Sebastián Alabanda

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Alabanda and the second or maternal family name is Fernández.

Sebastián Alabanda Fernández (31 October 1950 – 10 June 2014) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.^[1]

Sebastián Alabanda

Personal information
Full name	Sebastián Alabanda Fernández
Date of birth	(1950-10-31)31 October 1950
Place of birth	Posadas, Spain
Date of death	10 June 2014(2014-06-10) (aged 63)
Place of death	Seville, Spain
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1966–1969	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1969–1972	Triana Balompié
1972–1980	Betis	194	(16)
1973	→ Rayo Vallecano (loan)	7	(0)
1980–1982	Murcia	38	(3)
Total		239	(19)
International career
1974–1976	Spain amateur	7	(0)
1976	Spain	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Posadas, Province of Córdoba, Alabanda spent his first eight seasons as a senior with Real Betis,^[2] except for a short loan at Rayo Vallecano.^[3][4] With the former club, he made his debut in La Liga on 7 September 1974, starting in a 3–1 away loss against UD Las Palmas.^[5][1]

In 1976–77, Alabanda contributed 20 games to help the Andalusians finish fifth whilst winning the Copa del Rey, a penalty shootout win over Athletic Bilbao where he missed his attempt after a 2–2 regulation time draw.^[6] At the end of the following campaign, however, they suffered relegation to the Segunda División.^[7]

After leaving Betis in June 1980, with competitive totals of 229 matches and 19 goals,^[8] Alabanda signed with fellow top-flight team Real Murcia.^[9] He scored three goals in his first year,^[10][11][12] but could not help prevent relegation.^[13]

International career

Alabanda earned one cap for Spain: on 24 April, he came on as a late substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw with West Germany in Madrid.^[14]

Later life and death

After retiring, Alabanda worked in banking. On 29 May 2014, he returned to Betis as a counsellor, but died in his home in Seville on 10 June, at the age of 63.^[8][15]

Honours

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 1976–77^[6]
• Segunda División: 1973–74^[1]