The one who scores the most goals doesn't always win

El Anfiteatro, Nr. 42

TODAY WE INTERVIEW: CARMEN GARCÍA, PEÑA AT. DE ALEMANIA

From Cologne, the president of the Peña Atlética de Alemania shares her outlook on life in red and white, discusses the reality of peñistas outside of Spain, and assesses the “I Encuentro de Peñas Europeas.”

Carmen García can’t imagine life without Atleti. She never has, despite the kilometers, flights, and round trips. At nineteen, she set course for Cologne to follow the path her Spanish immigrant parents had traced in ‘60 and retraced in ‘67, when she was born. There she put down roots, but without losing sight of Madrid and the Metropolitano. With a degree in Hispanic Philology and a great love for languages, she helps Atleti fans from different parts of the world form their own supporters’ clubs while leading her own. She speaks to El Anfiteatro with her usual warmth and cheerfulness.

Everyone will ask you the same thing: What is a die-hard Atleti fan like you doing living in Germany?

I went to Germany in ‘89, and at that time it was very strange to be Spanish there. The generation of our parents, who had emigrated years before, had already returned and left a void that was filled by those of us who came later. One thing that really annoyed me was that when people asked me where I was from and I said Madrid, they all replied the same way: “Ah, Real Madrid!” It bothered me (laughs). But Atleti wasn’t known. It’s only started to gain recognition now, let’s not forget that.

Why is Carmen García an Atleti fan? Who influenced you?

I used to go to the Calderón with my father. He had been a member since ‘42, and even though he went to Germany with my mother later on, he remained a member upon his return. We lived very close to Plaza de los Cármenes, next to the stadium, and Atleti has always been present in my home. At 19, I emigrated, but I never lost that passion. I remember listening to Atleti’s anthem with my father on the reel-to-reel tape recorder, not even on cassette. Imagine (laughs). He told me he followed the construction of the Vicente Calderón from Germany, through the radio. He never lost the connection, and years later, neither did I.

How do you remember your childhood?

I went to a convent school, and every Wednesday, coinciding with mass, two girls who were also Atleti fans and I would sneak out to watch the team train at the Calderón. We were 8 or 9 years old, and it was the time of Hugo Sánchez, Arteche… Since we wore our school uniforms and were so young, we attracted a lot of attention. They would say, “Are you here again?” But they let us in without any problem. Things have changed so much…

You must have several anecdotes like that…

I don’t know if you remember a photo of Butragueño where his pants came off and everything was visible. It became very famous. Well, one day, there was a big commotion at the newsstand on the way to school because of the photo, lots of girls were commenting… You can imagine. I arrived and the first thing that came to mind was: “Any Atleti player has bigger ones” (laughs). The newsstand owner told my father about it with laughter, and the comment ended up becoming the talk of the neighborhood.

As an adult, I collaborated with a publisher to write a book about Atleti in German. It’s called “111 Reasons to Love Atlético de Madrid,” and out of those 111, I wrote around eighty. I’m very proud of the book because it’s the only one about Atleti in German.

Are there many Atleti fans in Germany?

Yes, Atleti is a polarizing team. Especially since Cholo arrived. We are like David against Goliath. That’s the image people have of us. A rowdy team that causes trouble. I remember the last time we knocked out Bayern Munich in the Champions League, I went to see a Cologne match the following weekend at the stadium wearing Atleti’s jersey, and people applauded me in the stands for having eliminated Bayern (laughs). Bayern is like Real Madrid here, a wealthy team, with its shady deals, and therefore, it doesn’t inspire sympathy.

We are increasingly gaining fans in Germany. We’ve played quite a few times against German teams, and they are getting to know us. When they have to play against us, they say, “What a hassle.” And it’s because they know we are unpredictable, that they have to be careful. I like that image. We are recognized for what we fight for. It’s something that is highly valued in Germany. Here, everything is lived very passionately.

Returning to your story, what was the moment like when you ventured far from Spain?

I studied Hispanic Philology, but then I specialized in languages and went to Germany to learn German. At first, you are so dazzled by everything new that you don’t realize everything you leave behind. At least, that’s what happened to me. However, there comes a time when you start to miss it. You say, “Damn, I would have liked to go to the football match with my father this Sunday.” I was lucky that my father kept me informed of everything. When he came, we went to the stadium together, etc. But of course, it wasn’t the same. And you know, I always liked Atleti, but when I started to miss it, that sense of belonging grew even stronger. The desire for Atleti became much greater. Over the years, I made my son a member of the supporters’ club I was in, and later his father also became a member. We traveled with Atleti wherever it was necessary. And every time we came to Madrid, obviously, we went to the Calderón.

