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| 'The Strength of a feeling' - RCD Espanyol |
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol is one of the oldest clubs in Spain, founded in 1900 by Angel Rodriguez an engineering student initially known as the Sociedad Espanola de Football. One year later, the club changed its name to Club Espanol de Futbol. Espanyol was the first club in Spain to be formed exclusively by Spanish fans of the game.
In 1906, the club folded due to financial reasons and most of the players joined the X Sporting Club. They won the Campionat de Catalunya three times between 1906 and 1908. In 1909, this club was effectively relaunched as Club Deportivo Español, and in 1910, they adopted their present day colours. Espanyol are one of several Spanish football clubs granted patronage by the Spanish crown and thus entitled to use Real in their names and the royal crown on their badge. This right was granted to Espanyol in 1912 by Alfonso XIII and the club subsequently became known as Real Club Deportivo Español.
Following the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931 and the declaration of the Second Spanish Republic, due to prohibition of royal symbols, the club adopted the more Catalan/republican friendly name, Club Esportiu Espanyol. After the Spanish Civil War, the name reverted to Real Club Deportivo Español. (Courtesy - Wiki)
Youth Team
Espanyol has one of the best youth training academy just like 'La Masia' , grooms players under 14 to 19 ages. Antonio Morales the head of youth development a.k.a care taker looks into directly into the academics of these players and if the kids fail they are not allowed to play football on the weekend as a punishment. Just like at FCB , studies and football go together. Morales tries not to impose any kind of strict discipline on youth players so that it doesn't restrict their creativity on the pitch, The B and Juvenil teams try to emulate the first team and their style of play. Under Mauricio Pochettino(now Saints manager) around 20 players made debut for the senior team.
They have 13 youth teams representing the club, Prebenjamines (8 years), Benjamines (9-10 years), Alevines (11-12 years) and most Infantiles (13-14 years) are from Catalunya. From cadets until Espanyol B they sign players even outside Catalunya .Some of the notable players from the youth team are Jordi Lardin, Roberto Fresnedoso Tamudo, De Lucas, Sergio Gonzalez, Capdevila, Argenso, Soldevilla, Moises Hurtado, Alberto Lopo or David Garcia,Dani Jarque.
Golden Period (2005-07)
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| Esp xi in CDR final |
After two seasons with Espanyol and after winning his first silverware of his managerial career he left to his home club Real Sociedad to replace Bakero. He was succeeded by Ernesto Valverde (ex-player -played for Barca and also Espanyol)
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| Esp xi in UEFA CUp final |
Espanyol wont forget it either, they lost to Sevilla in the Final of UEFA Cup on penalties, similar to their loss in 1988 UEFA Cup finals against Leverkusen.
Espanyol has a dream run in the group stages winning all of their 4 games Ajax, Sparta Prague , Zulte Waregem and Austria Wien.
In QFs they faced Benfica they won 3-2 in the first leg, and 0-0 in the second which made them go through to the SFs where they faced Werder Bremen. Espanyol won comfortably 3-0 and 2-1.
And in the finals they faced a strong Sevilla side.
Espanyol and Sevilla ended at 1-1 after 90mins, then Kanoute scored for sevilla almost the end of first half of E.T then Jonatas scored the equalizer in the second half, a.e.t it was 2-2. Palop made some amazing saves denied Espanyol their first european trophy, who was eventually the MOTM .
Copa Catalunya and Derbi Barceloni
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| Translation: "You are not a rival, you are the enemy" |
Started in 1903 when La Liga still didnt exist, then called as Championship of Catalonia, under Franco regime it was banned as they were made to play only in the competitions orgainsed by spanish federation. Once after the democracy was restored it was recognized officially . As of 2012, they changed the format to two competitions one for the Copa Catalunya and one for the Supercopa de Catalunya. But due to the disagreement of the two biggest clubs of the region Barca and Espanyol they permanently suspended the competition.
Derbi Barceloni is the biggest derby in the catalonia region, between Barcelona F.C and R.C.D Espanyol, with FCB holding most wins 88. But the Periquitos hold the highest margin of victory 6-0(1951-52).The eagerness to prove which club is the best in Barcelona often led fans more aggressive there were also instances when they had to play behind closed doors to avoid any causalities to the players and staff. Once they started playing under spanish federation it actually brought more viewers and media coverage to this derby. During the civil war, Barcelonas's directors had a plan of touring abroad central/south america which enabled them to collect more money than their local rivals who were thriving to get established even at local level.
Players who played for both sides
Ricardo Zamora
Ladislao Kubala
Zoltán Czibor
Cayetano Ré
Javier Urruticoechea
Pichi Alonso
Ernesto Valverde
Miquel Soler
Cristóbal Parralo
Fernando Muñoz
Iván de la Peña
Jordi Cruyff
Óscar García
Roger García
Joan Verdú
Simão Sabrosa
Daniel Jarque Incident
He was named the team's captain relieving Tamudo,but was later died due to cardiac arrest during the preseason in Italy.
His jersey "21" was retired and there is always minute of applause remembering him at 21' in home games .
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| Translation: "Dani Jarque, always with us" |
His close friend from Barcelona, Andres Iniesta dedicated probably the best moment of his life to Jarque after scoring the winner against netherlands in World Cup 2010 celebrated by removing his jersey "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros(Always with us)" written on his warmer.
He received a standing ovation from local rivals when he was subbed during the following season in Cornella el prat.
Financial Crisis
Just like any other smaller clubs in La Liga, Espanyol too fight for the remaining 50% of the available TV rights. No proper investors , losing talents are the main reason for club's limited growth.
Current position
Pochettino's contract was ended by mutual consent in Nov '12 due to some bad performances which led them fighting against relegation and he was replaced by Javier Aguirre , under whom they climbed to 11th* with 8 matches to go.
With the likes of Verdu, Sergio Garcia, Stuani, Tejera, Simao and Moreno doing a great work currently under Aguirre, Espanyol are likely to start challenging for an European position soon. Hope that day is not so far for the Catalans.
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