Sporting's history is epic, including a golden age, over 40 seasons in the First Division, and countless battles in the Second. Their stadium has witnessed legendary footballers, matches recounted to grandchildren, and glorious promotions. Always supported by the Mareona, the tireless fans who turn every away game into a celebration, and who always fill El Molinón, rain or shine, whether the team is in the First or Second Division.
At the end of the 19th century, some children of Gijón's bourgeoisie—educated in English boarding schools—returned to Gijón with a fascinating novelty: a ball game to be played with the feet. British eccentricity It caught on in the city. Founding a football club in 1905 It was a gesture of modernity in an industrial and working-class Gijón, where neighborhoods and tenements, workshops and shipyards shaped a growing city. “football” It fit there, between athenaeums and chigres, as a new urban liturgy.
History of Real Sporting de Gijón
At first, Only the elite of Gijón could play footballThey had boots, shirts, a ball, and above all, time to train and play. From this bourgeois environment emerged Gijón Sport Club (1902) and Sportiva Gijonesa, until in 1905 another team appeared. Anselmo López, founder, goalkeeper and president of the first Sporting Gijonésthe precursor to the current Real Sporting de Gijón. The team trained on San Lorenzo beach and already wore what is now considered the club's kit. the oldest red and white jersey in Spanish footballIts coat of arms, with an inverted isosceles triangle, red and white stripes, and a monogram S–G and a royal crown. Although it changed over time: it lost the crown during the Second Republic and after the Civil War (with the crusade against foreign words) it lost the S, ceasing to be “Sporting” and becoming Real Gijón. In the seventies the S was recovered, in the 90s there were some aesthetic adjustments and in 2005 a version was made for the club's centenary.
The Molinón
When football began to organize itself into championships and federations, Sporting understood that it needed them. a house to stop being a "beach" team, playing on meadows and communal lands. He then chose the field next to a large water mill on the banks of the Piles River - a playing field already documented on May 20, 1908. In 1916 the board began the purchase of the landA year later, the open-air stands and changing rooms were added. The renovation was celebrated in grand style: a field mass and blessing, a military parade, a marching band, and so on. Half of Gijón was there. By 1920, the stadium was ready to host the Copa del Rey final (Barcelona, with Zamora and Samitier, vs. Athletic Bilbao, with Pichichi). In 1928, it hosted a Spain-Italy match.
With their own ground, Sporting gained an advantage in a footballing Asturias still in its infancy. They could increase ticket sales, the fanbase, and strengthen the sense of belonging. Everything took off. mid-1940sWhen the team was promoted to the First Division (Previously, in 1935, the club had financial problems due to the mortgage on the stadium, and the City Council bought it for 223.000 pesetas, thus securing its future and its connection to the city). From then on, the stands and the fans grew together. In the seventiesEl Molinón was the first fully covered stadium in Spain. World Cup from 1982 toexpanded its capacity to 45.000 viewersThen, due to safety regulations and UEFA requirements (all spectators seated), it was reduced to the current 30.000 seats.
In the early 2000s The stands, facilities, and facades were renovated and redesigned by the artist Joaquín Vaquero Turcios. 2018The stadium is named after El Molinón–Enrique Castro “Quini”Presiding over the eastern part of Gijón, next to Isabel la Católica Park, the Las Mestas complex, the Museum of the Asturian People, and the Trade Fair. A large, lively green space where sport, culture, and leisure come together.
El Molinón is currently the oldest football field in Spain In continuous use. What for other cities is a cathedral, a city wall, or a fortress, for Gijón is El Molinón. It has hosted thousands of matches, including games of the national team and the 82 World Cup. In 1979, the famous chant was born in its stands. "That's how Madrid wins!"because of the alleged refereeing assistance the capital team received at that time (something the Real Madrid fans would later proudly embrace to celebrate their victories). You can still hear the famous “Now, now, now Quini, now!”It's a kind of prayer for "the wizard" to score goals and turn around seemingly impossible matches. Today, it's sung in the 9th minute of every game as a tribute to the great striker.
But El Molinón is more than just a sports venue. With the transition to democracy, the stadium became a platform for the resurgent political parties. high-profile rallies like the one Felipe González gave in 1977 before 25.000 people: “We too are in the First Division,” he said at the beginning of his speech. Since the 80s, El Molinón has hosted unrepeatable concertsRolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, Tina Turner, and Dire Straits. He was also a very cinematic field for the scenes he contributed to “Volver a empezar” - the first Oscar for Spanish cinema in 1983 -; and venue of the massive Quini's funeral and the Mass for Manolo Preciado.
