Iñaki Gabilondo: “I was born, am and will die from La Real”

Karlos Arguiñano, Iñaki Gabilondo, Roberto López Ufarte and 'Bixio' Górriz they represent better than anyone what 'Ser de la Real' means. They demonstrated it on the second day of the 'Korner' cultural festival organized by La Real, with an entertaining, fun and relaxed talk at the Principal Theater that delighted everyone who feels like the San Sebastian team. “I was born, I am and I will die of the Real”, sentenced Gabilondo, in one of those stony phrases that any fan could sign. The historic journalist of the TO BE He recalled unforgettable moments with the charismatic and versatile chef from Zaragoza, who was accompanied by two of the most representative players of the best Real in history, which won two leagues at the beginning of the 80s.

“Martínez took me by the shoulder, showed me all the nooks and crannies of Atotxa and I realized that this was a family,” recalls López Ufarte. It was his first experience at La Real, although not the best, of course. “When the first league was won, Real went from being the San Sebastián team to being the Gipuzkoa team and that made it bigger. Being from the Real is something that you have tattooed on your forehead, “he adds. Arguiñano. And Gabilondo ends, “I am essentially from the Real, since October 19, 1942, when my father made me a member and at the same time he registered me in the civil registry. I am from the Royal by birth, as I am white. I was born, am and will die of the Real. They are like intrinsic chapters of my life. “

Iñaki Gabilondo, in his role as a 'storyteller', recalled one of the historical characteristics that the Real. “It has a backbone character. Few teams have the degree of connection between the Real and its people. We like that the Real is how we Guipuzcoans want to be. That it is formal, that it does not do foolish things with money, honest, humble … Our idols are players like Xabi Prieto, that type of player who resembles us. We like it because this is the Real we want “. Players like Górriz Y Lopez Ufarte, which add the difficulty of competing today only with people from Zubieta as in his time. “Football has become very competitive, but it is important to maintain the philosophy of people from home and that those who come from abroad integrate well, such as Aldridge, Kovacevic, Carlos Xavier, Kodro and Oceano.”

The Real Now it seems to live a second golden age, after the title of champion of Cup. But you can never stop appreciating what you achieve each season. “Sometimes it seems to me that part of the fans have forgotten how difficult it is to win and the merit it has. People must accompany the team demanding it, having aspirations, discussing the leadership of football in the Basque Country but understanding that it is difficult. To dream yes but with enormous effort “he explains with his usual common sense Iñaki Gabilondo.

The talk gave many anecdotes, memories of the past of those who sparked, such as that unforgettable 'robbery' at the Bernabéu in the 79-80 season, fighting for the first league, when Real won 0-2 and a scandalous arbitration derived the final 2-2. “There we lost what would have been the first league,” López Ufarte and Górriz agree.. “Arconada broke a locker room door,” they recalled between the knowing smile from the stalls. From that night, Jarlod Arguiñano keeps a curious anecdote. “My father did not want to die without traveling by plane and I took him to Madrid to a Cup match. In the second half he got up and said, 'Let's go, this is a robbery.' black stop him. '” And there was even time to 'chop' the historic neighbor, the Athletic. “It is difficult for him today, because he does not have the quarry that we have,” said Arguiñano. And Gabilondo ended with the way to call Athletic fans in San Sebastián. “I tease my friends from Bilbao a lot, because it seems genuine to them that they are called Athletic and it offends them to be called Bilbao.” Real feeling on all four sides. Because this is being from the Real.