Fact File Team:
Real Betis Balompié Nickname(s):
Beticos or Verdiblancos Country:
Spain Founded:
1907 Status:
Proffesional Reputation:
National Chairman Status:
Enjoying life at the club Favoured Personnel:
Joaquín, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Fierce Rivals:
Sevilla, Málaga Finances:
Secure Estimated Value:
£79M Stadium:
Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, Sevilla Stadium Capacity:
52500 all seater with under-soil heating Reserve Stadium:
Ciudad Deportiva, Sevilla Training Facilities:
Top training facilities Youth Facilities:
Good youth facilities European Competition:
None Media Prediction:
13th Squad Average Age:
26 Squad Personality:
Professional Total Wage Budget:
£588,540 Current Wage Total:
£472,250 Transfer Kitty:
£4,000,000 
Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium History Four years after the founding of Seville FC in 1905, and 19 years after the first organised game of football in spain had been won by the British employees of Seville Water Works (beating Huelva Recreation Club 2-0), three of Seville's newly elected directors refused to sanction the signing of a player whose family lived in Triana, a working class area of Seville. The two directors who stood up for him and his family pulled out of Seville FC and formed Betis in 1909. (The name is derived from Baetica, the Roman name for Andalusia). It was obvious then that initially Betis attracted support from the left wing working classes (although a large number of aristocracts including the King of Spain have also supported the team).
The record books quote 1907 as the year of the club's foundation, but this refers to the first year of Seville Balompie (a club founded by students from the Escuela Politecnica on Calle de Cervantes), the club whose evential merger with Betis in 1913 created the Real Betis balompie of today. Balompie (Balon = ball, pie = foot) is the literal Spanish word for football as opposed to the anglicized version, futbol. Betis is one of only a handful of Spanish clubs that use this version in their name.
As with other Spanish clubs Real was added after receiving patronage from the King of Spain Don Alfonso XIII in 1914.
In 1912, Manuel Ramos Asensio, one of the club's founding members, returned from a business trip to Glasgow with a set of green and black striped shirts, donated by Glasgow Celtic, and proposed Betis take up the colours. The green and black strip was subsequently deemed unlucky after a losing run and was replaced by a green and white version.
They have won La Liga on one occasion in 1935, a year before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. They won it under the guidence of an Irishman (and ex-Manchester United Captain) Patrick O'Connell. The spine of this Betis side was made up of Basques, and all of them fled or went underground when the Civil war broke out. By the time the Second World War ended Betis were in the Second division and at the end of 1946 they were in the Third Division.
Betis won their first Copa del Rey in 1977, were just pipped by Barcelona in 1997 and finally won their second in 2005 against Osasuna at Vicente Calderón Stadium. Betis won 2-1 with current striker Dani netting a goal in extra time.
Star Of Betis 2005 Copa del Rey Triumph - Dani The club came close to folding in the summer of 1992 when they were saved by vice chairman and current owner Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. Not short on modesty he also changed the name of the stadium to match his own.
Real Betis hold the distinction of being the only Spanish club to have won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd division leagues.
Real Betis celebrated their centenary year during the 2006/2007 La Liga season.
Real Betis' fans war cry of "Viva er Beti manque pierda" is well known throughout Spain and literally means "Up with Betis even when they lose!".
The rivalry between Seville FC and Real Betis has been likened to that between Liverpool and Everton, whereby families can be divided by their footballing loyalties without too much growling knocking of heads.
Honours Spanish First Division (La Liga): 1935
Spanish Second Division: 1932, 1942, 1971, 1974
Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey): 1977, 2005
The Board and Fans The Chairman, José León Gómez is happy to stay at the club and the Directors expect the manager to invest in new players and start rebuilding the team during the season (although sometimes they expect the team to fight bravely against relegation from the First Division). The supporters expect the team to achieve a safe mid-table position within the First Division. There are no restrictions on where you can send your scouts and the board feel that a club of Real Betis’s stature should not be a feeder club. There are no feeder clubs associated with the club at the beginning of the game.
The Assistant Manager, Julio Moreno’s team report is very pessimistic (aren't they all). His view is that the team needs to be heavily strengthened in order to reach the season's expectations.
The Squad (based on 7.02 update) Goalkeepers Betis are reasonably blessed in the goalkeeping department and there is no real need to waste time in the first couple of seasons, (unless it's for a future star), looking around for one. Pedro Contreras, at 34, still has a few more years in him. The ex-Real Madrid stopper is solid and dependable (although his kicking can let him down). Antonio Doblas, Betis born and bred is coming into his prime as a keeper, and for me, as good as any keeper you'll find.
If, god forbid, either of these two are unable to play then Betis do have Castro, reserve Keeper, who can adequetly cover for a game or two although he will not set the world alight).
Defenders At Right Back the first choice would be Damia (DR,WBR), but he is suffering from a long term injury. When healed he is a dependable attacking full back. Melli (DRC), is for me, Betis' best full back (he can also provide Central defending duties when needed also), more defensive minded than Damia he is a solid performer with high workrate and at 22 he only improves. At Left back there is the fine balance of experience and youth. Romero (DL) is at 35 the old man of the squad but still a quick and dependable left back but he only really has 1 season left in him at this level. Fernando Vega (DL,WBL) is first choice left back and, similar to damia on the right, good at getting forward to support attacks if needed.
