The Spanish football pays tribute to Juan Carlos Unzué with the distinguished RFEF “Platinum Award” for coaches

The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzán, has presented Juan Carlos Unzué with the ‘Platinum award’, an award from the Coaches’ Committee of the RFEF for being a role model for Spanish football, both on and off the pitch.

The president of the RFEF, who met with the goalkeeper and coach, highlighted the example Unzué sets in life for society on the whole: “You are an example to many, through your career and your life circumstances. Sometimes we think life is easy, but life is just the way it is. You are a model of courage, of taking a challenge in your stride. Your wife and children knew you were going to play a big role, but you do so not only for yourself, but also for all the people who are yet to come. You should feel very proud of that,” he said.

Since being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) six years ago, the Navarrese has become one of the leading figures in raising awareness of the disease. Admirable in the way he faces each day, although he now needs assistance to maintain his mobility, the Barcelona-based coach says that “accepting it is the key.” Unzué never loses his smile in a process in which he has shown an admirable ability to adapt and overcome difficulties: “I wanted to make the most of the public image I have, to use the platform I have from being well known. But I feel very supported, I’m very lucky,” the former footballer told the president of the RFEF.

Furthermore, as he often repeats, “complaining solves absolutely nothing.” He sends out a message of life, making the most of every minute, as he continues to do. In the meantime, he continues to receive affection and respect, such as this distinction from the RFEF, Spanish football, and the Coaches’ Committee chaired by Iván Cancela, with the recognition of the ‘Platinum Award’, presented to him by president Rafael Louzán.

After finishing his career as a footballer, Juan Carlos Unzué retrained in order to keep on working in football from the bench, starting out as Assistant Coach at FC Barcelona in 2008 under Pep Guardiola, before stepping up as Head Coach to manage CD Numancia in the Second Division in the 2010-11 season. After that experience he alternated roles as Goalkeeping Coach and Assistant Coach at RC Celta and FC Barcelona, serving as Head Coach at RC Celta during the 2017-18 season in the First Division and at Girona FC, a team he started coaching in the 2019-20 campaign.