Madcap Madrid grandad's 4,500km pilgrimage at 89: 'Yoyo' and grandson's Saudi adventure
89-year-old Real Madrid superfan Emilio 'Yoyo' Municio traveled 4,500km to Saudi Arabia with his social media star grandson to support Los Blancos in the Supercopa.
At an age when most blokes can barely make it down the local for a pint, 89-year-old Real Madrid superfan Emilio ‘Yoyo’ Municio embarked on an epic 4,500km journey to Saudi Arabia to watch his beloved club in the Supercopa de España.
Grandad and grandson’s footballing odyssey
Yoyo didn’t make the trek alone. His partner-in-crime was grandson Juanki, a proper social media don with nearly 3.5 million followers across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where he documents their football adventures together.
The pair are absolutely inseparable, having already toured half of Europe chasing the beautiful game. But this Saudi expedition to the coastal city of Jeddah on the Red Sea represented something different altogether – a proper once-in-a-lifetime experience.
”Thought the stadium was on fire”
Despite the distance and his advanced years, Yoyo insisted every euro spent was worth it. The Madrid devotee was gobsmacked by his Saudi reception, with locals queuing up for photos and making sure the elderly gent was comfortable.
“This stadium is so beautiful that when I saw it from afar, I thought it was in flames, because of how it was illuminated,” Yoyo remarked about the impressive Alinma Stadium, which hosted 63,000 spectators for the Madrid derby semifinal.
Football tourism, Saudi style
The football-mad duo made the most of their Middle Eastern adventure:
- Watched Barcelona hammer Athletic Club 5-0 in the first semifinal
- Enjoyed a day of sightseeing around Jeddah
- Celebrated as Real Madrid defeated city rivals Atlético 2-1 to reach the final
25-year-old Juanki clearly treasures these shared experiences: “It’s incredible being here, especially with my grandfather, sharing this special experience with him.”
Bittersweet ending
Unfortunately for Yoyo and Juanki, their fairytale journey didn’t have the perfect ending. Barcelona nicked the trophy with a 3-2 victory over Los Blancos in a thrilling final.
But the defeat hasn’t dampened Yoyo’s spirits. The spritely octogenarian is already plotting his next grand adventure – returning to Saudi Arabia for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, when he’ll be a mere 97 years young. That’s what I call having your bread buttered on both sides!