Sporting de Gijón

Real Sporting de Gijón
Full name Real Sporting de Gijón, SAD
Nickname(s) Rojiblancos (Red-and-Whites)
Founded 1905 (as Sporting Gijonés)
Ground El Molinón,
Gijón, Asturias,
Spain
Capacity 29,029
President Antonio Veiga
Manager Abelardo Fernández
League Segunda División
2013–14 Segunda División, 5th
Website Club home page

Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it plays in Segunda División. Known as Los Rojiblancos because of their red and white striped jerseys, their home ground is El Molinón stadium, the oldest professional football ground in Spain, in use since at least 1908.

History

The club was established in 1905 with the name Sporting Gijonés, Anselmo López being the first club president. King Alfonso XIII accepted the Royal patronage of the club for the Spanish Crown in 1912, introducing the term "Real" (Spanish for "Royal") to its name, becoming Real Sporting Club Gijonés. In 1916, a new change took place to adopt today's denomination, Real Sporting de Gijón. From 1941 until the 1970s, due to a temporary law forbidding the use of foreign words in football club names, the team's official denomination was Real Gijón.

In 1944, the club was promoted into La Liga for the first time, and played thereafter in both the first and second divisions, achieving greatest success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During this period, with players like Quini, Cundi, Enzo Ferrero or Antonio Maceda and others, Sporting competed for the titles, finishing as runner-up of La Liga in the 1978–79 season and two consecutive teams runner-up of the Copa del Rey in 1981 and 1982. This successes allowed Sporting to beat the record of season tickets with 22,766 and allowed El Molinón to be selected as one of the hosts of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. During this time, Sporting competed in the UEFA Cup six times, losing in the Round of 64 four times and the Round of 32 twice, most recently in the 1991–92 season.

Football players celebrate with their fans the club's return to top-flight, 15 June 2008

In 1992, following the laws, Sporting de Gijón becomes a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, being its name since that moment Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. The internal financial crisis and the leave of important players triggers the decline of the club pushing it to the lower positions in La Liga. In the 1994–95 season, Sporting remains in La Liga thanks to winning the relegation playoffs against UE Lleida, but three years later, following a disastrous 1997–98 campaign were Sporting only earned 13 points, the club was relegated to Second Division finishing its 21-year continuous stretch in La Liga.

Ten seasons later, on 15 June 2008, the club secured promotion back to Primera for the 2008–09 season. In that season, their best victories came against Valencia CF (2–3) and Sevilla FC (1–0). In their first five games of the 2008–09 season, they conceded 20 goals. That season also saw them break La Liga record of 29 consecutive games without a draw. They played 33 games before their only draw of the season, a 1–1 finish with Athletic Bilbao on 3 May 2009. On 2 April 2011, they beat Real Madrid 1–0 at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to end Real manager José Mourinho's nine-year home league unbeaten run.[1][2] Sporting remained in La Liga until the 2012–13 season, when it finished in the 19th position, being relegated again to the Second Division.

Club colours and crest

Flag of Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón's flag.

Sporting de Gijón have worn red and white striped jerseys since their inception, being the first Spanish actual first division's team to wear red and white, as both Athletic Bilbao and Atlético Madrid wore blue and white until 1909. The colors are those of the official flag of Gijón, which itself is based on the flag of the maritime province of Gijón, established in 1845.[3]

Like most old football clubs, Sporting de Gijón did not initially have any badge displayed on their shirts. Their first official badge was introduced in the 1920s. It consisted of a traditionally shaped shield split into three sections, representing the club and the city.

From 1931 to 1936, during the Spanish Second Republic, the badge consisted of a circular shield and had the royal crown in the top replaced by a mural crown.

The club's badge is a triangle with red and white vertical stripes with 'S' (for Sporting) and 'G' (for Gijón) intertwined, in gold, across them. A crown in the top symbolizes the royal patronage.[4]

Flag

The official flag of Sporting de Gijón consist of, in a rectangular field with ratio 2:3, nine equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white. The logo of the club is displayed in the centre.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsors
1985–1986 Adidas none
1986–1989 Cajastur
1989–1992 Rasán
1992–1995 Lotto
1995–1997 Joma
1997–2002 Astore Gijón City Council
2002–2011 Gijón City Council

Government of the Principality of Asturias

2011–2013 Kappa[5]
2013– Gijón City Council

Latest kits

2010–11 season
2011–12 season
2012–13 season
2013–14 season
2014–15 season

Stadium information

Mareo facilities

The club headquarters, in Mareo

The Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo is the training ground and academy base of Sporting de Gijón. It was opened on 28 March 1978 and it also has the club headquarters in it.

