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The First World Cup without Manolo

Gacina Bozidar

Sunday, June 21st, 2026

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 The best football drummer –
Manolo
An inescapable figure on the terraces of stadiums the world over.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 He might have been a simple drummer.
But nothing is simple when the whole world knows you.
And the simple joy and romance of football and drums in his life produced
this recognition:
“Manolo presents unconditional love for the Spanish football team, so everyone knows him.”

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 This is the first World Cup without Manolo,
where during hydration breaks music is played.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Not romantic at all.

Notes

Manolo passed away in 2025.

RIP Manuel Cáceres Artesero (15 January 1949 – 1 May 2025), better known as Manolo el del Bombo was described as one of the most famous football fans in Spain.[1]

Raised in Huesca  he was Valencia’CF’d   and the Spain national team’s s most famous supporter.. He was recognizable by his large beret, red number 12 jersey and bass drum ( “El bombo de España/The drum of Spain”), which he would bang throughout matches

Source: https://footballpoets.org/poems/the-first-world-cup-without-manolo/