The Peña

There are many stories in the world of fan clubs, but very few Peñas can say with pride that their President is the leading voice who has captured our passion in writing. At the Peña Atlética de Alemania, we don’t just have a presence in the stands-we are also on the bookshelves of thousands of Atleti fans.

Our “Presi” has channeled her immense knowledge of Atleti’s fan clubs into a work that has connected directly with the hearts of the supporters. Titled “Merece la Peña”, the book has been such a resounding success that, since its release in September 2025, it has already reached its 3rd edition in just seven months! This journey proves that when you write from the heart and with true expertise, the fans respond.

And another peñistic weekend arrived, this time in Sigüenza! I had the honor of being invited to the 30th anniversary of Peña Seguntina, and the celebration began in the best possible way: with a ham and wine tasting that was absolutely spectacular. Between slices and sips, you could already feel the Peña spirit and the excitement to fully enjoy the day.

Afterwards, we went to enjoy a delicious roast lamb, of course at a great restaurant, where no fewer than 4 of the 5 Peñas from Guadalajara gathered. The table had an extra touch of luxury: the legends Solozábal and Fresnedoso, whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to—along with Sandra, the president of Seguntina, and Txus Rojas! Between laughter, anecdotes, and good humor, the meal turned into a true Peña feast.

What a peñistic weekend we had! It all started on November 15th in Burgos, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Peña Gamonal. Around 11 a.m., a bus picked us up (yes, like a school trip, but with more excitement and zero homework) and took us to the Peña. They gave us a full tour and treated us to an aperitif that was absolutely delicious. Between tapas and laughter, we could already feel the special Peña magic.

Still with a smile on our faces (and a few anecdotes that will take a while to forget) after a wonderful day… A heartfelt thanks to Peña Atlética La Bañeza “Un sentimiento” for inviting us to celebrate their 30th anniversary on Saturday, October 11. It was a perfect day, one of those that makes you feel reconciled with everything.

Saturday began with the traditional football match, which ended in a penalty shootout—perhaps because Rafa, president of Peña Mallorca, acted as referee. The next day, many of the participants complained about sore muscles; it seems age and inactivity spare neither the body nor the memory… and certainly not how to play football!

Last year, when the members of the Peña Atlético Aviación invited me to their 15th anniversary in March, I hesitated for a moment because I had a feeling the celebration could get out of hand, but I thought it over and concluded it was worth it. After all, when have I ever resisted a good party?

On March 22, early in the morning, I set off for Benavente, a town in the Zamora province, a city that Víctor, a member of the peña, had already shown to Txus and me during our short visit in October 2024. After leaving my things in the room at the La Trucha guesthouse, which Javi (president of the peña) had reserved for me, Isaac came to pick me up and take me to the epicenter of the action: the peña headquarters. I arrived there in a van, accompanied by Patricia Cazón, only to discover that the venue had become too small, so they had set up tents on the street (with permission from the town hall, I suppose), where they had prepared some appetizers to kick things off.