Sporting Gijon

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.

• History of Real Sporting de Gijón
• The Molinón
• The golden age of Sporting
• Affiliate and youth academy, the "yogurinos"
• The School of Dizziness
• Executives, big names and coaches
• Sporting's best signings
• Historic matches
• Anthem

History of Real Sporting de Gijón

At the end of the 19th century, some sons of Gijón's bourgeoisie—educated in English boarding schools—returned to Gijón with a fascinating novelty: a ball game played with the feet. This British eccentricity caught on in the city. Founding a football club in 1905 was a gesture of modernity in an industrial and working-class Gijón, where neighborhoods and tenements, workshops and shipyards shaped a growing city. Football found its place there, amidst cultural centers and taverns, as a new urban ritual.

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 be organized into championships and federations, Sporting understood that it needed a proper home to move beyond being a "beach" team, playing on meadows and communal lands. They chose the field next to a large watermill on the banks of the Piles River—a playing field already documented on May 20, 1908. In 1916, the board began purchasing the land , and a 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 contingent, a brass 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 its own ground, Sporting Gijón gained an advantage in a footballing Asturias still in its infancy. It could boost ticket sales, expand its fanbase, and strengthen the sense of belonging. Everything took off in the mid-1940s when the team was promoted to the First Division (previously, in 1935, the club had financial difficulties due to the mortgage on the ground, 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 1970s , El Molinón became the first fully covered stadium in Spain. For the 1982 World Cup, its capacity was expanded to 45.000 spectators . Later, 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. Since 2018 , the stadium has been named 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. It's a large, lively green space where sport, culture, and leisure activities come together.

El Molinón is currently the oldest continuously used football stadium in Spain. 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 for the national team and the 82 World Cup. In 1979, the famous chant “Así, así, así gana el Madrid” (That's how Madrid wins) was born in its stands , referring to the alleged refereeing assistance the capital's team received at the time (something the Real Madrid fans would later proudly embrace to celebrate their victories). You can still hear the famous “¡Ahora, ahora, ahora Quini, ahora!” (Now, now, now Quini, now!) , a kind of prayer for “the wizard” to score goals and turn around seemingly impossible matches. Today, it is 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 are etched in the stands like pages of the red-and-white biography. There were years when they touched the sky. An unforgettable squad, with Quini making scoring a habit, achieved the runner-up position in La Liga in 1978-79 . The list of achievements from those years seems unmatched, because in addition to this runner-up finish, Sporting was a Copa del Rey finalist twice : in 1981 and 1982; and participated in the UEFA Cup six times (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 Best Sports Entity Plaque (1978), the Juan Antonio Samaranch and the AFE Gold (both 1979), the Sports Merit Plaque (1981), the Sportsmanship awards (1981 and 1986).

In the 70s and 80s, the team's lineups boasted such illustrious names as Castro, Doria, Rezza, Tati Valdés, Uría, Joaquín, Quini, Maceda, Ciriaco Cano, Enzo Ferrero, Abel, David, Cundi, Redondo, Jiménez, Mesa, Zurdi, Morán, Urbano , and others. In the mid-to-late 80s, some of these players, now veterans, continued to shine, along with other young talents like Esteban and Mino (both signed by Real Madrid), Tocornal, Eloy Olaya, the Ablanedo brothers, Jaime, Emilio, Marcelino, Eraña, Espinosa, Juanma, Joaquín Villa, Luismi, Felipe Miñambres , and others. Many of these players came from the reserve team after a successful development program focused on youth players, a program that would bear even 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 promising young players to strengthen its first team. In the 1920s, it drew primarily from UD Racing, Club Fortuna, Club Calzada, and FC Gijonés, while also exploring other regional talent pools. In 1928, the merger of UD Racing and Fortuna created Club Gijón , which in the 1930s became the club's main breeding ground for young players. In the 1940s , Sporting achieved its first promotion to the First Division with a squad comprised almost entirely of local players (Luis Sión, Tamayo, Gundemaro, Benigno, Cholo Dindurra, Paladini, Luisín, Vitín, Mijares, Victorero). However, it wasn't until 1960 that the club began to field its own officially registered reserve 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 21st century dawned with the debut of a illustrious homegrown talent: 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 across much of the world: Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​New York, Australia, Japan.

