Lima Alliance | Leao Butrón: “I will bear the pain of the offspring all my life” | FOOTBALL-PERU

“I’m not going to lie to you, when I see my photos, the Alianza Lima team, where I always wanted to play, fans, everything makes me sad”, confesses in a broken voice “1” Alianza, Leao Butrón, who, in discussion exclusively with EL BOCÓN, confirmed that he closed his gloves after twenty-five years of football. “I had already decided last year and I only doubted if my name was Alianza, but it was not so,” he commented nostalgically.

You probably dreamed of that day loaded in your arms, taking an Olympic tour, celebrating another title with the team of your loves, but reality hit you, like half the country. “I will bear the pain of relegation for the rest of my life” was the resignation of the goalkeeper, who was waiting under the three sticks: not to have played a World Cup or to have emigrated abroad. “It was fateful, I’m calm with my football career,” he said.

What will be your future?

Already last year I decided to retire from football. The only doubt was when I came down, I thought Alianza would call me, but they didn’t. In 2020 I had the best Copa Libertadores, the best of my life. Of course, in the end he lost his category and we all shrugged. Of course, I have that shake that wasn’t a retirement the way I would have liked, but I remember always defending the colors of Alianza.

Is there anyone who says I would have retired you in 2017?

Loving the institution as much as I love it, I regret that I failed to give more to the club. I do not regret anything. I’m grateful to God, it was a great race, in the sports part we deserved not to go down, but all this happened.

What is self-criticism after the descent?

There are times when I think and ask myself, “What happened?” Criticism goes beyond sports. Many colleagues did everything to correct the mistakes, but it was too late, we had the negative consequence following us.

Did he save a point?

I didn’t know how to get out of the complicated situation. The fight against relegation with Alianza will never be the same as with any other club. It was hard, the feeling that we were trying not to go down.

But until then, they will now go to TAS

It is an administrative problem, there are many things that generate shame, the way they were treated.

Are you talking to a former partner?

Yes, with Rinaldo Cruzado, almost always. He deserves something different after what happened to Alianza. We all pushed the car together, but it was difficult. Unfortunately, in football, everyone can express their opinion with immense impudence. Many classified Rinaldo, me, as the ones who didn’t do much. To say that, they need to be guided not by what they see, but by what happened inside. We will carry the pain all our lives.

Did you draw attention to your former colleagues after the scandals?

We did what we had to do. We all had the same responsibility. He couldn’t always be on top, everyone had obligations. Every one of last year’s 30 footballers knows what they did right or wrong. What happened in 2020 is the same for everyone. They talked a lot about me, about Rinaldo, through social networks, but inside we were all the same. If someone wants to believe that this is not the case, life in football will put them in their place.

Did you break up after the descent?

I don’t have any work problems at home, but when I finished the game I cried like a child with a broken heart, just like many people.

How is the relationship with the fans?

Not in my best moment did I have everyone’s consent. Through social networks, people express themselves as they want, I am disappointed by many followers, but do not receive comments. Only the people around me know my position, I also have known fans who respect me.

They called you from the Southern Command?

Yes, I have contact. They always treated me with respect. There are people who support me. The order is huge.

And are you ready to ridicule the eternal rival?

I have a lot of respect for the University, but they have always exaggerated a lot. Jokes will always be there, it’s always been that way. If a classic is missing, let’s hope Alianza returns soon.

Do you hope to continue contributing to Alianza, now from another area?

It was always my plan and not only supported by the fact that I was a footballer. I have a few years of training. I think, as a former player and a decent person, I have to wait if I’m in plans, I can’t look for him. It seems to me that it is time to arrange the house. Many people have been left gathered in social networks, but not all the masses. Some run the networks.

What do you think about the appointment of Christian Bustos?

I liked. Martín Rodríguez, who is the team leader in San Martín, told me about Bustos, the kind of person he is. I liked how he worked in San Martín, in Melgar, he can do good things for Alianza Lima. Several times I came across him at Matute when I was playing against San Martín. He is a demanding technician and that is good.

Pablo Bengoechea, Mario Salas, Daniel Ahmed, all champions, but could not keep Alianza in the First Division.

They are first-rate technicians, but they will have to wear this cross forever. I think everyone did their best to avoid this situation.

Did the spring rotation hurt?

I don’t think it makes sense. There is no rule that will help. The more games the goalkeeper has, the more he shows up on the field. Manuel Herede was the best, but he is in Mannucci. It is a bad habit to see only the work of the great.

“Companions” are governed by administrations

For a club to become competitive, it must have had many managerial problems. That reflects Alianza, Universitario, Cienciano, Sport Boys, they all have problems. It shows that things have gone wrong and that they are paying the consequences.

Did they call you from other clubs to hire you?

Yes, as a footballer, but I’ve already decided to retire, why. Also for administrative, informal matters, but he had been with his family for a while. For now, I will continue to be connected to football, but I do not want to be there, but to make a difference.

Monday, February 15, are the Alliance’s 120th anniversary?

Alianza will continue to be the largest in Peru, forever. To be great, you can see everything: sporty, institutional, bloated. The only thing I ask people is to put aside “I want” and do something for Alianza.