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Barcelona v Sporting also provided the most moving moment of the weekend. On Sunday, Enrique Castro "Quini", Sporting's assistant coach, came back to Barcelona as a head coach, replacing Manuel Preciado who had been sent off last week against Sevilla.
Quini was the most prolific Spanish scorer of the late seventies and early eighties, and coincidentally played for both Sporting Gij髇 and FC Barcelona. He won five "ichichi" (top scorer) trophies in Primera and two in Segunda Divisi髇, which is still an all-time record in Spain. Quini also scored Bar鏰's goal number 3,000, and won various titles, including a Cup Winners' Cup in 1982. On top of that, he managed to increase his huge reputation as a player with his sensational off-the-pitch behaviour. Always the perfect gentleman, his most impressive public moment happened after he was kidnapped in March 1981.
Two criminals jammed him into a car as he left the Nou Camp Stadium after a 6-0 win. They then drove him to Zaragoza - just over 200 km away - hid him in a small repair shop and asked Quini's family for a one-million-dollar ransom. Quini spent 24 days captive, a period of time during which his team, the La Liga leaders up to that point, completely fell apart (just one point in six matches). Schuster, his best friend on that Bar鏰 side, publicly stated that "I just can't play football now".
Quini was eventually freed by the police, his team recovering to win that season's Copa del Rey. He forgave the criminals, dropped all charges against them and went on with his life. However, Barcelona sued them, and as a result of the legal process the striker won the right to be compensated with $400k, which he immediately donated to charity. If that was not an eventful enough life, last year Quini was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the whole of 2008 fighting the disease, and fortunately now seems almost totally recovered.
With all this background, one has to enjoy the humongous standing ovation he got as he stepped onto the Nou Camp's grass. It was a beautiful sight indeed, powerful as Quini's history deserves. A great ending for another alienating football week.
true lejen... |
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