BUCHAREST, Hungary — Helmuth Duckadam, the former goalkeeper for Steaua Bucharest who etched his name into football history by saving four penalties during the thrilling 1986 European Cup final against Barcelona, has passed away at the age of 65.
The Romanian football club announced his passing on their official Facebook page, expressing profound sorrow over the loss.
“Today, we mourn the departure of Helmuth Duckadam, a remarkable figure in both Steaua’s illustrious history and Romanian football. His absence leaves a tremendous void in our hearts,” stated Steaua’s post.
The club conveyed their heartfelt condolences to his family and emphasized Duckadam’s lasting impact, referring to him as the “Hero of Sevilla,” a title he earned following his spectacular performance in the final held at Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
Expectations were high for Barcelona to prevail, but they found themselves thwarted by Duckadam’s outstanding goalkeeping. The match ended without any goals, and Steaua triumphed in the penalty shootout, winning 2-0.
Duckadam’s memorable four saves were later highlighted by UEFA in a video shared on social media.
With a distinctive moustache, Duckadam accurately predicted the direction of the penalties, diving three times to his right and once to his left, all while facing an audience of Barcelona fans positioned behind the goal during the shootout.
After completing his third save, Duckadam appeared overwhelmed by the moment, collapsing to his knees in disbelief before covering his face in astonishment. Following his fourth save, he jubilantly threw the ball into the air and ran towards his teammates in celebration.
“The European football community is saddened by the passing of Helmuth Duckadam at the age of 65,” UEFA remarked in a statement.
Duckadam claimed the title of Romania’s soccer player of the year in 1986, a recognition largely attributed to his remarkable performance in the European Cup final.
He served as the goalkeeper for Steaua Bucharest from 1982 until 1986 and made two appearances for the Romanian national team during his career.