HEARTFELT TRIBUTES TO JOSÉ ANTONIO REYES ON SFC RADIO SPECIAL

Heartfelt tributes from friends and teammates of José Antonio Reyes poured in on a SFC Radio special yesterday, after the tragic death of the 35 year old in a traffic accident. 

The first to pay tribute was Pablo Alfaro, a former Sevilla FC captain: "We're in total shock. It's something you don't expect and hits you so hard... He was just a kid. In football he was a veteran but in life, what are 35 years... You're still not able to string three thoughts together. Those who had the fortune to share the changing room with him, seeing him when he came up from the academy, the talent he had... But I'll remember the smile, he always had it. He was such a talented footballer, he moved up front with the ball stuck to his feet. I remember we used to say he ran more with the ball at his feet than his opponents did without it... That was given to him from above, from the same place that took him today". 

Coke: "José always had a smile for any situation"

Coke, who also shared a changing room with Reyes in his second spell at Sevilla FC, struggled to speak: "It's a huge loss for everyone. It's a very sad day, losing someone in this way, no one can understand what has happened... And you remember his smile, simple, he always had a smile for any situation, whatever was happening. On a group level he contributed so much". 

"He was a one of kind player and very difficult to replace, but his character, above that, went so much further. We are all in shock trying to process the news. I'll be left with so many memories of him, also bad moments we experienced together, things that bring people together... Spanish football is in mourning", Coke concluded.  

An fellow academy player Antoñito also spoke to SFC Radio, where he confessed he couldn't believe the news: "I have goosebumps, I can't believe it and that's what everyone's feeling".

Emery: "In every final he said to me... 'boss, if you want to win you already know I'm the talisman'"

José Antonio returned to his home of Sevilla FC under Unai Emery, not looking to retire - as he himself said - but to win titles. And that's exactly what he did. He, unforgettably, would be a key piece to lifting three UEFA Europa League titles with Emery. The former Sevilla boss said he always remembered him "with a smile, and that carried over to his teammates. Sometimes I had to laugh at his funny games in training". "In every final he always said to me... 'boss, if you want to win you already know I'm the talisman'... He had a very good relationship with Juan Martagón and used to go and play paddleball a lot with Reyes, I'd always tell him to not get injured. Whenever I talked to Juan I'd always ask about Reyes".  

Rafael Sierra remembered how painful it was to see Reyes leave to join Arsenal: "He left in tears, he didn't want to leave. At home where he lived with his parents, he always had friends that he paid the trips of to travel to be with him". Utrera, his native town, have declared two days of mourning for the footballer.  

Cesc Fábregas: "Reyes gave me life when I got to Arsenal, both him and his family"

Cesc Fábregas continued the tributes. having played with Reyes at Arsenal. He had kind words and was clearly moved, speaking to SFC Radio after he published an emotional letter on social media: "I'm destroyed. It's been tough because with news like this... the first thing you do is not believe it and the second is break down. I've found it so hard, it's been such a hard morning. Reyes was very special for me. When I arrived at Arsenal, he was the only other Spaniard there and he helped me so much. We both helped each other but for me it was fundamental support, he gave me life, both him and his family. They are things that stay with you for life". 

"He was a special guy. What I remember most with emotion is his smile. Today, with all the problems there are, we forget to smile, and that was like a trademark for him. He was always smiling, no matter what, a bad day, a bad morning... He always had a smile on his face, and I valued that very much. He was a humble person, always sociable... And this, nowadays, is hard to find, that's why I valued him very much", continued Cesc. 

"Reyes was made of a special breed, left-sided players like him... rare. He was a great person, one of those worth knowing. Spending part of your life with him is a very special memory and I still don't believe what has happened. It's a very sad day, with a lot of sorrow, and I'm going to remember him how he was, a great person who helped me in very special moments in my life. I will always be grateful to him and his family. I will always carry him in my heart," concluded his friend, Cesc Fabregas.