Former footballer Paquito died on Tuesday at the age of 63, along with Rio Ave, the club where he began his career, Vitória de Guimarães and Porto, the club with which he became national champion, issuing notes of condolences.
“The day started today [esta terça-feira] darkens with the sad news of the death of Francisco Saura. Victim of a long illness, at the age of 63, our Paquito leaves us after a lifetime of dedication and commitment to Rio Ave FC, first as a player in our youth football and first team and then as the club’s coach for 17 years. .”, says a note published by Vila-Condensis on the official website.
The former attacking midfielder began his career with the Green-Whites in the 1979/80 season and was assistant coach of the Porto Football Association’s 1st Division B team after coaching at youth level. education.
Rio Ave President Alexandrina Cruz praised the “passion and joy with which he coached and taught young people every day,” making “a decisive contribution to their development.”
“There are no words to express the well-deserved and heartfelt tribute to our Paquito. “I extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, his friends, the entire Rio Vista family and in particular our entire B-Team work group,” he stressed. leader, in a note published by Vila-Condenses.
After three seasons in which he scored four goals in 47 official matches for Rio Ave, Paquito moved to Vitória de Guimarães at the start of the 1982/83 season, a club for which he scored 15 goals in the rest of the 1984/85 season. 97 matches. and made his debut in European competition, defeating the English team Aston Villa (1:0) in the first match of the first round of the 1983/84 UEFA Cup.
“The Vitória Sports Club deeply regrets the death of Francisco José da Costa Saura, better known as Paquito, at the age of 63, the victim of a long illness. (…) It confuses defenders, but his technical skills made him decisive against the goal, arrived in Guimarães to join the Victoria team in the 1982/1983 season,” emphasizes the note of condolence published by the Minho club.
Paquito moved from Vitoria to Porto in the run-up to the 1985/86 season, in which he played seven games in the league, won by the Dragons, and three in the then European Cup against Ajax in the first round or at home (triumph 2-0) or in the Netherlands (0-0), as well as against Barcelona in the second round at Camp Nou (the Portuguese lost 2-0).
“FC Porto has received with great concern the news of the death of Francisco José da Costa Saura, national champion in the 1985/86 season, who has just passed away at the age of 63. (…) FC Porto offers its deepest condolences,” the “blue and white” lamented.
Paquito also represented Marítima, Varzim, Beira Mar, Torreense and Visela in his football career.
The funeral of the former midfielder will take place on Wednesday at 15:30 at Igreja Matrice de Vila do Conde.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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