José Castro at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
The Club

JOSÉ CASTRO: "THE REAL ARCHITECTS OF THIS STADIUM ARE THE SEVILLISTAS"

07/09/2018
The president looked back at all that has taken place at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and predicted an even better future for the stadium: 'When it turns 70 it will be a stadium of the highest level.'

José Castro went over the past, the present and the future of the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán during his speech at the stadium's 60th-anniversary celebration:

The Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán turns 60 today. And we celebrate this important anniversary by inaugurating Sevilla's new museum. Our stadium, as we all know, is a consequence of the hard work and ambition of our legendary president, Mr Ramón Sánchez- Pizjuán. Mr Sánchez-Pizjuán came up with the idea of a great stadium in order that Sevilla FC would be among the biggest clubs nationally and internationally. However, his death stopped him from witnessing his masterpiece, but his great project became a reality soon after his death, just as his predecessor Ramón de Carranza had sworn.

The best thing about the history of this stadium is that the protagonists, the true architects, were Sevillistas themselves. Many Sevillistas selflessly signed up to build that new stadium. And many others followed suit when in the seventies when all the stands were closed. That is how we Sevillistas are, demanding, but loyal and generous when it is time to stand up for our club. When I say that nobody gave us Sevillistas anything, I am talking about things like this. We Sevillistas paid for a part of our home, we Sevillistas have always been there when our club has needed us.

'When I say that nobody gave us Sevillistas anything, I am talking about things like this.'

Today, in short, Mr Sánchez-Pizjuán's dream turns 60, together with the sacrifices and solidarity of Sevillismo. I remember when I came from Utrera on a motorbike with my uncle Antonio to watch Sevilla from the Gol Norte stand when I was a boy. Here I have lived many of the best moments of my childhood, idolising the great Baby Acosta. And here I have come religiously every weekend for the last five decades to suffer and above all in this century, to enjoy. But here I also have felt pride watching Zico's Brasil beat the USSR, France and Germany contest what many say is the greatest semifinal in World Cup history or Duckdam's heroic display that crowned Steaua Bucarest as champions of Europe.

It is not for me to say, all the events that have taken place here speak for themselves... The Sánchez-Puizjuán is a temple of football on a world level and that should make us Sevillistas extremely proud. Today, being the president of this organisation, I can happily say that the Sánchez-Pizjuán is more alive than ever. We demonstrate this by inaugurating this new stadium with which we hope to make the Sánchez-Pizjuán one of the city's touristic landmarks. In this museum football fans in general, as well as Sevillistas will be able to find and interact with our history...But above all, they will be able to see something that can only be enjoyed here: five UEFA Europa League trophies next to each other. See for yourselves how special this place is.

'With the museum, we hope to make the Sánchez-Pizjuán one of the city's touristic landmarks'

At the Board of administration that I preside over, we know that the Ramónn Sánchez-Pizjuán is and will be our house forever, hence since 2015 we are invested in an ambitious plan of remodelling with which we hope to adapt our stadium to the times that we live in. Little by little the results can be seen: new gates, new exterior, new lighting, new steps, new scoreboards, new bathrooms, refurbishing of the roof, lifts... And now a new museum. The Sánchez-Pizjuán, at the age of 60 is, without question, better than it has ever been. And there is no doubt that when it turns 70 it will be a stadium of the highest level.

The years have been good to our stadium. And as president, today I have the duty to thank, from my heart, all those fans and professionals who have contributed to building our home. Many of them will be tremendously proud of seeing from the stands the greatness of our current stadium and the unique atmosphere that we Sevillistas are fortunate enough to enjoy every time our team plays at home.