Mou-style pioneer Ronnie Allen and the guard of honour set for Mendizorroza | OneFootball

Real Madrid will not form a guard of honour for the Liga champions, yet the tribute will still be seen tonight. According to as.com, it will take place at Mendizorroza at 21:30, led by former Madrid men Quique Sánchez Flores, Antonio Blanco and Mariano, and they have no qualms about doing it for Barça.

Spain’s first recorded honour guard was on 17 May 1970 at the Estadio del Manzanares before Atlético faced Athletic in the Copa del Generalísimo. Visiting manager Ronnie Allen told his players to form two lines as in England. Iribar later called it that season’s most sporting act.

Joseba Betzuen remembers Allen as disciplined and authoritative, his standing boosted by results including a 5-0 over Real Madrid in his first season. He viewed the gesture as civilised and uncontroversial. That match in Madrid finished 1-1.

Allen drew Mourinho comparisons for restricting media access and speaking bluntly to his board, even once leaving a director in Cádiz because the bus left on time for the Carranza. Training mixed weights, beach runs at Sopelana and boxing drills to harden the stomach.

Athletic squandered that league after slipping at Atocha before 10,000 fans, then faltering at Sevilla and Valencia. Atlético keeper Rodri says a guard of honour recognises the winners without humiliating anyone, and the players only learned of Athletic’s plan on the pitch. Allen was dismissed in his third season but is still fondly remembered at Lezama.

Source: as.com