MONCHI: "I WANTED TO BE JUAN CARLOS UNZUÉ AND I STILL DO AS HE IS AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW"

The induction of Juan Carlos Unzué into the hall of fame was an emotional moment. Among those who spoke were the goalkeepers themselves Ramón Rodríguez 'Monchi', Julen Lopetegui, Andrés Palop and Andoni Zubizarreta, who began the congratulations in the Sánchez-Pizjuán towards Unzué. 

It was the current Sevilla FC coach who was first to take to the floor who was emotional after recognising that he was honouring his own hero: "I had what I was going to say to you prepared but I prefer to talk about us. An example, inspiring... When we were 18 I hid you in my house to avoid journalists. We could write a book. Neither of us knew that you would become someone so exemplary. You would push us to the limit in training and now how you face each day, something I try to follow day to day. You are my real hero. I thank you for all you represent. Sevilla FC's motto can have no better legacy than you." 

In turn, Andoni Zubizarreta made a comparison with the goalkeeper position and this 'one on one'. "I thank you every day for what you have taught us and what you continue to teach us. It is a question of life and skin. Yesterday I saw an ALS event with Athletic and this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't opened the gap. You have brought together the ones who wear the number 1 shirt. The strange ones. The ones who are never recognised, who never win the Balón de Oro. What you are doing is an example of a one on one without giving an advantage, enduring, never surrendering and defending the goal until the end. You demonstrate the idea that you are never alone in football and in life." 

Palop: "You are the best goalkeeper - a hall of fame goalkeeper" 

The sporting director Monchi also took to the floor, who considered his friend and teammate as an example both on and off the pitch: "I am going to tell a story. I played for seven years with Juan Carlos and I had the opportunity to live with him and grow. I wanted to be Juan Carlos Unzué, he was a reflection to look at for a recently arrived youth team player. I tried to do everything the same as him. I drank sparkling water because Juan Carlos gave it to me. I used the same cologne as him. The boots, the gloves... Everything which I tried to improve, develop was focused on him. It was difficult going to all the training sessions knowing I wasn't going to play and my career as a goalkeeper has a lot to do with trying to copy his example. Now I also want to be Juan Carlos because he has given us an example to focus on. Thank you for everything you said to me in the past and thanks for everything you are doing now and will do in the future." 

To close, Andrés Palop referenced Unzué's journey from Sevilla, something that together with his fight today, and how it led to the goalkeeper going far. "I played with Juan Carlos in Osasuna and I faced a lot of goalkeepers. I want to tell you not about the number but about the legend behind the number. The best example of a number one, having been the goalkeeper at the Sánchez-Pizjuán for many seasons. In your time at the club, you were essential, for the coaches as well. The person to follow was Luis Arconada. It is a privilege to share the record of the most penalty saves with you. Today you are inducted into the hall of fame. A lovely moment in a difficult time. All of the hall of fame members know the keys to having a strong mentality, balancing positive and negatives. Now it doesn't surprise me how you face this new challenge with strength and bravery. You continue going far because your path is now more beautiful than when you were in goal at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Thank you for everything you have done and for everything that you continue to do at Sevilla FC your name will always be written in gold. I will always be proud to say 'I played in goal alongside Juan Carlos Unzué Labiano."