Manolo, Spain

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

Every national team has its obsessive followers. But few are as famous, as loud, as bold, as downright bombastic as Manolo - el del Bombo (he of the drum).
 
Manolo el del Bombo sprang to national prominence during the Spain World Cup finals in 1982. His portly frame, topped by an enormous Basque beret, would often be seen balancing precariously on the fence banging his enormous drum and leading the chants of the crowd. 
 
As Manolo "he of the drum" became a national figure he began to travel abroad more and more, enjoying the limelight with the team. At first, Manolo admits, it was difficult to follow Spain around "as I didn't have a shilling in my pocket at the time." 
 
Part of the team
 
These days things are considerably easier as he has virtually become part of the team - as their mascot. He is now given tickets and is financed on his travels by the Spanish Football Federation.
 
Manolo has single-handedly founded a school of imitators, all with instruments of various kinds (horns, bag-pipes, cymbals) who follow different Spanish clubs.
 
Manolo now features regularly in the media. It would be impossible for a Spain game to be transmitted without the camera honing in on Manolo in mid-bang at least once (usually prior to a corner or free-kick). His face appears consistently in the papers, football magazines, and adverts. Most notably Manolo stars in an advert on Spanish TV for a bank where he's banging away and a group of people chant a slogan. It's really funny because Manolo is blatantly staring at the autocue and completely out-of-synch with everyone else.
 
Part of every team
 
Although Manolo is most famous for following the national team, he supports every Spanish club team when they are playing in European competitions and does his best to get to their games.
 
He is what is known in Spain as a "chaquetero" - a jacket-changer. That is to say, someone who changes his jacket to suit their audience - and Manolo's done that more than just a few times.
 
He was once a Real Zaragoza fan, although he swears this is untrue and that he's always been a Valencia fan. It just so happens that he has got a tapas-bar just outside Mestalla - the Valencia stadium. Called, predictably, "El Bombo".
 
Manolo's Memorable Moments
 
"The best game I ever saw Spain play was against Austria in a qualifying game for Euro 2000. We won 9-0. Unbelievable. It isn't often that something like that happens. After that I thought we'd win the competition easily. Nine goals, and not even against San Marino."
 
"My worst moment (and following Spain, there are a few) was during France '98 when we beat Bulgaria 6-1 but still got knocked out."
 
"My best ever away trip was to USA '94. But just when it looked like the team could get to the semi-final we met Italy. I also enjoyed Euro '96, but only got to one game, against England at Wembley. I thought Spain played much better than the English, and the atmosphere was incredible."
 
We asked Manolo who will win the World Cup in 2002?
 
Spain, otherwise Brazil, otherwise Argentina.
 
There he goes, changing his jacket again...

May 2001