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Football

01st Jun 2019

Former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes dies in car crash

Patrick McCarry

The former Gunners and Spain attacker was only 35 years old.

Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a car crash, it has been confirmed by Spanish authorities.

Reyes, who lined out for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and made 21 appearances for the Spanish national side, was involved in a car crash on Saturday morning and his untimely passing has been confirmed. Former club Sevilla tweeted:

‘We couldn’t be confirming worse news. Beloved Sevilla star José Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic collision. Rest in peace.’

Former Gunners teammate Freddie Ljungberg was “numbed” by the news:

Jose Antonio Reyes, who won league titles with Arsenal and Real, was playing for Segunda Division side Extremadura and had only recently finished up his 20th season in the professional game.

He made his debut for Sevilla at the age of just 16 and moved to Arsenal, five years later, in January 2004.

(L-R) Arsenal players Gilberto, Robert Pires, Ashley Cole and Jose Antonio Reyes celebrate Pires’ goal during a match against Middlesbrough at Highbury on August 22, 2004 in London. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

He helped the ‘Invincibles’ to the Premier League title that season and the FA Cup the following season and scored 23 goals in 110 appearances before he moved back to Spain.

 

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