Levante's touching tribute to club stalwart Delia Bullido moves Ciutat de València to silence
The Valencia club paid emotional respects to their beloved staff member who passed away in December after 25 years of service to Los Granotas.
A poignant display of football’s human side as Levante honoured the memory of long-serving club employee Delia Bullido García before their match against Espanyol.
Quarter-century of service remembered
The Ciutat de València fell eerily quiet as both clubs paid tribute to Bullido, who passed away on December 26th at just 49 years old after dedicating 25 years of her life to Levante. Her contribution to the club was marked by unwavering commitment and daily dedication that left an indelible mark on everyone connected with Los Granotas.
Moving pre-match ceremony
The tribute before kick-off was meticulously planned and executed with genuine emotion:
- Players from both sides wore black armbands
- Stadium flags flew at half-mast
- Black ribbons adorned the goalposts
- Team captains placed floral tributes beside the Levante crests along the touchline
- Bullido’s family attended, accompanied by Levante president Pablo Sánchez and Espanyol vice-president Antonio Dávila
In a particularly touching moment, a Joaquín Sabina melody played on piano during the ceremony - chosen specifically because he was Bullido’s favourite artist.
Shirts of remembrance
The clubs’ unity in grief was symbolised when Levante president Sánchez placed a Levante shirt bearing Delia’s name on one of the club crests at the tunnel exit, while Espanyol’s Dávila mirrored the gesture with an Espanyol shirt on the opposite crest. These tributes, alongside the floral arrangements, remained visible throughout the match.
The stadium then observed what was described as a “spine-tingling” minute’s silence as images of Delia were displayed on the stadium screens - a proper send-off for someone who was clearly more than just an employee but part of the Levante family.
In a sport often dominated by the transfer dollar and VAR controversies, it was a stark reminder that football clubs are, at their heart, communities of people whose connections run deeper than what happens on the pitch for 90 minutes.