Last farewell to Josep Maria Fusté

FC Barcelona has honoured the memory of club legend Josep Maria Fusté who passed away this week with an impeccably observed minute's silence at Spotify Camp Nou prior to kick-off against Atlético Madrid on Sunday.

A few hours earlier, the Les Corts funeral parlour was the venue for the ceremony of the player who died at the age of 82 years. FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta was joined by vice-presidents Rafa Yuste, Antonio Escudero and Juli Guiu in representation of the club.

Also in attendance were Juan Manuel Asensi, president of the Barça Players Group; Pere Valentí Mora, vice-president; and Antonio Olmo, secretary. Former club president Joan Gaspar and such former players as Carles Rexach and Guillermo Amor were also there to pay their last respects.

After retirement, Josep Maria Fusté ran the Veterans Group at Barça from 1976 to 1989, the year he was one of the pre-candidates in the FC Barcelona presidential elections. Since 2010, he has served as an advisor to the FC Barcelona Board of Directors.

Fusté was one of the most charismatic Barça players in the 1960s, having arrived at the club at just 12 years of age. He rose up through the youth ranks before going on loan to Osasuna from 1960-62 while he was doing military service in Pamplona.

When he left Barça at the end of the 1971/72 season, his trophy haul included three Spanish Cups (1962/63, 1967/68 and 1970/71) and one Fairs Cup (1965/66), having amassed 406 appearances and scored 117 goals. The club played a testimonial in his honour on 30 August 1972.