Barcelona Football Icon Meets Demise
Barcelona Football Icon Meets Demise
FC Barcelona legend Hugo Sotil passed away at the age of 75, as revealed by the FCB Jugadors group on European morning time on a Monday.
The announcement began, "At the age of 75, we mourn the death of Hugo Sotil, a player for FC Barcelona from 1973 to 1976." This group, which represents and brings together former Barca players, made the statement.
They also shared that they were fortunate to have spent the annual group dinner with him recently. "Rest in peace, Cholo!," they said as a farewell.
After facing health issues in the early hours of December 20, 2022, Sotil was admitted to the critical care unit (ICU) of the Dos de Mayo hospital in Lima, Peru.
The South American country's Ministry of Health confirmed the development and mentioned that Sotil received "immediate specialized care."
The Dos de Mayo Hospital also assured that Sotil would receive the necessary "specialized medical care."
Sotil spent time in the ICU under observation but ultimately passed away, leaving Peruvian football and Barca in mourning.
Previously, AS described Hugo Sotil as the "legendary Blaugrana number 10" of the 1970s who played alongside Johan Cruyff, a figure considered the best player in the world during that time from the Netherlands.
Together, Sotil and Cruyff are most famous for their roles in the legendary 5-0 win over Real Madrid in the 1973-1974 edition of El Clasico, which was played at the Bernabeu Stadium.
In 1974, Sotil and Cruyff were instrumental in ending a 14-year La Liga title drought and making Barca national champions.
Upon Cruyff's death from cancer in 2016 at the age of 68, Sotil expressed his gratitude for being "fortunate enough to meet him and to play alongside him."
"And for me, it will always be a great satisfaction to have met a great person, friend, and an exceptional player," Sotil added about Cruyff.
In his homeland, Sotil was a legend in his own right, as he scored the winning goal in the 1975 Copa America final against Colombia at Caracas' Estadio Olimpico. This was Peru's second and, up to now, last win in the continental competition.
Hugo Sotil's stellar career at FC Barcelona included playing in the legendary 5-0 win over Real Madrid during the 1973-1974 El Clasico, a game where he partnered with Johan Cruyff, who was widely regarded as the best player in the world at the time. Their collective performance significantly contributed to ending Barca's 14-year La Liga title drought in 1974.