MUCH MORE THAN A TRIBUTE

Some days begin with an invitation and end up becoming one of those memories you treasure forever. Thursday was one of those days.

On 29 October 2026, I had the privilege of attending the tribute to Alberto Fernández Fernández in Gijón, a true Atlético de Madrid legend, and experiencing a day I will find very hard to forget. It was wonderful to meet him in person and spend time with his children, Alberto and Sonia, his grandchildren, members of the Peña Atlética de Llanes and several former Sporting Gijón players. Everyone welcomed me with such warmth and affection that I felt part of the family from the very first moment. And, as if that weren’t enough, they were also incredibly kind in the lovely things they said about Merece la Peña and about me personally. It’s wonderful to see how a book can open doors and, above all, bring you closer to truly amazing people!

But perhaps the most special part of the day was listening to Alberto tell his own stories. Not reading about them in a biography or hearing them second-hand, but listening to him recount them in his own words, with the natural warmth of someone who has lived through so much and still feels every emotion when looking back. Hearing what football was like back then, what life in the dressing room was like, what it meant to wear and defend those colours, and learning about the pride he still feels when remembering that his career in football allowed him to buy a house for his mother. And, after so many years and so many experiences, seeing him enjoy the affection, respect and recognition of the people around him. Some stories tell us far more than any statistic ever could about what it means to dedicate your life to football.

And among all those stories, there was also time to discover an unexpected connection. Alberto has always had a soft spot for red-and-white colours, with one exception — which we’ll have to forgive him for — Valladolid. Exactly like me! We discovered this little coincidence during our conversation, and it gave us both a good laugh. After all, even legends have their little colour-related weaknesses.

And, of course, I didn’t want to turn up empty-handed. I gave Alberto a Merece la Peña scarf, one of those special scarves that not everyone gets and that I reserve for people who hold a particular place in my thoughts, because of what they represent and the stories behind them. I also brought scarves from the Peña Atlética de Alemania for the board members of the Peña Atlética de Llanes, as a reminder of our red-and-white family and of the bond that connects peñas beyond borders. But one moment made me especially happy: Alberto was absolutely delighted to receive our peña’s scarf and actually went home wearing it.

You cannot imagine how proud it makes us when an Atlético de Madrid legend wears our scarf, knows who we are and recognises us as part of that great red-and-white family. Every time it happens, I am reminded once again of what it means to represent Atleti from Germany, and how special it is when those who have written some of the most important chapters in our club’s history also make room for us in their memories. It may seem like a small gesture, but for those of us working behind the scenes of a peña, doing our best to keep the Atleti spirit alive so many miles away from home, it means an incredible amount.

Encounters like this remind me of something that so many peñas have taught me over the years: being part of a peña is about much more than honouring and representing Atlético de Madrid, defending its colours or keeping a passion alive far from the stadium. It is also about belonging to a family that sometimes appears when you least expect it, opens its doors to you, makes room for you at its table and welcomes you as though you had known each other all your lives. A family that may not share the same surname, city or even country, but that you know will always be there. And when you are lucky enough to experience that, it is worth so much.

It was a beautiful and deeply moving tribute, organised with tremendous care and affection, with the local press in attendance and every detail thoughtfully taken care of. And, of course, there was a fantastic meal too — after all, we were in Asturias, where they certainly know how to make visitors feel welcome!

In his speech, Higinio touched on something I found particularly meaningful: the Peña Atlética de Llanes may not necessarily be one of those peñas that are present at every match, but they have always wanted to do something different and find their own way of living and sharing their passion for the red-and-white colours. And on Thursday, they proved beyond doubt that whatever they do, they do it exceptionally well. Because it is not about being everywhere or measuring commitment by the number of miles travelled. It is about putting enthusiasm, dedication and personality into whatever you choose to do. And this event was a wonderful example of exactly that.

I also want to highlight the care and dedication with which Higinio looks after the Peña Atlética de Llanes. It is clear that there is much more behind it than simply a desire to organise activities: there is genuine concern for people, a commitment to bringing stories back to life, recognising achievements and creating moments that leave a lasting impression. They have always wanted their peña to be much more than a meeting place for sharing their love of Atleti, and with events like this they achieve that and more. Because organising something like this is not simply about bringing people together around a table; it is about making everyone feel part of something special. And that is exactly what they achieved.

My heartfelt thanks go to Higinio, because thanks to him I have had the opportunity to meet all these wonderful people, share such a special day and discover first-hand stories that form part of our football heritage. Thank you for opening that door to me, for your generosity and for giving me the chance to hear memories directly from Alberto that I might otherwise never have had the opportunity to discover.

Thank you also to the Peña Atlética de Llanes, to Alberto’s family and to everyone who welcomed me with such warmth and affection. I left feeling that I had made many new friends and with the certainty that some encounters deserve to be repeated.

I truly hope this won’t be the last time we sit around a table together, sharing stories, memories and, of course, plenty of football. Some of the stories that emerge from encounters like this deserve to travel further, find their place in the pages of a book and reach those who have not yet had the chance to hear them. And I have a feeling that the story of Alberto, his family and this wonderful peña still has plenty more to tell.

That day in Gijón, I came away with much more than the memory of a tribute. I took home affection, admiration, unforgettable stories, plenty of laughter and another little piece of that great red-and-white family for whom distance simply doesn’t matter.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And until next time — hopefully very soon!

¡Aúpa Atleti!

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