He was probably the most famous soccer fan in the world: Manolo, the man with the drum. Now he has died in Valencia at the age of 76.
He was not known by his real name, Manuel Caceres, but rather by his nickname Manolo – or “El del Bombo,” the man with the drum, as he was called in his native Spain. After spending several days in hospital with breathing problems, one of the most loyal supporters of the Furia Roja, and arguably the most famous football fan in the world, has passed away.
Manolo sat on the Spanish national team’s plane
Manolo was simply considered a super fan, having accompanied his great love, the Spanish national team, to a total of ten World Cups since 1982. “One of our most loyal supporters, who has always been with us through thick and thin, has passed away,” the national team announced: “We know that you will continue to make our hearts beat faster. Rest in peace, Manolo.”
Caceres was the only fan allowed to regularly sit on the national team’s plane. At his last game, he witnessed a spectacular 5-4 penalty shootout victory for Spain in the Nations League quarter-final second leg against the Netherlands on March 23 at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.
“Career start” at Huesca in 1972
Manolo’s beginnings with the drum go back to 1972, when he was still supporting the lower-league club UD Huesca. In 1979, he traveled with the national team for the first time, and from 1982 to 2010, he did not miss a single international match. Manolo announced that he would retire after the 2026 World Cup.
His trademarks: the drum and a beret
Not only did the drum become his trademark, but also an oversized beret, which he usually wore at Mestalla. Opposite the stadium, Manolo ran a pub (“El Bombo”) with a shop: the fan was himself a brand, selling lighters, scarves, and even wine.
However, he turned his back on Valencia CF because the club refused to give him a ticket for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2001. Instead, he occasionally turned up at Real Madrid or FC Barcelona.
Manolo was also the namesake of the legendary drummer who entertained fans at Gladbach’s Bökelberg stadium from 1977 to 2002 and whose real name was Ethem Özerenler. He passed away in 2008.