FORMER Real Madrid star Javier Dorado has passed away aged 48 after a brave battle with cancer.
The Spaniard was part of the Los Blancos academy system in 1996 before getting a promotion under Vicente del Bosque.
Tributes have flooded in to honour and remember Dorado, who made his Madrid debut in 1999 against Valencia in the Copa del Rey.
He won the Champions League a season later with Liverpool legend Steve McManaman, who scored an incredible volley in Madrid‘s 2-0 victory over Valencia.
Dorado was part of the squad that beat Manchester United over two legs in the quarter-finals of that winning 2000 campaign.
But, in his second campaign, Dorado made only seven appearances due to a fierce competition with Brazilian icon Roberto Carlos.
READ MORE FOOTBALL
The left-back was loaned out to UD Salamanca and Sporting Gijon, before leaving joining Rayo Vallecano on a permanent basis.
He continued his career with other Spanish sides, such as Mallorca and Atletico Baleares, where he retired in 2012 at the age of 35.
Dorado had been battling cancer since 2022, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
The former defender told El Comercio a few months ago: “I’ve been here for a while now.
Most read in Football
“And I hope that this time this nightmare will end, that we can go out and be at peace.
“I’ve been fighting for years and the tough treatments take their toll , especially when they end because they leave me a little more tired and a little more affected, but I try to lead a normal life.”
A club statement on Thursday read: ‘Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Javier Dorado.
“We would like to express its condolences and affection to his family, his team-mates, all his loved ones and all the clubs he was a part of.
“During the two seasons he played for Real Madrid, Javier Dorado won one European Cup, the Eighth in Paris (2000).”
Born in Talavera de la Reina, Dorado also featured in four matches for Spain‘s Under 21s between 1998 and 2000.
He made eight appearances for Madrid‘s first team, while most of his career games came in the Spanish second division.
A fan honoured his memory saying: “What a great player. May you rest in peace.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
