#miki roque

[palaugranetes]

When he signed for Liverpool was the first time I'd talked to him, to wish him luck. He was from Tremp and I'm from La Pobla.. I offered congratulated him. I advised him to work, work hard, give it his all to reach the top. He was a fighter, he never gave up, everything he did was all from the heart. Miki helped me more than I helped him. I was going through a bad time, but he was always so generous, he worried about others. He was a very positive person. He worried more about how I was, at the time with physical problems, than about himself. One time, he asked me to go visit a child in the hospital, he said that I would make him very happy...

Carles Puyol, speaking at the presentation of the book about Miki Roqué, "La luz de Miki Roqué" by Juan Manuel López

[barcacule]

Puyol's new boots are a tribute to Miki Roque, a Catalan player who died from cancer last year, aged 23

[maschepotatoes]

Carles Puyol has a dedication to the late Miki Roque on his boots. Legend.

[teenagemutantninjaskrtels]

08/07/1988 - 24/06/2012

Rest in Peace Miki Roque

After undergoing a medical check-up due to a back problem, it was discovered Miki had pelvic cancer. His club, Real Betis, sold wristbands to raise money for his treatment. The remaining costs of his treatment were reportedly paid for by Carles Puyol who is from the same town as Miki's mother.

Miki was a promising player who rose up from the ranks of Liverpool's youth team, after being signed by Benitez, and spoke English better than any Spaniard Benitez knew. When diagnosed with cancer, Miki said "goodbye to the rest of this season" and retired from his team, Real Betis.

His treatment continued in Barcelona, where he was treated by Victor Valdés brother. "Now I know it was worth studying medicine only meet people like you. I will sorely miss going up to your room in the wards and talking football with you and so many other things … I will miss your jokes … And not just me, because from the first day you walked through the door you won over all the staff, always with a smile on your face, not a bad gesture toward anybody and with a fine education. You will be sorely missed by all. 

Sadly, Miki lost his fight with cancer two weeks before his 24th birthday. The footballing world lost a promising talent but the world lost a great person who will be remembered for handing out football shirts to the local children. Over 1000 Betis fans paid tribute to him outside the stadium.

You'll Never Walk Alone

[juanma-eme-blog]

“Miki Roqué”

Seville, Spain

July 2012

Juanma Mendoza

@juanma_eme

[daniel-munthe-agger-blog]

Miki Roque would have been 24 today, Feliz Cumpleaños.

Gone but never forgotten, Rest in Peace.

[ridingonapig]

Pepe wearing Miki Roque's Real Betis shirt during the celebrations. Class

[espanafutbol]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the UEFA...

...where did you lost your feeling for respect? Or equal treatment? No minute of silence for Miki Roque (a young player who lost his fight against cancer)? The try to forbid the players to wear a black armband (but they had the courage to do it anyway)? No minute of silence for Manuel "Manolo" Preciado (who has done much in the spanish football)? But one for the french journalist Thierry Roland?

I don't want to say Roland didn't deserve it - but where is the respect for the dead men? And where is the respect the UEFA wants to show us before every match? This had nothing to do with equal treatment!