tournament that Sevilla FC won on having defeated Stade Reims 5-1 in the decisive game.

75th. anniversary (1980)[link]

The main acts began on October 11 with a festival in the Stadium Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán where the artists Naranjito de Triana, Pepa Montes, Paco Gandía, Ana Maria Bueno and Maria Jiménez intervened.

On October 14, 1980, date of the anniversary, a friendly match was held in the stadium between the Brazilian Santos and Sevilla FC. The Brazilian team won 1-0. The match had no brightness and only approximately fifteen thousand spectators went to see it. The honor kick-off was made by the international ex-goalkeeper Guillermo Eizaguirre much linked with the history of the team. The acts concluded with a dinner offered to the press and to the authorities in the Hotel Alfonso XIII.

Centennial (2005)[link]

Sevilla FC commemorative Centennial Mosaic. Author: Ben Yessef.

Sevilla Football Club centennial celebrations were held from the month of July 2005 to 7 January 2006. The festive events were mixed with others of social responsibility. The first act carried out took place on July 1, 2005 with the arrival to the stadium of the centennial flag, which had previously toured all the Sevilla FC fan clubs across the Spanish geography. The most popular legacies of this celebration have been the flag, the Centennial Anthem created and performed by Javier Labandón 'El Arrebato' and the main entrance of the Seville April Fair of 2005.

In the sporting aspect, what most stands out was the match played on September 6 between Sevilla FC and Brazil National Team, which ended in a tie one to one. In this game the club wore the t-shirt dedicated to the celebration of this centennial.

Sevilla FC Reserves[link]

Sevilla Atlético Club[link]

Sevilla Athlético Club is the subsidiary team of major category of the Sevilla Football Club. It was founded in 1958 and at present (2012) it plays in Second Division B. This team's main objective is to form future players for the first team when the coach of this last one considers it appropriate. From it, players like Manolo Jiménez, José Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos or Jesus Navas have been promoted to the first team.

Sevilla FC "C"[link]

Sevilla Football Club 'C' is a subsidiary team belonging to Sevilla FC of lower category than the Sevilla Athlético. It was founded in the year 2003 and ascended to the Third Division Group X in the year 2007 after 4 consecutive ascents from the regional and provincial categories. The target of this team is to form players who could play in the future in superior categories and if there is no possibility of playing in the first team, they could be transferred to other Spanish teams and therefore bring economic help to Club.

Juveniles[link]

To promote new players proceeding from the minor leagues, the club has three junior teams federated, each one in a different category. Sometimes the coach of the first team has called upon juvenile players for some matches and they have debuted and played in the first team being juveniles.

That of major category competes in the Juvenile "Division de Honor". This division is divided into 7 groups of 16 teams, which are established by geographical proximity. The champion of each group has access to the Juvenile's League Champions Cup, while the last four classified descend to the Juvenile National League. Likewise, the 7 champions along with the 7 runner-ups and the best 2 third position qualify for the King´s Cup. The juveniles of the club have been champions of their group many years, and have won on five occasions the King's Cup.

The second juvenile team competes in the Juvenile National League whose territorial area is composed by the western provinces of Andalusia and Ceuta. The third team competes in the Juvenile "Regional Preferente" that covers the provincial territory.

Cadetes (under 16), Infantiles (under 14), Alevines (under 12) y Benjamines (under 10)[link]

The Club develops and promotes football between the educational institutions by means of football schools. The children who most stand out, and whose families accept, become part of the different federated teams and participate in various competitions.

There are also two teams in the "cadetes" category (under 16): one of them in 1st. Andalucía Preferente and another one in Preferente Cadetes. In the infantiles category there are two teams: one in "Provincial Infantil" and other in "Preferente Infantil". There are four teams of federated youngsters or "alevines" (under 12) in different leagues. Finally there are four teams of federated beginners or "benjamines" (under 10) who participate in different local leagues.

Other Sports Sections[link]

Sevilla FC Female[link]

Sevilla F C Female is the female football team belonging to Sevilla FC. The team plays in the Spanish female Super League, the maximum competition in Spain. They currently play their home games in the José Ramón Cisneros Palacios training field.