Do you feel more enthusiasm for Atleti when living far from Madrid?

I think you enjoy it more. Since you can’t go to the Metropolitano every two weeks, when the opportunity arises, you value it much more. And I’m not just speaking for myself. The people in my supporters’ club feel the same way. Atleti brings us together. We are a red and white family, you know (laughs).

Your feeling is so strong that you founded the Peña Atlética de Alemania a few months ago. How did that come about?

Most of the members of our supporters’ club are Germans and, for various reasons, Atleti members. We belonged to different supporters’ clubs, but they weren’t active enough, and we started to get tired, it wasn’t what we expected. So, we got to work. We needed something more, something that really identified us as the supporters we are and as people who like to travel with Atleti. The idea came up during the match we had against Leverkusen in 2022. In 2023, everything began to take shape

, and from there, we founded the group. We decided it had to have a simple name that identified us, so we called it Peña Atlética de Alemania. It was very clear (laughs).

In addition to being the president of the Peña de Alemania, you are also the coordinator of the Penas outside of Spain. What does your work consist of? I imagine it requires time and dedication.

Yes. It requires quite a bit of time. My role is to contact people who want to start a supporters’ club anywhere in the world and need help. I’m fortunate, thanks to the trips I’ve taken, to know a lot of people and have many contacts; I’ve always been very active. And I’ve been amazed by the fact that there is interest in forming supporters’ clubs in India, Costa Rica, Chile… In places you couldn’t even imagine. You can tell we’re reaching more people.

I’ve heard amazing stories from people I’ve met on trips. People who came to Spain on Erasmus, fell in love with Atleti, and created a supporters’ club in Finland, for example. I can tell you wonderful stories. But it’s not easy to manage a supporters’ club from so far away. There are people who want to, but they are very lost. My job is to facilitate the process for them and show them that it’s possible.

You brought to Cologne, the city where you live, the first Encounter of European Atleti Supporters’ Clubs. How did you manage that?

With a lot of perseverance, and also with contacts. I always say they are essential. If people know you and know what you’re like and how you work, they will show interest. And also, because there was a need for such an event. Supporters’ clubs abroad are quite neglected.

What is your assessment of the Encounter?

Very good. For the people in my supporters’ club, it was sensational to meet other people from neighboring countries with the same passion. As a result of that, a trip was organized, and they came to Madrid, for the first time, to the Metropolitano. It was impressive. There’s a guy in the supporters’ club who has all Atleti’s trophies tattooed and has never been to Madrid in his life. And of course, Luis, the club representative who came, saw so much enthusiasm that he said, “How is it possible that these people haven’t been to the stadium yet?” And to those who wanted to join, he paid for their entry to a league match. I told him: “You have to see it.” Atleti needs to see what’s outside. These people came for the first time and were amazed. That day I thought: “For these things, it’s worth having a supporters’ club.”

Will there be more?

Certainly. We are eager for it to continue, and we are certain that it will continue to grow.

In these kinds of encounters, I imagine you realize that you are not alone…

I grew up with it because I had it at home. But you come across some cases… For example, the guy in my supporters’ club who has the titles tattooed. Luis said to him, “If you don’t have space, if we win another cup, where are you going to tattoo it?” (laughs). And he replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll find a place.” It’s amazing. He has three children, and all three have been Atleti members since birth. This man has never been to Madrid and goes to all the European matches he can. Another case is our supporters’ club treasurer, who became an Atleti member when he still lived in East Germany. He found out what the team had done on Sundays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays because there was no other way. He’s a staunch supporter, goes to even more matches than I do, and doesn’t speak a word of Spanish or English. It doesn’t matter to him! He’s the one who picks up the tickets at the team’s hotel. I don’t know how he does it.

What do you try to convey to the peñistas outside of Spain?

Above all, that sense of brotherhood. For me, that’s fundamental. When we travel, we’re not boasting. We go with our heads held high, but with the humility that is necessary, with that unity that comes from knowing you belong to a red and white family.

Any projects in mind? A dream to fulfill?

The dream of all Atleti fans: to win a Champions League, of course. I’m already booking in London (laughs). I would like us to have a team that always works with the same good vibes we have now on the bench. I want Cholo to live forever and to stay forever as well. He’s the person who understood us. My father always said, “You have to understand Atleti.” The first time I went to a football match was when my father gave me a ticket for the Copa del Generalísimo against Real Madrid. We lost in such a way. When we left, I told my father it was unfair, and my father replied, “The one who scores the most goals doesn’t always win.” That phrase has stuck with me for life. It would be a good headline for this interview.

Víctor Gómez

Journalist

You can read the original article at this link. El Anfiteatro nr. 42

• media