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| Full name | Club Esportiu Europa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Escapulats Europeistes Graciencs | |||
| Founded | 5 June 1907 | |||
| Ground | Nou Sardenya, Barcelona Catalonia, Spain | |||
| Capacity | 4,000 | |||
| President | Hèctor Ibar[1] | |||
| Head coach | Alberto González Soriano[2] | |||
| League | Segunda Federación – Group 3 | |||
| 2023–24 | Segunda Federación – Group 3, 2nd of 18 | |||
| Website | http://www.ceeuropa.cat | |||
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Club Esportiu Europa (Catalan pronunciation: [klub əspuɾˈtiw əwˈɾopə]) is a Catalan football team based in the city of Barcelona, with close links to the Vila de Gràcia, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1907, its first men's team plays in the Segunda Federación – Group 3, the fourth category of Spanish football. The first women's team is active in the Segunda Federación, the third category of Spanish football. Moreover, Europa B is active in the Tercera Federación, the fifth tier, and the first U-19 team participates in the División de Honor, the highest category in Spain. Europa's home games are played at the Nou Sardenya, with a capacity of 4,000 seats.[3]
In 2021, Europa became the first club in Catalonia to declare itself formally against racism, fascism, sexism, and homophobia after a voting by the club members to change the statutes. Later, the club started initiatives and actions to realize its ideals.[4]
Europa lived its glory period in the 1920s. In 1918–19, the club achieved promotion to the highest division of Catalan football, the Campionat de Catalunya. In 1922–23, Europa was crowned champions of Catalonia after beating FC Barcelona in a tiebreaker in Girona. This triumph gave the club the right to participate in the Copa del Rey, where Europa ended as the runner-up after losing to Athletic Club in the final.[5]
The club is best known for its football team who in 1929, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were among the 10 founder members of La Liga. Europa participated in La Liga in 1929, 1929–30, and 1930–31. The following glory era would be the 1960s, when Europa played five consecutive seasons in the Segunda División. On three occasions, Europa won the Copa Catalunya: in 1997 and 1998 by beating FC Barcelona in the final and in 2015 by doing the same with Girona FC.
Europa's good reputation, especially in the 1920s, made it attractive for many international teams to play against the club. For example, Europa has competed in friendlies with teams like FC Bayern Munich, Birmingham City FC, FC Porto, NAC Breda, Hamburger SV, Estudiantes de La Plata, Montpellier HSC, Udinese Calcio, Legia Warsaw, and AC Sparta Prague.[6]
Currently, Europa's main rival is UE Sant Andreu, with whom it disputes the Pla de Barcelona derby. However, throughout the years, the fanbase of Europa has considered different clubs the main rival of a specific era, like FC Barcelona in the 1920s, UE Sants in the 1940s and 1950s, and FC Martinenc in the 1980s and 1990s.[7]
The club also has one of the oldest basketball teams in Spain, and on 8 December 1922, Europa played Laietà BC in the first-ever organised basketball game played in Spain (won 8–2 by Europa). During the 1920s, the basketball team of Europa won the Catalan championship on two occasions (1924 and 1926).
Other sports sections that the club has had are athletics, hockey, rugby, and baseball.
- ^ "Hèctor Ibar, nuevo presidente del Europa". Diario Sport (in Spanish). 24 April 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Canvis en els rols del cos tècnic del Primer Equip masculí". CE Europa (in Catalan). 29 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Instal·lacions - ceeuropa.cat". www.ceeuropa.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Redacció. "El CE Europa es declara antifeixista, antimasclista, antihomòfob, antiracista i antibullying - ceeuropa.cat". www.ceeuropa.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Història del Club - ceeuropa.cat". www.ceeuropa.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "LA HISTÒRIA, PLENA DE PARTITS INTERNACIONALS DE PRESTIGI - ceeuropa.cat". www.ceeuropa.cat. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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