The golden age of Sporting
Sporting and El Molinón are one and the same: one the soul, the other the body. Every goal, every promotion, and every sleepless night is etched in the stands like pages in the red-and-white biography. There were years when they touched the sky. An unrepeatable squad, with a Quini who made scoring a routine, achieved the League runner-up in 1978-79The record of achievements from those years seems unattainable, because in addition to this runner-up finish, Sporting was twice Copa del Rey finalist1981 and 1982; and added six participations in the UEFA Cup (seasons: 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1987-88, 1991-92). A great footballing moment that also includes two Stadium Cups, in 1979 and 1981 (the oldest sports award in Spain, it distinguishes the person or entity that has contributed the most to national sport), the Plaque for the Best Sports Entity (1978), the Juan Antonio Samaranch and the AFE Gold (both 1979), the Plaque for Sporting Merit (1981), the Sportsmanship awards (1981 and 1986).
In the años 70 y 80 The team's lineups featured such illustrious names as these: Castro, Doria, Rezza, Tati Valdés, Uría, Joaquín, Quini, Maceda, Ciriaco Cano, Enzo Ferrero, Abel, David, Cundi, Redondo, Jiménez, Mesa, Zurdi, Morán, Urbanoetc. In the mid and late 80s, some of the aforementioned players, now veterans, continued to shine, along with other young talents such as Esteban or Mino (both signed by Real Madrid), Tocornal, Eloy Olaya, the Ablanedo brothers, Jaime, Emilio, Marcelino, Eraña, Espinosa, Juanma, Joaquín Villa, Luismi, Felipe Miñambresetc. Many of these players came from the reserve team after good work with the youth academy's values, work that would bear more fruit and produce more stars in the 90s.
Affiliate and youth academy, the "yogurinos"
Since its founding, Sporting de Gijón has always relied on young people with a future to strengthen its first team. In the 1920s, it drew mainly from UD Racing, Club Fortuna, Club Calzada, and FC Gijonés, without neglecting other regional sources. In 1928, the merger of UD Racing and Fortuna gave rise to Club Gijónwhich in the thirties became the great breeding ground for Atlético Madrid players. fortiesSporting achieved their first promotion to the First Division with half the squad comprised of local players (Luis Sión, Tamayo, Gundemaro, Benigno, Cholo Dindurra, Paladini, Luisín, Vitín, Mijares, Victorero). But it wouldn't be until 1960 when I start counting on a own affiliated federated team: Club Deportivo Gijón.
In 1970, with Carriega as coach, there were seven Asturians in the lineup (Castro, Echevarría, Alonso, José Manuel, Herrero II, “Tati” Valdés and Quini). But The subsidiary's factory exploded in the 90s with the fifth of the “yogurinos”"who, in addition to playing for the first team, went on to other clubs in the Spanish First Division: Pablo (he would sign for Zaragoza), Abelardo (Barcelona), Luis Enrique (Madrid, Barcelona), Manjarin (Deportivo de la Coruña), Oscar (Zaragoza), Muniz (Ray Vallecano), Juanele (Tenerife, Zaragoza), monchu (Seville), Thomas (Celta, Sevilla), Ivan Iglesias (Barcelona), Sergio Fernandez (Celta, Zaragoza, Osasuna). Luis sierra, Arthur, Tati, Juanma, Dani Bouzas, o Avelino Among others, they would complete this fifth.
The century XXI It opens with the debut of a distinguished youth academy player: David Villa, "El Guaje"In his two seasons with Sporting Gijón's first team, he scored 41 goals. He was, perhaps, the natural heir to Enrique Castro Quini, but he couldn't shine any brighter at Sporting because the team's financial needs forced him to sign for Zaragoza. That was the beginning of his journey throughout Spain and around the world: Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, New York, Australia, Japan.
