# 2014–15 Sporting de Gijón season

The 2014–15 Sporting de Gijón season was the third season that the club will play in Segunda División after the relegation from the highest tier of football in Spain, La Liga. Sporting finished as runner-up and promoted to the top tier.

## Season overview
### Preseason

Despite not promoting to La Liga, head coach Abelardo Fernández extended his contract for two seasons. Sporting started the preseason on July 17 and played nine friendly games, two of them in a 45-minute game format.
On July 22, Carlos Carmona extended his contract until 2019. One day later, Sporting finished its first friendly defeating Marino de Luanco by 1–0 in a game without new signings and several players of the reserve team.
Preseason ended with a no-goals draw with Getafe in the Trofeo Villa de Gijón. Finally, Sporting won its tournament six years later.

### August

As in the previous season, the club started the league earning the three points. At Soria, Sporting went back from a goal against thank to the goals of Miguel Ángel Guerrero and Juan Muñiz. The club continued its good start debuting in El Molinón with a new win by 2–1 over Ponferradina.

### September

On September 1, striker Stefan Šćepović signed a four-year deal with Celtic for £2.3 million, having turned down a move the day before. In the same press release confirming the transfer, Sporting announced Julio and Carlos Castro would be promoted to the first team. The club was the only professional team in Spain which did not sign any new player in the Summer window transfer.
In the first game of the month, at Albacete, a header in the 93rd minute of Pablo Pérez served to save one point and to remain unbeaten in the league prior to the game at El Molinón versus Girona, which won its three first games. The Catalan team equalized the game in the last minute with a goal of David Juncà.
Previously, on September 10, Sporting was defeated by Real Valladolid by 1–3 in the second round of the Copa del Rey and subsequently eliminated.
In the two next games, Pablo Pérez netted two goals to beat Mirandés at Anduva and a header of Miguel Ángel Guerrero equalized the game versus Valladolid, allowing Sporting to finish the month of September becoming the only undefeated team in Segunda División.

### October

On October 6, Abelardo was named Coach of the Month by the LFP. Sporting remained as the only unbeaten team in the league achieving two more home wins and two draws away, finishing the month in the third position.

### November

On November 22, Abelardo's team beat the record of Vujadin Boškov in the club and remained unbeaten for the 14th game in a row, after a no-goal draw at El Molinón versus Llagostera. In the next game, at Mallorca, Sporting beat this record and tied the longest unbeaten streak since the start of the season.

### January

On January 18, Sporting lost its first league game after a streak of 20 games unbeaten. Despite a goal of Juan Muñiz in the 6th minute, Betis scored twice in the second half and won by 1–2 at El Molinón. With this loss, the team finished the first half of the league in the fifth position with 38 points.

### June

Sporting finally promoted on June 7, after beating widely Betis by 0–3 and after the draw of Girona versus Lugo at Montilivi.

