A building project in San Rafael collapsed in 1969, leading to the deaths of 58 people and a subsequent five-year prison sentence for Jesús Gil. This early catastrophe in his construction career preceded his emergence as a prominent Spanish politician and the long-term president of the football club Atlético de Madrid.
Construction and Early Conviction
During the 1960s, Gil managed a firm focused on constructing gated communities. The 1969 disaster in San Rafael revealed that the project lacked architects, surveyors, or formal plans, with testing showing the cement had not properly set. Although convicted, he served only 18 months in prison before receiving a pardon from General Francisco Franco.
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In 1987, Gil became president of Atlético de Madrid, beginning a 16-year tenure marked by frequent conflicts with players, coaches, and reporters. His initial high-profile move was the signing of 21-year-old Paulo Futre. In 1992, he closed the club's youth academy, an act that prompted 15-year-old talent Raúl to join Real Madrid. His presidency included inflammatory public comments, such as referring to Ajax Amsterdam as FC Congo in 1997.
Political Tenure in Marbella
In 1991, Gil founded the Grupo Independiente Liberal and secured election as mayor of Marbella, a position he held until 2002. His administration was characterized by extreme methods, including the installation of a bust of Francisco Franco in the town hall and the recruitment of elite military forces for a private police force. While his policies reduced poverty and visible crime through aggressive actions against prostitutes and the homeless, his administration faced allegations of links to international mafias and national socialists such as Otto Remer and Léon Degrelle.
Legal Downfall and Death
In 2002, a court banned Gil from public office for 28 years, leading to his removal as mayor and a brief period of imprisonment. His death occurred on 14 May 2004 in Madrid, following a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis at his finca in Valdeolivas. Approximately 20,000 people attended his funeral, and his ashes were later interred at the La Almudena Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, El Burgo de Osma-Ciudad de Osma
- Died: 14 May 2004, Madrid
- Political Party: Grupo Independiente Liberal
- Mayorship: 1991-2002
- Atlético de Madrid Presidency: 16 years
- Burial Site: La Almudena Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Why was the Marbella city council dissolved?
The council was dissolved shortly after Gil's death to address extreme corruption and dealings with international criminal organizations.
What criminal cases involved Jesús Gil?
He was involved in several legal matters, most notably the Caso de las camisetas and the Caso Atlético.