First choice in the centre of defence is club captain Juanito (DC). One of the best centre backs in Spain and 1 of only 2 players that the Assisstant manager gives 4 stars on his team report. To play alongside him are a choice of 3 very dependable players. David Rivas (DC) is perhaps the best of them but both Nano (DLC) and Lembo (DRC) are quite capable of defending also,
and both Nano and Lembo can cover left and right full back slots adequetly.
All the Betis defenders have adequete pace and ball skills and if there are any critisisms then its consistancy.
Betis Captain - Juanito Midfielders Betis have 3 very good Defensive holding midfield players. Assuncao (DM) perhaps the best known, has an incredible free kick that can blast a hole straight through a goal net. Miguel Angel (DM) is an under rated player, consistant and dependable. Of the 3 Arzu (DM) will give the best for the team in the long run. Equally adept at going forward and holding, at 25 he has his best years ahead of him and good creativity to boot. He is, for me, one of Betis' best players.
There is also some good creative attacking midfielders in the squad also. Capi (AMRC), like Arzu, a home grown Betico, is a dependable player, similar to Rivera (AMRC) but on far less wages (and younger). Rivera, although a good player is one to consider selling for cash (even if only to get his outragous weekly wage off the books. Maldonado (AMRLC,FC), Xisco (AMLC,FC) and Edu (AMRLC,FC) are 3 superb performers who can also play just as well as strikers when called upon, adding great flexibility to the squad as a whole.
Maldonado and Xisco are described as wingers but this does them an injustice as both offer the club far more. Edu can add much to the team when paired next to an out-and-out stiker up front.
Juan Pablo Caffa is a young Argentinian left winger (but has an Italian passport so dosn't count as a FGN), a good prospect for the future. On the right side is the young German starlet David Odonkor. Fast and skillful he will frieghten even the real madrid and Barcelona full backs.
Creative Defensive Midfielder - Arzu Forwards Apart from the midfielders mentioned above who can perform superbly as forwards, Betis have 3 strikers in the 1st team. If they lack as a squad anywhere its here (as it's been quite a revolving door of strikers at the club over the last few years). Rafael Sobis is the newest adition and at 21 has it all ahead of him. He is by far Betis' best player (and, like Juanito given 4 stars by the assistant). He will be Betis main source of goals so you will need to keep him happy. A goal machine.
The other 2 forwards are Dani and Fernando, although good players who perform well are not 20 goals a season players. Dani does have a habit of getting important goals in big games though.
Players On Loan At The Club The squad starts with 4 players on loan at the club. For me the only one worthy of playing regularly is Johann Vogal (on loan from Milan). He can control the midfield very well with good passing and crerativity (can play the holding role too).
Branko Illic is another right sided/central defender (like Lembo and Melli) and is not really needed as he is no better than them.
Fabrice Pancrate is a right sided winger, handy as cover for Odonkor, and as his club pay all his wages during his stay, worth keeping.
Lastly there is Robert (ST). He takes up one of the 3 FGN slots without being the best striker. If you can invest in any half decent forward (either on loan or bought) i'd bomb him straight back to PSV where he came from.
Players On Loan Away From The Club There are players out on loan whose future at the club will need to be considered. Oscar Lopez is a full back (DRL,WBRL) is a reasonably good player but, if your looking to push Spain's Big Two after a season or two should be sold on his return to help bolster the kittty for better players. Juanlu (AML) is an aging left winger who would do well to ply his trade at a club with less ambition than Betis. Lastly there is Jorge Wagner. A Brazilian Left Winger in the Denilson mould (remember him?). He is on loan for 2 seasons with Betis paying his wages. Really anoying. He can be a good player and depending on your style of play is worth keeping on his return. He does take up a priceless Non EU slot though.
Rising Stars Betis do not have the best youth setup so this area will need to be improved upon if you're at the club for the long haul. They do however, have 2 players who, with the right coaching can go on to be good 1st team players. Pecci is 18 and is a right back/centre back. Israel is a right sided attacking midfielder, dubbed the new Joaquin by the club, he is out on loan in the first season.
A Note About The B Team Unlike most of La Liga's B Teams Betis B do not have a league to play in. With this in mind it is well worth arranging at least 1 friendly a week for them in order to keep everyone fit. The quality of the opposition is not important but it is important for them to play games to keep match fit.
Overview Real Betis are a flexible and well balanced side. They are, on the whole a team full of fairly young players with their best years ahead of them. There is definatly a good base to start from and with a little bit of good fortune, pushing for a European place is not an unrealistic target, and unless you really do struggle in and around the relegation zone the board are happy. With a two or three good signings they would not be far from a top 6 side. In 2 or 3 seasons - who knows?
Due to the flexability of some of the players most tactical styles can be used with Betis without the need for wholesale personel changes and the squad is big enough to absorb all but the biggest of injury crisis.
So Betis are a team packed full of potential, with a fanbase starved of success. Over recent seasons they have had to sit by and watch their deadliest rivals Seville FC bask in the glory of European sucess and title challenges. What they cry out for is a talented manager, with passion (like the gypsies of Triana and Macarena) to take the club to the top.
Real Betis Balompie 
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