Its history dates back to the year 2004, when Sevilla FC acquired the federal license from C.D. Hispalis, team that became then a part of the Sevilla FC. The greatest sporting achievements of Sevilla FC Female have been the runner-up of the Super League in the season 2005/06 and the runners-up of the Queen´s Cup.

Indoor Football Section[link]

In the 2007/08 season, and on the occasion of the creation of the Spanish Indoor Football League, Sevilla FC created a team of veterans such as Rafa Paz, Prieto or Nando, among others. Sevilla FC had access to this competition thanks to the fact that it is one of the 9 teams who have won a Spanish League.

Sponsors[link]

Take advantage of School (Sácale Partido al Cole)[link]

In the 2004/05 season, at the behest of the Centennial Foundation, a small group of psychologists launched the programme entitled "Sácale Partido al Cole" Take advantage of School). The objective of this programme is to promote a formative vision of sport, with the goal of making compatible the practices of the sports with the studies that at every moment children and young people are carrying out. The "Junta de Andalucía" has awarded this initiative with the prize "Juego Limpio" (Fair Play).

Sevilla FC in Puerto Rico[link]

Sevilla F C Juncos is a club in the Puerto Rican Soccer League, maximum category of the country, which after an agreement of collaboration with the club from Seville, shares identical colors and shield with its Spanish namesake.

Superleague Formula[link]

Superleague Formula is a car competition, created in 2008, which has 18 Formula One cars that compete showing the colors of the most important football clubs in the world. This competition allows the clubs to increase its image and to reach a major number of fans by the races that are realized all over the world. Sevilla FC and the Atlético Madrid are the only Spanish teams that take part in this competition.

Regatta Sevilla-Betis[link]

Regatta Sevilla FC - Betis (2009). Guadalquivir River.

The regatta "Sevilla-Betis" is an annual competition of boat rowing that is held in the waters of the Guadalquivir River which passes through Seville. This regatta began to be celebrated in 1960 and up to date (2011) 45 editions have been disputed. The boats, in the different categories, are composed by the best rowers of the different rowing clubs in Seville (Real Círculo Labradores, Club Náutico Sevilla, Club de Remo Guadalquivir'86 and Club de Remo Ciudad de Sevilla), selected by the respective captains of which one represents Sevilla FC and the other Real Betis Balompié. In 45 races celebrated until 2011, Sevilla FC has triumphed in 30 occasions and the Betis only in 15.

Deceased players while active in the club[link]

The first player who died while active was the international Spencer, who died on March 14, 1926 at the age of 28, victim of appendicitis which was surgically intervened and was complicated when he decided to play ahead of time in a Spain's Cup match against Real Madrid. Spencer died while his teammates played the second match of that round. His death caused a shock in the fans equivalent to the one caused almost 80 years later. Subsequent years to his death a tournament was held in honor of his name.

On January 7, 1973, Pedro Berruezo died in a match against Pontevedra CF in the Municipal Stadium of Pasarón after suffering a heart attack. He was the first Spanish football player that is known to have died under these circumstances. Previously he had presented some signs, specifically in a match against Baracaldo, where he fainted, but was not diagnosed with anything serious that would alert such a fatal ending.

On August 28, 2007, the player Antonio Puerta died because of a multiple organic failure produced by an arrhythmogenic dyspalsia of the right ventricle. Days before, on August 25, he suffered up to 8 cardiorespiratory failures half an hour into the league match between Sevilla FC and Getafe, celebrated in the Stadium Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. His death provoked great sorrow amongst the fans and a big impact in the media.

Antonio Puerta, died suddenly in 2007

On the first day of La Liga 2007–08 season, Sevilla FC was playing against Getafe when Antonio Puerta began walking towards his goal area, fell to the ground, placed his hands on his knees, and collapsed onto his back. Ivica Dragutinović, Andrés Palop and Sevilla FC medical staff came to aid him to make sure of him not swallowing his tongue. He was revived and substituted. In the dressing room afterwards, he collapsed again. He was hospitalized and after three days in hospital (in which he was in a 'critical condition' and his health was 'unfavourable') reports came from the Spanish media that Puerta had died. These reports were later confirmed.

