Courtesy: UEFA.com

Spanish futsal mourns Saorín

Wednesday 5 September 2007

Manuel Saorín Piñera, the president of two-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners Interviú Fadesa – formerly known as Boomerang – has died aged 80 after a long illness.

Many honours
One of the founders of the club in 1977, he served as coach, director and general secretary with the Madrid outfit before becoming president this summer in succession to his brother Pascual. The team have been the dominant force in the strongest league in futsal, winning 16 Spanish titles, nine Spanish Cups, three Intercontinental Cups, an unofficial European trophy in 1991 and the 2004 and 2006 UEFA Futsal Cups, as well as reaching last season's final. Last May he was awarded the Royal Order of Sporting Merit and, in December 2006, he received the Spanish Futsal League Gold and Diamond Medal.

Tribute
Laurent Morel, UEFA's futsal manager, told uefa.com: "Serving Spanish futsal for more than 20 years, Don Manuel Saorín has been one of the pioneers of modern futsal not only in his country, but probably in Europe. With his bright ideas and his tenacity, he took Intervíu to the top of world futsal, and won every major club title. No wonder if his team was named the 'Green Machine', or the 'Dream Team', to which every opponent paid due respect. As a winner, Mr Saorín faced his illness with courage and dignity, and he led the club until the final days of his life. The futsal family is mourning the loss of one of its fathers. A seat will remain empty in Alcala de Henares, but the soul of Don Manuel Saorin Piñera will remain."



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com