Espanyol, one of the founding clubs of La Liga, have been at the top of the Spanish football pyramid longer than some of the giants. But have been relegated twice in the last 5 seasons. In the
2023/24 season, Espanyol played in the promotion playoffs, winning 1-0 on aggregate against Sporting Gijón in the semi-finals. In the final, they lost 0-1 to Real Oviedo in the first leg. However, Espanyol won 2-0 at
home in the second leg and were the last team to advance to the top flight next season. With a 2-1 aggregate win. Here are 5 things fans may not know about ยูฟ่าเบท “the parrot”.
‘Zamora’ was named after the Best Goalkeeper Award, which went to
Ricardo Zamora, a legendary former goalkeeper in Spanish football. He started his career for Espanyol in 1916 at the age of just 15. Before moving to Barcelona in 1919 and returning to Espanyol three years later.
Zamora is regarded as the greatest goalkeeper to have ever play in Spain and his name is awarded the Zamora Trophy for the best La Liga goalkeeper. With the fewest goals conceded in a given season. 21st-minute applause in memory of his late compatriot As Espanyol play at
their home ground, on the 21st minute of the game. The club’s fans applauded in memory of former captain Daniel Jarque, who died of a heart attack
in August 2009 at the age of 26.
The club named the 21st goal of the RCDE Stadium “Puerta Daniel Jacque”. After his number 21 shirt, and the training ground was also renamed “Ciudad Deportiva Daniel Jacque”. ‘Tamudo’ A
beloved legend at the club,
Raúl Tamudo scored nine goals against Barcelona in Catalan derbies in all competitions, and throughout his time with Espanyol, he scored 129 goals in 340 La Liga games. He is the club’s all-time top scorer. But one of the most memorable goals for Tamudo
and the Espanyol fans is the equaliser against Barca at Camp Nou in the penultimate match of the 2006/07 La Liga season, as the Blaugrana missed out on the title on the final day of the season. Perico
& Perica, the club’s mascots
Espanyol’s nickname, Los Periquitos (The Parakeets in English), means “the Parrots”, derived from the flock of parrots that nest in the trees around the Estadio de Sarriá, the club’s former home ground for over 70 years. The club’s
mascot is naturally also a parrot, with the male named Perico and the female, who was first introduced in August 2017, being named Perica. The pair have been entertaining fans at the RCD Stadium.
Six consecutive returns to the top flight in a single season
La Liga, Spain’s top football league, was first held in 1928/29. Espanyol were one of the clubs to play from the very first season, spending 87 seasons in the first division and just six seasons in the second division.
However, Espanyol still holds one record: they have been able to return to the top flight immediately within a single season every time, in the 1962/63, 1969/70, 1989/90, 1993/94, 2020/21 and 2023/24 seasons. In the
upcoming 2024/25 La Liga season, La Liga fans will be able to follow the derby match between Espanyol, Barcelona and Girona, the three teams from Catalonia, after a break of 1 season.