In the early years of the new centuryThe youth academy lost prominence, perhaps because the team spent too much time in the Second Division. From Villa's time and the years immediately following came other talented players such as David Cano, Mario Cotelo, Ruben, Juan, Chus Bravo, Samuel, Pablo Amo o Javier Fire among others. In the promotion to the First Division in 2008The Mareo players didn't have much of a role, except for a few like Michel, Pedro Santa Cecilia, Pablo de Lucas, Luis Morán or Marcos LandeiraA few years later they would arrive José Ángel «Cote» o Borja López. The last great push from the youth academy was that of Abelardo's "youngsters," and their promotion to the first division in 2015 thanks to homegrown players like Alberto García, Alex Menendez, Sergio Alvarez, Jony, Nacho Cases, Pablo Perez, Carlos Castro, Juan Muñiz, Alex Barrera, Lora, Guerrero or CanellaSince then, the youth academy has continued to produce talent: Manu García, Álvaro Fidalgo, Pedro Díaz, Jorge Meré, Pablo García, Queipo, Guille Rosas, Gaspar Camposand many more that will continue to arrive in the years to come.
The School of Dizziness
The Mareo Football School, authentic Sporting de Gijón's youth academy, was born in the late seventies thanks to a difficult but visionary decision: to sell to Churruca to Athletic (for 50 million of the old pesetas) to finance its construction. The works were completed in 1978, under the presidency of Manuel Vega-Arango and after the initial impetus of Ángel Viejo Feliú.
The investment in Mareo soon paid off. Its most celebrated generation was the famous “yogurinos” (born between 1969 and 1971), all of whom gathered at the Sporting Atlético under the guidance of a homegrown coach: Carlos García CuervoThere was a complete catalog of virtues: Abelardo's positioning and leaping ability; Ovidio and Tomás's finesse; Luis Enrique and Manjarín's stride and goal-scoring prowess. Sporting fans, who always knew how to distinguish between promise and true talent, fell in love instantly.
With Ciriaco Cano As a coach, Sporting was fifth in the 1990-91 League and returned to Europe. A year later, Abelardo, Luis Enrique and Manjarín won Olympic gold in Barcelona-92. All three left: Luis Enrique to Real Madrid (in 1991 for 250 million pesetas), Javier Manjarín to Deportivo La Coruña (in 1993 for 100 million), and Abelardo to Barcelona (in 1994 for 275 million). Juanele also left for Tenerife (in 1994 for 250 million) and Iván Iglesias for Barcelona (in 1993 for 100 million).
All these signings, and others that followed, revealed a well-known but painful truth.In smaller clubs, money is needed.If Sporting had been able to retain its stars, it would have been good enough to compete with the best for several years. Since then, “Made in Mareo” It defines a whole style that is learned from childhood, starting with taking good care of the boots or knowing that the brain is more important than the legs, playing out from the back even if you lose possession, studying in detail the grammar of the goal relying on well-placed passes… When taken seriously, youth football is more like a conservatory than a gym.
Today the Mareo School occupies 112.000 m²The training complex, with eight pitches, changing rooms, a gym, a medical area, hydrotherapy facilities and a sauna, and a residence for the first team, has an annual budget of just over one million euros. Sporting maintains eleven men's teams plus the reserve team, two women's teams, as well as seven officially registered teams in its youth academy and another ten unregistered ones. Around 400 children pass through the facilities each week, and barely a quarter of them are from Gijón. Oviedo, the mining regions, Avilés, and other Asturian districts have direct transport links to Mareo.
The work philosophy at these facilities has already “produced” More than 200 footballers for the first team and a good number of international players for the national team. The work continues to ensure future generations of great footballers; also of coaches, since many of those who started coaching the reserve team have ended up managing Sporting. As José Manuel Díaz Novoa, Iñaki Tejada, Pepe Acebal or own Abelardo Fernández “El Pitu”Although perhaps the most prominent name in this pool of coaches is Marcelino Garcia ToralHis professional career skyrocketed after coaching Sporting B, and he is now one of the most renowned coaches in the country. He has coached Racing, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal…
Executives, big names and coaches
Summarizing over a century of Sporting de Gijón's history is a near-impossible task, given the number of names and eras that have shaped it. Founded in 1905 by Anselmo López -whose bust presides over the tunnel of the dressing rooms at El Molinón-, the club has had 37 presidentsAmong them, those from his golden age, between the seventies and nineties, stand out, with Manuel Vega-Arango, the president with the most matches in the First Division (458), and Plácido Rodríguezwith the highest percentage of wins. A deep crisis arrived in the late eighties, aggravated by the conversion into Public Limited Sports Company in 1992, from which the club was saved thanks to the financial support of José “Pepín” FernándezCurrently, Sporting is experiencing a new era under the management of Alejandro Irarragorri and the Orlegi Group, who since 2022 have been promoting an institutional and sporting renewal with an eye to the future.
