The randomness and misfortune in football often unfold like this. Espanyol, mired in crisis, celebrated its 126th anniversary today—hardly an auspicious occasion. Last year, the Parakeets were on the verge of a Champions League spot and celebrated their 125th birthday with great fanfare. The club had originally planned a series of events for this Wednesday to commemorate another year of history, certainly not anticipating being eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Sestao River just the day before.
Nothing better illustrates the club's current predicament. Espanyol celebrates 126 years of history this Wednesday. The club's trophy cabinet holds four precious titles, all won in the Copa del Rey, yet the team failed to defend the trophy this week, having also been eliminated early in the previous two campaigns. Espanyol has also competed in 90 La Liga seasons but now finds itself in the relegation zone. Nevertheless, every cloud has a silver lining. With Sergio as interim coach, the team has entered a new phase while awaiting a permanent head coach.
Turning to the so-called "celebrations" this Wednesday, the most prominent activity took place on the club's official website, with fans taking center stage. Members of the blue-and-white club, founded on October 28, 1900, can now vote to choose Espanyol's home kit for the 2027/28 season.
Starting this Wednesday, Espanyol fans can select their favorite kit from three options, though the winning design will not be announced until June 2027. The first kit features a wide blue stripe down the center, flanked by white stripes on each side. The second design is similar but extends the blue stripe into the collar area. The third design breaks with tradition, abandoning the club's previous style in favor of a predominantly white base with a blue diagonal stripe.
The 126th-anniversary celebrations were also supported by an advertising campaign across Barcelona. From early morning, commemorative posters appeared on five bus routes and over 3,000 bus shelters throughout the Barcelona metropolitan area, while 96 digital billboards were displayed on various Barcelona Metro lines and suburban railway trains.