Rodri Died: What Was His Cause Of Death?

Francesc Rodríguez ‘ Rodri ‘, Barcelona’s historic central defender between 1958 and 1966 and, later, a member of the club’s technical structure, has died at the age of 88, as reported by the Barça entity on Tuesday. No cause of death was revealed.

The defender, born in Barcelona on March 8, 1934, played 236 games with the Barça first team and wore the Spanish team jersey four times.

Along with Ferran Olivella and Sigfrid Gràcia, ‘Rodri’ became one of the basic pieces of defense for the team led by coach Helenio Herrera between 1958 and 1960.

The arrival of Jesús Garay eventually relegated him to the substitution, but in the 1961-62 season he regained ownership. Starting in 1963 he was plagued by injuries and eventually retired in 1966 at 32.

With the azulgrana jacket ‘Rodri’ he won two Fairs Cups (1959/60 and 1965/66), two Leagues (1958/59 and 1959/60), and two Cups (1958/59 and 1962/63).

Once he hung up his boots, he became part of the Barça coaching team. He trained in the lower categories (1966-70) and later was the assistant to the coaches Vic Buckingham, Marinus Michels, Hennes Weisweiler, and Laureano Ruiz between 1970 and 1976. After he made the leap to the offices, where he coordinated Barça youth football and he was also an observer of young soccer players.

The Barcelona player took his first steps as a footballer in 1949 in the Europa youth team. He later played for Peña Xics and in the various lower categories of the subsidiary team España Industrial, called Comtal from 1956, when he rose to the First Division.

‘Rodri’ continued at Comtal when they returned to Segunda at the end of the 1956/57 season. In the summer of 1958, Helenio Herrera incorporated him into the Barcelona first team.

Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.

Leave a Comment