Located just 7 km away from the city center and covering 112,000 m2, it is used for training and youth teams matches. At present, facilities include inter alia, eight pitches, one service building (including team catering areas), a gymnasium, and a medical centre. The main pitch, where Sporting de Gijón B plays its games, is called Campo Pepe Ortiz and has a capacity for 3,000 people.

Mareo is a very prolific cantera, where several international football players grown being widely famous like Eloy, Ablanedo, Luis Enrique, Abelardo, Manjarín, Juanele or David Villa, World Champion in 2010 with the Spain national team.

Supporters

During most home matches, the majority of the seats in the stadium are occupied by season ticket holders, or socios ("associates"), of which there are 21,000.[6] In addition to socios, the club has more than 240 peñas (official, club-affiliated supporters' groups) in Spain and abroad.[7] During the 2008–09 season, Sporting had the tenth-highest average attendance in the league, 21,491, and the fifth-highest average percentage, 84% of the total stadium capacity.[8]

Sporting de Gijón supporters commonly call themselves Sportinguistas in order to show their dedication to the club.[9] Sportinguistas are widely regarded as one of the most loyal, traveler, and cheerful supporter groups in La Liga,[10][11][12] providing one of the best atmospheres in the competition.[13] When following their team in large groups through the country, they are referred to as La Mareona, Spanish for The Big Tide.

About 300,000 fans showed up when Sporting's latest promotion was celebrated in June 2008.[14]

Rivalries

The team's historic rival is Real Oviedo.[15] When both teams play in the same division, they compete in the Asturian derby. This derby is currently on hold as Oviedo are playing in the third level.

Honours

National titles

Individual honours

Pichichi Trophy

Zamora Trophy

Seasons

Recent seasons

Season Pos. PI W D L GS GA P Manager Notes
2004–05 2D 9 42151215 413957 Spain Marcelino García Toral
2005–06 2D 9 42131712 413456 Spain Ciriaco Cano
2006–07 2D 13 4216818 535356 Spain Manuel Preciado
2007–08 2D 3 42201210 614072 Spain Manuel Preciado Promoted
2008–09 1D 14 3814123 477943 Spain Manuel Preciado
2009–10 1D 15 3891316 365140 Spain Manuel Preciado
2010–11 1D 10 38111413 354747 Spain Manuel Preciado
2011–12 1D 19 3810721 426937 Spain Manuel Preciado / Spain Iñaki Tejada / Spain Javier Clemente Relegated
2012–13 2D 10 42151116 605356 Spain Manolo / Spain José Ramón Sandoval
2013–14 2D 5 42161610 635164 Spain José Ramón Sandoval / Spain Abelardo Fernández

Season to season

Season Division Pos. Significant events Copa del Rey
1929 Segunda División 4 – Round of 32
1929–30 Segunda División 2 – Round of 32
1930–31 Segunda División 4 – Round of 16
1931–32 Segunda División 3 – Quarterfinalist
1932–33 Segunda División 6 – Round of 16
1933–34 Segunda División 6 – Round of 16
1934–35 Segunda División 3 – Round of 16
1935–36 Segunda División 3 – Third round
Spanish Civil War
1939–40 Segunda División 3 – Round of 16
1940–41 Segunda División 3 – Third round
1941–42 Segunda División 1 Promotion Playoff Round of 32
1942–43 Segunda División 1 Promotion Playoff Round of 32
1943–44 Segunda División 1 Promoted Round of 32
1944–45 La Liga 7 – Round of 16
1945–46 La Liga 9 – Round of 16
1946–47 La Liga 10 – First round
1947–48 La Liga 14 Relegated Sixth round
1948–49 Segunda División 6 – Fifth round
1949–50 Segunda División 3 – Second round
1950–51 Segunda División 1 Promoted Quarterfinalist
1951–52 La Liga 13 – –
1952–53 La Liga 7 – Round of 16
Season Division Pos. Significant events Copa del Rey
1953–54 La Liga 16 Relegated –
1954–55 Segunda División 4 – –
1955–56 Segunda División 7 – –
1956–57 Segunda División 1 Promoted –
1957–58 La Liga 12 – Round of 16
1958–59 La Liga 15 Relegated Round of 16
1959–60 Segunda División 5 – Quarterfinalist
1960–61 Segunda División 13 – Round of 32
1961–62 Segunda División 13 – First round
1962–63 Segunda División 5 – Round of 32
1963–64 Segunda División 2 Promotion Playoff First round
1964–65 Segunda División 3 – Quarterfinalist
1965–66 Segunda División 3 – Round of 32
1966–67 Segunda División 2 Promotion Playoff First round
1967–68 Segunda División 5 – Round of 32
1968–69 Segunda División 5 – –
1969–70 Segunda División 1 Promoted Fourth round
1970–71 La Liga 12 – Round of 32
1971–72 La Liga 11 – Round of 16
1972–73 La Liga 14 – Semifinalist
1973–74 La Liga 13 – Fifth round
1974–75 La Liga 14 – Fourth round
1975–76 La Liga 18 Relegated Round of 16
Season Division Pos. Significant events Copa del Rey
1976–77 Segunda División 1 Promoted Third round
1977–78 La Liga 5 – Semifinalist
1978–79 La Liga 2 Runners-up

