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Happy 125th anniversary!
A gala marks RCD Espanyol's milestone celebrations
In 1900, at the height of Catalan modernism, the city of Barcelona was in the midst of a boom in its expansion. During those years, the sport known as football had begun to be played, introduced at the end of the 19th century by British workers and students who had returned from Great Britain.
It was amidst this backdrop that RCD Espanyol was founded, at the Universitat de Barcelona (University of Barcelona), driven by a group of students.
125 years later, RCD Espanyol returned to the club’s roots, for a gala organised by the club and the RCD Espanyol Foundation at the university’s auditorium. It brought together directors of the club, former players, institutional representatives, and members of the Los Pericos family, for an event that reviewed the club's history, values, and present.
The event opened with an audiovisual introduction about the origins of RCD Espanyol and the connection to the city of Barcelona. Journalists Elia Danon and Ernest Riveras hosted the gala, which included a recap of the most iconic moments in the club's history. Journalists Raquel Mateos, Xavier Muixí, and Dani Balaguer also participated in an event conceived and directed by Jordi Via, the driving force behind this 125th anniversary celebration.
During the institutional speeches, the rector of the Universitat de Barcelona, Joan Guàrdia, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the president of RCD Espanyol, Alan Pace, all spoke, highlighting the club's importance as an essential part of the city of Barcelona's identity. In his speech, Pace promised hard work and commitment to taking RCD Espanyol to the top.
One of the most moving moments was the tribute to the club’s grassroots football system and to Dani Jarque, with the participation of Quim Pujol, a La21 player, and a photograph with captains from different generations.
The gala also included a section dedicated to Espanyol's solidarity, with the presentation of the tactile logo for the 125th anniversary produced by ONCE.
The president of the RCD Espanyol Foundation, Antoni Fernández Teixidó, and the president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, all spoke at the event, which culminated with the symbolic lighting of the Torre Glòries tower in the club’s blue and white colours and a performance by Cris Juanico, composer of the official 125th anniversary theme.