The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 84- A video Interview and blog presentation with Spanish Photographer and former Journalist Mr. Nacho Solana, discussing Club Atlético de Madrid in the first season of the Jesus Gil presidency, 1987/88 season.

 For this interview, I look back at Club Atlético de Madrid in the first season of the Jesus Gil presidency, 1987/88 season.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewee is:

Mr. Nacho Solana

 

Mr. Solana is a Spanish Photographer and former Journalist

 

 

Mr. Solana’s contact info:

https://www.facebook.com/18nachosolana

 

Mr. Nacho Solana

 

Mr. Nacho Solana

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

Club Atlético de Madrid in the first season of the Jesus Gil presidency, 1987/88 season

 

When Spanish Businessman Gregorio Jesús Gil y Gil was elected as Atlético de Madrid President in 1987, despite his already controversial status, no one could foresee the circus that ensued for the next 17 years. This is considering that Atlético de Madrid won the League title and two Copa del Reys (as well getting relegated).

The 54-year-old Gil was already famous for the wrong reasons. He had started out as a Car Dealer before moving into Construction. In 1969, the San Rafael Complex in Segovia, that he built, collapsed, and killed 58 people. It later turned out that the project had been built without any architects, surveyors nor proper plans.

He was fined 400 million Pesetas and sentenced to prison. He spent 18 months in jail before being pardoned by Spain’s ruler, Francisco Franco.

After his release, he was able to continue to expand his business empire.

Photo From: Don Balon-Extra Liga 9192

(Gregorio Jesús Gil y Gil)

Atlético de Madrid President Don Vicente Calderon passed away on March 24, 1987. This necessitated the election of a new President by the Socios.

The matters on the field in that season (1986/87) were disappointing. Two Managers (Vicente Miera and Jesús Martínez Jayo) had already been dismissed with the third Manager of the season, Luis Aragonés, seeing out the season.

In the end the team finished seventh outside of the UEFA Cup zone and lost in the Final of Copa Del Rey to Real Sociedad.

Atlético de Madrid were lagging behind the big two, Real Madrid of the ‘La Quinta del Buitre’ generation at their height and Terry Venables’ Barcelona.

The conditions were ripe for Jesús Gil to challenge for the Presidency of the club with the club nearly 10 million Dollars in debt.

He was vocal about the corruption of the state and the Football League and presented himself as a warrior against this type of corruption.

He said he was tired of seeing Atletico mismanaged for five years and believed he could turn these around.

He was facing three challengers for the Presidency, including a long-time Director of the club, Salvador Santos Campano. Campano had promised to appoint English Manager Ron Atkinson upon his election.

However, Gil came up with a more enticing offer to win the votes of the socios.

Portuguese club FC Porto had just won the Champions Cup, with the young Paulo Futre as their star.

Just days before the election, he hopped on a plane to Milan, where Porto were playing in the Mundialito of clubs. After seven hours of negotiations, Gil got his man. There were reports that he sweetened the deal by also offering Futre a yellow Porsche.

Afterwards, he went to Jacara Disco in Madrid to represent Futre to the socios.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987

(Paulo Futre)

Futre was what put Gil over the top and he won the election on June 27. He quickly sacked Luis Aragones on June 30^th.

In addition, to Futre, he signed several quality players including Brazilian midfielder Alemão (Botafogo), former International central defender Andoni Goikoetxea (Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Alonso (Barcelona), Parra (Real Betis), Eusebio Sacristán and Juan Carlos (both Real Valladolid).

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987

(Ricardo Alemão)

After signing so many players, the Spanish League was worried they would be in debt. However, Gil insisted that he had spent his own money, in which case the League declared that the players were free to walk out if they chose.

He approached former Argentina 1978 World Cup winning Manager Cesar Luis Menotti. The Boca Juniors Manager left his post and arrived in Spain on July 6, 1987, to discuss terms and agreed on the next day. He signed for one year with the option of an extra year.

He also requested and obtained the signing of Roberto López Ufarte from Real Sociedad.

Menotti stated that he was tempted by the challenge and dreamt of winning a European trophy.

His stated aim was to make Atletico a team who can fight on equal terms with Real.

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987

(Cesar Luis Menotti and Paulo Futre)

Ahead of the (1987/88) League season, Gil was very much in the news. He declared to the socios that there is a need for spectacle and great players.

