Sentimiento y Orgullo - A Sevilla FC Story

Hey guys,

My last attempt at a Football Manager story didn't go so well. I only got a couple of weeks into my AC Milan story before I got disrupted by exams, and plans to resume it after they finished never materialized...

So I've decided to start a new one, this time with...

Sevilla FC



Nicknames:Sevillistas, Los Rojiblancos (The Red and Whites), Los Nervionenses (The Ones from Nervión), Los Palanganas (The Bathtubs).

Founded: 14th October 1905, 108 years ago.

Stadium: Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/49481146.jpg

Capacity: 45,500

Rivalries: Seville Derby - with Real Betis.

While Seville have only ever won La Liga once in 1945-46, they are still recognised as one of the best clubs in Spain. While they have been relegated a number of times, they have found success recently by winning the Copa del Rey two years ago, and of course, beating SL Benfica to the Europa League this year. As a club they have always been one of my favorite teams, and I'm very much looking forward to writing a story about them.

Manager-wise, I have decided to stick with current Sevilla manager Unai Emery. Rather than having him appointed in January as was the case last year, he has been hired to replace sacked Míchel in the summer. Emery led Sevilla to a fifth placed finish in the league last year, and defeated SL Benfica on penalties to win the Europa League. I hope to go one better and ideally challenge for the title, however I know I may have to settle with third place if I'm lucky!



First update will be coming soon!

Good luck!

Emery meets the press



The new Sevilla manager took time out of his busy schedule to meet the Spanish press, to make his intentions known for the current transfer window and, of course, the season ahead.

Journalist (J): Do you feel that the expectations the board has for you are fair and realistic?

Unai Emery (UE): Yes, myself and Jose [Castro Carmona, chairman] have a great working relationship. Following a series of rather forgettable seasons, I want to make this club great again, and I fully believe that I have the support of the board and most importantly, the fans.

J: How happy are you with the Sevilla squad at the moment?

UE: While there are some fantastic players currently the club, there are quite a few holes in the squad that need to be filled. A lack of midfielders is very evident, and we are currently looking for additional full-backs and possibly a central defender. However, with a few alterations, I'm sure that we can mount a serious challenge for the title this season.

J: Are there any particular players that have already been scouted?

UE: Yes, myself and the scouting team have had our eye on a number of potential Sevilla players. These include Yuto Nagatomo of Inter Milan and FC Porto's Steven Defour and Danilo.

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FC Porto are rumored to have received £5.75m bid from the Spanish team.

Jose Rodriguez joins Sevilla

- The 18 year old midfielder joins the Andalusian team on £5.5k a week, with a yearly wage rise of 10%.
- Will be loaned back to Real Madrid until the end of the season.

Sevilla's first foray into the transfer window, Unai Emery is most certainly looking to the future with this purchase. At just 18 years of age, Rodriguez is still rated very highly by staff at Castilla, the Real Madrid 'B' team. The midfielder was subject to various bids from clubs including Levante, Villareal and Atletico de Madrid, however some shrewd negotiating on the part of the Sevilla manager ensured that the Spanish starlet will be playing in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan next season.

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Rodriguez joins Sevilla on a three year deal, however he will spend this season on loan at Real Madrid.

Los Nervionenses sign Lobato.

- The 24 year old can play in the midfield or at left back.
- Sevilla paid £150k to bring the former Barcelona man to the club.

Following the signing of youngster Jose Rodriguez, Unai Emery has turned his attention to the lack of full-backs at Sevilla. However, the Spanish manager made it known that Lobato would most likely be playing second fiddle to Fernando Navarro, with another left-back joining the club also being a possibility.


Lobato will be on £8.5k a week with Sevilla till 2016 when his contract expires.

Despite not being sure of getting a starting spot in the team, the new signing has revealed he is happy to playing for los Rojiblancos. "I'm very excited to be a part of such a historic club, and will try to prove myself and earn a place in the first team in the coming months" gushed an excited Lobato when questioned. This marks Sevilla's second foray into the transfer window, with more deals expected to go through soon.

Good luck man !

tallery1164 and bebero: Thanks guys, please feel free to give me any advice and let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at a story so please be gentle!

Carlos Bacca dominates in Sevilla's first competitive game

- The Andalusian team played WKS Slask Wroclaw of Poland in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier.
- Striker Bacca made his debut for the team, scoring a perfect hat-trick to give Sevilla a solid win.
- Also making debuts were wide man Marko Marin and defenders Daniel Carriço and Cristian Lobato.

