Two indelible memories come to me when I think of the character of Jesus Gil. The first is the famous Jacuzzi surrounded by mamachichos, the second the signing of two African players for Atletico, they accused him of doing it to launder money. When the boys started to touch the ball in the presentation and did not hit the ball, the evidence was hilarious ...
The truth is that if there is a term that can define Jesús Gil, it is populist. His tenure as mayor of Marbella and president of Atleti transcended at the highest level, making news day in and day out also for his out-of-tune and direct language.
It may even be that Jesús Gil was the first great populist. The leader who created a school in that of being direct to win over a people eager for language without euphemisms, for raw subjective truths, despite the fact that they could be counterproductive for the character himself. (Who does not remember that fascinating wad of bills with which he could be gratifying to people who asked him for something on the street)
Jesús Gil was a new rich man, a self-made man of power. Character was not lacking and he also had plenty of will. It is what you have when someone manages to ascend from social strata not entirely favored. Those who manage to thrive when they have everything against them tend to end up being considered untouchable heroes.
In the political field we all remember those goings-on in Marbella, in whose shadow many new characters were born from the GIL Esperpento or frikismo party school, mirrors where people liked to look at each other, hoping to have the same luck as those clay idols.
Strictly football, we must admit that Gil lived some good years of his Atleti, but as soon as things went wrong, the coaches were beheaded ipso facto.
A man without ambiguity or kinks, for good and for bad. An unforgettable figure in Spanish pubic life. This book presents his story to us.
You can buy now Wild: The Imperious Story of Jesús Gil y Gil, Iván Castellón's book, here: