The pair put Racing ahead v Elche but at half-time they were met by armed police in the dressing room.

Repercussions were swift: they were fined, socially vilified and faced credible death threats.

Aitor sent his family back to Bilbao, Sergio slept with a gun by his bed.

Troubled by the morning's events as they prepared for their game the following day, two Racing Santander players – Aitor Aguirre and Sergio Manzanera - decided to make a humble gesture of protest. They would take the field at El Sardinero wearing black armbands.

As Franco ailed and Spain nervously awaited change, the regime grew ever more repressive, ramping up tariffs for crimes deemed 'against the state'.

Despite international protests and even pleas from the Vatican for clemency, the executions went ahead.

On this morning 50 years ago, five men were led from their cells and executed by firing squad — the last use of the death penalty in Spain.

That chilling Saturday morning forms the backdrop to chapter one of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂.

Big interview in Marca with Jorge Valdano, reflecting on 50 years in Spain — including the sliding-doors moment when he narrowly avoided the hotel fire that ended teammate José Ramón Badiola’s career.

Told in Chapter 3 of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂.

www.waterstones.com/book/once-up...

Never thought there would come a day when I released a book — even at many points while writing it!

So, an absolutely huge thank you to all of the people who so generously shared their stories. Too many to mention in a tweet — I hope I’ve done them justice.

Out today — 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is a collection of deeply human stories that shine a light on forgotten figures, powerful moments and bizarre episodes from Spanish football.

While it remains July, Waterstones are offering a 25% discount on pre-orders of 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐚.

Enter the code 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝟮𝟱 at checkout to benefit. #WPreorder

waterstones.com/book/once-upon…

A massive thank you to all the people who shared their stories and memories with me.

Also thanks to some very nice people that have said some very nice things about it.

Five words I thought I'd never say... I have written a book.

𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is a collection of some of the lesser-known stories from Spanish football.

It's been a privilege and amazing experience to put it together.

www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Ti...

Emotional night in Valencia as Levante play for the first time since the disastrous floods.

The team took the field in mud-stained shirts bearing the message: ‘In tribute to all those who were there when we needed you’.

Deplorable that Javier Aguirre was hit by a can after Mexico’s defeat in Honduras.

Remarkably, he just carries on shaking people’s hands as if nothing’s happened while they point out he’s bleeding.