SEVILLA FC

Sevilla FC are just one victory away from marking their centenary year with a place in a European final. In a season that began with a game against Brazil, the Andalucian club could cap their landmark festivities in style if they defeat FC Schalke 04 in the second leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final on Thursday and make it to Eindhoven. Not bad for a club that have often been also-rans in Spain and were relegated as recently as 1998.

Reasons to celebrate
Under president Jose Maria del Nido, the Hispalense have been revitalised and are confident they can land their first major honour since 1948 to mark their 100th birthday. It is in stark contrast to the disappointment felt 12 months ago when the team missed out on a place in the UEFA Champions League on the final day of the season to city rivals Real Betis Balompie, but the performance of Sevilla this term compared to their neighbours' disappointing campaign is another reason to celebrate at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Debt cancelled
Almost daily events have been organised to pay homage to the history of the club, while the team soon hit form after a patchy opening to the campaign following the sale of two key players in Julio Baptista and Sergio Ramos to Real Madrid CF. Del Nido, who helped wipe out the club's debt in his five years in charge, worked the transfer market and brought in former Betis coach Juande Ramos to replace the popular Joaquin Caparros, who stepped down last summer.

Early days
The official date of the club's foundation was 14 October 1905, but a competitive game was not played until three years later and it was not until 1910 that Sevilla participated in their first tournament, which included Spain's oldest club, RC Recreativo Huelva, Betis and the now defunct Balompie. After the official formation of the Spanish League in the 1920s, the club began life in the second division before moving up to the top flight for the 1934/35 campaign, a momentous season in which they won the Copa del Rey for the first time.

Golden period
Further honours followed in something of a golden period for the club as the cup was again won in 1939 and 1948 and the team won the Spanish championship for the first and only time in 1945/46, though as runners-up behind Madrid they entered the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1957/58. But that era ended and after being relegated in 1967/68, Sevilla took six seasons to regain their place in the Primera Division. In the early 1990s they earned the attention of the world when they signed Diego Maradona, but the Argentinian legend spent only a sole troubled season at Sevilla.

Relegation
After avoiding relegation due to financial irregularities in 1995, the team again descended to the second tier in 1997/98 and spent three of the next four years outside the top flight. The success of the modern era began five seasons ago when the team returned to the Primera Division - since when they have never finished outside the top half.

Pipped by Betis
At the end of last season, Sevilla were in the top four with two matches remaining leading Del Nido to announce: "It is great for Andalucia to have a team in the European Cup for the first time ever," only for Betis to overtake them, leading the verdiblanco president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera to quip: "He is right, it is great." But despite that disappointment Sevilla are now revelling in their UEFA Cup adventure and the tournament has the full support of Del Nido.

'Wonderful competition'
"The UEFA Cup is a wonderful competition that allows a connection between different European cultures," he said. "Up until now, for a club with our standing and a city with so many people, we have not played in this competition many times. It is the result of a long period of bad management. Now we are trying to move ahead and we have the structure to do that."

Right blend
Del Nido, indeed, is creating a new golden era by continuing the tradition of bringing through players from the youth set-up, which is overseen by sport director Ramon Fernandez 'Monchi' and is recognised as one of the best in Spain. New faces are also bought by shrewd moves in the transfer market as the purchase of Andres Palop and Frederic Kanoute and the loan acquisition of Javier Saviola has proven. The centenary year has already been highly successful and the club are once again challenging to finish in the European places in the league, but reaching the UEFA Cup final would be a fitting way to end the celebrations of the first 100 years of Sevilla FC.

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