Sporting de Gijon

Real Sporting de Gijon is a Spanish football club based in the City of Gijon, Asturias. They currently feature in the Spanish first division.

Sporting de Gijon was founded in 1905 as Sporting Gijones. In 1912 King Alfonso XIII bestowed the club with royal patronage and so the prefix “Real” (or Royal) was added to the clubs name. The club was then known as Real Sporting Club Gijones.

However, the club was rechristened as Real Sporting de Gijon in 1916 but between 1941 and the 1970s the club was known as Real Gijon.

Sporting Gijon played their first ever season in La Liga in 1944 and garnered occasional success. They finished runners up in La Liga in 1979 and also reached the final of the Copa del Rey in 1981 and 1982 besides featuring in the UEFA in the 1970s.

Sporting de Gijon were relegated from the Spanish top flight in 1998 and played for elevens years in the Spanish Segunda Division. They however achieved promotion to the first division at the end of the 2007-2008 season and are featuring in the Spanish first division for the 2008-2009 campaign.

Sporting de Gijon play their home matches at El Molinon. The stadium is the oldest professional football grounds in Spain and an host a crowd of 25,885. It has been used since 1908 and is located on the site of a windmill.

Sporting de Gijon bear the nickname the Rojiblancos.