He stated he was a liberal dictator in business matters, once a business decided to do something it must be inflexible.

He declared that they were going to be a ‘milestone’ in Spanish Soccer and win everything.

All the hype certainly helped ticket sales, there was a sharp increase in season ticket holders.

Gil would make verbal attacks on Real Madrid President Ramon Mendoza (accusing Real of stealing Hugo Sanchez) as well as his Barcelona counterpart Nunez.

He stated his declarations in the press were a strategy against the monopoly of the coverage in the press regarding the big two.

Gil’s critics accused him of using the club as a steppingstone to further his business ambitions.

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987 

When the season kicked off, Real Madrid were in an irresistible form and won the first eight matches of the season.

Barcelona were struggling that season and this opened the door for other challengers like Atletico.

Menotti’s squad were slowly moving up the table. They faced Real in the 10^th Round on November 7^th, at the Bernabeu.

Atletico showed its progress by hammering Real Madrid (4-0) away from home to be just behind them in the League standings.

For a moment, it seemed like Gil’s spending would be the catalyst for a title.

However, this was short lived as Real Madrid would pull away and increase their lead.

By the second half of the season, Real Sociedad overtook Atletico Madrid as Real’s closest challengers.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 143, November 1987

(Club Atlético de Madrid squad 1987/88)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 146, February 1988

(Rabah Madjer and Paulo Futre)

Financially, there were difficulties for the club and there were rumors that Futre might be sold to balance the books.

By springtime, Atletico were falling off the pace. When the sides met one another again, Real were the dominant side and defeated Atletico (3-1) away from home,

This was Atletico’s sixth winless match (a run of 3 ties and 3 losses). This was too much for Gil and he sacked Menotti the next day, Monday March 21^st.

Gil had sacked his first Manager (or perhaps his second after sacking Aragones upon taking over). In any case, Menotti (or Aragones) would be the first in a long line of managers who would be dismissed by the volatile Gil.

Prior to his sacking, there were reports and rumors that the two were not getting on. It was even reported that Menotti was about to sign for River Plate as Gil was thinking of replacing him with Javier Clemente.

After his sacking, Menotti stated that it had been a mistake to return to Spain and work for a difficult man like Gil.

Menotti was replaced by José Armando Ufarte, who himself was sacked just weeks later on April 13^th, to be replaced by Antonio Briones until the end of the season.

Ufarte was dismissed after refusing to cooperate with Jose Maria Maguregui, whom Gil had lined up to manage the side.

There was discontent amongst the players, due to Gil’s abrasive style of leadership. Gil tasked Maguregui to bring problematic players under control or throw them out.

Atletico finished third that season (14 points behind Real Madrid and behind Real Sociedad) and qualified for the UEFA Cup. On that score there had been an improvement, but this was just the beginning of Gil’s turbulent Presidency.

The next 17 years would see more than 100 players and 39 managers come and go.

Upon taking over, Gil had stated that he wanted to make Atletico, a serious, solvent, and respected club………….

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 143, November 1987

(Cesar Luis Menotti interview)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 143, November 1987

(Cesar Luis Menotti interview)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 143, November 1987

(Cesar Luis Menotti interview)

 

Club Atlético de Madrid (1987/88 season):

 

Goalkeepers:

Abel Resino Gómez (February 2, 1960, Velada) (aged 27-28 years old at the time)

Agustín de Carlos Elduayen (August 4, 1964, San Sebastian) (aged 23 years old at the time)

Ángel Jesús Mejías Rodríguez (March 1, 1959, Tembleque) (aged 33-34 years old at the time)

 

Defenders:

Juan Carlos Arteche Gómez (April 11, 1957, Maliaño, October 13, 2010, Madrid) (aged 30-31 years old at the time)

Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga (August 23, 1956, Alonsotegi) (aged 31 years old at the time)

Pedro Tomás Reñones Crego (August 9, 1960, Compostela) (aged 27 years old at the time)

Sergio Elías Morgado Rodríguez (March 19, 1963, Badajoz) (aged 22-23 years old at the time)

Juan Carlos Rodríguez Moreno (January 19, 1965, Puente Castro) (aged 22-23 years old at the time)

José Armando Lucas Contreras (October 20, 1966, Madrid) (aged 20-21 years old at the time)

Antonio Rivas Martínez (September 13, 1965, Alcázar de San Juan) (aged 21-22 years old at the time)

