Palop fulfilled the dream of meeting Arconada

Everyone, if not an idol, if that person that when we were little we looked and we had as a role model to learn, to grow and improve, that example to follow as we dreamed one day to be one day and evening and even surpass his achievements. In the world of football, all those players we see today off the grass and dominate the ball masterfully were also children in the hope of becoming like the character he admired and tried to imitate it to be like them. Andrew Palop, Sevilla goalkeeper also had it and was Luis Miguel Arconada, the legendary goalkeeper of Real Sociedad and the Spanish team in the 70 and 80. You can believe that professional footballers are easily within reach of their power to meet those players who idolized small, however it was not until yesterday, at 38 years and taking advantage of the visit of Seville Anoeta, whichever house Arconada many years (although in his case was Atocha) when Palop could finally meet his idol.

Palop was eleven when he played at Euro Arconada France in 1984. Spain reach the final to face the hosts where they lost by two goals to nil. Arconada was not lucky in the first goal when he launched a foul Platini no apparent danger that the goalkeeper Sebastian is slipped under the body up to the networks. Unfairly remembered with often Arconada for this mistake, which was not at all common in him, not so great archer was. 24 years later, Palop could pay the best tribute to his idol when with Spain was proclaimed champion of Europe in Austria, enfundándose in holding that same shirt dress then Arconada.

The former goalkeeper of the Real was present at the Ernst Happel in Vienna invited by Platini in a good detail of who would mark that goal. Upon learning of the honor of entering the locker room Palop wanted to say hello and thank you for the gesture, but the iron security measures prevented this. But yesterday, Palop, who also pays homage to every game Arconada wearing white stockings as she always did the San Sebastian, was finally able to personally meet and socialize with him amicably. The meeting seemed "too short, my time has passed very quickly and the pain is that it could not extend it because it was the lunch."

Arconada not only met but also one year later he returned to the Sevilla goal to meet the Royal Society (some say by fever Javi Varas and others because Michel has decided to change their goalkeeper, we will see in coming days), the worst, that his team could not win the game, but it certainly was yesterday one day you'll never forget. After being one of the greatest goalkeepers in the league, winning several titles such as Sevilla and become champion of Europe with Spain (which curiously has not reached debut) Palop could finally meet the one who inspired him in his day to reach All these successes.

PD. Being a little guy who liked to get the sticks of wood of the goal that was next to my house, my mirror in those years was Santiago Canizares: the hero of that game against Denmark. Since then I noticed his path rather than any other goalkeeper, his extraordinary performances in the Celtic, their few opportunities in their successes in Madrid or Valencia. And you, football fans, do you have any heroes or a player in which small fijasteis you more than any other?

Track | José Miguel Muñoz ( arconada.blogspot.com )