29 YEARS OF MONCHI: CRIES OF GLORY FOR A LEGENDARY ERA

He arrived at Sevilla Atlético in the summer of 1988 as a teenager full of dreams. But the future was to offer him a series of successes away from the field of play. This is the story of Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, Monchi...29 years in Nervión, 9 seasons in the first team, 115 matches defending the Sevilla FC goal, a season as delegate and 17 as sporting director...Sevilla FC could not be understood without Monchi because Monchi is Sevilla FC.

When he was crying inconsolably at the Carlos Tartiere, at possibly his worst moment as a professional at the club, Monchi could not imagine that life would offer him such a reprise. But it did. Not on the pitch, but from the office, directing the footballing plans of the club thanks to the confidence of Roberto Alés, who saw what no one, not even Monchi himself, suspected. With Monchi arrived Caparrós and a promotion that gave life to a team going backwards. The following years brought a breath of fresh air and the Lion of San Fernando, with the arrival of José María del Nido and with the help of Juando Ramos, managed to meet even the highest expectations. The impossible signings arrived and an influx of success came, European and national titles, and Sevilla, the same team that was losing its footing towards the end of the 90s, became the best team in the world. And tears turned to joy and cries of glory.

Not everything was perfect on the way, there were less successful seasons and critical moments, but amongst Monchi's many talents is the ability to reinvent himself, as he demonstrated in the summer of 2014 during which he changed everything to make sure that, in reality, nothing changed. And this time with José Castro and Unai Emery, his achievements once again took Sevilla FC, his Sevilla, to the summit of Europe. And Monchi says farewell from the summit with the eternal gratitude of the club that he lifted and honoured with his talent.

The first 17 years of the twentieth century will always be remembered as the Monchi Era, the era in which Sevilla FC rediscovered the hunger that was lost in the second half of the previous century. With Monchi, with the Lion of San Fernando, Sevilla FC roared once again. 879 matches, 440 victories, 9 titles...Monchi's numbers are legendary. Monchi is a LEGEND.