Sevilla FC

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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 in the capital of Andalusia. Sevilla Fútbol Club was founded on Burns Night 25 January 1890 as Sevilla Foot-ball Club (in English). Sevilla FC was duly formed on 25 January 1890 while a group of young British, mainly Scots, along with other young men of Spanish origin, celebrated Burns Night in Seville. The club's founding document, published on the Dundee Couriers edition of 17 March 1890 describes in full detail the formation of the club and how those young founding members decided first to play under Association Rules, secondly to bear the word 'football' within its name and thirdly, to elect their 'office-bearers'. The club's first president was the Scot Mr. Edward Farquharson Johnston (Elgin, 14 October 1854), who was the British vice-consul in Seville and co-proprietor of the firm MacAndrews & Co., ship-owners with commercial lines between Spain and the UK, one of them being the transport of Seville oranges. Hugh MacColl, another Scottish young man (Glasgow, 9 June 1861), a marine engineer who at that time had moved to Seville to work as the technical manager of Portilla White foundry, was their first captain. One of Maccoll's partners in the Portilla White foundry in Seville, Isaias White junior, was the club's first secretary. He was the son of an English entrepreneur who founded the aforesaid company, one of the major foundries in Spain at the end of the 19th century. To celebrate the foundation of the club, Isaias White sent a letter to Huelva Recreation Club, to invite them to play a football match in Seville. That letter was published by the Spanish newspaper La Provincia. The Huelva club accepted the invitation and the match took place on 8 March 1890, being thus the first official match ever played in Spain. Sevilla FC won that historical match 2–0, with the first goal in an official match in Spanish football history scored by the Seville team player Ritson. Isaias lived at Calle Bailen 41 in Seville (the house still exists but has since been renumbered) making this the first home of Sevilla FC. In 1907, Sevilla Balompíe was founded, followed by Betis Football Club in 1909, Recreativo de Sevilla and Español de Sevilla. More clubs were formed as t

In Their Own Story

The 1945–46 season was one of high importance in the history of Sevilla, as it marked the first, and to date only, time in which Sevilla FC were League champions. On four other occasions, the club was proclaimed subcampeón de Liga (League Runner-up: 1939–40, 1942–43, 1950–51 and 1956–57). In 1935, they were proclaimed Campeón de Copa for the first time by defeating Sabadell, repeated in 1939 against Racing de Ferrol and again in 1948 against Celta de Vigo. The club participated in two other finals, but conceded defeat to Athletic Bilbao in 1955 and to Real Madrid in 1962. Sevilla FC remained in the First Division from the 1933–34 season until 1968, when they were relegated to the Second Division, a tier from which they have never further been relegated from. Including the 2021–22 season, Sevilla has participated 78 times in the First Division and 13 in the Second Division, never dropping below the Second Division. Sevilla also participated in the UEFA Champions League in 2007–08.

Reader's Guide

The club's home ground is the 43,883-seat Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. The source states the current capacity is 43,883, not 45,000. The source does not mention any meetings with Atletico Madrid in a Copa del Rey final or in European competitions, so no such information is included.

Did You Know?

• Sevilla FC was founded on Burns Night, 25 January 1890, by a group of British and Spanish men.
• The first official football match in Spain was played on 8 March 1890, with Sevilla FC defeating Huelva Recreation Club 2–0.
• Sevilla FC is the most successful club in Andalusia, with a record seven UEFA Europa League titles.
• The club's stadium, Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, hosted a World Cup semi-final in 1982.