Real Betis Balompié SAD, translated as Real Betis Football, is a professional football club from the Spanish city of Seville which is the major department of the Real Betis sports club that also has sections for futsal and basketball.
The club was formed on September 12th 1907 as Sevilla Balompié by students at the local Polytechnic Academy. Sevilla FC had already been formed by this point. Some members had an internal dispute and broke away to form Betis FC.
Their name is derived from Baetis, the Roman name for the Guadalquivir River, which passes through Seville. In 1914 they merged with Sevilla Balompié receiving royal patronage at the same time as the club became Real Betis Balompié.
Betis became members of Segunda División in 1929 during the time that Juan Armet "Kinké" was head coach of the team. From 1931 all clubs in Spain had royal patronage taken away under the Spanish Second Republic. The club was renamed Betis Balompié.
It was in 1931 that ‘Béticos’ reached the final of the Copa Del Rey at Estadio Chamartín in Madrid. The team led by Emilio Sampere lost out 3-1 to Athletic Bilbao with Rafael Sanz netting the consolation goal.
Betis landed the Segunda División title in 1931-32 and promotion to Primera División as la Liga was titled at the time. Irishman Patrick O'Connell took over as coach and after Betis finished fourth and fifth they became Spanish champions in 1934-35 with Victorio Unamuno top scoring.
The club failed to build on their success owing to financial restraints and then the Spanish Civil War. When football resumed in 1939 the clubs full title was restored. However, the decline of Betis was exemplified as the team was relegated in 1939-40. O’Connell rebuilt his side and took them to promotion and the Segunda División title in 1941-42.
Cesáreo Baragaño and then Francisco Gómez failed in their quest to retain their top flight status as the team were relegated after just one season. It was to get worse for the club as a succession of coaches struggled before a returning O’Connell couldn’t save Betis from relegation to the third level Tercera División in 1946-47.
Runners-up berths in 1947-48 and 1950-51 weren’t enough to take the club back up. Francisco Gómez returned for a second spell at the helm and put right his early mishap as Betis won their Tercera División title in 1953-54 to return to Segunda División. The upturn continued as Pepe Valera led the side to a runners-up place in 1955-56.
The goals of Jordi Vila under coach Antonio Barrios sealed the Grupo Sur title in 1957-58 as Betis finally returned to the top flight Primera División. The team consolidated their place at the top table and reached the semi-final of the Copa Del Rey in 1960-61 with Ferdinand Daučík in charge of the team.
Betis reached the same stage in 1965-65, this time with Louis Hon in charge as the club changed their coaches at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the same season saw the side finish bottom of the table and were relegated to Segunda División.
Luis Belló led Betis to promotion at the first time of asking in 1966-67 but they went straight back down to the second tier under the tutelage of César. It would take until the 1970-71 campaign for a Betis side led by a returning Barrios to lift another Segunda División and bring back top level football to Estadio Benito Villamarín.
The 1972-73 season ended in relegation once again, but Ferenc Szusza put together a title winning side the following campaign to restore Primera División football to Betis. Rafael Iriondo helped the team settle during his spell in charge, which would see another major trophy arrive at the club.
Betis defeated Athletic Bilbao 8-7 on penalties in the final of the 1977 Copa Del Rey after their match had finished 2-2 after extra time at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. Francisco López netted both goals for Betis before Francisco Bizcocho scored the decisive spot kick.
This led to Betis competing in the European Cup Winner Cup, where a run including victory over AC Milan ended at the quarter final stage against FC Dynamo Moscow. Perhaps the European adventure distracted the side, but the 1977-78 season ended in relegation.
In true Betis tradition the team fought back to win promotion twelve months later with José Luis Garcia Traid leading the team. Most of the 1980’s were spent in the La Liga as the top division was renamed by the end of the decade.
The conveyer belt of head coaches continued to pass through the corridors of the stadium, with León Lasa, Luis Cid, Luis Aragonés, Pedro Buenaventura, Antal Dunai, Marcel Domingo, Pepe Alzate, Luis del Sol, John Mortimore and Eusebio Ríos all doing their best, but failing to satisfy those in charge.
Cayetano Ré was at the helm in 1988-89 as Betis were relegated to Segunda División. Julio Cardeñosa helped restore the top flight status, but the spell lasted just one season. After a couple of decent seasons Betis had a memorable 1993-94.
Sergije Krešić led the team to promotion as well as the semi-final of the Copa Del Rey, where Betis bowed out to Real Zaragoza. Krešić was followed in the role by Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, António Oliveira, Vicente Cantatore and Javier Clemente.
Serra Ferrer led the team to third place in 1994-95, with Betis embarking on a UEFA Cup run the following season that saw wins against Fenerbahçe and 1. FC Kaiserslautern before the eventual losing finalists Bordeaux halted further progression.
The same coach took Betis to the 1997 Copa Del Rey final. FC Barcelona led by Bobby Robson proved to be a step too far with a 3-2 extra time win. Finidi George and Alfonso netted for Béticos, with Robert Jarni and Alexis Trujillo among the other stars of the day.
The Argentinian Carlos Griguol was in the hot seat as Real Betis were relegated in 1999-00. Guus Hiddink led the team to promotion at the first attempt as the club won their sixth Segunda División title.
Fernando Vázquez, Juande Ramos and Víctor Fernández were the next incumbants of the head coach position before Serra Ferrer returned as a hero. Real Betis defeated CA Osasuna 2-1 after extra time to collect the Copa Del Rey after extra time.
