Juan Carlos Unzue suffers from ALS, a progressive neurogenerative disease. The former First Division goalkeeper, at 53 years old, has developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. After various tests and having noticed a series of symptoms, finally, he has been diagnosed with the disease that affects the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. A disease without cure and whose causes are still unknown. At 13:00 this Thursday is scheduled for a press conference.
Unzué faces ALS as a challenge in which it is necessary to give visibility to this disease. He does it “excited” with the intention of helping in the search for resources to find a treatment for all those who suffer it. Several athletes are affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Former football players Kevin Turner, O. J. Brigance, Orlando Thomas, Tim Shaw and Steve Gleason currently have it. Also ex-soccer players like Marián Cisovsky, Stephen Darby, Doddie Weir or Rob Burrow. Carlos Matallanas, former AS player and columnist, is also an ALS patient.
Unzué is a classic of the Spanish League. He was a player and he was being a coach. As a goalkeeper, Unzué defended the goal of Osasuna (1986-1988), Barcelona (1988-1990), Seville (1990-1997), Tenerife (1997-1999), Oviedo (1999-2001) and, again, Osasuna (2001 -2003). In total, he played 318 First Division matches, 54 in the Copa del Rey and 10 in European competitions. In addition, he was international U-21. After retiring, Unzué has had a career as a coach. First, since 2003, he was a goalkeeping coach under Rijkaard in Barcelona. He also held that position from 2008 to 2010, with Guardiola as coach. That year he made the leap and became Numancia's first coach, before returning to Barça to lead the goalkeepers again. In 2013 he began his adventure with Luis Enrique. He did it as his second at Celta and both took the step together the following season and took over Barcelona. That society gave Barcelona two leagues, three cups and a Champions League. Unzué returned to Celta in 2017, but already as the first coach. It was a one season stay. Girona was his next team, also as head coach, in 2019, but he was dismissed last October. His son, Aitor, is currently a collaborator of Luis Enrique in the Spanish National Team, as third coach and analyst.