Played UEFA Cup

 Third round
1979–80 La Liga 3 Played UEFA Cup Semifinalist
1980–81 La Liga 7 Played UEFA Cup Runner-up
1981–82 La Liga 14 – Runner-up
1982–83 La Liga 8 – Semifinalist
1983–84 La Liga 13 – Quarterfinalist
1984–85 La Liga 4 – Quarterfinalist
1985–86 La Liga 6 Played UEFA Cup Third round
1986–87 La Liga 4 – Second round
1987–88 La Liga 9 Played UEFA Cup Round of 16
1988–89 La Liga 13 – Round of 16
1989–90 La Liga 13 – Quarterfinalist
1990–91 La Liga 5 – Semifinalist
1991–92 La Liga 8 Played UEFA Cup Semifinalist
1992–93 La Liga 12 – Fifth round
1993–94 La Liga 14 – Round of 16
1994–95 La Liga 18 Relegation Playoff Semifinalist
Season Division Pos. Significant events Copa del Rey
1995–96 La Liga 18 – Round of 16
1996–97 La Liga 15 – Third round
1997–98 La Liga 20 Relegated Second round
1998–99 Segunda División 9 – Fourth round
1999–00 Segunda División 9 – First round
2000–01 Segunda División 7 – Round of 64
2001–02 Segunda División 6 – Round of 16
2002–03 Segunda División 10 – Round of 64
2003–04 Segunda División 5 – Round of 64
2004–05 Segunda División 11 – Round of 64
2005–06 Segunda División 9 – First round
2006–07 Segunda División 13 – Second round
2007–08 Segunda División 3 Promoted Second round
2008–09 La Liga 14 – Quarterfinalist
2009–10 La Liga 15 – Round of 32
2010–11 La Liga 10 – Round of 32
2011–12 La Liga 19 Relegated Round of 32
2012–13 Segunda División 10 – Round of 32
2013–14 Segunda División 5 Promotion Playoff Second round

European cup history

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
1978–79 UEFA Cup R64 Italy Torino 3–0 0–1 3–1
R32 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Crvena Zvezda 0–1 1–1 1–2
1979–80 R64 Netherlands PSV Eindhoven 0–0 0–1 0–1
1980–81 R64 Czechoslovakia Bohemians 2–1 1–3 3–4
1985–86 R64 Germany Köln 1–2 0–0 1–2
1987–88 R64 Italy Milan 1–0 0–3 1–3
1991–92 R64 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan 2–0 0–2 2–2
R32 Romania Steaua București 2–2 0–1 2–3

Players

Current squad

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

No. Position Player
1 Spain GK Iván Cuéllar (3rd captain)
2 Spain DF Luis Hernández
3 Spain DF Álex Menéndez
4 Spain MF Mandi
5 Colombia DF Bernardo Espinosa
6 Spain MF Sergio Álvarez
7 Spain MF Juan Muñiz
8 Spain MF Álex Barrera
9 Spain FW Miguel Guerrero
10 Spain MF Nacho Cases
11 Spain MF Alberto Lora (vice-captain)
13 Spain GK Alberto García (4th captain)
No. Position Player
14 Spain DF Iván Hernández (captain)
15 Spain FW Álex Serrano
16 Spain FW Carlos Castro
17 Spain MF Santi Jara
18 Spain MF Isma López
19 Spain MF Carlos Carmona
20 Spain DF Julio Rodríguez
21 Spain FW Hugo Fraile
23 Spain MF Jony
29 Algeria MF Rachid Aït-Atmane
30 Spain MF Pablo Pérez
33 Cameroon MF Dani Ndi

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
Spain DF Roberto Canella (on loan to Deportivo)

Personnel

For a full list of Sporting de Gijón managers, see List of Sporting de Gijón managers.

