Spanish football: Sevilla FC
The beautiful game makes a return to your screens as our latest Spanish football guide goes live. Matthew Hirtes resumes his tour of the country’s leading clubs. This time, he’s getting up close and personal with Sevilla FC.
Sevilla FC…in 90 seconds
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One of Spain’s oldest clubs, Sevilla Fútbol Club were formed after a boozy Burns Night celebration in 1890 led by Scotland’s Edward Farquharson Johnston, Andalucia’s Britain vice consul and owner of a shipping company with exported the city’s famous oranges to the UK. The nomadic club played around the city, before settling in the Nervión area east of Seville’s Casco Antiguo. They’ve been playing their home games in this mainly business neighbourhood’s Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán since 1957.
Legends
Enrique Gómez Muñoz was a forward who called himself Spencer (the name appearing on teamsheets) so as to keep Papi Muñoz happy who wanted his son to concentrate on studying. He became Seville’s first international, receiving a call up to the Spain national team in 1923. Three years later Spencer was dead, after a botched appendicitis operation and the very same day his tragic passing was recognized with a minute’s silence before a Sevilla home match with Real Madrid before the players carried his casket to the cemetetery; accompanied by supporters in their thousands.
As part of their home stadium’s 2016 upgrade, Sevilla FC unveiled a huge mural dedicated to their legends. Among the list of names was one Alhaji Momodo Njie, a Gambian striker better known as Biri Biri who the passionate supporters group Biris Norte named themselves after. Also Spain international winger Jesús Navas whose in his second spell with the club following a Premier League sojourn with Manchester City.
Sevilla FC Form Guide
Andalucia’s most decorated side, Sevilla FC are the very definition of a cup team. So whilst they’ve won La Liga just once, in 1945-1946; they’ve won the Copa del Rey on five separate occasions. They’ve also won the UEFA Europa League a record five times, including a hat-trick of victories from 2013-2016.
Club Shop Essential Purchase
A trio of bracelets in club colours of black, red, and white will set you back 4,95€.
Eat/Drink At
Rocking and (a-rolling) a Happy Days vibe, Tommy Mel’s is a US-style diner in nearby Rico Celudo. Another popular franchise is Italia’s La Tagliatella in just-around-the-corner Luis de Morales. If you’re looking for a pre- and/or post-match beer, sup on one of 150 different cervezas at Benito Más y Prat’s Cervecería Europa open every day of the week from 10:30am to 1:00am.
Support
The Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán boasts a similar capacity to Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge, of 42,000+. There are well over 200 Sevilla FC peñas (supporters associations). You can even register at the Federación de Peñas Sevillistas if you want to create your own one.
Terrace Anthem
Damage to Your Wallet
Frustratingly the online box office only works if you use the Spanish rather than English version of the official club site. You can visit the physical ticket office next to Gate 26 if you want to purchase match tickets in an offline fashion. Their opening hours include matchday times of from 10:00am until the end of the first half.
Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.
Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews
