Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone invites terror victim Irene Villa to inspire team

Irene Villa is seen skiing in Granada, Spain.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is known for his unorthodox methods, and to invite former skier Irene Villa who had lost both of her legs to inspire the team ahead of their crushing away encounter against fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao was something that not many managers in this era would do.

Villa, now 35, had both of her legs ripped off at the age of 12 after a bombing by terrorist Basque separatist group ETA almost two decades ago while she was travelling with her mother who had lost her legs and an arm. The injuries were so grave that Villa’s father told the doctors to not do a thing about it as it would ease the pain for her.

“I think my story and my message were able to achieve all that,” Irene told Reuters. “It was an extra push for a team which is showing that there are no limits and that they know it can be done.”

“I told them the story of my [skiing] team, of the difficulties of all kinds that we encountered at the start. And how after serious injuries and tumbles but with a lot of determination, training and preparation we achieved podium finishes even outside Spain,” she added.

“The reaction [of Atletico Madrid players] was incredible. Their faces spoke volumes. A silence like the grave and then hugs and congratulations. They went away amazed.”

Irene, who is married to Juan Pablo Lauro gave birth to a son in 2012 and has since become a para-alpine skier now. She was Spain’s champion after securing a gold in the women’s sitting class three years ago.

Players of Atletico de Madrid celebrate after Diego Costa scored during the Copa del Rey Quarter Final first leg match between Athletic Club de Bilbao.

She was invited at the team hotel to talk to the players and coaching staff just a few hours before kick-off at San Mames to help them realize how privileged they were to have both of their legs.

“We invited her simply so that she could tell us the story of her life, so we could see the realities,” Diego Simeone later revealed. “It really did us a tremendous amount of good, we felt very comfortable and we have one more friend now at Atletico.”

Atletico Madrid eventually went on to win the match against Athletic 1-2 after being a goal down, but then soon equalizing through striker Diego Costa. It was Koke who struck the winner, just ten minutes into the second time.

“The match was very emotional, one of the best of the season,” Irene told reporters post the victory. ” They were unbeatable! It is very motivating although of course the merit is all for Simeone and his players.”

Atletico’s left back Filipe Luis was one of the players who were inspired by Irene’s life story. “Personally I have been through difficult situations that are not even a tenth of what this fighter has been through,” he admitted. “You can look at life in two ways. And the example she gives of looking at it positively and optimistically is incredible.”

Atletico Madrid are now in pole position in the league standing with four points ahead second-placed Barcelona and six ahead of Real Madrid who have a match in hand, and have a real chance of winning La Liga, a trophy that they had won last in 1995.