Fernando Roig took over Villarreal in May 1997. He is still there. His 30th year begins. The longest presidency in Europe.
I read it at the friterie (the chip shop), in the Monday paper. I read it again. A president who stays. I thought the species had disappeared along with the standing terraces.
When he arrives, the club has never played in the top flight. About 1,500 members. A debt close to €80 million. His first match, on a Sunday evening in the second division: 3-0 against Badajoz. A Sunday evening. Note that I’m not against Sunday evenings. I prefer three o’clock.
He says he took the club on because all his ceramics factories are in the region, and he wanted to “give something back” to the province of Castellón. Give something back. Today, people buy a club to sell it on. I’m not criticising. I’m comparing.
Since then, by his count, three promotions and two relegations, the latest in 2012. That year, he sold 2.4% of the 9% he held in Mercadona to balance the books. He sold a piece of a supermarket for his club. In 1980, we sold raffle tickets. The principle was the same. The scale, less so.
And he still suffers. “It’s very stressful for me,” he told the Guardian. After more than 1,000 matches. It stresses me too, since Anderlecht-Standard 1976. You don’t get used to it. It is even how you recognise someone who loves.
A 30th year, that’s historic. I’m weighing my words.
On Tuesday, Villarreal go to Anfield. The fifth time against Liverpool, the third there, according to him. He will suffer. He will feel better the next day, he says. Then Elche on Saturday. He will suffer again. A 30th year of suffering, and he doesn’t leave. Well. It’s the times, but not for him.
It’s true, we checked: The Guardian.