## Players
### Current squad

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Since | App | Goals | Ends | Transfer fee | Notes |
| 1 | GK | Iván Cuéllar (3rd captain) | 30 | 2008 | 95 | 0 | 2015 | Free | |
| 2 | DF | Luis Hernández | 25 | 2013 | 57 | 1 | 2016 | Youth system | |
| 3 | DF | Álex Menéndez | 22 | 2011 | 12 | 0 | 2016 | Youth system | |
| 4 | DF | Mandi | 25 | 2012 | 55 | 2 | 2016 | Free | |
| 5 | DF | Bernardo Espinosa | 24 | 2013 (Winter) | 54 | 3 | 2016 | Free | Second nationality: Spain |
| 6 | MF | Sergio Álvarez | 22 | 2013 | 42 | 2 | 2015 | Youth system | |
| 7 | MF | Juan Muñiz | 22 | 2010 | 21 | 3 | 2015 | Youth system | |
| 8 | MF | Álex Barrera | 23 | 2012 | 50 | 3 | 2016 | Youth system | |
| 9 | FW | Miguel Ángel Guerrero | 23 | 2012 | 29 | 3 | 2016 | Youth system | |
| 10 | MF | Nacho Cases | 26 | 2011 | 98 | 5 | 2018 | Youth system | |
| 11 | MF | Alberto Lora (vice-captain) | 27 | 2007 | 169 | 7 | 2018 | Youth system | |
| 13 | GK | Alberto García (4th captain) | 29 | 2013 | 3 | 0 | 2017 | Free | |
| 14 | DF | Iván Hernández (captain) | 34 | 2007 | 156 | 1 | 2015 | Free | |
| 15 | FW | Álex Serrano | 19 | 2013 | 2 | 0 | 2015 | Youth system | |
| 16 | FW | Carlos Castro | 19 | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2017 | Youth system | |
| 17 | FW | Santi Jara | 23 | 2013 | 46 | 5 | 2016 | Youth system | |
| 18 | DF | Isma López | 24 | 2013 | 19 | 1 | 2016 | Free | |
| 19 | MF | Carlos Carmona | 26 | 2012 | 65 | 11 | 2019 | Free | |
| 20 | DF | Julio Rodríguez | 18 | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2018 | Youth system | |
| 21 | FW | Hugo Fraile | 38 | 2013 | 20 | 3 | 2015 | Free | |
| 23 | MF | Jony | 22 | 2014 | 5 | 2 | 2016 | Youth system | |
* Last updated: 1 September 2014
* Source: Stats updated as of the end of the 2013–14 season. Only league and playoff games included. Ages to 30 June 2014
* Ordered by squad number.

### Reserve team players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | GK | ESP | Dennis |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Jorge Meré |
| 29 | MF | ALG | Rachid Aït-Atmane |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 30 | MF | ESP | Pablo Pérez |
| 32 | FW | ESP | Álvaro Bustos |
| 33 | MF | CMR | Dani Ndi |

### In

| No. | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving from | Type | Transfer window | Ends | Transfer fee |
| 23 | MF | Jony | 22 | Sporting B | Promoted | Summer | 2016 | Free |
| 7 | MF | Juan Muñiz | 22 | Mirandés | Loan return | Summer | 2015 | Free |
| 20 | DF | Julio Rodríguez | 18 | Sporting B | Promoted | Summer | | Free |
| 16 | FW | Carlos Castro | 19 | Sporting B | Promoted | Summer | | Free |

### Out

| N | Pos. | Name | Age | Moving to | Type | Transfer window | Transfer fee | Source |
| 23 | MF | Cristian Bustos | 35 | Mallorca | Loan return | Summer | Free | |
| 15 | DF | Roberto Canella | 26 | Deportivo La Coruña | Loan | Summer | Free | Real Sporting |
| 7 | MF | Javier Casquero | 38 | | End of contract | Summer | Free | |
| 16 | FW | Dejan Lekić | 28 | Eibar | Loan return | Summer | Free | |
| 20 | MF | Aritz López Garai | 33 | Córdoba | Mutual consent | Summer | Free | |
| – | DF | Pedro Orfila | 26 | Racing Santander | Mutual consent | Summer | Free | Real Sporting |
| 22 | MF | Formose Mendy | 25 | Blackpool | Mutual consent | Summer | Free | Real Sporting |
| 12 | FW | Stefan Šćepović | 24 | Celtic | Transfer | Summer | €2.5m | Celtic FC |

## Technical staff

| Position | Staff |
| Manager | Abelardo Fernández |
| Assistant Manager | Iñaki Tejada |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Isidro Fernández |
| Physical Fitness Coach | Gerardo Ruiz |
| Director of Football | Raúl Lozano |
| Delegate | Quini |
| Academy Director | José María M. Acebal |
Source: Sporting de Gijón Official Website

## Competitions
### Segunda División
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Real Betis (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 84 | Promotion to La Liga |
| 2 | Sporting Gijón (P) | 42 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 82 | Promotion to La Liga |
| 3 | Girona | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 63 | 35 | +28 | 82 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Las Palmas (O, P) | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 73 | 47 | +26 | 78 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Valladolid | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 65 | 40 | +25 | 72 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
* 1 2 Sporting Gijón finished ahead of Girona on goal difference; Sporting de Gijón +30, Girona +28

