Romanian football lost “a legend and a role model” on Monday following the death of European Cup-winning goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam at the age of 65.
Nicknamed the ‘Hero of Seville’, Duckadam helped Steaua Bucharest defeat Barcelona and become European champions in 1986.
Duckadam saved all four of Barça’s penalties and Steaua won the shootout 2-0, after the final ended 0-0 in extra time.
It remains the only major European trophy won by a Romanian club.
“Romanian football lost a legend and we, all of us who love this sport, lost a role model,” said Razvan Burleanu, president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF).
“Helmut Duckadam was not only an exceptional goalkeeper, but a symbol of the impossible transformed into reality.
“With his heroic performance in Seville, he put Romania on the map of world football.”
The FRF added that Duckadam, who played two caps for Romania in 1982, is an “emblematic figure of Romanian sport and his memory will live on in the hearts of football fans.”
A moment of silence will be observed in Duckadam’s memory before matches in the current and next stages of all competitions organized by the FRF, in addition to the senior and under-19 women’s teams.
Steaua was renamed FCSB in 2017, saying: “FCSB expresses its condolences to all players and employees of the club for the loss of the legendary Helmut Duckadam. Our club offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”
