Helmut Duckadam: Steaua Bucharest European Cup hero dies aged 65

Romanian football lost “a legend and a role model” on Monday as European Cup-winning goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam died at the age of 65.

Nicknamed the ‘Hero of Seville’, Duckadam helped Steaua Bucharest upset Barcelona to become European champions in 1986.

Duckadam saved all four of Barca’s penalties as Steaua won the shootout 2-0, after the final finished 0-0 after extra time.

It remains the only major European trophy won by a Romanian club.

“Romanian football lost a legend and we, all of us who love this sport, lost a role model,” said Razvan Burleanu, president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF).

“Helmut Duckadam was not only an exceptional goalkeeper, but a symbol of the impossible transformed into reality.

“Through his heroic performance in Seville, he put Romania on the map of world football.”

The FRF added that Duckadam, who made two appearances for Romania in 1982, is an “iconic figure of Romanian sport and his memory will live on in the hearts of football fans”.

A moment of silence will be held in memory of Duckadam before the matches of the current and next stage of all competitions organised by the FRF, plus the senior and under-19s women’s national teams.

Steaua were renamed in 2017 as FCSB, who said: “FCSB expresses its regret to all the players and employees of the club for the loss of the legendary Helmut Duckadam. Our club offers its condolences to the grieving family.”