A Decade of Transformation: The Legacy of Ángel Haro at Real Betis

On February 4, 2016, Real Betis announced the appointment of Ángel Haro as the new president of the club. A few months prior, the ‘Ahora Betis Ahora’ candidacy, led by Haro and his partner José Miguel López Catalán, triumphed in a historic Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders against a project spearheaded by Manuel Castaño, a former advisor during the Ruiz de Lopera era. Initially, their decision was to retain Juan Carlos Ollero as president, who had assumed the role at the request of the judicial administrator of Farusa’s shares.

Internal disagreements led to Ollero’s resignation in early 2016. It was then that Haro, reaffirming López Catalán as the club’s vice president, stepped forward, ultimately transforming the Heliópolis entity’s landscape. This marks a decade of stability and growth, during which Betis has not only made significant strides in sports and economics but has also undertaken a complete modernization of its infrastructure.

The sporting evolution of the team under Haro’s presidency is evident. His tenure saw the club’s promotion in the 2014-15 season, a return to Europe in the 2017-18 season, and a remarkable record of five consecutive qualifications for continental competitions from the 2020-21 season to the present. Notably, Betis achieved a historic Copa del Rey title in April 2022 at La Cartuja, along with its first European final in nearly 120 years, which took place months ago in Breslavia against Chelsea in the Conference League.

In December of the previous year, during Pellegrini’s team’s visit to Zagreb to face Dinamo in the UEFA Europa League group stage, Haro became the president with the most official matches in the club’s history. Today, he has overseen 481 matches, achieving 206 victories—making him the most successful president—alongside 125 draws and 150 defeats (380 in La Liga, 60 in Europe, and 41 in the Copa del Rey). He is also one of only four Betis presidents to have lifted a trophy, joining the ranks of Antonio Moreno Sevillano, José Núñez Naranjo, and Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.

During his presidency, which has seen no relegations, Haro has overseen seven coaches: Juan Merino, Gustavo Poyet, Víctor Sánchez del Amo, Alexis Trujillo, Quique Setién, Joan Francesc Ferrer ‘Rubi’, and Manuel Pellegrini, who has held the position since the summer of 2020. Likewise, seven professionals have led the Sports Management under his administration: Eduardo Macià, Miguel Torrecilla, Alexis Trujillo, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, Antonio Cordón, Ramón Planes, and the current head, Manu Fajardo, who has been in office since February 2024.

Under Ángel Haro and his current board, the initiative known as ‘Betis de los béticos’ emerged, aimed at democratizing the club and increasing shareholder numbers to over 14,000, ensuring that the fan base truly owns the club and that significant decisions reflect the beticismo. However, his presidency also saw a capital increase that subsequently diminished the influence of minority shareholders.

Economically, growth under Haro’s leadership has been exponential. From a budget of 20 million during his first year in the second division, to 45 million in his first season in the top tier, the budget has now surpassed 200 million for the current season. This sustained growth is attributed significantly to his commitment to renewing the club’s facilities.

His first major project was the reconstruction of the South Stand at Benito Villamarín, which increased stadium capacity. This was followed by a comprehensive renovation of the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, the construction of the Rafael Gordillo Sports City in Dos Hermanas for the academy and women’s teams (one of the largest in Europe), and the ongoing renovation of the Avenida de la Palmera stadium, expected to last nearly three years during which the team will play at La Cartuja.

The increase in capacity, coupled with consistent sporting improvements that have regularly opened the doors to Europe, significant financial gains from player sales, and a strong emphasis on youth development leading to lucrative transfers, have substantially boosted the club’s revenue streams. This success has been achieved in collaboration with CEO Ramón Alarcón, positioning Betis among the most prominent sports entities in the country.

Haro has actively fostered a club that, despite its challenges and successes, operates efficiently while attracting talent and embodying the spirit of beticismo across all departments. His efforts have modernized General Management, Sports Management, Corporate Areas, and Support Areas, while simultaneously enhancing the significance of the Real Betis Foundation through its commendable social work. Additionally, he has introduced an ecological profile through the establishment of Forever Green, the club’s sustainability platform.

However, the journey has not been without its challenges for Haro and his Board of Directors, now bolstered by club legend Joaquín Sánchez. Complex sporting decisions, economic difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of disappointing results, and the struggle to maintain a focus on other sports (basketball, futsal, etc.) have posed significant challenges for the president and his team.

Reflecting on the past decade, one can clearly see the transformation since Haro took the helm, successfully steering the club away from legal troubles with a groundbreaking agreement with Lopera, and achieving one of the best periods in the club’s history—if not the best. Real Betis now stands as a benchmark for its approach to operations and fan engagement, with aspirations to continue progressing.

Looking ahead, the new Benito Villamarín, set to be operational from the 2028-29 season, represents the next challenge for Haro and Catalán. The intent is to continue growing both economically and athletically through the revenues generated by the stadium, to realize the dream of returning to the Champions League after more than 20 years, and to compete for a continental title—goals that mark the path of a project that, after a decade, remains robust and enjoys wide support from the beticismo.