Five footballers who passed away in 2013

2013 was a year that saw some of most memorable characters in the game of football leave us. Whilst some had their day in the sun, others went too soon.

Nilton Santos

2013 hasn’t been a great year for former World Cup winning Brazilians as three members of the 1958 triumph had already passed away by August. And Nilton Santos, made it an unfortunate four when he died of a lung infection on 27 November. But, the world was fortunate enough to witness of one of the greatest left wingbacks of all time. The man who started the Brazilian traditions of attacking fullbacks which has seen the likes of Roberto Carlos and Cafu rise to prominence. And that goal against Austria in 1958, where he dribbled past the entire field before finishing off with a sublime shot will fondly be remembered as one of the greatest World Cup goals of all-time.

Nilton was a pioneer as he was one of the first full backs to be given the license to participate in attack. It was reflected in his words, when he said “I have never envied today’s players for the money but the freedom they have, to go forward.” Dubbed “the Encyclopedia” for his vast repertoire of football knowledge, he was equally adept at both defending and attacking. One of his biggest strengths was his technique, which was one of the main reasons he was able to play his entire professional club career for Botafogo. Not only is he a member of the World Team of the 20th Century, he was also voted by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA Awards ceremony in 2004. The world will forever be in Nilton’s debt for revolutionizing the way teams attacked,i.e., from defense.

Bill Foulkes

One of Manchester United’s all-time greats, Bill Foulkes exemplified the professional work-ethic and the determination that was a bed-rock of the famed “Busby Babes”. Foulkes initially started his career as a right back and worked part-time at the coal mine, as he felt that he didn’t have what it took to be a professional footballer. But, that was one of the few instances in his career that he was wrong as he was a pillar of strength at the back and an integral part of the “Busby Babes”, or what was left of it, after the Munich air disaster.

He went onto play 688 games for Manchester United, and was, at the time of his retirement, the most-capped United player of all time. In his time, he also won four League titles, one FA Cup and was a part of the European Cup winning team of 1968. Although, he started as a right back, growing competition and age meant that he shifted to the center of defense, where he enjoyed a lot of success towards the end of his career. His sole appearance for the national side was in 1955. He passed away on 25 November, after reportedly suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Luis Cubilla

Luis Alberto Cubilla Almeida isn’t a name that rings a bell to most European football viewers, but in Uruguay, he is a household name. That is what happens when you are not only a great player, but an even better manager as well. Cubilla enjoyed a hugely successful playing career that saw him win four Uruguayan league championships, two Copa Libertadores and a Copa Intercontinental with Penarol before moving to Barcelona in 1962. His time there wasn’t as successful and he returned back to South America in 1964. And by the end of his playing career he had won 9 Uruguayan titles and a total of 16 trophies in all.

When he eventually quit playing football, he went into management and became an even more successful manager. Whilst his playing career was a success in his home country, his management career was one that was spread all over South America. But, he is best known for his time with Paraguayan side Olimpia, with whom he won eight League titles, two Copa Libertadores for a total of 15 trophies on five different tenures at the club. He won the South American coach of the year in 1990, a year which saw him do the quadruple with Olimpia. He passed away in Paraguay, earlier this year, aged 72.

Ottmar Walter

Whilst all of Germany, remembers Fritz Walter, his more illustrious brother, Ottmar is often left as a footnote in history. Ottmar, a midfielder by trade, scored 336 goals for FC Kaiserslautern at an astonishing average of 1.04 goals and was one of the main contributors to “The Miracle of Berne”, a game which saw a plucky German outfit beat the Mighty Magyars. Ottmar scored four goals in the 1954 World Cup and helped the German national team win their first ever World Cup.

Although Ottmar had bomb shrapnel embedded in his knees after his injuries from the war, he soldiered on showing tremendous grit and determination. Even with his medical history, Ottmar played like a beast and was famed for his shot power. Due to his injuries, he was forced to retire at the tender age of 32, but not before giving his club and country plenty to memories to cherish forever. And just like his playing career, Ottmar passed away this very year due to Alzheimer’s, on the 16th of June, without hardly a whisper.

Djalma Santos

A double World Cup winner and one of only two players to be included into three FIFA World Cup All Star teams, Djalma Santos certainly had an international career that most can only dream of. He started his career in his hometown with Portuguesa as a center back, before moving onto the right side. He was defensively solid and his attacking forays, although sporadic, were spot on, every time they occurred. Having made over 400 games for the club, whilst several trophies, including his first World Cup, he moved to Palmeiras in 1959.

At Palmeiras, he merely continued his good work as he became one of the finest right backs of all time, and played almost 500 games for the club. After almost a decade, he moved to Atlético Paranaense for a short spell before retiring in 1970. Known for his defensive ability, Santos was unique, in the fact that, although he played over 950 club games and represented his country 98 times, he was never sent off during his entire career and that speaks volumes for his powers of concentration.

Some other notable mentions, who just didn’t make the cut.

Ron Davies Born 25 May 1942 in Holywell, Wales. Died 24 May

A phenomenal header of the ball, Ron Davies played as a center forward and made a name for himself at Southampton. The Welshman scored 12 goals in his first 10 games and finished as the Division’s top goal scorer in his first two seasons with the Saints.

Dave Hickson Born 30 October 1929 in Salford. Died 8 July

The Englishman is one of only three players to have played for all three Merseyside side clubs- Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere. He went down in Toffees folklore when he came back in the second half to score the winner in the Fifth round of 1953 FA Cup against Manchester United after a huge gash above his eye.

Christian Benitez Born 1 May 1985 in Quito, Ecuador. Died 29 July

Affectionately nicknamed “Chucho”, the diminutive striker went onto play for some of the finest clubs in both his home country and Mexico before playing his final match for Qatari club El Jaish. Internationally, he already made 58 appearances and scored 24 goals and on the wake of his death, the Ecuadorian FA announced that they will retire the No.11 jersey.

Heinz Flohe Born 28 January 1948 in Euskirchen, Germany. Died 15 June

A World Cup winner with West Germany in 1974, the midfielder from Euskirchen was a key member of the squad, and also went onto play in Euro 76 and the World Cup two years later. Domestically, he made a name for himself at 1. FC Köln, where he won the Bundesliga once in 1978, and the DFB-Pokal thrice. He passed away in his sleep after slipping into a coma in 2010.