Wilson Miraballes has landed a dream job with his favorite soccer team — security advisor for Nacional of Uruguay. A lifelong fan, he knows the ins and outs of the supporters’ culture and Uruguayan soccer, in addition to the other sports Nacional participates in. As security advisor for one of the biggest clubs in South America, Miraballes has helped to maintain a balance between safety and passion in El Gran Parque Central.
Imagine working for your favorite sports team. It might sound amazing to travel across the country and represent the logo that donned the walls of your childhood bedroom. But in the chaotic world of South American football, it’s not that simple.
For Wilson Miraballes, his path to becoming the security advisor for one of the continent’s most renowned clubs was a mix of being in the right place at the right time, and taking a huge risk and chance at changing the status quo.
Miraballes, 50, is a lifelong Nacional fan. “El Bolso” runs through his veins. As a fan, he attended hundreds of clásicos against Peñarol, key Copa Libertadores matches, and traveled abroad to support his beloved Nacional, watching players like Hugo de León, Rubén Sosa, and a young Luis Suárez and Nicolás Lodeiro. He’s been a club member, or a socio, for 31 years, a tradition passed on to his wife and young son.
His journey to fandom was somewhat unconventional. His entire family were Peñarol supporters, but it was a neighbor who introduced him to Nacional games when he was young. His fondest memory was attending the Copa Libertadores final in 1988, where Nacional defeated Newell’s Old Boys and were crowned champions of America for the third and most recent time. It was an unforgettable night, marking a significant moment in his life and reflecting his personality.
Miraballes has a boundless energy that prevents him from standing still for too long. From breeding prize-winning dogs to part-owning a night club for several years, he has an eclectic list of interests and hobbies, and he’s never shy to take risks.
With Nacional being one of the constants in his life, he began attending games with a group of friends. Through this circle, he met Pablo Santos, the leader of Nacional’s supporters’ group, just weeks before the club’s centennial. Their friendship opened up a new world for Wilson as he learned what it meant to be part of La Barra Brava. He discovered that the group was formed by various neighborhoods in Montevideo, each sub-group contributing to the supporters’ section. Over time, Wilson became a close friend to many of the group’s members.
From singing at games and traveling by bus to various South American countries, Wilson’s bond with Santos eventually led him to attend internal meetings between the club and the supporters. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many prominent members of Nacional’s supporters group began voicing their opinions on the club’s direction.
Eventually, Wilson, Santos, and well-known Nacional supporter Italo “El Tano” Felicini were part of a subgroup known as the Movimiento de Grupos Barras y Banderas. The group took a more social approach, pioneering community initiatives in Uruguay, such as food and clothing drives and helping fellow supporters in need. The group became particularly influential as Uruguay and the rest of South America faced a financial crisis in 2002.
Although Wilson eventually had to step away from the group due to time constraints, his name began circulating within the club as a reliable and responsible figure. After participating in a few elections, he eventually found himself working as an executive at Nacional, filling in for others or taking on smaller roles.
A Change in Culture and a Dream Job
In 2006, Nacional elected Ricardo Alarcón their new president. Alarcón had a unique vision for the club, one that represented a vast shift from his predecessors. Rather than focusing solely on winning the Copa Libertadores and beating Peñarol, Alarcón aimed to transform Nacional into a family-oriented club. He believed that by becoming more inclusive and welcoming for families and women, Nacional, as one of Uruguay’s largest brands, could secure better sponsorship deals and maintain financial stability to keep the club competitive across the board.
Alarcón envisioned a balance where the supporters’ group had its place, but within a framework of conduct that allowed families and potential season ticket holders to attend games without fearing violence in the stands or around the stadium. This required not just added security, but security personnel who understood fan culture.
During Alarcón’s second term as president, he along with Alejandro Balbi, Nacional’s current president, turned to Miraballes and Andres Rodriguez to help revolutionize security at massive events in Uruguay.
Since then, and following various other presidents at the club, both Rodriguez, who’s now the club’s head of security, and Miraballes, have been in charge of providing security at the stadium and the club’s training ground as well.
