Colombian football mourns him with great pain and nostalgia

In another time, in another football, The Andes He had a prodigal son who after five seasons jumped into soccer in Colombia, a country in which he forged a major career, with a recognition as great as the one he achieved in Lomas de Zamora. Juan Carlos Diazhe Nenedied in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 66 and was mourned in Santa Fe and Portela, but also in all the clubs where he wore an idol badge.

He Nene Diaz He debuted in Los Andes in 1975, after his youth career. He was a midfielder and scored 31 goals with the shirt milrayitas which he used in 189 games. From there, always in the Ascent of Argentina, he took a leap and was transferred to the Club Atlético Bucaramangafrom Colombia, where he dazzled fans between 1981 and 1985.

There were three seasons and 26 goals that allowed him the following move: Millionaires. In the Bogotá team he was not always a starter in his three years, but he was champion twice and scored 22 goals with his stamp.

A Independent Medellin He arrived in 1985 and completed 48 games with five goals of his own, but after the interruption of the championship due to the murder of a referee, he returned to Argentina, although he did not continue his career either in Los Andes or in another club.

Months later he returned to Colombia and signed for Manizales and although he achieved good performances, the club had the objective of lowering the average age and he left for Cúcuta, where he showed his validity: 151 games between 1991 and 1995 and 33 goals. Retirement

The retirement was somewhat more ephemeral: 10 games with the Táchira of Venezuela shirt and five goals, his best average. When 1996 began, Nene was already a former footballer and began to transition into his role as a coach.

That year he was an assistant in Cúcuta for coach Sergio Santín and later, in the 2000/01 season for Miguel Ángel Russo, no less than in Los Andes, in his last stage in the First Division.

Nene’s career as a coach developed mainly in Ascenso: Los Andes on several occasions, Sarmiento and Sportivo Italiano. Outside the country, in addition to Cúcuta, San Antonio, from Venezuela, and Patriotas de Bocayá.

For this reason, the messages after learning of his death not only skyrocketed from Los Andes, but from each of the clubs in which he worked as a footballer or coach.

“With great pain, Club Atlético Los Andes announces that our great idol Juan Carlos Díaz, El Nene, has passed away,” said the Lomas club, which also suspended all activities due to mourning and laid vigil for the remains in the stadium gym.

“Bucamaranga deeply regrets the death of our beloved former player, who defended the colors of our team with passion and dedication and left an indelible mark on our history,” posted the first of the clubs that received him after his departure from Los Andes.

“Strength at this time for his family and friends,” was Millonarios’ farewell, in line with Independiente de Medellín: “the Pueblo team deeply regrets the death of the Argentine who defended La Sagrada between 1989 and 90.”