The Club

ENRIQUE MONTERO ENTERS SEVILLA FC HALL OF FAME

15/11/2017

The fine former-Sevillista was joined by companions crucial to his career and was honoured by his city, El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz CF football club and the Andalucían Football Federation

This Wednesday afternoon, Sevilla FC celebrated its tenth annual Hall of Fame, where once a year, the club honours one player from its rich footballing history. This year, the player to be officially recognised as a club legend may not have been the most successful Sevillista by way of trophies but didn't need to be to etch himself permanently in the club's history. Enrique Montero saw his legendary career cut short by a knee injury that many wouldn't have been able to recover from, but Montero, in true Sevillista spirit, never gave in and returned to finish out a career the Club will never forget. Montero's career was celebrated in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán by current Sevilla footballers, former-teammates, board members and admirers alike in a ceremony filled with happy memories and surprises.

Being the tenth edition, the chance to honour the nine previous inductees into the club's Hall of Fame - two of whom, Juan Arza and José Maria Busto have unfortunately already passed away - could not slip by. The ceremony started with a heartfelt homage to those nine legends from José Antonio Sánchez Araujo. One by one, guests of the club took the stage. The first to do so was doctor José María Villarrubias, who had the difficult task of operating on Montero's injured knee for more than five hours. The Doctor recalled that even King Juan Carlos had called him to find out first hand how the operation had gone.

Villarrubias remembered that King Juan Carlos had even telephoned him to find out how Montero's operation had gone

A video was shown in which Montero's wife and children described Enrique as a person - a man enamoured with football and forever bonded in spirit with his home of El Puerto de Santa María. That much was clear to his teammates, like Ramón Vázquez, Antonio Álvarez, Curro San José and Enrique Lora who made it clear that in the changing room, everyone was aware he was a special player. But he didn't just have admirers in his team. His contemporaries in Real Betis - Bizcocho, Demetrio Biosca - even wanted to pay tribute to the player on such a special day.

A lot of people talk about what would have been had Enrique Montero not suffered that unfortunate injury, mainly with regards to selection for the Spanish national team. Montero was called-up to play in the 1982 World Cup with the Spanish side under the management of José Emilio Santamaría. The coach, despite his age, wanted to be present for today's ceremony and made clear that Montero had a spot on the team, but that what happened to him could have happened to anyone and it was extremely unfortunate. Although by chance, a goalkeeper who played a part in a key moment of Montero's career was present at today's ceremony. Javier Maté, goalkeeper at Burgos at the time, conceded perhaps the best goal of Montero's Sevilla FC career. Now, general coordinator of Coruxo Vigués, Maté expressed his gratitude for the invitation and above all the recognition from Sevilla FC.

José Emilio Santamaría, manager of the Spanish national side in the 1982 World Cup attended the ceremony

Though there was still red ribbon to cut, the next to take the floor was David de la Encina, the mayor of a city extremely proud of one of its most illustrious natives. El Puerto de Santa María had to form part of the ceremony and the mayor's words not only highlighted Montero's outstanding footballing ability but Montero's importance in the community. Manuel Vizcaíno, President of Cádiz CF (who were lucky to have Montero for four years of his career) was happy to highlight that the Sevilla legend finished off his career close to home. Vizcaíno awarded Montero with a gift from Cádiz for his years of service.

Two of the most important awards remained for the end of the ceremony. First of all, the giving of the Andalucian Football Federation's gold insignia by President Eduardo Herrera. And the other, the awarding of the Legends commemorative plaque, after which the president delivered a heartfelt speech. The ceremony was brought to a close by none other than the star of the show himself, and the day was ended with opportunities for photos to remember one of the most moving days in the career of Enrique Montero.