Helmuth Duckadam, the former Steaua Bucharest goalkeeper renowned for saving four penalties in the 1986 European Cup final against Barcelona, passed away on Monday at the age of 65.
The Romanian soccer club confirmed his death via an official statement on its Facebook page.
“Romanian football has suffered a heavy loss. Today, Helmuth Duckadam, 65, one of the greatest goalkeepers in the glorious history of Steaua Bucharest and Romanian football, has left us, creating a significant void in our hearts,” the club wrote. “Steaua Bucharest expresses its deep regret and extends sincere condolences to his family. You will always remain in our hearts, Helmuth. For us, you will always be the ‘Hero of Sevilla.’”
Duckadam earned this moniker due to his outstanding performance during the final held at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Sevilla, Spain. Despite Barcelona being the favorites to win, they were unable to score against an inspired Duckadam. After a tense match that ended 0-0, Steaua triumphed in the penalty shootout, winning 2-0. Duckadam correctly guessed the direction of each penalty, diving three times to his right and once to his left, all while facing the pressure of Barcelona fans behind him.
After making his third save, a stunned Duckadam fell to his knees, covering his head with his hands in disbelief. Following his fourth save, he celebrated by throwing the ball into the air and sprinting towards his teammates.
“The European football community mourns the loss of Helmuth Duckadam at the age of 65,” UEFA stated.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Duckadam was named Romania’s soccer player of the year in 1986, largely due to his performance in the cup final. He played for Steaua Bucharest from 1982 to 1986 and made two appearances for the Romanian national team.
Related topics
