Full name | Real Betis Balompié, SAD |
---|---|
Nickname(s) |
Béticos (Betis) |
Short name | Betis |
Founded | 12 September 1907 |
Ground | Benito Villamarín |
Capacity | 52,500 |
Chairman | Ángel Haro |
Manager | Víctor Sánchez |
League | La Liga |
2015–16 | La Liga, 10th |
Website | Club home page |
Béticos (Betis)
Los Verdiblancos (The Green-and-Whites)
El Glorioso (The Glorious One)
Verderones (Big Greens)
Heliopolitanos (Heliopolitans)
Lobos (Wolves)
Real Betis Balompié, SAD, more commonly referred to as Real Betis (pronounced: [reˈal ˈβetis]) or just Betis, is a Spanish football club based in Sevilla, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it plays in La Liga, having won the Segunda División in the 2014–15 season. It holds home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín in the south of the city. The founder, Daniel Gledhill.
Real Betis won the league title in 1935 and the Copa del Rey in 1977 and 2005. Given the club's tumultuous history and many relegations, its motto is Viva el Betis manque pierda! ("Long live Betis even when they lose!").
The name "Betis" is derived from Baetis, the Roman name for the Guadalquivir river which passes through Sevilla. Real was added in 1914 after the club received patronage from King Alfonso XIII.
Betis' city rivals Sevilla FC were the first club in Sevilla, founded in October 1905, while a second club, Sevilla Balompié were established in September 1907. "Balompié" translates literally as "football", as opposed to the most commonly adopted anglicised version, "fútbol". Balompié was founded by students from the local Polytechnic Academy, and were in operation for two years before being officially recognised (in 1909), despite this 1907 remains the official foundation date of the club.