In the early years of the new century , the youth academy lost prominence, perhaps because the team spent too much time in the Second Division. From the Villa era and the years immediately following came other talented players such as David Cano, Mario Cotelo, Ruben, Juan, Chus Bravo, Samuel, Pablo Amo, and Javi Fuego, among others. In the promotion to La Liga in 2008 , the Mareo academy players didn't feature prominently, with the exception of a few like Michel, Pedro Santa Cecilia, Pablo de Lucas, Luis Morán, and Marcos Landeira . A few years later, José Ángel "Cote" and Borja López would arrive. The last major push from the youth academy came with Abelardo's "guajes" (youngsters), and their promotion to La Liga in 2015 was thanks to academy players like Alberto García , Álex Menéndez, Sergio Álvarez, Jony, Nacho Cases, Pablo Pérez, Carlos Castro, Juan Muñiz, Alex Barrera, Lora, Guerrero, and Canella . From then until now, the youth academy has continued to produce talent: Manu García, Álvaro Fidalgo, Pedro Díaz, Jorge Meré, Pablo García, Queipo, Guille Rosas, Gaspar Campos , and many more who will continue to arrive in the years to come.

The School of Dizziness

The Mareo Football Academy, a true breeding ground for Sporting Gijón's talent , was founded in the late 1970s thanks to a difficult but visionary decision: selling Churruca to Athletic Bilbao (for 50 million pesetas) to finance its construction. The works were completed in 1978, under the presidency of Manuel Vega-Arango and following the initial impetus provided by Ángel Viejo Feliú.

The investment in Mareo soon bore fruit. Its most celebrated generation was the famous "Yogurinos" (born between 1969 and 1971), all of whom came together at Sporting Atlético under the guidance of a homegrown coach: Carlos García Cuervo . They possessed a complete array of talents: Abelardo's positioning and leaping ability; Ovidio and Tomás's finesse; and Luis Enrique and Manjarín's stride and goal-scoring prowess. Sporting fans, who have always been able to distinguish between promise and true talent, fell in love instantly.

With Ciriaco Cano as manager, Sporting finished fifth in the 1990-91 La Liga season and returned to European competition. A year later, Abelardo, Luis Enrique, and Manjarín won Olympic gold at 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 familiar but painful truth : smaller clubs need money . If Sporting had been able to retain its stars, it would have had the quality to compete with the best for several years. Since then, “Made in Mareo” has defined a whole style learned from childhood, starting with taking good care of your boots, understanding that brains are more important than legs, playing out from the back even if you lose possession, and studying the grammar of scoring in detail, relying on well-placed passes… When done seriously, youth football is more like a conservatory than a gym.

Today, the Mareo Academy occupies 112.000 m² with eight pitches, changing rooms, a gym, a medical area, hydrotherapy facilities and a sauna, and a residence for the first team. With an annual budget of just over one million euros, Sporting maintains eleven men's teams plus the reserve team, two women's teams, in addition to seven officially registered teams at the academy and another ten unregistered ones. Around 400 children pass through here each week, and barely a quarter of them are from Gijón. Oviedo, the mining valleys, 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 Gijón's history is a near-impossible task, given the sheer number of names and eras that have shaped it. Founded in 1905 by Anselmo López —whose bust stands in the players' tunnel at El Molinón—the club has had 37 presidents . Among them, those from its golden age, between the 1970s and 1990s, stand out, including Manuel Vega-Arango , the president with the most matches in the First Division (458), and Plácido Rodríguez , with the highest win percentage. A deep crisis hit in the late 1980s, exacerbated by the conversion to a Public Limited Sports Company in 1992, from which the club was saved thanks to the financial backing of José "Pepín" Fernández . Currently, Sporting is experiencing a new phase under the leadership of Alejandro Irarragorri and the Orlegi Group , who since 2022 have been driving an institutional and sporting renewal with an eye toward the future.