Here's a list of the “best” footballers in the club's historyAlways in quotation marks, because in these matters there is no science, only endless discussions. There were those who left figures, those who left a mark, and those who left both:
Ramón Herrera: The forward was the most charismatic figure at Sporting in the 20s. With impeccable technique and posture, he was known as "The Wise One".
Cholo Dindurra: He was the standout player for Sporting in the 1944-45 season, the year of their first promotion to the top tier of Spanish football. He would go on to play for Sporting for 12 seasons.
Mauro Álvarez Álvarez, “Tamayo”A regular starter, he played 279 matches for the team in the 40s. He never lost his way, neither to the ball nor to the opponent; he played in forward, midfield, defense, and even as a goalkeeper.
Pepe Ortiz: He played 318 league matches for Atlético Madrid, scoring 126 goals. He was part of the team that achieved promotion to the First Division in 1951 and 1957. The Mareo training ground, where the reserve team plays, is named after him.
Manuel Rodríguez Torre, “Molinucu”: historic midfielder who defended the Sporting shirt in 300 matches, between 1944 and 1957. Throughout the 13 seasons defending the Sporting shirt he was never sent off or cautioned.
Biempica: The team's name in the 1950s. He played nine seasons for Sporting between the 1950s and 1960s, with 230 matches and 60 goals.
Miguel Angel Alonso, “Miluca”He played 238 matches between 1962 and 1974, participating in two promotions and several seasons in the First Division.
Carlos García Cuervo: Sporting's goalkeeper for six seasons. He debuted in 1965 and was part of the team that achieved promotion to the First Division in 1970. His time with the club was marked by competition with the legendary Castro. He later coached several Asturian teams, including Sporting's first team in 1989, 1993, and 1995.
Jesús Castro: A legendary Sporting goalkeeper and brother of Quini, he played 18 seasons for the club, making 471 appearances, the most of any goalkeeper in the club's history. He was instrumental in their promotion in 1970 and participated in several UEFA Cup matches. He died prematurely and heroically in 1993 while attempting to save swimmers at Armió beach in Cantabria.
Ignacio Churruca: A left winger who played nine seasons for Sporting, making 302 appearances and scoring 63 goals. He was the first player from the club in decades to be called up to the Spanish National Team (16 times). His transfer to Athletic Bilbao in 1976 helped finance the Mareo Academy.
Tati Valdés, “The Big Machine”He played for Sporting for 14 seasons, becoming one of their most legendary players, wearing the number 10. He experienced two promotions to the First Division: Carriega's in 1970 and Miera's in 1977. After retiring, he was a coach, scout, and key figure at Mareo, Sporting's training ground.
Enrique Castro “Quini”: A club legend and one of the most beloved figures in Spanish football. Nicknamed "The Wizard," he won several Pichichi trophies, represented Spain in two World Cups and one European Championship. He scored 272 goals in 521 appearances for Sporting. He also played for FC Barcelona, where he won titles and was famously kidnapped. After retiring, he served as a delegate for the Gijón club. El Molinón stadium is named after him.
Manolo Mesa: A tireless midfielder nicknamed "Seven Lungs," he was a key player in the best Sporting team in history (late 70s and 80s). He played in two Copa del Rey finals, a league runner-up finish, and four UEFA Cups. He only played two matches for the Spanish national team due to injuries.
Maceda: After more than 200 league appearances for Atlético Madrid, he was transferred to Real Madrid under Ramón Mendoza, at the dawn of the Quinta del Buitre era. He earned 36 caps for Spain.
Joaquín Alonso: The eternal captain of Sporting. He is the player with the most appearances in the club's history (646). He participated in promotions, runner-up finishes, and the UEFA Cup. An international for Spain, he played in the 1982 World Cup. After retiring, he coached the Spanish national beach soccer team and today represents the club in an official capacity.
Manolo Jiménez: A central defender for Sporting in the 80s, he played 13 seasons in La Liga and 458 matches, one of the players with the most minutes for the club after Joaquín. He participated in two Copa del Rey finals and was a Spanish international.
Round: He spent 13 seasons at Sporting, playing 358 matches, achieving a league runner-up finish and reaching two Copa del Rey finals. He served as captain, manager of both the first team and the reserve team.
