MONCHI REACHES 900 GAMES AS SPORTING DIRECTOR

On Thursday night, Sevilla FC recorded their third win of the UEFA Europa League group stages; which marked the halfway point of this part of the competition. In the win over Dudelange, in addition to the three points and other favourable statistics for the Sevillistas, there was a congratulations in order for a special man: Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, Monchi.

Sevilla FC's sporting director reached the milestone of 900 games in the position of Sporting Director over the 18 seasons that he has been at the helm. Monchi first took over in the position, in which he has had a lot of success, during the 2000/01 season, with Sevilla languishing in the second tier of Spanish football. In this season, Sevilla successfully secured their return to the top flight after 42 fixtures, plus one in the Copa del Rey, with Monchi at the helm for all of them. Overall they secured 23 victories. 

Sevilla have won almost half of their games in the top flight with Monchi, and even more than half in Europe

Now in the top tier of Spanish football, Monchi has overseen 616 games, where almost half of them - 287 - have ended in victory. Moreover, on more than 70% of occasions, Sevilla have avoided defeat during Monchi's tenure. Without leaving Spain, when we talk about the Copa del Rey, Monchi has been here in the position for 95 games, with a record of: 61 victories, twelve draws and 22 defeats. All of this equates to almost an unbeaten percentage of 80% in the knockout competition.

Moving on to Europe, and this is where the Sporting Director cements his legacy. After the match against Dudelange, Sevilla have played in 141 European games with Monchi there - Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the European Super Cup. Of the 141, Sevilla have accumulated 79 wins, and a total of 105 where they have not been beaten. This figure sits above their average overall (including games in Spain) and shows that Sevilla are a force in Europe.

Monchi left for Roma after having won nine trophies with Sevilla, and returned home "stronger and with new ideas"

With all of this taken into account, and all the figures added up over Monchi's reign, he has accumulated nine trophies: five UEFA Europa Leagues, one European Super Cup, two Copa del Reys and one Spanish Super Cup. Monchi has lifted nine trophies, been at the helm for 900 games, and brought a club with no budget in the second tier of Spanish football, and transformed it into a footballing giant both on a European and World level.

In his second stint at Sevilla as Sporting Director, after his return home from Roma, Monchi has returned to make an ambitious side, who are just starting to put into practice the ideas of the manager, Julen Lopetegui. The man from San Fernando said in his homecoming speech that he came back "with renewed ideas and renewed strength".

Until now, after nine matches in La Liga and three in the Europa League, there are still another 29 league matches to be played, and who knows how many more in Europe and the Copa del Rey. Monchi, who will no doubt reach 950 matches for Sevilla FC sooner rather than later, will hope for as many games as possible in all competitions.