Here's a list of the "best" footballers in the club's history , always in quotation marks, because there's no science to these things, just endless debates. Some left impressive statistics, some left a lasting impression, and some did both:

Ramón Herrera: forward, was the most charismatic figure of Sporting in the 20s. With impeccable technique and posture, he was known as "The Wise One".

Cholo Dindurra: a winger who, during the 1944-45 season for Sporting, the team's first promotion to the top tier of Spanish football, was the standout player. He would play for Sporting for 12 seasons.

Mauro Álvarez Álvarez, “Tamayo” : a starter game after game, he played 279 matches with the team in the 40s. He never lost his face, neither to the ball nor to the opponent, he played in the forward line, midfield, defense and even as 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” : a historic midfielder who wore the Sporting jersey in 300 matches, between 1944 and 1957. Throughout the 13 seasons he wore the Sporting jersey, 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” : played 238 games 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 Sporting 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: legendary Sporting goalkeeper and brother of Quini, played 18 seasons for the club, making 471 appearances, the most of any goalkeeper in the club's history. He was key to their promotion in 1970 and participated in several UEFA Cup matches. He died prematurely and heroically in 1993 while trying 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 Football Academy.

Tati Valdés, "The Machine" : He played for 14 seasons at Sporting, 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.

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 matches for Sporting Gijón. 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: Sporting's eternal captain. He holds the record for most appearances in the club's history (646). He was part of the team that achieved promotions, runner-up finishes, and won 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 currently represents the club in an official capacity.

Manolo Jiménez: Sporting's center-back 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.

Redondo: 13 seasons at Sporting, with 358 matches, a league runner-up finish and two Copa del Rey finals. He was captain, manager of the first team and the reserve team.

Ablanedo, nicknamed "El Gatu," 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, with over 400 appearances, two Copa del Rey finals, a runner-up finish, and nine international caps. A tireless full-back, he rejected offers from Barcelona and Valencia to stay with the club of his life.

Eloy Olaya: He made his debut in the First Division at age 15 with Sporting Gijón 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 Sporting Gijón's technical secretary, the Asturian youth team coach, and a commentator.

Luis Enrique, a symbol of Sporting Gijón, was born in Gijón in 1970. He played for Sporting, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, ​​earning 62 caps for Spain and winning an Olympic gold medal in 1992. As a manager, he achieved success with Barcelona and led 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 played in two World Cups and two European Championships. After retiring in 2003, he coached Sporting, leading them to promotion to La Liga in 2015.

David Villa: a legend of world football, European and World champion, and the all-time leading 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.

Among the coaches who have shaped Sporting's history, Manuel Meana (30s and 40s) stands out. He was the club's first international player and coached the team in the 1933/34, 39/40, and 48/49 seasons. He was also the national team coach from 1956 to 1959.

Amadeo Sánchez : Under his management, Sporting achieved its first two promotions to the First Division. He was the team's goalkeeper in the 20s, nicknamed "The Giant" for his imposing presence. After retiring from playing, he became a referee and later a coach, managing the team in 194 matches.

Vicente Miera: coach 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 entire history.

In the early 80s, Serbian Vujadin Boskov ushered in a new mentality: opponent analysis, planning, specific physical training, and tactical discipline. Although his sporting results were modest, his methodological influence was crucial for the subsequent development of Sporting and its youth academy.

José Manuel Díaz Novoa 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 "youngsters".

Marcelino García Toral is one of only 21 players in Sporting's history to have managed the first team. He took the reins in 2005, and although he did so in the Second Division, his subsequent coaching career has been among the most solid and highly regarded in the Spanish League.

After the traumatic relegation of 1998 – with only 13 points – Sporting entered a decade of sporting and financial crisis. The signing of Manolo Preciado proved key to turning things around. A manager with experience in promotions and an approachable personality, he returned the team to La Liga in 2008 , after 10 long years in the Second Division. He did so with players like Roberto, Sastre, Canella, Matabuena, Michel, Kike Mateo, Barral, Bilic, and Diego Castro. But Preciado's legacy goes beyond results, as he revived Sporting's competitive spirit and reconnected the team with its fans, becoming a legendary figure for Sporting supporters. 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” , 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 more. Abelardo has led the team in two spells, achieving promotion to La Liga in 2015 and a dramatic escape from relegation in 2022. He is a true heir to the tradition of homegrown managers who came up through the ranks 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 Sporting's illustrious names wouldn't be complete without remembering some of the most valuable and unforgettable signings to wear the red and white jersey . Players who, through their talent, dedication, or career achievements, left a deep mark on the club's history and in the memory of its fans.