Ablanedo: Nicknamed "El Gatu," he won the Zamora Trophy three times in La Liga (for conceding the fewest goals in the 1984-1985, 1985-1986, and 1989-1990 seasons). Very few goalkeepers have surpassed this record since. He played 14 seasons and 398 matches. He was known for his agility despite his short stature. He shone with the Spanish Under-21 team, winning the 1986 European Championship, and was a full international. "We're not afraid, we have Ablanedo!" was the chant at El Molinón stadium after his spectacular saves.
Secundino Suárez «Cundi»: One of the best left-backs in Sporting's history, he played 16 seasons for the club, making over 400 appearances, reaching two Copa del Rey finals, finishing as runner-up once, and earning nine international caps. A tireless full-back, he rejected offers from Barcelona and Valencia to stay with the club he loved.
Eloy Olaya: He made his debut in the First Division at age 15 with Sporting and also played for Valencia CF, totaling 607 matches and 111 goals in his career. An international for Spain (15 matches, 4 goals), he participated in the 1986 World Cup. After retiring, he was technical secretary of Sporting, coach of the Asturian youth team, and a commentator.
Luis Enrique: A symbol of Sporting Gijón, born in Gijón in 1970, he was a footballer for Sporting, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, earning 62 caps for Spain and winning an Olympic gold medal in 1992. As a coach, he achieved success with Barcelona and managed the Spanish national team. He currently manages PSG, with whom he has already won numerous titles, including a treble and the Champions League.
Abelardo Fernández “El Pitu”A great central defender, a key figure during a golden era for the club in the early 90s. He played for Sporting, Barcelona, and Alavés, and earned 54 caps for Spain. He won Olympic gold at Barcelona 92 and participated in two World Cups and two European Championships. After retiring in 2003, he managed Sporting, leading them to promotion to La Liga in 2015.
David Villa: A legend of world football, European and World champion, and all-time top scorer for the Spanish national team. In 2003, due to the club's critical financial situation, he was transferred to Zaragoza for €2,7 million, despite being worth much more. His sale saved Sporting from administrative relegation. He later played for Valencia, Barcelona, and Atlético de Madrid before moving to the United States, Australia, and Japan.
Amongst the Coaches The key players in Sporting's history include, first and foremost, Manuel Meana (30s and 39s). He was the club's first international player and coached the team in the 1933/34, 40/40 and 48/49 seasons. He was also the national team coach from 1956 to 1959.
Amadeo SánchezWith him as manager, Sporting achieved their first two promotions to the First Division. He was the team's goalkeeper in the 20s, nicknamed "The Giant" for his imposing presence. After hanging up his gloves, he became a referee and later a coach, managing the team in 194 matches.
Vicente Miera: He was the manager of Real Sporting during its most golden period, between the late 70s and early 80s. He managed the team in 215 matches and led them to historic moments: promotion to the First Division in 1976-77, the first qualification for European competitions, 1977-78, or the runner-up position in the League, 1978-79; the best position in the club's history.
In the early 80s, the Serbian Vujadin Boskov It represented the introduction of a new mentality: opponent analysis, planning, specific physical preparation, and tactical discipline. Although his sporting results were modest, his methodological influence was very important for the subsequent development of Sporting and its youth academy.
José Manuel Díaz Novoa He is one of the most iconic figures in Real Sporting's history. A former player, sporting director, and the manager who has led the team the most times, with a total of 284 official matches. He was one of the managers who most strongly believed in developing young talent, always seeking reinforcements from the reserve team. His legacy includes the comprehensive training of many young players and the promotion of several talented players to the first team.
Ciriaco Cano, a man of the house who managed the Sporting bench the last time the Gijón club played in the UEFA Cup, with a team focused on the youth academy and the fifth of the "youngsters".
Marcelino Garcia Toral He is one of only 21 players in Sporting's history to have managed the first team. That was in 2005, and although he did so in the Second Division, his subsequent coaching career has been one of the most solid and highly regarded in the Spanish League.
