This Thursday at the Luis Aragonés assembly hall, at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, was the tribute, by Leyendas España, to our senior internationals, in this case among those linked to Madrid. Players from different generations gathered for a new recognition of their contribution to the history of the national team, which included the memory of those who have left us and the presence of some of the internationals under the orders of Luis de la Fuente.  

The president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, was delighted to accompany Leyendas España, led by its president Fernando Giner, at an event that also served to show the association's activities and projects to the media. 

More than thirty internationals from different eras received recognition for having helped forge the legend of the Spanish national team. From Adelardo - Legends number 295 - to Dani Ceballos - with his debut number 808 -, Leyendas España paid tribute to internationals as well remembered and loved as Butragueño, San José, Camacho, Martín Vázquez, De la Red, Víctor Sánchez del Amo, Morientes, Pedraza, Solozábal, Salva Ballesta or Juanfran Torres, among many others. The current call-ups were also present: the aforementioned Ceballos, Carvajal and Nacho. 

The most emotional moment came with the posthumous tribute to the internationals linked to Madrid who died during the last year, Amancio Amaro, Marcos Alonso and José Luis Pérez Plaza. Butragueño and Adelardo, Institutional Director of Real Madrid and President of the Atlético de Madrid Foundation, respectively, accompanied the families of the three internationals in the collection of their diploma and shirt with the Legends' Dorsal. 

Brotherhood among the Legends 

During the speeches, José Luis Gayà, member of the Board of Directors of Leyendas España and one of the players in the national team, and Fernando Giner, president of Leyendas España, also took the floor. Giner insisted on the importance of "international players feeling that they continue to be part of the Federation". "From Leyendas we have helped many players in different ways, we have several projects underway and we always think about helping those who need it most," he explained.  

Two of these legends present at the event expressed their feelings on the matter to the RFEF microphones. Juanfran Torres highlighted the "happy moments" he remembers, after a long career in both the youth and senior categories. For his part, José Antonio Camacho expressed the feeling of "brotherhood" with those present. "The National Team tends to unite rivals: when you get here, you cross the door, they become teammates and stop being rivals; and there is nothing better than events like this to prove it", he explained.  

On Saturday, Leyendas España will take part in a Legends Match at La Cerámica stadium, which is the great milestone in commemoration of Villarreal CF's centenary.