Jesús Gil

Jesús Gil y Gil ( born March 11, 1933 El Burgo de Osma, Soria Province; † 14 May 2004, Madrid) was a Spanish politician and businessman.

Gil stood before the Spanish traditional football club Atlético Madrid between June 26 in 1987 and 28 May 2003 a total of 16 years. Only at the age of 70 years, he resigned as president. The typical Gil statement: " I ​​am now 70 years old, and there are so many amateurs who have criticized me, I no longer have me do. . " However, the majority of shares in the club he held until his death.

Under Gil's leadership Atlético Madrid won the Spanish league and cup double in 1996. 2000 but the club was relegated for the first time after more than 66 years in the second division, the Segunda División, from.

It was only in 2002 Atlético returned to the Primera División, the first Spanish football league back. In April 2002, Gil had to spend a week in detention since he was accused in his ten-year tenure as mayor of Marbella - Grupo Independiente Liberal his party in 1991, had an absolute majority in the local elections get - to have embezzled 26 million euros. Against the payment of a deposit in the amount of 700,000 euros he came at that time free.

As mayor of Marbella although he was responsible for a building and investment boom in the city, but it sparked much controversy because of massive circumvention of environmental protection regulations from.

Also during his tenure as Atletico boss, in the 26 coaches had to leave their posts early, Gil often had trouble with the law and ensured by its numerous escapades always make headlines.

On 8 May 2004 Gil suffered a stroke and had to his death - at the age of 71 years - to be artificially ventilated. The longer already suffering from high blood pressure Gil was dependent on a pacemaker since early 2003 and died on 14 May 2004 in Cemtro Clinic of Madrid to the effects of a stroke. The Lying in State took place at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. He is wrapped in a flag - Atletico, buried in the town cemetery Almudena. His son Miguel Ángel remains Director General of the club.

A ( true ) anecdote that underscores his eccentric lifestyle that leads back to his purchase of an aircraft carrier. When asked by a reporter why he had bought for the discarded ship, he replied: "Because I did not have. "