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |

#### Positions by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | W | D | D | W | D | D | W | D | W | D | W | D | D | W | W | D | W | D | D | L | W | W | W | D | W | L | D | W | D | D | D | D | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |

#### Matches
### Copa del Rey
## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Segunda División | Segunda División | Copa del Rey | Copa del Rey |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Iván Cuéllar | 36 | 0 | 36+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Luis Hernández | 42 | 0 | 41+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Álex Menéndez | 24 | 0 | 22+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ESP | Mandi | 11 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | COL | Bernardo Espinosa | 41 | 3 | 41+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Sergio Álvarez | 40 | 3 | 40+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Juan Muñiz | 28 | 3 | 9+18 | 3 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Álex Barrera | 11 | 1 | 4+7 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Miguel Ángel Guerrero | 37 | 11 | 32+4 | 11 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Nacho Cases | 33 | 2 | 31+2 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ESP | Alberto Lora | 41 | 1 | 40+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Alberto García | 8 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ESP | Iván Hernández | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | ESP | Álex Serrano | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ESP | Carlos Castro | 31 | 9 | 11+19 | 9 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ESP | Santi Jara | 14 | 0 | 1+13 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ESP | Isma López | 26 | 5 | 23+2 | 5 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ESP | Carlos Carmona | 38 | 2 | 30+8 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Julio Rodríguez | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ESP | Hugo Fraile | 10 | 1 | 6+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Jony | 42 | 7 | 38+3 | 6 | 0+1 | 1 |
| 28 | DF | ESP | Jorge Meré | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ALG | Rachid Aït-Atmane | 16 | 0 | 6+9 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ESP | Pablo Pérez | 36 | 7 | 17+18 | 7 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 32 | FW | ESP | Álvaro Bustos | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | CMR | Dani Ndi | 21 | 1 | 17+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
* Source:

### Disciplinary record

| N | P | Name | 2ª División | 2ª División | Copa del Rey | Total | Total | Notes |
| 3 | DF | Álex Menéndez | 6 | 2 | | 6 | 2 | |
| 7 | MF | Juan Muñiz | 5 | 1 | | 5 | 1 | |
| 6 | MF | Sergio Álvarez | 10 | | | 10 | | |
| 9 | FW | Miguel Ángel Guerrero | 9 | | | 9 | | |
| 10 | MF | Nacho Cases | 8 | | | 8 | | |
| 19 | MF | Carlos Carmona | 8 | | | 8 | | |
| 5 | DF | Bernardo Espinosa | 7 | | | 7 | | 2 times captain |
| 18 | FW | Isma López | 7 | | | 7 | | |
| 2 | DF | Luis Hernández | 6 | | | 6 | | |
| 11 | MF | Alberto Lora | 6 | | | 6 | | 40 times captain |
| 23 | MF | Jony | 6 | | | 6 | | |
| 30 | MF | Pablo Pérez | 4 | | 1 | 5 | | |
| 29 | MF | Rachid Aït-Atmane | 4 | | | 4 | | |
| 4 | MF | Mandi | 2 | | 1 | 3 | | |
| 13 | GK | Alberto García | 3 | | | 3 | | |
| 33 | MF | Dani Ndi | 3 | | | 3 | | One yellow card retired |
| 1 | GK | Iván Cuéllar | 2 | | | 2 | | |
| 28 | DF | Jorge Meré | 2 | | | 2 | | |
| 8 | MF | Álex Barrera | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 14 | DF | Iván Hernández | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 15 | FW | Álex Serrano | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 17 | FW | Santi Jara | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 21 | FW | Hugo Fraile | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 16 | FW | Carlos Castro | | | | | | |
| 20 | DF | Julio Rodríguez | | | | | | |
Source: Competitive matches and RFEF.es Ordered by , and = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.