FRANCISCO LÓPEZ ALFARO RIGHTLY RECEIVES ADMISSION INTO THE HALL OF FAME

It was a day to tick off some outstanding tasks for Sevilla FC. Wednesday was dedicated to Francisco López Alfaro and his admission to the Hall of Fame. A figure that represents home-grown talent, that still to this day offers out his football knowledge to the players of tomorrow who, due to a world pandemic, was prevented from receiving this well-deserved tribute as planned. Francisco has dreamed of this day and today, one step closer to riding ourselves of this nightmare, he was recognised not only by the Sevilla FC family, but also by all those who have played a key role in his life, both personally and professionally. After the customary introduction by José Antonio Sánchez Araujo, it was the turn of another journalist, Guillermo Sánchez, who was lucky enough to see first-hand a match with the reserve team in Alicante, and due to the imminent dismissal of Miguel Muñoz in the first team and the arrival of coach Manolo Cardo from Cordoba, who did not hesitate to call on Francisco to immediately bring up the squad.

His former Sevilla teammates couldn't shy away from featuring with their heartfelt video, highlighting his football intelligence as well as his kindness both in the changing rooms and life itself. Cardo himself, Manolo Jiménez, Pablo Blanco, Moi and Antonio Álvarez spoke of Francisco and his time at the club. And if there was a goal that sticks out in the memory of that season, it was the amazing strike at the Villamrín, or better known as "the goal that knocked people off their feet." Coverage of the goal came from TVE's Joaquín Durán, who said "these fases of play are those that you like to comment over, the ones that taste of good football and a good player. One of the most beautiful goals I've commented on in my career." Francisco played in many derbies, games that evoked huge tension, but at the end of the ninety minutes everyone was back to being friends. Representing our city rivals was Antolín Ortega, perhaps the Betis player who got closest to the man from Osuna in the derbies. Heartfelt words but not without the usual banter of the two clubs: "I saw you without shin pads and I couldn't have played the game like that," said Ortega.  

Turning attention from Sevilla to the national team, Francisco is the second player, behind Navas, with the most international appearances whilst at Sevilla. On the basis of this feat, a congratulatory video from ex-teammates, such as Julio Alberto, Santillana, Víctor Muñoz, Ricardo Gallego, José Antonio Camacho and Luis Arconada, was shown to Francisco. Representing the comradeship was Míchel, who dedicated some loving and humble words to his former teammate: "You're four months older than me, but you were a father figure to everyone. The national team's number ten and when we came to the national camp, we knew we had to be around you. This induction puts you in the football history books and cements your status as a legend. Francisco deserves a day like today." 

Even the refereeing cohort wanted to contribute to the celebrations with a video from the president of the referring committee, Luis Medina Cantalejo. However, the other half of his career could not go without a mention as his time at RCD Espanyol was also significant. Veteran journalist, Tomás Guasch, co-presented the event and in his opening speech said that "it is true that there is a gate 18 in Cornellá with your name on it, but I don't understand why the rest of the clubs don't do this. 

RCD Espanyol also played their part in the tribute

In closing, words from the legendary José María Calzón, who told some anecdotes from that time at Espanyol and presented Francisco with a replica of one of the chimneys of the La Pedrera house in Barcelona. And it was precisely during that period in Catalonia, away from his family so that his children could continue in Seville, that Fernando López, Francisco's son, who moved his father even more with a beautiful speech in which professionalism was scraped for a brief moment, but in which he logically referred to the Francisco he knows best, the father and also the Sevilla fan. Before the more institutional speeches and the closing speech by Francisco himself, there were also some beautiful words from the Secretary of his parish, the Gran Poder, Pedro Ruiz-Berdejo. The moment for the official induction was getting closer, but before that, Sevilla council's sports representative, José David Guevara García, gave Francisco a silver-plated mini Giralda ornament for his contribution to the good name of the city. 

The president took the floor, but before passing the award over, and outlined "the charm of Francisco's football" ,where as the legend himself thanked the club, not just for the presentation, but a whole life of Sevilla: "For the years I have remaining, it's impossible for me to give the club what they have already given me." Once the ceremony finished, it was time for snapshots, just before giving way to the family lunch on an unforgettable day for Francisco and for all those who have been and are with him on a daily basis.