Atleti pays tribute to Cerezo for his 1,000th match as president

With the naturalness that characterizes him, always with a smile on his face, Enrique Cerezo He confessed on Tuesday, after the Manchester-Atleti Champions League. “This has been the only game, of the 1,000 that I have been president, in which I have become nervous,” he slipped Manu Carreño in ‘El Larguero’. Some nerves that had already disappeared from his voice, all joy. For the victory, for Atlético in the quarterfinals of this Champions League, for that number that summarizes more than 19 rojiblancos years: his 1,000 games as president.

From the first one at Riazor a few days after taking office, on May 28, 2003, until Tuesday at Old Trrafford. At 74 years old, he is the longest-serving rojiblanco president (966 games were played by Vicente Calderón and 754 by Jesús Gil). A number, 1,000, special that from this afternoon will shine in a tangible way in his office. Because this afternoon Enrique Cerezo went to Cerro del Espino to receive a tribute from the club he presides over. In the sports city there were also Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO; Antonio Alonso, Vice President; and Andrea Berta, sports director, as well as the coaching staff and staff to deliver of a plate, given to him by Miguel Ángel, of the gray steel of the Paseo de Leyendas with the round figure stamped on it.

A moment that served for the staff to dedicate some affectionate displays of affection, the president always so close, available, affable. Koke hugged him, Giménez patted him on the head, they all signed a shirt that accompanied that plaque: “Cerezo, 1,000”, which for the family photo was held by the Atletico vice president, teammate Antonio Alonso. With Cerezo, 10 titles (two Leagues, 2013-14 and 2020-21, three Europa Leagues, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2017-18), one Copa del Rey, 2012-13, three European Super Cups, 2010, 2012 and 2018, and a Spanish Super Cup, 2014) and a change of stadium, from the old Calderón to the Wanda Metropolitano, in 2017, in whose office that plaque will hang, that number that this Saturday will continue to rise. Before the Lightning. 1,001.