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Sevilla 4-2-2-2
13. Beto, 23. Coke, 2. Federico Fazio (sub.89'), 17. Daniel Carriço, 3. Fernando Navarro (sub.70'), 11. Ivan Rakitic (C), 12. Vicente Iborra, 19. Jose Antonio Reyes, 7. Marko Marin, 18. Kevin Gameiro, 9. Carlos Bacca (MoM)
SUBS: 1. Javi Varas, 16. Cristian Lobato (on 70'), 4. Cala (on 89'), 14. Jairo, 15. Piotr Trochowski, 20. Vitolo, 21. Bryan Rabello


Since his appointment, many in the Sevilla camp have been questioning whether new boss Unai Emery has what it takes to manage los Rojiblancos. Undoubtedly, Sevillistas across Spain were waiting with baited breath for the club's first competitive game.

Despite being against a much smaller team, those in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan paid witness to an extremely high scoring game, with 7 goals being scored all in all. The Sevilla fans can also be content that at least one of their team is prepared for the season ahead: Carlos Bacca.

The Colombian striker was slow to get into the game, with goals from Chelsea loanee Marin and Spanish international Jose Reyes putting the Spaniards two goals to the good, before some incisive passing in the final third allowed Slask striker Wlodzimierz Stawowy to pull one back for his team on the 29th minute mark. The rest of the half passed and the score remained the same. 2-1 at the break.

The second half kicked off, and the Polish team came dangerously close to levelling the match on a number of occasions, however thanks to some solid defending from the likes of Daniel Carriço and some crucial saves by Portuguese 'keeper Beto, Sevilla kept themselves in front long enough for Bacca to pay his contribution.

As the game approached the 70th minute, clever passing between midfield playmaker Ivan Rakitic and Reyes allowed the Spanish winger to poke a ball through to Carlos Bacca, who skinned his defender and powered the ball the past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

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The former Espanyol player made quite an impact with three magnificent goals.

The next goal, 20 minutes later, came from an incisive counter attack from deep in Sevilla's own half. Some stoic defending from right-back Coke and again Daniel Carriço meant the ball was cleared down the pitch towards Kevin Gameiro, who in turn passed it forwards towards Bacca. The Colombian international noticed the Slask 'keeper off his line and, from outside the box, masterfully chipped his opponent to give Sevilla a three goal lead.

A glimmer of hope did appear for Slask after this, as a poor piece of defending from new signing Cristian Lobato allowed Polish winger Walski to cross a ball for Stawowy to nod into the net, scoring his second goal of the game. Not to be outdone, Carlos Bacca was quick to respond in kind. A nod on by Marin nearly allowed Gameiro to score from some distance out, but good reactions from Slask 'keeper Swidzikowski to parry it away for a Sevilla throw in. Coke threw the ball to Reyes, who passed it back for the right-back to cross to the near post. Bacca, instinctively knowing the ball's location, leapt in the air to hammer the ball off of his forehead and into the net, 40 second before the final whistle.

A good game for Sevilla, hopefully they will take this form and replicate against Getafe, their first opponents of the upcoming LIGA BBVA season.

One in, two out for Sevilla



More transfer news out of the red half of Seville as the club prepares to make another move in the transfer market, this time for Ajax midfielder Siem de Jong. The 24-year old played well for the Dutch champions last season, netting 16 goals in 25 appearances for the Amsterdam club. A £12.75 million bid was required in order to pique de Jong's interest, and a contract has been offered and favorably received, with the player earning £30,000 a week on a four-year deal. However, the situation is still undecided, and de Jong is not quite a Sevilla player yet.


While the deal has not been confirmed, it is expected that Netherlands international Siem de Jong will join Sevilla in the next few days.

Los Nervioneses have also sold Argentine winger Diego Perrotti to Portuguese heavyweights FC Porto. The deal was originally a mere £5.5 million, but would have included Porto's Belgian midfielder Steven Defour, who Unai Emery expressed an interest in signing earlier this summer. However due to an torn calf muscle that should put the midfielder out for atleast 6 months, Defour failed his medical and so did not join the club. The offer from Porto was then raised to £7.75 million, which Emery grudgingly accepted.

Another player to leave the club is young striker Pablo Aguilera. Even though he is only 19 years old, Emery does not believe that he can mature into a player with enough calibre to play in the top flight of Spanish football. A £35,000 bid, plus future incentives, from second division side Tenerife proved enough to sign the Sevilla youth product, and Aguilera will likely not remain a Sevilla player much longer.

Really good detail in the start to this, keep it up! de Jong would be a great signing, he's been fantastic for me on FM.

