Francisco Reyes collects the award from Raúl Puerta
The Club

REMEMBERING JOSÉ ANTONIO REYES AT THE III EL DESMARQUE AWARDS GALA

03/12/2019
The Cartuja Center was filled with people for a ceremony hosted by the journalist, Manu Carreño and the comedian, Manu Sánchez

Monday 2nd December 2019 was a memorbale day as the III El Desmarque Awards Gala, organised by the sports website, ElDesmarque, took place at the Cartuja Center, and many familiar faces from within sport were in attendance. Born in Seville, but celebrating sporting achievements on a national leve, the event once again took place in the Andalusian capital and there was no shortage of Sevilla FC representation. The President, José Castro, alongside his advisors Luis Castro, Carolina Alés, Luis Galán and José María Manzano attended the ceremony. Moreover, Sporting Director Monchi, the manager Julen Lopetegui, and first-team players Jesús Navas and Tomas Vaclík were present also.

One of the most poignant moments of the night was when an award was awarded in memory of José Antonio Reyes. Collecting on it on his behalf was none other than his father, Francisco Reyes, who couldn't hold back the tears whilst Raúl Puerta handed him the award, whilst all the attendees gave a round of applause. The rest of the winners were: Michael Johnson (Legend), Ivan Rakitic (Values), the Spain Men's National Basketball team (Excellence), Alberto Contador (Career Achievements), Iker Munian (Training), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (Experience), the Seve Ballesteros Foundation (Solidarity), Álex Corretja (Outreach), Abel Antón (Exemplary), the Spain Women's National Football Team (Improvement), Sarai Gascón (Improvement), María Pujol (Equality) and the singer, José Mercé for his commitment to music and sport, (Commitment).

One of the people who was the most emotional during the giving of the award to José Antonio Reyes was none other than his former teammate, Ivan Rakitic, who returned to the city that he fell in love with to attend the awards gala, and also made it clear that one day, he would like to return to Sevilla FC: "I've always said it. If the opportunity comes up where it could happen, then everyone already knows that I'd love that. I always said that if I could go back to any team that I've played for, it would be Sevilla FC, I hope that it happens in the future".