Following the traumatic relegation of 1998 – with only 13 points – Sporting entered a decade of sporting and financial crisis. The signing of Manolo Preciado He proved key to turning the situation around. A coach with experience in promotions and an approachable personality who He returned the team to the First Division in 2008After 10 long years in the Second Division, he led Sporting Gijón back to the top flight with players like Roberto, Sastre, Canella, Matabuena, Michel, Kike Mateo, Barral, Bilic, and Diego Castro. But Preciado's legacy goes far beyond results; he revived Sporting's competitive spirit and reconnected the team with its fans, becoming a legendary figure for the club. His statue next to El Molinón stadium commemorates his legacy, following his untimely death in 2012 from a heart attack.
Abelardo Fernández Antuña, “El Pitu”He is the fifth manager with the most matches played in the club's history. Only Díaz Novoa, Manolo Preciado, Vicente Miera, and Amadeo Sánchez have managed him more. Abelardo has managed the team in two spells, with one promotion to the First Division in 2015 and a dramatic escape in 2022. He is a true heir to the tradition of homegrown coaches trained at Mareo.
Many other managers have contributed to the club's history over the last few decades, figures who were influential in their time with varying degrees of success, and who today evoke specific eras, styles, hopes, and disappointments: Bert Jacobs, the methodical Dutchman; García Remón, with his serious goalkeeper demeanor; Ricardo Rezza, the composed strategist; Benito Floro, always with his game plan at hand; or Javier Clemente himself, who brought with him the controversy that always seemed to follow him.
Sporting's best international signings
This list of illustrious names from Sporting would not be complete without remembering Some of the most valuable and unforgettable signings to wear the red and white jerseyPlayers who, through their talent, dedication or career, left a deep mark on the history of the club and in the memory of its fans.
The Argentinian Enzo FerreroFor example. Perhaps the best foreign signing in Sporting's history. A fast, technical, and courageous winger, he marked an era at El Molinón, becoming a symbol of the attacking football that characterized the team in its best years.
Another impactful signing was that of the Portuguese player Fernando GomesHe was brought in to replace none other than Quini after his departure to Barcelona. Injuries hampered his start, but in his second season he showed glimpses of his talent: elegant, fast, and with a nose for goal. His return to Portugal was triumphant, as he won the European Golden Boot at Porto.
In 1983, the charismatic Englishman landed in Gijón. Laurie CunninghamA skillful and elegant winger who had played alongside Boskov at Real Madrid. His time there was brief, but he left a mark of quality and professionalism that fans still remember.
Luis Felipe “Lucho” Flores He was a prominent Mexican striker, an international for his country, who played for Sporting in 1986-87, scoring 15 goals in 33 matches. In 1987, another Mexican, Manuel Negrete, He ended up at Sporting after scoring a great goal in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. A goal that is considered the best goal in the history of the World Cups.
During the 1990s and the post-Soviet era, Sporting relied on players from Eastern Europe. Some, like Igor Lediakhov (known as “The Prince” for his elegant, technical and spectacular style, he played 209 games for Sporting), the Bulgarian Georgi Yordanov (powerful, disciplined and with reach) or Dmitri Tcherichev (fast Russian winger), became much-loved figures for their talent and dedication.
Other names like Milan Luhový (Slovakian centre forward and reliable goalscorer) or Yuriy Nikiforov (highly ranked Ukrainian center back), gave a solid performance and were important pieces of the team in the 80s.
In the early 90s, the Argentinian Hugo “Perico” PérezAn international player for his country, he earned the respect of the fans for his technique, personality and competitive character. Yekini "He's not Quini." This joke became very popular in the stands during the year and a half that the Nigerian striker played for Sporting in the mid-90s, despite which he also left his mark and his goals on the team's history. The Croatian striker Mate Bilić, with its 59 goals, Gregory Arnolin (France/Martinique) -central hierarchy and leadership- or Portuguese Andre CastroThey played a significant role during Manolo Preciado's time there. Later on, the Serbian Stefan Scepovic He scored 28 goals in the campaign prior to promotion in 2015.
In recent years, the Montenegrin Uros Djurdjevic He has scored 66 goals in 232 appearances for Sporting.