Trochowski set for Germany

- The former Bayern Munich winger was not in Unai Emery's plans for the coming season.
- Sevilla manager accepted a bid of £4.5 million, plus a cut of 15% from the player's next sale.
- The Spanish club are looking to use the money from Trochowski's sale to purchase another midfielder and a right-back.


German international Trochowski (right) joined Sevilla from Hamburg SV in 2011, but appears set for a return to his home country.

With the second leg of Sevilla's Europa League qualifier against Slask looming, the Andalusian side are busy preparing their squad for both this game and the many ahead. In another piece of transfer news, Sevilla manager Unai Emery has sold Piotr Trochowski to Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen. While undoubtedly a player of quality, Emery said he was "forced" into making the transfer by the lack of funds needed to bring new players to the club. "Piotr [Trochowski] played very well for us last season, and we are sad to see him go" said the former Real Sociedad player, "but while we have a number of wingers in the squad, the lack of midfielders is causing a problem. We are looking to bring at least one, possibly two more midfield players into the team, as well as a right-back."

One of these new midfield signings is former Ajax club captain Siem de Jong, who joins the club today after accepting the £30,000 per week contract that while keep him with the Spanish side until 2017. In his presentation to the club, Unai Emery declared "I confidently predict that Siem [de Jong] will have a large part to play in our upcoming campaign. He has proved in his years at Ajax that he is capable of not only playing at the highest club level, but also that he is loyal to his chosen club. I am extremely happy to welcome this young man to the team."

http://www.nufcfans.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Siem-de-Jong.jpg
de Jong led De Godenzonen to consecutive Eredivisie titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Los Rojiblancos see off Slask

http://videocelts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Europa-League.png

Sevilla 4-2-2-2
13. Beto, 23. Coke, 2. Federico Fazio (MoM) (sub.69'), 17. Daniel Carriço, 3. Fernando Navarro, 11. Ivan Rakitic (C), 12. Vicente Iborra, 19. Jose Antonio Reyes(sub.84'), 7. Marko Marin (sub.69'), 18. Kevin Gameiro, 9. Carlos Bacca
SUBS: 1. Javi Varas, 16. Cristian Lobato, 4. Cala (on 69'), 14. Jairo (on 84'), 15. Piotr Trochowski, 20. Vitolo (on 69'), 21. Bryan Rabello

Despite playing on a wet evening in Poland, Sevilla managed to see themselves through to the Europa league playoffs with a win over WKS Slask Wroclaw. Unfortunately for the Sevillistas, the club was not allowed to field new signing Siem de Jong, due to his not being registered in time for the fixture. Therefore, Unai Emery played the exact same team that had faced the Poles in Seville, using a 4-2-2-2 formation of four defenders, two central midfielders, two winger and two strikers.

The game got off top a flyer with Carlos Bacca, who played such a large part in the previous leg, opening the scoring after just nine minutes. A powerful shot from Ivan Rakitic rebounded off of the back of a Slask defender, but was enough to fool the 'keeper. As he dived for a non-existent threat, the ball fell squarely to Bacca's feet, and the striker cannoned it into the empty net to give Sevilla the lead.

The next goal came some ten minutes later, with towering centre-back Federico Fazio rising in the air for a Jose Antonio Reyes corner to flick his head and send the ball past the keeper. The rest of the half passed with Sevilla shooting away at the Slask goal in an attempt to increase their lead, but to no avail. The first half finished 2-0 to Sevilla.

http://www.footballsmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Federico-Fazio-Net-Worth.jpg
The 26 year old Argentine central defender will be delighted with his goal, which doubled Sevilla's lead after 18 minutes.

The second half passed much like the first, with Sevilla creating and taking chances, only for poor finishing or good defending to prevent the goal. A counter attack that led to Kevin Gameiro volleying a Fernando Navarro cross into the net was deemed offside, and the score remained 2-0. However, just as the game passed the hour mark, Slask winger Cygal burst down the flank after Navarro found himself out of position. The Pole drove a cross in at the near post aimed for striker Stawowy. While it didn't get to the striker, the result was much the same as right-back Coke, in a brave effort to stop the goal, stuck out a leg and caught the ball with his foot, only to misdirect past Beto and into Sevilla's goal. The player looked distraught, and after this mistake, Slask began to attack with more purpose. From a measly 3 shots to Sevilla's 10 at half time, they brought it up to 8 shots, to Sevilla's 14. However, it proved not to be enough, as the final whistle blew to mark the aggregate score at 7-3 to Sevilla, who will be advancing through to the Europa League playoffs.