The stools and ladders used in the Three Kings’ Parade were not needed to catch a glimpse of the trophy. But Madrid’s Plaza de Colón was almost as full as it had been on the eve of Epiphany in January. The triumphal procession made its way into the heart of the Spanish capital with considerable delay. As a precaution, the red team bus with the top down bore the words “It’s only the beginning” in English. And the players’ T-shirts bore the capital letters “Reyes de Europa” (Kings of Europe) with the number four in large letters. Spain has won the European Championship for the fourth time. “Now we’re going to tackle the World Cup,” Nico Williams had already confidently announced in Berlin. Cibeles Square in front of the town hall was overcrowded. The summer wind carried the cheers in front of the stage into the summer night and the city center sounded like a large stadium.
Thanks to the open double-decker bus, most fans were able to catch a glimpse of the players.EPA
After landing late in Madrid, the “Furia Roja” had its first appointment at the Zarzuela Palace. After only King Felipe and his daughter Sofía were present in Berlin, the royal family appeared in full force this time: Letizia in a red dress and Crown Princess Leonor and her younger sister in white jeans and the red jersey of the national team with the number “10” of top scorer Dani Olmo on it. The players returned the favour to the royal family by wearing jerseys with the inscription “Kings of Europe”. Afterwards, they went to the Moncloa Palace, the official residence of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, before the parade began; the fans had been waiting for hours in the summer heat.
In order to display external content, your revocable consent is required. Personal data may be processed by third-party platforms (possibly USA). More information .
Enable external content
A DJ heated up the atmosphere at Cibeles Square, and singer Isabel Aaiún also appeared shortly before midnight in a red jersey with the dancing team. For many Spaniards, her song had become the secret anthem of the tournament. “I am a wild foal who travels to win the game,” was the song in the European Championship version. After 37 days, the team returned from their big trip after a night of partying in their hotel not far from Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin – they had spent most of their time quite unspectacularly in Donaueschingen and won all their games in between. The party started in Berlin at around two in the morning and only ended in Madrid on Tuesday night.
Home game in the heart of Madrid
The celebration at the Cibeles fountain was a home game for many. Especially for the Real Madrid players. Atlético traditionally celebrates at the Neptune fountain, not far away, opposite the Prado Museum. When Real wins, one player decorates the Greek goddess Cybele, who sits on a chariot pulled by lions, with a scarf bearing the club’s insignia. Another holds the trophy over her head. This year the ritual was repeated twice: after winning the Spanish league and the Champions League – back then with Toni Kroos, before he retired in Madrid.
The players were cheered on the stage in Cibeles Square.AP
On Monday evening, captain Álvaro Morata introduced the entire team on the stage at Cibeles Square until around midnight. Unlike in Germany, Marc Cucurella received more applause than few others. The team had invited eleven-year-old María as a guest of honour. The girl with the bald head suffers from Ewing’s sarcoma, a malignant bone cancer. “We play football and you show us every day what it really means to fight in life and what it means to be a superhero,” said captain Morata.
Initially there was speculation as to whether another new Spanish king would be present at Cibeles Square. The Spaniard’s second Wimbledon victory was almost overshadowed on Sunday. The Spanish royal family was not represented there, although the sports newspaper Marca proclaimed the tennis star king on Monday: “Carlos II, rey de tenis”. But Carlos Alcaraz just wanted to go home to Murcia in southeastern Spain.