The Rojiblancos are set to make their first
appearance in the showpiece event since 2007 -
the year the 22-year-old died - but his legacy
at the Sanchez Pizjuan lives on
“Every year, we remember ‘la zurda de
diamantes’… a great person, a great boy, who
was taken too soon,” said Sevilla president Jose
Castro, hours before the seventh Antonio Puerta
Trophy match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
on Friday. Aitor, the six-year-old son of the
event's eponymous figure, took the honorary
kick-off. He never met his father.
On August 28 2007, just three days before they
were due to face AC Milan in the Uefa Super
Cup, Sevilla opened their Liga campaign
against Getafe. After 35 minutes, defender
Puerta collapsed close to his own goal. He left
with medics for the dressing room, where he
collapsed again, and was rushed to hospital
after being resuscitated. At 2.30pm, he was
pronounced dead, as a result of massive organ
failure following prolonged cardiac arrest. His
girlfriend, Mar Roldan, would give birth to
their son just two months later.
After such an event, we are reminded how
football pales into insignificance. But Puerta
has been celebrated for seven years through the
game he loved, and when Sevilla play in the
Uefa Super Cup against Real Madrid on
Tuesday, he will be remembered by every
Sevillista at home and in Cardiff.

Oh Antonio puerta , I rili loved that guy , saw him as a great left fullback in comin yrs b4 he died . Continue to rest on my brother