THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHOOSE ÓSCAR ARIAS AS SPORTING DIRECTOR

In a meeting held on Friday, the Sevilla FC Board of Directors have appointed Óscar Arias, who until now was in charge of Elite Football, as sporting director of the club. All the members of Monchi's team will remain in their posts. Arias will have to evaluate the benefits of making an addition to the department with a view to continuing the club's growth.

Arias arrived at Sevilla FC in the summer of 2013 as a replacement for Víctor Orta, and became Monchi's right-hand man. Along with Monchi he planned the 13/14, 14/15, 15/16 and 16/17 campaigns, all of which saw excellent performances on the pitch. Sporting achievements during that period included winning three consecutive UEFA Europa League titles, as well as reaching a Copa del Rey final, three European Super Cups and one Spanish Super Cup, and participating in two editions of the Champions League. Furthermore, Arias has always been in permanent contact with the first team (coaching staff and squad) since his arrival at the club.

All the members of Monchi´s team will remain in their posts under Arias

Born in Germany (Kassel, 05/01/1966) because his father was working there, Óscar Arias grew up in Huelva and developed into a midfielder in the youth set up at Olimpic Onubense. From there he moved to Recreativo, where he made his first team debut at 19 years of age, although due to having to complete compulsory military service, his career at the club had to be interrupted while he played at Torrepacheco for a season, where he picked up a knee injury. He was subsequently loaned to Fuengirola on his return to Huelva. There he returned to his former level and he finally returned to Huelva to begin a professional career which took him to Compostela, Alavés, Lleida and Sporting de Gijón, before he returned to Recreativo to finish his career, where he achieved promotion to the top flight in 01/02.

He hung up his boots in the summer of 2002 and began working at the Recreativo academy, becoming technical secretary of the club after the sudden death of Pepe Rivera. There he spent five seasons, achieving promotion again in 05/06 and spending as many as three seasons in the Primera División, a period which is without doubt the golden era of Spanish football's oldest club. He left Recreativo in 2009, when the team were relegated to the second división, and went to UD Las Palmas before eventually making the move to Sevilla FC.

At 51, Arias has consolidated his reputation at Sevilla FC, who have recognised his effective work in the four seasons he has spent at the club, during which time his performance has been excellent.

In the coming week, Óscar Arias will be officially presented in his new role.