It was supposed to be a sign of intent and a changing of the guard. Instead it would be a false dawn and something that would haunt them. Signing the most expensive player in the world in 1998, the Brazilian Denilson from Sao Paulo for over €20m, made Real Betis an almost household name in what were still early internet days. They were well known in Spain and La Liga but suddenly they were making headlines around the world.
With Barcelona on the slide, Deportivo La Coruna on the rise and Atletico Madrid having won the League just a season before, La Liga was set to become one of Europe’s most competitive Divisions. In the end it became a two horse race and Real Betis, instead of enjoying success and rising to the top, sank down the League and almost out of existence. But where did it all go wrong? For the answer we need to go back to 20 years ago.
When the laws governing sport changed in 1992, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, like so many in football, took advantage of a club in debt and bought a major share in Betis. He promised to take it forward and in signing Denilson, looked to be living up to his promises. But, as we all know, the World Cup winner would prove a major flop with the Sevilla club and he, along with other unsuccessful signings, poor financial planning and alleged corruption would see the club go into administration 10 years after they had signed the world’s most expensive player. Yet, at the start things looked good.
After dropping out of the top flight in 2000 with Atletico and bitter rivals Sevilla, Betis bounced back after just one year. To celebrate, Lopera renamed the club’s ground after himself. After a merry go round of Coaches, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer returned to the club in 2004. He had had some success in the 1990s and he had unfinished business.
In 2005 the club qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history and also won the Copa del Rey. The future looked bright but Betis would enjoy a fate that many other first-timers would enjoy in Spain. The struggle of playing on two fronts with a limited squad took its toil and domestic duties suffered. Four years after rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite, the club were relegated and worse was still to come.
After years of overspending the club fell into administration. Lopera would eventually be toppled and the ground’s name was changed back to its original name, Benito Villamarin, in 2010. After having to sell off and let go of many of their key players, Betis were forced to rummage in the bargain basement department of football. They also had to look at their Cantera. But they needed a leader and in 2010, Pepe Mel stepped forward and pulled them through the wilderness and back to the promised land.
At the start it was all roses, although the Betis board were less than comfortable with Mel. While on the pitch results were decent, it was his relationship with the fans that they mistrusted. Supporters of a club whose motto is ‘Long live Betis even when they lose’ and know more about suffering than others suddenly had the perfect man in charge.
A man who famously said he would prefer his daughter to come home pregnant than for the club to go down was given hero status amongst the fans. Also for neutrals he was a breath of fresh air. A writer of novels and with a no-nonsense approach to questions, his Press conferences were always fun to listen to. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is simple: Everything.
Qualifying and playing in Europe with a thin squad, injuries and board turmoil saw Mel get the axe. His successor would last only a few months, claiming he had had three bosses during his short stay. On the pitch players were breaking down in tears during games. There was only one place the club was heading and for some it couldn’t come quick enough.
With their financial situation better than the last time they went down, it was seen as only a matter of time before Betis came back up but with Los Verdiblancos easy is not a word used too often.
A poor start to season has seen Pepe Mel’s name mentioned for a possible return. The Coach hasn’t ruled out coming back and after months without a job, he would welcome a return to the dug-out. But, bigger fish are also looking at him and Betis will need to play on his emotions if they are to get their man back.
Also, after being ousted, Lopera still has shares in the club. The court case involving their sale is still ongoing but this week it was suggested that the best thing to do would be to allow Lopera back into the club and maybe give him a say in its running. Over 80,000 fans walked the streets in Sevilla to demand his departure but five years later, fans may be willing to accept his return if it brings the club forward.
Whilst most clubs outside the top flight get or make very few headlines, at Real Betis there is never a dull moment. They may have only won La Liga once but they are still one of Spain’s biggest clubs. Away games see hundreds, and if the kick-off is at a decent time possibly over a thousand, fans travel and they are always in full voice.
Against Leganes two weeks ago, one fan held up a banner, which read ‘What did I ever do to deserve this?’ The answer is: nothing. Yet, still, after all the betrayal and hurt, the fans stand by a club that has caused so much suffering. At least for their sake, it has to sort itself out, once and for all.