“Back then, all security was handled by third-party private services,” Miraballes recalls. “So when we were approached, we thought it would be ideal to bring in trusted club members to provide a comfortable and safe game day experience, offering safety and understanding to the supporters entering the stadium.”
The initiative proved successful. Nacional launched a campaign called “Cultura Nacional,” with the goal of making the Gran Parque Central stadium a family-friendly environment where fans could enjoy games in a secure atmosphere. Having familiar faces in charge of public safety helped make fans feel comfortable and encouraged proper behavior.
What began as a small security operation expanded quickly. Wilson found himself managing security for Nacional across the continent, covering matches in every country the club played in. His responsibilities also grew to include providing security for Nacional’s basketball and futsal teams. Volunteer work turned into a full-time job.
“Today, we have 80 workers on our team,” Miraballes explains. “We trust our staff, and for major events, we subcontract with people we know and have worked with before.”
Changing the Culture While Dealing with Supporters
Before Nacional created its own security staff, Wilson remembers how things were. Fans and the police often seemed to be at odds, with the police reprimanding supporters rather than protecting them. Minor incidents, like bringing a bottle of water into the stadium on a hot day, would escalate into full-blown brawls involving not only fans but also families with children. This toxic atmosphere led to declining attendance and waning interest in Uruguayan football during the 2000s.
Miraballes and Rodriguez understood that for the club’s new message to take hold, they needed to bring the supporters on board.
“There was a lot of trial and error, a lot of talks between Nacional, us, and the supporters,” Wilson said. “But eventually, we found a way to keep the supporters’ culture alive while implementing a code of conduct that kept the police satisfied and ensured fan safety.
“I remember discussing with the AUF about having Nacional share a stand with Peñarol fans, making sure we could guarantee safety. It was a process — a huge learning curve for everyone — but today, El Parque Central is filled with families and the spirit of the supporters. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. There’s a balance now between the two worlds.”
For Wilson, one of his proudest accomplishments is the way security at sporting events has evolved.
“I take pride that we helped professionalize security,” he says. “When we started, there weren’t many meetings or protocols. Now, we work with local authorities, the municipality, and other clubs. It’s professional and done with great care.”
A Rockstar Returns
One thing Wilson didn’t anticipate was the return of Luis Suárez for three wild months in 2022. After Suárez hinted that he might be interested in returning to his childhood club, a massive social media campaign erupted, calling for his return. Eventually, the pressure became too much, and Suárez came back to get into game shape for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Suárez delivered, scoring against Peñarol and helping Nacional win the Uruguayan championship. For Miraballes, Suárez’s arrival felt more like a rockstar joining the club than just a soccer player.
“I remember the day he was presented in the stadium,” Miraballes said. “Being in charge of security that day was wild. I don’t remember ever seeing such a backlog of cars and people on the street greeting Luis. It was crazy.”
As part of the security team, Miraballes and Rodriguez were tasked with tightening safety protocols for Suárez and his family. Despite the extra work, one moment stood out for Miraballes: seeing his son, Tiziano, walk onto the field with Suárez during a game against Montevideo City.
Enjoying the Moment as Much as One Can
Looking back on his career with Nacional, Miraballes has many fond memories. However, he admits that the early days of his security career had him nervous. He knew that if anything went wrong, his name would be linked to a sporting disaster. Thankfully, since becoming security advisor, there have been no major incidents to report. Nacional has maintained a strong record of safety and security at their home stadium.
“It’s a dream job,” Miraballes said. “Working with Nacional, for Nacional, it’s been amazing. I’ve met many of my childhood idols. They know what my role is within the club, which is great, but I make it a point to keep a balance. I give the players their space and do my job when necessary. You can’t get caught up in the ‘wow’ of it all.”
Miraballes has become a pioneer, helping his beloved club find the right balance between security and enjoyment at sporting events. His approach provides a blueprint that many leagues and teams can follow to create the best game-day experience for fans in South America where at times passions can boil over.
Though there are sleepless nights and countless phone calls, in addition to constantly running around, for the very active Miraballes, it’s all in a day’s work.
