The former president of Betis Sevilla, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, died on Sunday at the age of 79, the Andalusian La Liga club, which he led for almost two decades, from 1992 to 2010, announced in a press release .
Known for his controversial actions at the head of the Greens and Whites, of which he joined the board of directors in 1991 before becoming its main shareholder in 1992, Lopera also lived through one of the most prestigious eras at Betis .
During his tenure, rival club Sevilla FC won the Copa del Rey in 1995, were runners-up in 1997 and made their first Champions League appearance in 2005. The club also played in the European Cup. cup winners in 1997/1998 and participated in the UEFA Cup four times.
During his presidency, Lopera also encouraged the renovation of the Betis stadium, which he decided to give his name to in 2000, until 2010, when a vote of the members renamed the Benito Villamarín stadium. Legal scandals which punctuated the end of his presidency had tarnished the popularity of Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.
In a press release, Real Madrid paid tribute to “one of the historic presidents of Real Betis”, currently 7th in La Liga.