54 matches, 110,000: Every time, Attila's season
Inter Club
— 2 hours agoThe lights dim, the notes fill the atmosphere of the stadium. We know them by heart by now, but they always bring a smile. "Ogni volta" rings out at San Siro before every Inter match: a romantic ritual, that tells the story of the Interista family's bond and that desire to be there, present, to pass on love to their beloved team. Attila has made these words a motto, a mission. To always be there, to be there every time. A trip to Milano changed his life: he fell in love with Inter, with the Nerazzurri colours. And so the distance does not matter, the kilometres travelled from Budapest every time do not matter, the planes, the trains, the buses or the cars do not matter: all that matters is being there. Every time, in the stands, to watch Inter. Attila tried more than once to achieve his dream, to complete his mission: to be present at ALL of Inter's matches in a season, home and away. An undertaking attempted and reattempted, suspended in 2009 for the birth of his daughter. The greatest joy of his life, to use his own words. But alongside the joy came fear: a tumour to fight, to defeat with strength and courage. An improvement in his condition allowed him to start again, accustomed as he is by his Interista faith to overcoming any obstacle. In 2010 the Treble arrived, and he was always there: with the exception of the Champions League away fixture against Rubin Kazan, Attila attended every single match in person.
A story that Attila had already shared with us last November, on the occasion of the first Derby: a tale full of emotion, with the hope of reaching his seasonal objective.
Attila has become a symbol of Interismo that erases distances, that wipes out borders, that embodies the international spirit. His light blue sweatshirt bearing the crest of the Inter Club of Budapest, his banner with the words "Ogni Volta" printed on it, his regular spot in the second red tier at San Siro: Attila represents the love of the Nerazzurri people, the desire to overcome difficulties, to follow the team anywhere and everywhere. His consistency and his passion have led him to try again this year too, with yet another demonstration of a love without equal: 74,880 kilometres by plane, 11,630 by bus, 11,700 by minibus, 4,580 by camper van, 4,030 by train, 3,250 by car, for a total of 110,070 kilometres travelled. Attila did it. Every match, the entire season.
“For me, completing '54 out of 54' was something truly special. Being present at every official Inter match this season, living every moment of this historic Double, was an emotion I will carry with me forever. In total it was 110,070 km between car, bus, camper van, trains and planes. So many journeys, so many sleepless nights, but every time with the same pride and the same Nerazzurri heart. I would like to thank Inter for giving me the opportunity to experience every single moment of a historic season up close and for allowing me to live every emotion of this historic Double. Thank you also because along this journey I met extraordinary people and felt even more strongly what it means to be part of the Interista family.”
Attila
Attila was there every time: from the season opener on 25 August against Torino to the away match in Bologna in the final league fixture, taking in the Champions League, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup along the way. With the anxiety of missing a flight, of not arriving in time, but with his Nerazzurri faith pushing him beyond every hardship. From Budapest to Milano, to Rome, to Lecce, to Madrid: 54 matches, 54 appearances. His eyes witnessed one of the most beautiful seasons in Inter's history, with a Double celebrated by following the team bus from San Siro to Piazza Duomo. The Nerazzurri supporters, his second family, recognised him in the streets, greeted him and thanked him. They enriched his experience, they coloured his journey. A journey that explains what Inter is, what Interismo is: simply being there, every time.