Former Real Madrid president dies after contracting coronavirus
وفاة الرئيس السابق لفريق ريال مدريد متأثرا بإصابته بفيروس كورونا
AFP
Madrid – Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, who was hospitalised with coronavirus, died on Saturday at the age of 76, his son announced.
Sanz was in charge of the Spanish giants from 1995-2000, overseeing two Champions League titles.
“My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way,” tweeted his son, Lorenzo Sanz junior.
“One of the best, bravest and hardest-working people I have ever seen. His family and Real Madrid were his passions.”
Three days ago, Sanz Jr., a former professional basketball player, said that his father had been admitted to a Madrid hospital after suffering the symptoms of the coronavirus which has killed more than 1,320 people in Spain.
Sanz claimed a place on the Real Madrid board in the mid-1980s, when the president was Ramon Mendoza.
He replaced Mendoza as president in 1995.
With Jupp Heynckes as coach and star players such as Davor Suker, Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf, Fernando Hierro and Raul, Real won the Champions League in 1998 by beating Juventus in the final.
It was their seventh European Cup but first in 32 years.
Two years later, in Paris, Real claimed an eighth by beating Valencia in the final.
However, that same year, Sanz was ousted as president by Florentino Perez, who opened a new era at the club, adding five more Champions Leagues in two decades.
Current club captain and Spanish international Sergio Ramos, who with teammates is in quarantine after one of the club’s basketball players tested positive for the virus, hailed Sanz.
“Very sad day for Real Madrid. Lorenzo Sanz connected yesterday and today with two numbers for history — 7 and 8,” tweeted Ramos in reference to the key Champions League titles.
“His death saddens us even more in these difficult days in which we find ourselves. My deep condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace.”
توفي الرئيس السابق لنادي ريال مدريد الإسباني لورينزو سانز، يوم السبت، عن 76 عاما متأثرا بالإصابة بفيروس كورونا.
وتولى سانز رئاسة نادي ريال مدريد في الفترة الممتدة بين عامي 1995 و2000، عندما تُوّج النادي الملكي بلقب دوري أبطال أوروبا مرتين.
وأعلن فرناندو سانز نبأ وفاة والده على موقع تويتر.
وقال: “لم يكن يستحق الرحيل بهذه الطريقة. كان أحد أفضل الشخصيات التي عرفتها في حياتي وأكثرهم شجاعة وجدية. كان شغوفا بعائلته وريال مدريد”.
وخلال فترة رئاسته للنادي، وقّع سانز مع عدد من اللاعبين بينهم روبرتو كارلوس، وكلارنس سيدورف، ودافور سوكر.
لكن سانز خسر الانتخابات الرئاسية عام 2000 لصالح فلورنتينو بيريز، الذي أطلق عصر الإنفاق على “غالاكتيكو”.
ولعب فرناندو سانز، 46 عاما، بقميص الريال بين عامي 1996 و1999، قبل أن يمضي آخر سبعة أعوام من مسيرته كلاعب مع نادي ملقا.