As a mark of respect for his passing, players from Sevilla FC and A.C. Milan printed "Puerta" on their shirts during the European Super Cup match on 31 August 2007. Furthermore, as Milan went on to win the match 3–1, no jubilation was shown as a sign of respect for the grief sustained by Sevilla; the win was dedicated to Puerta. Sevilla intended to retire the number "16" shirt as a sign of respect for Puerta but RFEF rules require La Liga clubs to use the numbers 1 to 25 for their regular squad. Instead, Puerta's good friend David Prieto was given the number 16 shirt. Sevilla also ordered one minute of silence before each match in their Liga season 2007–08. When Sevilla FC plays at home the Sevilla fans show respect to Puerta by clapping throughout the 16th minute (Puerta's number 16). The number is now worn by José Campaña.

Fans or Supporters[link]

Fans, season ticket holders and members[link]

According to the barometer of the Center of Sociological Investigations (CIS) of May 2007, Sevilla FC is the eighth club in sympathies in Spain with 2.3 % of the football followers in the country, behind Real Madrid (32.8 %), FC Barcelona (25.7 %), Valencia (5.3 %), Athletic Bilbao (5.1 %), Atlético Madrid (4.3 %), Betis (3.3 %) and Real Zaragoza (2.7 %).

Since Sevilla FC became Sporting Limited Association according to the Spanish law known as LSAD, the concept of member disappeared. Only the shareholders can take part in the decisions of the Club according to the percentage of the capital that they hold. The minority shareholders of the club are organized in a federation that represents them in the General Meeting of Shareholders that the club celebrates every year.

People who are traditionally referred to as members are currently fans who purchase a yearly season ticket which allows them to attend all matches that the club plays in their field during the season. Sometimes these members enjoy some specific advantages over the rest of the fans.

Fan clubs[link]

Many of the fans of a particular football team are also affiliated, as followers, with fan clubs. In Spain, three fans can form a fan club that would be considered a non-profit Cultural Association.

Sevilla FC Fan Clubs are mainly concentrated in Seville city, its province and the rest of Andalusia. The presence of fan clubs in other autonomous communities includes those located in Cataluña and Extremadura, which are the most outstanding. Most of them are integrated into the "San Fernando Fan Clubs Federation" (Federation de Peñas Sevillistas "San Fernando"), which, according to its statutes, is totally independent from the directive Board of the Club, having its own Board and not being intervened.

On the other hand, there are many forums of debate for the Sevilla FC fans on internet, where they can have discussion and participation. There is a fan club composed exclusively by internet surfers called "Peña Sevillista Internauta Nervionline".

Biris Norte[link]

Biris Norte's banner at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

The Biris Norte is an organized group of ultra supporters located in the North grandstand of the Stadium Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The Group's name comes from the Gambian player Alhaji Momodo Njle, nicknamed Biri-Biri, who became very popular amongst the Sevilla FC fans in the 1970s. The "Biris Norte" was created in the 1974/75 season being one of the oldest ultra groups of football in Spain.

Communication media[link]

SFC Radio Studios located in the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Sevilla FC has several own media outlets:

SFC Radio: Official radio of the club which is on the dial 91.6 FM during the whole day. In addition, it can also be listened to on-line. It began to broadcast in September 2004.

SFC Television: Official television of the club. It airs on the TDT channel 56 and within the coverage granted by the "Junta de Andalucía". SFC TV aired, in testing, for the first time during the match between Zenit San Petersburg - Sevilla FC, quarter finals of the UEFA Cup in the 2005/06 season. From June 8, 2009 it airs directly from the official club web site.

Official Newspaper SFC: Newspaper that the club issues the day after every match and in some occasions the same day of an important one. There is also a digital version of it.

SFC 1905: Magazine that is sold in newsstands and in the stadium before league matches held in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

Football Club: official magazine of the club that is edited every two months. Number 0 of this magazine was a gift on occasion of the match played for the Centennial of the entity, Sevilla FC vs. Brazil, in September 2005.

Official Website: official website of the club which is constantly updated with the clubs’ information.

Rivalries[link]

A historic long-standing rivalry is maintained with the other team of the city, Real Betis Balompié (1914), against whom the club contests in the well-known and intensified Seville Derby.

