The Seville recalls his story commemorating the 20th anniversary of the last ascent to First
Division which is fulfilled this Thursday, June 3. A goal by the Uruguayan Inti Podestá against Rafa Benítez's Tenerife (1-0) returned the white team to the elite, ending its last great institutional, economic and sports crisis with a project that laid the foundations for subsequent growth until it became one of the referents of Europe, with 6 Europa League titles and settling in the Champions League.
It was that Saturday of 2001 the first great success of Monchi as a sports director, a position that he had just held at the hands of Roberto Alés as president. His first bet, Joaquín Caparrós, was absolutely winning and to that team came players who would make history such as Pablo Alfaro, David Castedo, Javi Casquero, in addition to those who were already there, the Uruguayans, with Olivera as the leader before the fans, or the homegrown players Paco Gallardo, Víctor Salas or an incipient José Antonio Reyes.
Fifth and last ascent in its history
Sevilla, who had descended the previous season with Marcos Alonso on the bench, would no longer return to the well of the Second Division and that night against Tenerife, as champions of the category, would become the fifth and last promotion in their history after those of 1935, 1969, 1975 and 1999.
That game was played by Notario; David, Prieto, Pablo Alfaro, Héctor; Gallardo (Tevenet, m. 63), Casquero, Podestá, Fredi (César, m. 82); Olivera y Zalayeta (Míchel, d. 89) for Sevilla and Julio Iglesias; Curro Torres, Pablo Paz, Lussenhoff, Basavilbaso; Alex (Simuntenkov, m. 62), Martí, Torrado (Antoni, m. 75), Luis García; Pier (Mista, m. 55) and Marioni for Tenerife.