Argentine Enzo Ferrero , for example. Perhaps the best foreign signing in Sporting's history. A fast, technically gifted, 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 high-profile signing was that of Portuguese player Fernando Gomes , brought in to replace none other than Quini after his departure for Barcelona. Injuries hampered his start, but in his second season he showed glimpses of his brilliance: elegant, fast, and with a nose for goal. His return to Portugal was triumphant, as he won the European Golden Boot with Porto.

In 1983, the charismatic Englishman Laurie Cunningham , a skillful and elegant winger who had played alongside Boskov at Real Madrid, arrived in Gijón. His time there was brief, but he left a mark of quality and professionalism that fans still remember.

Luis Felipe “Lucho” Flores was a prominent Mexican striker and international for his country, who played for Sporting in 1986-87, scoring 15 goals in 33 matches. In 1987, another Mexican, Manuel Negrete, joined Sporting after scoring a spectacular goal in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. That goal is considered by many to be the greatest goal in World Cup history.

During the 1990s and the post-Soviet era, Sporting placed its bets on players from Eastern Europe. Some, like Igor Lediakhov (known as "The Prince" for his elegant, technical, and spectacular style, who played 209 matches for Sporting), the Bulgarian Georgi Yordanov (powerful, disciplined, and with a knack for scoring), or Dmitri Tcherichev (a speedy Russian winger), became beloved figures for their talent and dedication.

Other names like Milan Luhový (Slovakian centre forward and reliable goalscorer) or Yuriy Nikiforov (Ukrainian centre of high stature), gave a solid performance and were important pieces of the team in the 80s.

In the early 90s, the Argentinian Hugo "Perico" Pérez , an international for his country, earned the respect of the fans for his technique, personality, and competitive spirit. "Yekini no ye (es) Quini" (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 his 59 goals, Gregory Arnolin (France/Martinique) – a center-back of stature and leadership – and the Portuguese André Castro , played an important role during Manolo Preciado's era. Later, the Serbian Stefan Scepovic scored 28 goals in the season prior to the 2015 promotion.

In recent years, Montenegrin Uros Djurdjevic has scored 66 goals in 232 matches 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 matches that are part of the collective memory of its fans . Matches that marked eras, fueled rivalries, and led 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 Division . That 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 boom in the 1970s , with an unforgettable generation of players. On May 29, 1977, at the old Buenavista stadium, Sporting came from behind to beat Oviedo (1-2) with goals from Quini and Ferrero, securing promotion to the First Division and the Second Division title. That victory symbolized the beginning of the club's golden years.

Already in the 1978-79 season , El 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 left its mark for its brave and offensive football.

The glory days continued into the 1980s, when Sporting reached their first Copa del Rey final in 1981 , after eliminating Real Madrid and Sevilla. At the Vicente Calderón, they fell 3-1 to Barcelona, ​​with Quini as their executioner. Even so, that team—featuring Redondo, Maceda, Joaquín, Uría, and Ferrero—remained in everyone's memory. A year later, in 1982, the red and whites once again played in another cup 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.

On February 28, 1987 , the team managed by Díaz Novoa achieved one of the greatest feats in its history: a 4-0 victory at the Camp Nou , with a brace from Eloy Olaya. That night, Sporting displayed 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 Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan , a giant of continental football, 1-0 at El Molinón. It was a victory that symbolized the grit and pride of the red and white stripes against a powerful opponent.

In 2008, Sporting 2–0 Eibar (June 15): a historic match, with goals from Bilic and Luis Morán that secured 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: a 1-0 victory over José Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, with a goal from De las Cuevas, ending the Portuguese manager's unbeaten home record. That triumph, achieved by a humble and courageous team, brought back the excitement of Sporting's greatest triumphs.

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 feeling , the 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.