On 8 October 1915, the first Sevilla-Betis derby took place, ending with a 4–3 Sevilla FC victory. The cross-town rivalry is considered one of the most important derbies in Spain. And so, there have been many incidents throughout history.

Sevilla FC in Europe[link]

European Cup/UEFA Champions League[link]

European Cup/UEFA Champions League
Season	Round	Rival	Home	Away	Agg.
1957–58	Qualifying Round	SL Benfica	3–1	0–0	3–1
	Round of 16	AGF Aarhus	4–0	2–0	4–2
	Quarterfinals	Real Madrid CF	2–2	8–0	10–2
2007–08	Third Qualifying Round	AEK Athens	2–0	1–4	6–1
	Group Stage (Group H)	Arsenal F.C.	3–1	3–0	–
		Slavia Prague	4–2	0–3
		Steaua București	2–1	0–2
	Round of 16	Fenerbahçe	3–2 (a.e.t.)	3–2	5–5 (2–3 p.)
2009–10	Group Stage (Group G)	Unirea Urziceni	2–0	1–0	–
		Glasgow Rangers	1–0	1–4
		VfB Stuttgart	1–1	1–3
	Round of 16	CSKA Moskva	1–2	1–1	3–2
2010–11	Fourth Qualifying Round	S.C. Braga	3–4	1–0	5–3

[edit] UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League

UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
Season	Round	Rival	Home	Away	Agg.
1982–83	Round of 64	Levski Sofia	3–1	0–3	6–1
	Round of 32	PAOK Thessaloniki	4–0	2–0	2–4
	Round of 16	1. FC Kaiserslautern	1–0	0–4	1–4
1983–84	Round of 64	Sporting CP	1–1	3–2	3–4
1990–91	Round of 64	PAOK Thessaloniki	0–0	0–0 (a.e.t.)	0–0 (3–4 p.)
	Round of 32	Torpedo Moskva	2–1	3–1	4–3
1995–96	Round of 64	Botev Plovdiv	2–0	1–1	3–1
	Round of 32	Olympiakos Piraeus	1–0	2–1 (a.e.t.)	2–2 (a)
	Round of 16	FC Barcelona	1–1	3–1	2–4
2004–05	Third Qualifying Round	Nacional Madeira	2–0	1–2	4–1
	Group Stage (Group H)	Alemannia Aachen	2–0	–	–
		Zenit	–	1–1
		AEK Athens	3–2	–
		LOSC Lille	–	1–0
	Round of 32	Panathinaikos	2–0	1–0	1–2
	Round of 16	Parma FC	0–0	1–0	0–1
2005–06	Third Qualifying Round	FSV Mainz 05	0–0	0–2	2–0
	Group Stage (Group H)	Beşiktaş	3–0	–	–
		Zenit	–	2–1
		Vitória Guimarães	3–1	–
		Bolton	–	1–1
	Round of 32	Lokomotiv Moskva	2–0	0–1	0–3
	Round of 16	LOSC Lille	2–0	1–0	1–2
	Quarterfinals	Zenit	4–1	1–1	5–2
	Semifinals	FC Schalke 04	1–0 (a.e.t.)	0–0	0–1
	Final	Middlesbrough	0–4
2006–07	Third Qualifying Round	Atromitos	4–0	1–2	1–6
	Group Stage (Group C)	Slovan Liberec	–	0–0	–
		S.C. Braga	2–0	–
		Grasshoppers	–	0–4
		AZ Alkmaar	1–1	–
	Round of 32	Steaua București	1–0	0–2	0–3
	Round of 16	Shakhtar Donetsk	2–2	2–3 (a.e.t.)	5–4
	Quarterfinals	Tottenham	2–1	2–2	4–3
	Semifinals	CA Osasuna	2–0	1–0	1–2
	Final	RCD Espanyol	2–2 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p.)
2008–09	Third Qualifying Round	Red Bull Salzburg	2–0	0–2	4–0
	Group Stage (Group C)	VfB Stuttgart	2–0	–	–
		Standard Liège	–	1–0
		Partizan Beograd	3–0	–
		Sampdoria	–	1–0
2011–12	Fourth Qualifying Round	Hannover 96	1–1	2–1	3–2