Sevilla’s Decline in La Liga 2025: What Went Wrong and What’s Next?

Once Europa League kings, Sevilla are struggling in La Liga 2025. Explore the causes of their decline and whether a comeback is possible in the league.

The Decline of Sevilla: Can They Bounce Back?

Just a few seasons ago, Sevilla FC were celebrated as one of Europe’s most consistent clubs—serial Lgd gaming Europa League champions and top-four regulars in La Liga. Fast-forward to 2025, and the club is facing a significant crisis both on and off the pitch.

With mid-table mediocrity threatening to turn into a full-blown relegation fight, fans are asking: What happened to Sevilla? Can they turn things around, or is this decline part of a deeper structural rot?

This article explores the causes of Sevilla’s downfall, assesses their current state, and evaluates the road to redemption.

⚽ A Club Built on Stability and Continental Glory

For much of the 2010s and early 2020s, Sevilla enjoyed remarkable stability. Under sporting director Monchi, they mastered the art of buying low, developing talent, and selling high—without sacrificing competitiveness.

They won:

• 🏆 Europa League titles in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2023

• ⚔️ Regular Champions League qualifications

• 👥 Produced stars like Jules Koundé, Éver Banega, and Wissam Ben Yedder

The combination of shrewd recruitment, tactical identity, and fiery home support at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán made them a formidable force.

So where did it all go wrong?

🔻 What’s Behind Sevilla’s Decline?

1. Managerial Instability

Since 2022, Sevilla have gone through a carousel of managers:

• Julen Lopetegui (2022) – Sacked after a poor start

• Jorge Sampaoli – Couldn’t galvanize the squad

• José Luis Mendilibar – Won the 2023 Europa League but left shortly after

• Diego Alonso & Quique Sánchez Flores – Short-term fixes, no long-term plan

• Current Manager (2025): Alejandro Acevedo – unproven, under pressure

This constant chopping and changing has disrupted tactical continuity and made it impossible to develop a coherent playing style.

2. Poor Recruitment Strategy

Sevilla once excelled at identifying undervalued talent. But recent windows have been marked by:

• Aging players on high wages (e.g., Ivan Rakitić’s final years)

• Inconsistent forwards (e.g., Rafa Mir, Youssef En-Nesyri’s drop in form)

• Failed replacements for key defenders like Koundé and Diego Carlos

Without proper succession planning, the squad has aged and lost its competitive edge.

3. Tactical Confusion and Lack of Identity

Sevilla’s tactical DNA used to be clear:
High pressing, technical midfielders, and fluid transitions. Now?

• Too many changes in formation

• Players not suited to current systems

• Lack of pressing intensity

• Defensive fragility and poor build-up

Possession without penetration has become a major issue.

4. Injuries and Physical Decline

Several first-team regulars have suffered:

• Frequent injuries to Marcos Acuña, Fernando, and Suso

• Struggles to keep match fitness across the backline

• Lack of reliable backup options from the bench

Sevilla has one of the oldest average squads in the league, and it’s showing.

5. Financial Constraints Post-COVID and Post-Europe

Sevilla’s financial health has worsened:

• Missed out on Champions League revenue

• Dependence on player sales

• Reduced transfer budget in recent windows

• Wages frozen or trimmed

Without European income, the club has had to operate conservatively in a league growing more competitive by the year.

📉 La Liga 2025 Snapshot (As of July)

This decline is not just statistical—it’s also emotional. Confidence among players and supporters has plummeted.

👥 Key Players Underperforming

🔄 What Needs to Change?

✅ 1. Clear Managerial Vision

Stop hiring reactionary, short-term managers. Sevilla must:

• Define their footballing identity

• Choose a head coach who aligns with long-term goals

• Give them time to implement a system

✅ 2. Squad Overhaul

The club must transition:

• Move on from veterans (Rakitić has already exited)

• Invest in young, hungry talent

• Use analytics to identify undervalued players again

✅ 3. Youth Promotion

Sevilla’s academy (like Sevilla Atlético) has talent. Players like Juanlu Sánchez and Carlos Álvarez deserve more minutes.

✅ 4. Mental Reset

Confidence is a currency in football. The club needs leaders who can lift the dressing room and guide a new generation through adversity.

🔮 Can Sevilla Bounce Back?

Yes—but it won’t be easy.

Clubs like Real Sociedad, Girona, and Betis are rising. The league is more competitive than ever. But Sevilla still has:

• A passionate fanbase

• European pedigree

• Infrastructure and history

If the club makes smart decisions now, they can reclaim their place among La Liga’s elite.

🗣️ What Fans Are Saying

“We’re not even fighting for Europe anymore. This isn’t the Sevilla I grew up with.”
— Andrés, long-time supporter

“I just want to see young players with fire in their hearts. We’ve lost our soul.”
— Lucía, Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán regular

“We’ve fallen, but we’re not broken. Bounce back season is coming.”
— Manuel, optimistic fan group leader

🏁 Final Whistle: A Club at a Crossroads

Sevilla FC stands at a critical juncture. Continue declining, or rebuild with purpose. The legacy of their Europa League triumphs still resonates, but they must now evolve or risk irrelevance in an increasingly ruthless league.

The climb back to glory is steep, but the foundation still exists—if the club is brave enough to use it.

🙌 Support the League, Support the Comeback

Sevilla’s struggles remind us that football is a cycle—glory, hardship, and rebirth. If you believe in underdogs rising again, in tradition reborn, and in football that refuses to quit…

Support the league. Stand by clubs in crisis. Believe in the return of Sevilla.