Current technical staff

Position Staff
Manager Spain Abelardo Fernández
Assistant Manager Spain Ismael Martínez
Goalkeeping Coach Spain Sergio Sánchez
Physical Fitness Coach Spain Ignacio Sancho
Director of Football Spain Raúl Lozano
Delegate Spain Quini
Academy Director Spain Manolo Sánchez Murias
Head Coach Reserve Team Spain Tomás Hervás

Last updated: June 2014
Source: Sporting de Gijón Official Website

Current Board of Directors

Office Name
President Antonio Veiga Suárez
Vicepresident Javier Fernández Rodríguez
Counselor Javier Martínez Fernández
External Consultant Fernando Losada Sánchez
External Consultant Iñaki Eraña Cassi
Counsel Secretary Carlos Barcia Alonso
General Manager Alfredo García Amado
Honorary president Manuel Vega-Arango

Last updated: June 2014
Source: Sporting de Gijón Official Website

Presidents

  • Anselmo López Sánchez (1905–15)
  • Fernando Fernández Quirós Suárez (1905–17)
  • Manuel Ignacio González Riera (1917–19)
  • Enrique Guisasola Martínez (1919–21)
  • Ismael Figaredo Herrero (1921–28)
  • Roberto González de Agustina (1928–30)
  • Pedro Garnung Portilla (1930–34)
  • Emilio Tuya García (1934–35)
  • Félix Guisasola García-Castañón (1935–38)
  • Pedro González del Río (1938–40)
  • Secundino Felgueroso Fernández-Nespral (1940–45)
  • Juan Velasco Nespral (1945–46)
  • Jesús Fernández Hernández (1946–47)
  • José María Fernández Álvarez (1946–47)
  • Secundino Felgueroso Fernández-Nespral (2) (1948–49)
  • Paulino Antón Trespalacios (1949–54)
  • Joaquín Alonso Díez (1954–55)
  • Eustaquio Campomanes González (1955–57)
  • Alejandro Pidal Guilhou (1957–59)
  • Ramón Gómez Lozana (1959–60)
  • Aurelio Menéndez González (1960–61)
  • Francisco Quirós Rodríguez (1961)
  • Víctor Manuel Felgueroso Suardíaz (1967–68)
  • Antonio Roibás de Inza (1967–68)
  • Carlos Méndez Cuervo (1968–73)
  • Ángel Viejo Feliú (1973–77)
  • Manuel Vega-Arango Alvaré (1977–86)
  • Ramón Muñoz Fernández (1986–89)
  • Plácido Rodríguez Guerrero (1989–92)
  • Eloy Calvo Capellín (1992–94)
  • Manuel Calvo Pumpido (1994)
  • José Fernández Álvarez (1994–97)
  • Ángel García Flórez (1997–98)
  • Germán Ojeda Gutiérrez (1998–99)
  • Juan Manuel Pérez Arango (1999–2002)
  • Manuel Vega-Arango Alvaré (2) (2002–13)
  • Antonio Veiga Suárez (2013–)

Women's team

Sporting has also a women's football team which currently plays in Segunda División with the name of Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo.[19]

Season by season

Season Division Place Copa de la Reina
1998–99 1ª 8th
1999–00 1ª 10th
2000–01 1ª 14th
2001–02 2ª 3rd
2002–03 2ª 3rd
2003–04 2ª 8th
2004–05 2ª 8th
2005–06 2ª 8th
2006–07 2ª 7th
2007–08 2ª 7th
2008–09 2ª 11th
2009–10 2ª 8th
2010–11 2ª 3rd
2011–12 2ª 4th
2012–13 2ª 5th
2013–14 2ª 6th
2014/15 2ª 2nd

Partnerships

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mourinho's unbeaten home run ends". London: BBC. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  2. ↑ Lowe, Sid (4 April 2011). "After nine years, 151 games and four clubs, José Mourinho's record ends". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "Las Banderas del Club" (in Spanish). RealSporting.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  4. ↑ "Los Escudos" (in Spanish). RealSporting.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  5. ↑ Kappa vestirá al equipo; La Nueva España, 29 March 2011 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ "El Sporting alcanza los 21.000 socios" (in Spanish). La Nueva España. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  7. ↑ "Premio para el consejero Mariano Fernández" (in Spanish). La Nueva España. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  8. ↑ Attendances - Liga BBVA 2008-2009
  9. ↑ PortalSportinguista.com
  10. ↑ "Sporting Gijon To Take 4,000 Fans To Valladolid". Goal.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  11. ↑ "Spanish Inquisition: Sporting de Gijón, the darlings of Spain". Goal.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  12. ↑ Lowe, Sid (22 September 2008). "Even the result can't spoil Real Sporting de Gijón's party". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  13. ↑ "Spanish Debate: The Best Stadium In La Liga". Goal.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  14. ↑ "Gijón está de fiesta 10 años después" (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  15. ↑ "Real Oviedo, Real who?". SpanishFootball.info. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  16. ↑ Spain - Final Table 1978-79
  17. ↑ Spain - Cup 1981
  18. ↑ Spain - Cup 1982
  19. ↑ Current roster of the women's team; Official website.
  20. ↑ El Sporting y el Storm FC (Miami) firman un acuerdo de colaboración; Sporting de Gijón, 6 October 2014 (Spanish)
  21. ↑ Storm FC partners with Real Sporting Gijón (Spain); Storm FC, 1 October 2014

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sporting de Gijón.
Official websites
News sites