Thousands of jubilant Sevilla supporters celebrated into the early hours of Thursday morning after their team won their first European trophy by trouncing Middlesbrough 4-0 in the Uefa Cup final.
Fans fired rockets and danced in a noisy celebration held at downtown monumental tower, La Giralda, news agency Efe reported.
Others lit firecrackers, sounded car horns and waved red flags bearing the word ”centenario” as the team was founded just over 100 years ago.
Ten thousand supporters who didn’t travel to the final at Eindhoven, The Netherlands, watched the match on a giant screen installed on Seville’s Cartuja island. Some then went to rejoice outside the club’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
Most had never before seen Sevilla win a trophy of any sort. The team’s previous triumph came in 1948 when they won Spain’s knockout tournament, the Copa del Rey.
”I’m the proudest man in the world and the best is yet to come,” Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido told Spanish state TV. ”Today Sevilla is the greatest. Now, we’re nothing less than champions of Europe. This title is for all of Seville, for Andalusia and for the whole of Spain.”
Luis Fabiano opened the scoring for Sevilla, with Enzo Maresca killing off the English team’s comeback hopes by scoring twice in the second half. Substitute Frederic Kanoute completed the scoring.
”It’s been a perfect day,” said Italian midfielder Maresca, who was named man of the match. ”It has been the best day of my life.”
Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Leticia joined the players on the field at Philips Stadium after they had been presented with the cup.
”It’s a great joy for everyone. We’re delighted to be here with them,” Prince Felipe told Spanish TV. ”They allowed us into the photo and for us it’s a privilege.”
Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky said he hoped Barcelona could make it a double Spanish triumph the following week when it faced Arsenal in the Champions League final.
”Let’s hope for another magical Wednesday,” Lissavetzky said.
The team is expected to receive a rousing reception later on Thursday when they arrive back from Eindhoven. — Sapa-AP