No fans have appeared inside the stadium next to the Rhine. But not so that the semi-finals lacked excitement, and when it entered the final minutes, the familiar melody from Sevilla’s “hymn” resounded.
It was originally sung by people currently nicknamed The Suplentes Supporters. When the final whistle blew, it was confirmed that Sevilla had beaten Manchester United and won a ticket to the Europa League final 2019/2020. They met rival Internazionale in Cologne, the players on the field joined them, everyone sang enthusiastically.
President Castro first heard the song in his car, 18 years ago. He introduced himself as El Arrebato and said that he wrote a song for Sevilla’s 100th anniversary event.
Castro told him to send it to the club, feeling he didn’t want to waste time with this bullshit. But El Arrebato, whose real name is Javier Labandón, insisted that he must listen to his song immediately. And that evening, he was in Sánchez Pizjuán, holding a CD.
“We got in the car, turned it on and my arm hair stood up. I could have been dead at that time, ”recalls Castro. He had put the CD in a safe at the stadium – the 100th anniversary didn’t take place three years later – and it was undoubtedly played again.
Released in 2005 and played before every game, as well as on buses marching to the stadium, Castro hailed the song as a super hit. It achieved no.1 in 2005, and remains no.2 in 2006, which was the soundtrack for club victories.
It is their identity, and very quickly feels like they have always been with them. After being sung on TV by Wissam Ben Yedder the last time they beat Manchester United, it went viral throughout Europe. It was a win in the Champions League, but it was the Europa League that was the arena that boosted Sevilla’s reputation.