Legends remember Juan Cruz Sol

Ricardo Arias

"The news has left me broken. You always hope for good news, and we were very aware of Juan's condition; he had been ill and we were worried about him. This has hit us very hard. He was well loved, generous, polite and respectful to everyone.

I enjoyed my time alongside him as a teammate, and also our time together since my return to the club. We have been side-by-side for the last six years

Juan never stopped being who he was. He was a lovely man, who always opened his arms to you for anything you needed. He was very loved and highly respected. Those 'upstairs' have gained a great player, but a great person has left us. He was an example of how you to behave humbly and honestly within a club. "

I rarely saw Juan angry. He was always in a good mood, he treated everyone the same, and he was always there for friends. He had just met his first grandson. Our thoughts are with his widow, Paola, and his children. The club will be there for whatever they need, and he will be honoured as he deserves. Juan has more than earned all the recognition that we can make of his life. Due to the current situation, unfortunately that cannot be done as a public tribute. He was a person who lived for Valencia CF. He has always spoken well of the club. The best we can do now is honour him."

José Vicente Former

"Juan was a great man. We were together from Juvenil level at Valencia CF, and also did military service together. He was another son in my household. My brother and sister considered him to be a brother."

Fernando Giner

“Another person who totally identified with Valencia CF has left us. He was a very good person. He also looked after us as a delegate and board member. Juan was a protective person. He showed great respect and always fulfilled the function requested of him. I send my best wishes to his family. Another one of us has gone. What will stick with me is his friendliness, and his understanding nature as a person, whether as a player, as a delegate or as a board member. He was a great person who identified with all of us and with a passion for Valencia CF."

Vicente Guillot

“I am very hurt, because he was a great teammate and a great friend. He was a loveable person who you can't forget. A great player has left us, who was an even better person. He would give you anything you asked him for, if it was in his powers -and if not, he would try everything possible to get it for you. He didn't have a single enemy, and that says a lot about a person. He was international and essential. He was fast, and a great header of the ball."

Miguel Bossio

"We've received two very bad pieces of news during this past month: First the death of Españeta, and now the passing of Juan Cruz Sol. It fills us with sadness, and also with gratitude for all that they have done for us, and for everything that they worked for at this club. We feel tremendously consoled and supported by those around Valencia CF.

The only thing left to do is to give our best wishes to his family: To Paola, his two daughters and to his grandson. This image of him that is on the facade at Mestalla will always be proudly displayed."

Voro

“It is a sad day. He wasn't well, but you never expect it this moment. It is a sad day because Juan was an endearing person, with a big heart -a very good person. He transmitted that in every conversation. He received a lot of affection because he earned it with the way he was. We shared many hours together and we laughed a lot. The war wounds had taken a toll on him, because in our days there were not as many medical advances as now, but he never lost his smile. He never spoke ill of anyone. He was very loving and very human. The players loved him very much because he was very attentive to them. It was impossible for him to have any enemies."

Dario Felman

“He was a great guy. He always reached out to friends. He  had a spectacular journey during his life. I will remember him for the respect that we had for each other, and for the affection he had for Valencia CF and his friends."

Frank Arnesen

“It's a very sad day for everyone, especially for Paola and their daughters, but also for all of his friends. Sol had many friends, because as a person he was phenomenonal. I met him before joining Valencia CF, and when I came to Valencia Juan was here to help me in every aspect. When I was at Chelsea FC, I asked Juan for help to do an important job from Spain and we worked together for almost six years. He was aways helping those who had problems.

All the people we met at Chelsea are all shocked and have called me about Juan's death, because he left such a legacy as a person. He is one of the best people I have ever met, and I am very proud to have known Juan."

Pepe Claramunt

“The death of a friend, as Juan was, hurts me a lot. He was a person with sensational charisma and great values as a human, as a teammate ad a friend. It hurts a lot when a close person and a person with Juan's charisma leave us, especially as he has suffered so much in recent years. He was all joy, always devoted to friends, and always had words of love and affection. I appreciated him as a brother."