'Magnificent player, even better person'

Cardiac arrest

'Diamond'
On Tuesday, Sevilla president José María Del Nido said: "Today is one of the saddest days in the history of Sevilla FC. That diamond left foot of Antonio Puerta has left us, that left foot that changed our lives has left us." The Andalusian team had been scheduled to play a UEFA Champions League qualifying tie against AEK Athens FC in Greece on Tuesday but this was postponed by UEFA after consultations with the two clubs and their national associations.

UEFA Cup hero
Puerta's name was inextricably linked to Sevilla's unprecedented recent success in European competition. He had scored the extra-time goal that won the UEFA Cup semi-final against FC Schalke 04 in April 2006 and would appear as a substitute in the final defeat of Middlesbrough FC. He surpassed those achievements by converting the winning penalty in last season's UEFA Cup final against RCD Espanyol following a 2-2 draw in Glasgow.

Coach's tribute
Athletic Club Bilbao boss Joaquin Caparrós, formerly Puerta's coach at Sevilla, said: "I feel like everyone else does in football, although in my case I was fortunate to know him better. He was a magnificent player and an even better person, with great humanity and such a promising career. I have so many memories of him ... training, talking, his debut, his first goal against [CD]Numancia. He had succeeded at every stage of his Sevilla career and had a tremendous future ahead of him." Puerta had made his Sevilla debut in the 2003/04 campaign, going on to play 55 Primera División games for his hometown side.

'Great worth'
His progress earned a first Spain cap against Sweden in October 2006, and national team coach Luis Aragonés said: "At this time, all that is left for me to do is share the family's grief and give them all my affection. Puerta's great worth is above any other consideration." The player also lifted the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Super Cup during a glittering last 12 months for Sevilla.

'Horribly sad'
Sevilla team-mate Andreas Hinkel said: "During the Getafe [CF] match the situation didn't seem that dramatic. He even walked back to the dressing room. If we had known it was that serious we wouldn't have carried on playing. We are dismayed at what's happened and can't believe it. We had been told he was on a respirator and that he was improving. It's horribly sad because his girlfriend is expecting a baby." UEFA said on Wednesday that a special tribute will be paid to the memory of Puerta prior to Sevilla's UEFA Super Cup match against AC Milan in Monaco on Friday.