«A dream that began in Vallecas, continued in the Atléti Academy and which still has many years left to continue making history». Atlético has today prepared a very special event in the Civitas Metropolitano auditorium to celebrate the 555 official matches of their captain Koke Resurrection, who became the player with the most appearances in the history of the club in Seville. Koke has been supported by his family, his teammates and a select group of ex-Atlético soccer players among which, of course, could not miss Adelardo Rodríguez, The Vallecano midfielder has snatched the record he set in 1975.
A dream that began in Vallecas…
continued in the @AtletiAcademia…
And who still has many years left to continue making history.❤️🤍 #CaptainOfLegend pic.twitter.com/HrSubEhFJZ
– Atletico Madrid (@Atleti) October 6, 2022
«You have only given me a bad week in these 24 years that we have spent together, when Real Madrid came looking for you. Thanks for that If you hadn’t wanted to continue at the club, we wouldn’t be living through all this.” told Koke Miguel Angel Gil Marin CEO of Atlético, before imposing the club’s highest distinction, the gold and diamond badge, in an act in which the president also participated Enrique Cerezo.
Atlético did not miss the opportunity to also pay tribute to the player from whom Koke snatched his record, Adelardowho spent 17 seasons at the club and who he is still the rojiblanco with the most titles, ten. The man from Extremadura received a plaque with his name from Gil Marín and Cerezo.
At the beginning of the act we have also paid a well-deserved tribute to our legend Adelardo Rodríguez 🤩
📊 2nd most capped player in club history (553)
📚 17 seasons as rojiblanco
🏆 Soccer player with the most titles as an athlete (10) pic.twitter.com/cKWI0y1Fct– Atletico Madrid (@Atleti) October 6, 2022
Then it was the turn of Koke’s teammates, who they gave him a painting representing the first squad. They were all in the auditorium. The current ones and some old ones like Juanfran, Gabi, Forlán, Manolo, Fernando Torres, Vizcaino, Abel, Solozábal, Villa either Anthony Lopez, who did not want to miss the tribute. “What you have achieved is something wonderful, It is the dream of any child from the Atlético Academy. That you continue writing this story that is not over yet, “the second captain told him, microphone in hand. Jose Maria Gimenez.
our captains @oblakjan, @JoseMaGimenez13 and Stefan Savić gave to @Koke6 a painting representing the first template 👏
❤️🤍 #CaptainOfLegend pic.twitter.com/S0aHB2hj3W
– Atletico Madrid (@Atleti) October 6, 2022
And lastly, of course he spoke Simeone, the coach with whom Koke has played almost his entire career. Nothing less than 520 games of the 555 that have been added after the one played last Tuesday in Bruges. Sitting in the front row, next to oblak and to Koke’s wife, Cholo took the microphone and there was silence: «I am excited about this growth you have had. You are a person with commitment, responsibility and always looking for the best for the team and this is the way to go.
𝟱𝟮𝟬 matches with @Simeone as a technician ⚽
❝I am excited by this growth you have had. You are a person with commitment, responsibility and always looking for the best for the team and this is the path to follow❞.
❤️🤍 #CaptainOfLegend pic.twitter.com/Mxy4APT1EI
– Atletico Madrid (@Atleti) October 6, 2022
The act ended with a family photo and with Koke’s wife and son also on stage. A moment of pure joy and pure athletic feeling for cut a week that is proving to be very difficult after the team’s defeat in the Champions League. Now it’s time to prepare for Saturday’s game against Girona and, of course, the second leg against Bruges next Tuesday.