Ricardo Oliveira and substitute Dani scored the goals at Vicente Calderón Stadium. A fourth place league finish also propelled Betis into the Champions League for the following season, where they were illuminated in the group stage.
Serra Ferrer was replaced by Javier Irureta before Luis Fernández, Héctor Cúper and then Paco Chaparro took charge of the team. A short spell from José María Nogués couldn’t save Betis from relegation at the end of the 2008-09 season.
It would be Pepe Mel who took Betis back up in 2010-11 as Segunda División champions as Javi Guerra and Jorge Molina banged in the goals. A three year La Liga spell followed, during which time Mel was succeeded by Juan Carlos Garrido, Gabriel Calderón, Julio Velázquez and then Juan Merino.
Mel returned to the club to lead Betis back to La Liga after another second tier title winning season in 2014-15. The goals of Rubén Castro and Molina proved too much for their opponents while goalkeeper Antonio Adán kept out forwards at the other end.
Gus Poyet had a brief spell as head coach before Víctor Sánchez led Betis a mid table slot before Quique Setién came in as the team finished in sixth place in 2017-18.
Real Betis will play in La Liga in the 2018-19 season.
My visit
Real Betis 0 Real Sociedad 0 (Thursday 10th January 2019) Copa Del Rey Round of 16 First Leg (att: 26,273)
My trip to Andalusia was nearing its end as I was to fly home from Seville the following afternoon. It’d been a great adventure with the match at Estadio Benito Villamarín being my fifth in five days. It looked like holding star billing when the mini tour was planned.
Seville had proved to be a stunning city with its incredible architecture, history and mixture of narrow streets and wide avenues. The skies were blue at day but night time had proven to be very cold. This necessitated some unplanned shopping.
The purchase of some extra woolen socks and a pair of thermal long john’s meant that I had a chance of secluding the cold that I was growing throughout the trip as I knew that my seat for the match was up in the ‘Gods’ and out in the open.
Following a nap at Hotel Londres I grabbed a snack and then worked out my best way to the stadium. The number 3 bus on Calle Arjona by the Canal de Alfonso XIII waterfront seemed the best option, though just how I squeezed on remains a bit of a mystery.
Fortunately, there was room further back on the long concertina vehicle as the ride took around twenty minutes. As ever, it was a relief to see fans wearing the colours of the home team. It’s a give away that you’re heading the right way.
We alighted at the Reina Mercedes stop and walked along Av Padre G. Tejero to the stadium. The streets were busy with several stalls selling food and drink. I picked up a free programme that was lying about as I wandered to the south end to search for my correct gate.
Spanish tickets and entrance details forever confuse me, but this seemed easier than usual. However, that wasn’t the case in reaching my seat. The stairs seemed never ending and it became a bit of a struggle with my bad chest. It was a relief to reach the top tier.
The 8.30pm kick off meant that my weather forecast had proved correct. I really should have packed some warmer clothes. I’d bought the ticket online for €27.50 and then printed it at home in a simple process.
It was to be worth all the effort as I had a brilliant view of a most impressive arena. Estadio Benito Villamarín was something to behold with three continuous tiers wrapping round three sides, while a slightly smaller covered Main Stand filled in the fourth side.
It was obvious that I could have my pick of seats as it was going to be nowhere near a full house. The smell of exotic smoke wafted across as I enjoyed my water and jellied sweets. Well, “When in Rome”, as the saying goes!
A light show ‘entertained’ fans pre match before the traditional club song was bellowed out as the teams entered the pitch. For a short home made video of both, click here.
Betis fans have a reputation for creating some of the best atmosphere in the whole of Spain, and while the attendance was relatively low they still made their presence felt despite it not being a thriller throughout as Sociedad looked happy to leave with a draw before the second leg.
Socieded had a break on five minutes but the attempted shot a blocked. Local favourite Joaquín fired in a free kick shortly after which failed to trouble visiting custodian Gerónimo Rulli too much as he saved easily.
Joaquín beat the keeper all ends up on the half hour mark but saw his half volley from twenty five yards cannon up off the crossbar, with the lively Paraguayan forward Arnaldo Sanabria fouling Rulli in the follow up.
Andrés Guardado unleashed a shot from the angle that Rulli did well to beat away as Betis looked to break the deadlock. At the interval I took advantage of the empty seats and easy access to change position for a different angle and to an easier location to get away afterwards.
Shortly after half time a low curling effort from Giovani Lo Celso was pushed away by Rulli who was really earning his wages. Lo Celso was then denied from further out with Sanabria just failing to connect with the rebound as home frustration grew.
Next Lo Celso tried a jinking run which was eventually foiled by the frame of the keeper. With fifteen minutes remaining Sociedad nearly landed the ultimate sucker punch. Juanmi broke through, but Joel Robles made a fine stop to keep the scores level.
There was no further significant action. I’d enjoyed the experience and watched as a ‘spidercam’ followed play from above from one of the wires near to me. As soon as the board went up to indicate two minutes of additional time I went.
Fortune was looking over me. A gent was getting into a lift just as I reached the concourse, so I got a ride downstairs, even seeing the last thirty seconds as we stopped on the first floor. I wasted no time in getting away as I couldn’t be certain of how I’d get back.
Again, I had a bit of luck. Several buses were parked on Av Padre G. Tejero with a number 3 at the front. I asked a local “centro?” He confirmed it was the correct service and we were soon on our way. I jumped out at Plaza de Toros to head for refreshments.
A beer in O'Neill's Irish Pub while watching the closing stages of Levante v Barca was followed for a walk round to The Merchant, an excellent establishment from where it was definitely bedtime!
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