Sevilla's Annus Horribilis: How 2025 Became a Year to Forget
From managerial chaos to near-relegation, financial struggles and fan unrest, Sevilla endured their worst year this century, with only Matías Almeyda offering a glimmer of hope.
A nightmare year finally draws to a close for Sevilla, with the Andalusian giants suffering their most turbulent 12 months this century. Three managers, two sporting directors, and a genuine relegation scare have left supporters desperate to see the back of 2025.
The GarcíaPimienta Implosion
The year began as it would continue - in absolute shambles. An embarrassing 4-1 Copa del Rey exit to Almería set the tone, with the January transfer window bringing mixed results. While Rubén Vargas showed promise, other signings failed to convince GarcíaPimienta, who made his frustrations public.
What followed was the sort of public spat with sporting director Víctor Orta that never ends well. By March, with results nosediving, the Catalan gaffer was given his marching orders.
The Caparrós SOS Call
In a desperate move that screamed ‘we’ve run out of ideas’, Joaquín Caparrós returned for a third spell, announced dramatically on Easter Monday. The veteran was tasked with salvaging European qualification, but instead found himself in a proper dog’s dinner of a relegation scrap.
The situation deteriorated to the point where fans stormed the training ground - a shocking scene that perfectly captured the club’s descent into chaos. Caparrós managed a paltry 5 points from 21 available, with relegation avoided by the skin of their teeth thanks to academy graduate García Pascual’s crucial goal.
Almeyda: The Beacon in the Darkness
Summer brought a complete change of approach. New sporting director Antonio Cordón conducted the most austere transfer window in recent memory, with star players like Loïc Badé and Dodi Lukébakio shipped out to balance the books. In came veterans like César Azpilicueta and Alexis Sánchez on free transfers.
Matías Almeyda has proven to be the one bright spark in this miserable year. The Argentine has reconnected the team with its identity, bringing back fighting spirit and self-belief. Despite losing the first home derby in nearly eight years, he’s delivered some memorable moments, including thrashings of Barcelona and Oviedo.
His honesty in press conferences - at one point stating he “desires a different world” when discussing human welfare - has resonated with supporters starved of authentic leadership.
Looking Ahead
December brought another early Copa exit, this time against Alavés, while off-pitch developments saw potential buyers revealing their hands at the shareholders’ meeting. President Del Nido Carrasco announced plans for a new Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium to begin construction in 2027.
For Sevilla supporters, 2025 can’t end quickly enough. But amidst the darkness, Almeyda’s presence offers a faint light at the end of what’s been a proper nightmare on Nervión Street.