Barcelona legend Hugo Sotil passes away at 78

Former Barcelona Peruvian striker Hugo 'Cholo' Sotil died on Monday at the age of 78, according to the Catalan club.

Born in Ica (Peru) on May 18, 1946, Sotil was considered one of the best South American players of his time and stood out as a skillful, elusive, courageous and intuitive striker.

Hailing from Municipal de Lima, in his first season as a Azulgrana he played every game in the 1973-74 Liga, where he played alongside the likes of Cruyff, Rexach, Asensi and Marcial.

For a long time the Camp Nou stands were filled with the chant “Cholooo, Cholooo!” in his honor. And he was the protagonist of an endearing anecdote that took place when Barca won the league title at El Molinón. On April 7, 1974, Sotil called his mother from the locker room to tell her a phrase that went down in the 'Cules' history: “Mamita, we won the league!

The following season, Sotil dropped down the pecking order, as the signing of Johan Neeskens made it impossible for him to play until he obtained dual nationality, which took much longer than expected. Finally, in the 1975-76 season he was able to play official matches with Barca, but he was never the same again. In 1977 he signed for Alianza de Lima.

On May 17, 1984, a tribute was paid to him at the Miniestadi with a veterans' match between the 1974 team and a South American team. “Ever since I left Barça I was waiting for that moment. I like Barcelona, the friendliness of its people, the affection of its fans,” he said at the conclusion of the match.

Decades later, on October 30, 2014, Sotil once again showed his love for Barcelona from Lima: “All that affection that the people of Barça gave me cannot be forgotten. The day I die, I hope they bury me with the Barcelona jersey”.

Last November, 'Cholo' Sotil visited what has always been his home, coinciding with FC Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations.

 

December 30, 2024