Alfredo Quintana left us 5 years ago, yet he still inspires new generations | OneFootball

Alfredo Quintana passed away unexpectedly five years ago, and it is only right to remember him and pay tribute, as he was one of the greatest goalkeepers ever in FC Porto’s handball history, in Portugal, and in the world. He was also a source of inspiration for his energy, good humor, and camaraderie, leaving behind a legacy that endures. His brilliant career—after Portugal’s historic 6th place at the 2020 European Championship and 10th place at the 2021 World Championship—was abruptly cut short when, on February 22, he collapsed unconscious during a Dragons’ training session after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest.

He received immediate assistance and was placed in an induced coma, but ultimately did not survive, passing away on February 27, 2021, leaving a deep sense of loss among family and colleagues for his sporting excellence, leadership ability, and profound human impact.

The Portuguese-Cuban amazed everyone with his performance in goal: remarkable physical presence (2.01 m), exceptional reflexes, composure in decisive moments, and a specialty in saving seven-meter throws, making interventions that seemed “impossible” in critical situations.

The current coach of Portugal recalled Quintana and his qualities: “He was a fantastic human being, humble, and at an extremely high level as a goalkeeper, extremely competitive, taking pleasure in what he did, possessing a set of unique characteristics. He was a great inspiration to the younger players, and it’s no coincidence that Gustavo Capdeville [national team goalkeeper] continues to wear Quintana’s jersey. It was a huge loss, I remember him often and, in fact, the sporting results have remained high, thanks to his example, work, and commitment.”

Meanwhile, former FAP president Ulisses Pereira recalled the controversy surrounding Quintana’s naturalization: “It was the right decision. He became a Portuguese citizen in a natural way, not just to play for the national team. There was no reason not to call him up. He added great value, and Paulo Pereira was also very important, changing the mentality—not through revolution, but with consistency. Quintana was a great asset in his specific position, as were other Cubans like Daymaro Salina, Alexis Borges, and Victor Iturriza.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.