 

Midfielders:

Jesús Landaburu Sagüillo (January 24, 1955, Guardo) (aged 32-33 years old at the time)

Ricardo Rogério de Brito, Alemão (Brazil) (November 22, 1961, Lavras Brazil) (aged 25-26 years old at the time)

Antonio Joaquín Parra Fernández (June 17, 1961, Seville) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Eusebio Sacristán Mena (April 13, 1964, La Seca) (aged 23-24 years old at the time)

Juan Carlos Aguilera Martín (May 22, 1969, Madrid) (aged 18-19 years old at the time)

Roberto Simón Marina (August 28, 1961, Villanueva de la Serena) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Enrique Ramos González, Quique Ramos (March 7, 1956, Madrid) (aged 31-32 years old at the time)

Enrique Setién Sola, Quique Setién (September 27, 1958, Santander) (aged 29 years old at the time)

Eduardo Cañadas López (May 10, 1970, Madrid) (aged 17-18 years old at the time)

 

Forwards:

Paulo Jorge dos Santos Futre (Portugal) (February 28, 1966, Montijo, Portugal) (aged 21-22 years old at the time)

Julio Salinas Fernández (September 11, 1962, Bilbao) (aged 24-25 years old at the time)

Roberto López Ufarte (April 19, 1958, Fes, Morocco) (aged 29-30 years old at the time)

Marcos Alonso Peña (October 1, 1959, Santander-February 9, 2023, Madrid) (aged 27-28 years old at the time)

Juan Carlos Pedraza Gómez (September 1, 1959, Madrid) (aged 28 years old at the time)

Julián Romero Nieto (February 25, 1969, Madrid) (aged 18-19 years old at the time)

José María Luengo Martos (June 20, 1970, Madrid) (aged 17-18 years old at the time)

 

Coach: César Luis Menotti (Argentina) (November 5, 1938, Rosario, Argentina) (aged 48-49 years old at the time) (Sacked March 21, 1988)

José Armando Ufarte Ventoso (May 17, 1941, Ponteverda) (aged 46-47 years old at the time) (sacked April 13)

Antonio Briones Yacobi (July 17, 1939, Mabella)

 

Team Captain: Juan Carlos Arteche Gómez 

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Puma

Shirt Sponsor: Mita

 

 

Transfer Activity:

 

Arrivals:

Paulo Jorge dos Santos Futre (FC Porto / Portugal)

Ricardo Rogério de Brito, Alemão (Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas / Brazil)

Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga (Athletic Bilbao)

Roberto López Ufarte (Real Sociedad)

Marcos Alonso Peña (Barcelona)

Eusebio Sacristán Mena (Real Valladolid)

Juan Carlos Rodríguez Moreno (Real Valladolid)

Antonio Joaquín Parra Fernández (Real Betis)

Juan Carlos Pedraza Gómez (Cadiz)

 

Departures:

Jorge Da Silva (River Plate / Argentina)

Miguel Ángel Ruiz García (Malaga)

Julio Prieto Martín (Celta Vigo)

Pedro Uralde Hernáez (Athletic Bilbao)

Rodolfo Dapena Dapena (Celta Vigo)

Francisco ‘Paco’ Llorente Gento (Real Madrid)

Rubén Bilbao Barruetabeña (Real Valladolid)

Juan José Rubio Jiménez (Sabbadel)

Clemente Villaverde Huelga (Malaga)

Ricardo Ortega Mínguez (Tenerife)

Photo From: Don Balon - Apendice Extra Liga Don Balon-Extra Liga 8788

(Club Atlético de Madrid squad 1987/88)

Photo From: Don Balon - Apendice Extra Liga Don Balon-Extra Liga 8788

(Club Atlético de Madrid squad 1987/88)

 

Photo From: Panini Spain 87/88

(Atlético de Madrid squad 1987/88)

Sources:

World Soccer, August 1987

World Soccer, September 1987

World Soccer, October 1987

World Soccer, November 1987

World Soccer, December 1987

World Soccer, February 1988

World Soccer, March 1988

World Soccer, April 1988

World Soccer, May 1988

World Soccer, June 1988

World Soccer, July 1988

Four Four Two, Issue 120, August 2004

France Football, Issue 2159, August 25, 1987

Onze, Issue 143, November 1987

Soccer America, Vol. 33, No. 8, Issue 823, August 20, 1987