September 21, 2022
The Thinking Football Film Festival organized by the Athletic Club Foundation had an exciting second day yesterday. The star film of the day, “The Three Kings”, paid tribute to three legendary football managers: Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Jock Stein. His careers at Manchester United, Liverpool FC and Celtic have left a magnificent mark that continues to this day. A way of understanding football with which Athletic Club fans come into contact immediately. Team and community united by the same sense of belonging. Not surprisingly, for example, in 2019 the Athletic Club awarded the One Club Man Award to Billy McNeill, captain of the Celtic European champion coached by Jock Stein, one of the three kings. Stein is also the author of one of the most significant phrases in the history of football and which also appears in the film: “Football without fans is nothing”.
Toni Padilla, with his vast knowledge of football history, has brilliantly moderated the post-film cineforum. Particularly moving was Gordon Strachan’s first speech at the interview. The Scottish legend was deeply moved by the sequence of Jock Stein’s death. The then Scottish manager died of a heart attack at the end of a match and Gordon Strachan was part of that team. It was the first time I saw those images, 37 years later, at the Thinking Football Film Festival.
Director Jonny Owen and screenwriter Leo Moynihan said they made the film as a tribute to three legendary coaches who were born less than 30 miles apart in Scotland and who were also good friends.
Today “Arsène Venger: invincible” and “Nadia”
The festival reaches the halfway point today with a new double session.
At 18:00 the Anglo-French “Wenger: Invincible”. The story of the man who revolutionized Arsenal and led the legendary London club for 22 years, told by himself.
At 20:00 the French film “Nadia”, directed by Anissa Bonnefont. The documentary tells the moving story of Nadia Nadim, who went from being a refugee girl from the war in Afghanistan to one of the biggest stars in women’s football today.
Myriam Weil and Edtih Chapin, producer and screenwriter of the film, will participate in the forum of cinema.
Tomorrow, “LFG” and “Reserved Destination: Champions”
Tomorrow a double session dedicated to women’s football and women’s football awaits us.
The festival recovers “LFG” in its first session after the US Soccer Federation accepted players’ demands for equal pay in May this year.
From the hand of ESPN, we get the documentary directed by Martín and Daniel Ainstein “Reserved Destination: Champions”. The history of the Mexican women’s team that played in the 1971 world football championship and was proclaimed runner-up. Alicia “Pelé” Vargas, considered one of the best players of all time and top scorer of that historic team, will participate in the discussion after the film.
All information and ticket reservations HERE
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