Regarding domestic signings, the list of outstanding players throughout the club's history would be endless, although we can mention here the most relevant ones from recent years, crucial for periods of promotion and consolidation. From Rafel Sastre (Cádiz, 2001), captain of the return to the First Division in 2008, until Luis Hernandez (Real Madrid C, 2012), these signings defined a generation. Between 2006 and 2009, the following players arrived: Diego Castro (Málaga B), David barral (Real Madrid Castilla), between them they managed to score more than 50 goals with Sporting. Alberto Lora (Real Madrid), Kike Mateo (Hercules), the goalkeepers, Juan Pablo Colinas (Numancia), Iván “Pichu” Cuéllar (Atletico), Roberto (Celtic), Diego Mariño (Levante), and other outfield players such as Carmelo Gonzalez (Levant), Miguel de las Cuevas (Atlético), or Alberto Botía (Barcelona) deserve a mention. Their importance to the team is linked to one of the most talked-about domestic signings the club made in the late nineties: Julio SalinasThat striker with a long career and unmistakable figure arrived at El Molinón and scored 24 of his goals.
Historic matches
Throughout its history, Sporting has played encounters that are part of the collective memory of Sporting fansMatches that marked eras, fueled rivalries and gave rise to unforgettable feats on glorious nights.
The first great memory dates back to 1945, when Sporting thrashed Real Oviedo 6-0 at El Molinón, in the first Asturian derby played in the First DivisionThat victory, with goals from Molinucu, Cervigón, Tamayo and a hat trick from Pío, marked the birth of a legendary rivalry between the two great clubs of the Principality.
Decades later, the Gijón club experienced its great takeoff in the seventiesWith an unforgettable generation. On May 29, 1977, at the old Buenavista stadium, Sporting came from behind to beat Oviedo (1-2) with goals from Quini and Ferrero, achieving promotion to the First Division and winning the Second Division title. That victory symbolized the beginning of the club's golden years.
And in the season 1978-79El Molinón experienced magical nights: first, the 3-2 against Real Sociedad, with a goal in the last minute by Enrique Castro “Quini”, and shortly afterwards the European victory against Torino (3-0), in Sporting's first participation in the UEFA Cup, where the team made its mark for its brave and offensive football.
The splendor continued in the eighties, when Sporting achieved for the first time a 1981 Copa del Rey finalAfter eliminating Real Madrid and Sevilla, they reached the Copa del Rey final. At the Vicente Calderón, they fell 3-1 to Barcelona, with Quini as their executioner. Even so, that team—with Redondo, Maceda, Joaquín, Uría, and Ferrero—remained in everyone's memory. A year later, in 1982, the red and whites played in another Copa del Rey final, this time in Valladolid against Real Madrid. Sporting competed with courage, falling with honor and confirming their place among the greats of the era.
February 28th 1987The team led by Díaz Novoa achieved one of the greatest feats in its history: 0-4 at the Camp NouWith a brace from Eloy Olaya. That night Sporting showed their best form and silenced Barça with brilliant football.
A few months later, in the 1987-88 UEFA Cup, Sporting once again astonished Europe by defeating at El Molinón by 1-0 against AC Milan by Arrigo Sacchi, a giant of continental football. It was a victory that symbolized the grit and pride of Atlético Madrid against a powerful rival.
In 2008, Sporting 2–0 Eibar (June 15): historic match, with goals from Bilic and Luis Morán that confirmed the return to the First Division after 10 years in the Second Division.
More recently, on April 2, 2011, Manolo Preciado's Sporting achieved another historic feat: winning 0-1 against Real Madrid José Mourinho's victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, secured with a goal from De las Cuevas, ended the Portuguese manager's unbeaten home record. That triumph, achieved by a humble and courageous team, brought back the excitement of Sporting's greatest achievements.
Betis 0–3 Sporting (June 7, 2015). Historic day: Sporting Gijón achieves promotion at Betis's ground thanks to their three goals and a stoppage-time goal by Lugo against Girona.
Today the club is entering a new phase, but its essence remains intact. Sporting Gijón is, above all, a way of understanding loyalty, hope, and hard work. And that, neither relegations, nor crises, nor the passage of time will ever change.
And as the best summary of that eternal feelingThe anthem that accompanies it generation after generation plays, a declaration of love for the red and white colors and for an entire city:
Real Sporting, a famous team,
of long-standing tradition, brilliant history,
that you gave great fame to Gijón
And at El Molinón you have no rival.
Your youth academy produced valuable talent.
that no one will ever be able to forget,
victorious across the fields of Spain,
You will triumph again.
Go Real Sporting!
legendary team
that you have fought so hard
in order to succeed.
Relive your glory days
and always forward,
Never let your faith waver,
You must not faint.
Sporting, to the fight,
ceaseless battle.
¡Aúpa Real Sporting!, eh, eh, eh,
We expect more from you.
