{"id":22486,"date":"2026-06-02T14:24:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T12:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fundazioa.athletic-club.eus\/?p=22486"},"modified":"2026-06-02T16:04:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:04:13","slug":"letrak-eta-futbola-2026-a-festival-to-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundazioa.athletic-club.eus\/en\/blog\/letrak-eta-futbola-2026-a-festival-to-remember\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Letrak eta Futbola\u2019 2026: a festival to remember"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

David Trueba and \u00d3scar L\u00f3pez brought the 17th edition of the Athletic Club Foundation\u2019s cultural festival to a close at San Mam\u00e9s<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The final day of \u2018Letras y F\u00fatbol\u2019 was more about literature and football than ever before. The conversation between filmmaker and writer David Trueba and \u00d3scar L\u00f3pez was scheduled for 8 pm, just after the Champions League final had finished. The East Room of the \u2018San Mames VIP Area\u2019 had been full since 6 pm, as the festival had scheduled a screening of the match between PSG and Arsenal\u2026 and then the unexpected happened, as Dante Panzeri would say, \u201cthe dynamics of the unthinkable\u201d: extra time and penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival organisers made a Solomonic decision: the talk began at 8 pm, as agreed, but after David Trueba, \u00d3scar L\u00f3pez and Galder Reguera, who acted as moderator, had spoken, the screen continued to show the final with the sound turned off: words and football in their purest form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Literature triumphed over football<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

David Trueba had already taken part in the first edition of \u2018Letras y F\u00fatbol\u2019 in 2010, alongside none other than Andoni Iraola and Andoni Zubizarreta, and 16 editions later he once again proved himself to be an exceptional speaker. He has the versatility to play in any system and in any position, and what\u2019s more, he tells \u2013 or perhaps makes up, who knows \u2013 some absolutely hilarious stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a case in point. Following the match report on this year\u2019s Cup final, which he had to write in a rush on his mobile \u2013 as he had just five minutes between the final whistle and submitting the text \u2013 he recalled an anecdote about the dangers of predictive text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To a friend who was going through a very tough time following a break-up, he sent the following message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s hard for you to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now, but you\u2019ll get through this, you\u2019ll see. And remember that, in the end, there\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be sorted out with a few laughs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d \u2013 his friend replied immediately, which surprised Trueba because, due to his depression, he wasn\u2019t replying to any messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he checked what he\u2019d sent, he read: \u201c\u2026 remember that, in the end, there\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be sorted out with a few laughs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we add the precise passes from Reguera and L\u00f3pez to this \u2018box-to-box\u2019 player that is Trueba, there\u2019s no doubt that the lyrics prevailed over the football and that victory was the best possible finale to the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Video highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Five days of football-themed discussions have come to an end, featuring a championship-winning team coached by Galder Reguera and boasting a Champions League-calibre trio: Irvine Welsh, Enrique Vila-Matas and David Trueba. The line-up was rounded off by renowned figures from the artistic, literary and cultural scenes, including Amets Arzallus, Marta San Miguel, Paco G\u00f3mez, Aitor Lagunas, Lander Otaola, Javier Aznar, Diego Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez and \u00d3scar L\u00f3pez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For posterity, here are Irvine Welsh\u2019s words on Athletic Club from the video summary: \u201cThe Club\u2019s history and philosophy, as well as its integration with the community, make it a truly unique club, without equal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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