“It is a pride to be president of Atlético de Madrid, to have won so many titles and to be able to continue belonging” to the rojiblanco club, said Enrique Cerezo in a video released this Thursday by the entity on the occasion of his thousand games at the head of the institution, in which He recalled triumphs of his team, highlighted figures such as Luis Aragonés or Fernando Torres and valued that his team has reached the current heights thanks to Diego Simeone.
“We were lucky to find a great coach, who is Simeone, and thanks to him, his work, his effort and his sporting sacrifice we are where we are right now. It is an enviable situation not only in Spain, but in Europe. That’s why he is loved people admire him and everyone is delighted that he is always here and will continue for many years“, expressed the leader of Atlético de Madrid, who assumed the presidency in 2003.
“Then there has also been a very important part, leconomic, that we have had a person who has worked 24 hours a day, who is Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, that has ensured that the club is in a magnificent and stable situation as it is now”, added Cerezo, whose journey in the video begins with the Europa League final won in 2010 against Fulham in Hamburg, with Diego Forlán’s decisive goal in extra time.
“That is a game and a very important memory, because of the game, because of the goals and because The then Prince of Spain, today King of Spain, Felipe VI was present. And I remember a photo we took with the King at the end of the game in the locker room. I have it framed with great affection.” explained Cerezo, who recalled the figure of Quique Sánchez Flores, the coach of that title: “When he came we were in a fatal sporting situation and It was a success that he was. It was the beginning of this magnificent decade of victories.”
Although he mentions later, already with Diego Simeone at the helm of the team, the decisive jump to higher levels: “The title that is really definitive to have a magnificent sporting situation like we have had these years was the Copa del Rey that we won at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid (1-2, in 2013). From that moment is when Atlético de Madrid begins to be aware that they have to win many titles, as it has been in recent years”.
Then came the 2014 League.”It wasn’t easy either. We went to the game (the last one against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, in which a draw was enough for Atlético to be champion, as it was with 1-1) with enthusiasm. What was really exciting, apart from having won the title, was that the entire Camp Nou stayed to applaud Atlético de Madrid.”pointed out the president, who reviewed that “magnificent players and, above all, great people have passed” during his more than a thousand games as president of the club.
The second League was last year, “The Pandemic League”. “The last four, five games were very tough,” Cerezo recalled. “We had the good fortune to overcome game by game until Valladolid arrived (on the last day with the 1-2 victory that made him champion). We will always remember that we have been champions of a League without an audience, “he added.
“These were difficult times, because to see an entire League and the end of another without an audience in a field like ours is very sad“, expressed the president of Atlético, who also spoke about the change of stadium, from the Vicente Calderón to the Wanda Metropolitano: “It was a shame, but, without a doubt, it was a change for the better. No one is going to forget the great moments of the Vicente Calderón”.
“Another of the great important moments of my time as president was the day we opened the Wanda Metropolitano. It was exciting,” he added. He also remembered the figure of Luis Aragonés, “a myth in the history of Atlético de Madrid”, and Fernando Torres, “who was here for a marvelous stage, whereand he made a great, international player and everyone loved him”. “I will never forget the recognition that was given to him when he arrived here, with a full field. A very exciting day that all of us atletico lived through,” he added.
He also highlighted Diego Forlán as “a magnificent player and scorer”, who was awarded the Golden Shoe with the club. On the occasion of his thousand games, completed in the 0-1 win against Manchester United, Cerezo received a commemorative plaque days later in training at the Ciudad Deportiva de Majadahonda. “It is a moment that I will never forget. I would like to thank Miguel Ángel (Gil Marín), who is my partner and my friend for many years, for the detail. I have given so many plaques to all the players and that they give it to you is exciting” , he concluded.