17.08.2009, 04:42
Urios Fonseca retires

The legendary line player of Ciudad Real gives up after a long knee injury.

Urios Fonseca retires

Rolando Urios Fonseca will never step on court again. The serious injury of his right knee forced him to finish his professional career. His club, Ciudad Real, decided to retire the number that Urios wore during his years at the club. Accordingly, no one will receive the number 17 in Ciudad Real again. The line player of Cuban origin will work for the youth sector of the club.

Urios Fonseca played in Cuba, Hungary, France and Spain. He wore the national shirt of the Cuban and the Spanish national team. He was always listed among the best line players in the history of Ciudad Real. The Spanish club is looking for a good date to organise a farewell game for Urios as Kiel did it for Lovgren.

Urios explained this new situation with mixed feelings.

“It is a very difficult moment. It is hard not to go for the training sessions any more and to look at the changing room full of new faces… I often look at the court. I would like to finish my career on the court, but my injuries do allow me this,” Urios said at a press conference.

Regarding his new duties, he said:

“I’m very motivated with my new role to work with young players at the club. We have to do an important work and I feel that I can help the young talents of Ciudad.

“Evdokimov and Aginagalde can replace me in the first squad. They are great players, but I would like that my son (10 now) to be my successor sometime”.

Urios looks back on his career with satisfaction.

“I remember Bayamo, Cuba, where I played as pivot, goalkeeper, winger… I was the tallest and I played all positions. All the titles were important for me. The first Cup Winners’ Cup with Ciudad was also beautiful.”

However, not only good memories stay after such a long career.

“I will never forget Vladimir Rivero Hernandez. He died as the Spanish footballer Jarque some days ago. It was very hard for me. Fis, Ivo Diaz, Reinaldo Perez and me, we were great friends of him and it was a shock for us. However, we had to go on”, Urios recalled.

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goni