'I'm English but I've spent thousands travelling Europe watching San Marino'

Football fanatic defies odds by attending every one of minnows' matches in 2022

A dedicated English football fan has revealed he has spent thousands of pounds travelling across Europe to watch every single one of minnows San Marino's matches in 2022.

Jack Smith, 24, from Oxford, has racked up air miles and driven for hours to see the tiny nation play in far-flung locations including Estonia, Malta and Gibraltar.

Why San Marino?

Jack said he first became interested in San Marino after reading about their famous 13-0 defeat to Germany in a World Cup qualifier in 2006.

He was fascinated by the story of a team that had never won a competitive match and had conceded more than 1,000 goals in their history.

In 2022, Jack decided to take his fandom to the next level and vowed to watch every one of San Marino's matches in person.

The journey

Jack's travels have taken him to some of Europe's most iconic football stadiums, including the San Siro in Milan and the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

He has also visited some more unusual venues, such as the tiny Estadi Comunal in Andorra and the Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar.

Despite San Marino's poor record on the pitch, Jack said he has enjoyed every minute of his adventure.

"It's been an incredible experience," he said. "I've met some amazing people and seen some amazing places."

"The San Marino fans are some of the most passionate I've ever met. They never give up, even when their team is losing heavily."

The future

Jack is planning to continue his travels in 2023 and hopes to see San Marino finally win their first competitive match.

"I'm not sure if it will happen in my lifetime," he said. "But I'll keep believing."

"San Marino may be the worst team in the world, but they're my team and I'll never give up on them."