Ribas: 'I have returned to the roots of football. We are dreaming again.'
- (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6407249/Shock-Gibraltar-slice-Britain-football.html?ito=whatsapp_share_article-masthead)
- Julio Ribas' side defeated Armenia 1-0 in October and then beat Liechtenstein
- Gibraltar have one full-time professional; their squad includes an electrician
- There is just one football facility in the territory and a limited talent pool
- Manager Ribas has a strong focus on unity and is venerated by his players
As the Gibraltar anthem rings out, their players turn in unison to face the iconic Rock. The anthem is sung with religious zeal and a tear rolls down the face of Julio Ribas, the national team coach, who is Uruguayan but utterly devoted to the cause.
Ribas, appointed in June, is the mastermind behind a recent upturn in form and confidence.
After 22 consecutive competitive defeats since becoming a UEFA-affiliated nation in 2013, Gibraltar have won two of their past three Nations League games and briefly appeared in with a shot at promotion.
The 1-0 away win in Armenia in October was a staggering result and was swiftly followed by home success against Liechtenstein.
Gibraltar have only one full-time professional — Liam Walker, who made 11 appearances for League Two Notts County last season — and the squad includes prison officers, electricians and trainee firemen.
The beaten Armenians, it is safe to say, were not impressed. They hit back by beating Gibraltar 6-2 on Friday night but they did fall behind on 10 minutes and the scores were tied at half-time.
Even a thumping defeat brings history, as this was only the second time Gibraltar have scored twice in a competitive fixture - and Gibraltar will always have that night in Yerevan.
The 1-0 away win in Armenia in October was a staggering result and was swiftly followed by home success against Liechtenstein.
Gibraltar have only one full-time professional — Liam Walker, who made 11 appearances for League Two Notts County last season — and the squad includes prison officers, electricians and trainee firemen.
The beaten Armenians, it is safe to say, were not impressed. They hit back by beating Gibraltar 6-2 on Friday night but they did fall behind on 10 minutes and the scores were tied at half-time.
Even a thumping defeat brings history, as this was only the second time Gibraltar have scored twice in a competitive fixture - and Gibraltar will always have that night in Yerevan.
Gibraltar boasts all the quirks and relics of Britain, with red telephone boxes, bobbies on the beat, traditional pubs and kebab shops. The Main Street has a Matalan store and a Marks & Spencer, but a promenade of tapas bars is only around the corner.
'The stadium for the Armenia home game was sold out three days in advance,' Beiso says. 'We have a waiting list. The national team strengthens our national identity. To walk the streets and see kids in a Gibraltar shirt instead of England or Brazil is pleasing.
'It's about self-confidence. The fear of the neighbour — Spain — affects us. Without British support, we'd be out there on our own. At official lunches with organisations, delegates say, "Before we drew you guys, I'd never heard of you. What languages do you speak? What is your culture and politics?" We are finding our way in the world.'
The improvements to infrastructure are overdue. Chipolina smiles: 'For our clubs, we used to run up to the top of the Rock, where the famous monkeys are, for our physical work, then we had three teams sharing one pitch for ball work.
Goldwin adds: 'Only four years ago, we trained in a car park. We played on gravel pitches with tops for goalposts. It was bring your own drink, wash your own kit — it still is for many club sides.'
The Gibraltar FA are modernising. Manager Ribas, who won titles with Penarol in Uruguay, was the coach that oversaw Lincoln's humiliation of Celtic and he is venerated by players and supporters.
He is, by his own admission, 'rather crazy'. He was at the heart of an on-pitch brawl between Peñarol and Nacional in 2000 which culminated in Ribas spending 11 days in the cells with nine players.
While inside, he had his players running up and down eight flights of prison stairs to stay in shape, while he negotiated with a guard to secure an area to play a hybrid game of tennis-football.
In the dressing room,' he explains, 'I have placed montages of pivotal moments in Gibraltar's history.
'The British takeover in 1704, the image of families divided when General Franco closed the border in 1969. This is a territory with real courage that has suffered greatly. We channel the pain into our performances.'
Ribas's text messages arrive in his players' in-boxes at 4am with the latest inspiring proverb.
He says: 'I am not a manager. I am a leader. Think of Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese master of war and strategy, who argued that anything that can be defined can be defeated.
'Against all sense and predictions, we can achieve great things. We are young, we have jobs, but we feel we can fight and dream that we can win.'
Unity is at the heart of Ribas's philosophy. Nine of the 21 players in the previous squad were related through blood or marriage. Mobile phones are banned in the dressing room.
Physio Iain Latin has professionalised the squad. He said: 'We initially had a lot of cramps after 70 minutes. Three or four players would go down. Now they turn up prepared.
'A double-header is tough. You can go to church and get a blessing from the priest but if you are not fit enough, you will not recover in time. You cannot think a week before, "I'm going on a diet!".'
In the dressing room,' he explains, 'I have placed montages of pivotal moments in Gibraltar's history.
'The British takeover in 1704, the image of families divided when General Franco closed the border in 1969. This is a territory with real courage that has suffered greatly. We channel the pain into our performances.'
Ribas's text messages arrive in his players' in-boxes at 4am with the latest inspiring proverb.
He says: 'I am not a manager. I am a leader. Think of Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese master of war and strategy, who argued that anything that can be defined can be defeated.
'Against all sense and predictions, we can achieve great things. We are young, we have jobs, but we feel we can fight and dream that we can win.'
Unity is at the heart of Ribas's philosophy. Nine of the 21 players in the previous squad were related through blood or marriage. Mobile phones are banned in the dressing room.
Physio Iain Latin has professionalised the squad. He said: 'We initially had a lot of cramps after 70 minutes. Three or four players would go down. Now they turn up prepared.
'A double-header is tough. You can go to church and get a blessing from the priest but if you are not fit enough, you will not recover in time. You cannot think a week before, "I'm going on a diet!".'
Ribas smiles: 'I have returned to the roots of football. We are dreaming again.
