Sevilla FCSevillistas Hasta La Muerte
The History of Sevilla FCSevilla FC have a reputation as representing the aristocracy or 'señoritos' of Sevillian society, particularly in comparison with city rivals Betis.But as their nickname is The Palanganas – The
Washing-Up Bowls – and their road to success has been far from easy,
the Sevillanos' reputation might be just another football cliché.
Late off the Starting BlockIn March 1890 a team of British expats based in Seville beat Recreativo de Huelva 2-0 in the very first recorded game of football on Spanish soil but when Sevilla FC was finally founded 15 years later, it was definitely an Andalusian enterprise.
The following year Sevilla FC won their first Seville Cup and soon dominated the Andalusian Cup - which began in 1916 - winning 14 out of its 17 editions and finishing runner-up in the other three. For locals then, Sevilla's reputation could well have been the result of jealousy. At national level, the club's best performance was reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey in 1921 - and didn't manage to qualify for the first Liga in 1929. A Change of FortunesEverything began to change for Sevilla when wealthy Sevillian businessman Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán became club president in 1932.The Nervión Stadium had opened just in time for the first Liga and Sánchez Pizjuán had the foresight to buy up the whole of the surrounding area. The area is now one of the better parts of Seville but for the club it was an important base. In 1934, only two years after Sánchez Pizjuán had become president, Sevilla FC were promoted to Primera División for the first time and won their first Spanish Cup then known as the Copa de la República a season later. In 1936, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War put an end to national football in Spain and Sevilla FC's short-lived winning streak. However, during the hostilities, while the Nervión was used as offices, Betis's ground the Heliópolis allegedly became a torture centre for Republicans many of whom came from the working-class districts that Betis fans came from. It was at this time that Sánchez Pizjuán had used his influence with what was to become the Franco Regime - while Sevilla's Nervión Stadium was used as offices, Betis' gound El Heliópolis was used as a torture centre for Republican Beticos. It's during the Civil War and later under the Dictatorship that Sevilla gain a reputation for privilege. The Post-War PeriodThe city of Seville had been one of the first to fall to the Nationalists and at the end of the conflict was less affected than other cities, such as Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, which had suffered heavy bombing and air attacks by the Stuka fighter planes of Nazi Germany.
In 1956, Sevilla FC qualified for the European Cup and Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán died in the same year, leaving as his testimony Sevilla's current stadium, which opened in 1958 and was named in his honour. The 1995 ScandalOver the next few decades, Sevilla FC made little impact on Spanish football. Although they qualified for the Europe a couple of times, they also spent periods in Segunda and the era was dominated by mid-table mediocrity.But in 1995 Sevilla became front page news once again. La Ley de Deportes – the Sports Law of the early Nineties – had obliged a number of clubs to become Public Limited Sports Companies - that's why many clubs have S.A.D. - Sociedad Anónima Deportiva - after their names. In 1995, Sevilla FC and Celta de Vigo were unable to present adequate guarantees of financial solvency and were relegated to Segunda B - the third tier of Spanish football. This was a massive scandal at the time. In a typically Spanish scenario, Albacete and Valladolid - who'd been relegated - were given the two free places in Primera. Sevilla fans blew up such an incredible fuss - including one supporter going on hunger strike - that La Liga backed down and reinstated the two clubs. Spain was in the ridiculous situation of being the only league in Europe with 22 clubs and what's more Sevilla Fc obviously hadn't learnt their lesson. Their finances in an appalling state, they bobbed up and down between Primera and Segunda for the next five seasons - when they were promoted again in 2001, nobody thought they'd stay up for long. The Modern MiracleBut after a couple of decent seasons finishing in the top half of the table, it was obvious that with very few resources coach Joaquín Caparrós was building a talented side by bringing up youngsters through the youth system and signing promising foreign players cheaply.In 2004, they qualified for UEFA for the first time but whilst putting in a respectable performance were a little overawed but the European level. In their 2005 centenary year - now under Juande Ramos - they were back in the UEFA again and this time it was for real. After an amazing run and a nailbighting semi-final against Schalke 04 with the only goal scored by Antonio Puerta, humble Sevilla thrashed Middlesborough 4-0 in the 2006 final and won their first title in more than half a century.
But on August 25 2007 - three days after their Spanish Super Cup victory - football fans worldwide were moved by events that took place during a Liga match against Getafe. Antonio Puerta, a local boy who had come up through the youth system, suffered a tragic heart attack during the game and died four days later. As scorer of the only goal in the semi-final of the 2006 UEFA Cup, he had contributed to changing the fortunes of the club and Since Puerta's death, fans' attitude to the Sevillian side has changed and now Sevilla are one of the most liked and respected clubs in La Liga. This also may be due to the good honest football they play and the fact that they've become a regular at the top of the table. 
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