FILE PHOTO: Steaua Bucharest goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam gestures after he receives flowers from fans at the start of the anniversary rematch of the 1986 European Cup final against Barcelona/File Photo
(Reuters) - Former Steaua Bucharest goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam, known as the "Hero of Seville" after saving four penalties in the 1986 European Cup final shootout win over Barcelona, died on Monday aged 65, the Romanian club said in a statement.
Steaua held Barca to a 0-0 draw after extra time, the first European Cup final to finish goalless, and despite missing their first two penalties won the shootout 2-0 thanks to Duckadam's heroics as he saved all four of the Catalan club's spot kicks.
"It was a game of logic. After I saved the first penalty from Alexanko, I put myself in the penalty taker's position, thinking: 'If the goalkeeper had saved a penalty to the right, what would I do now?' he told the UEFA website years later.
"The goalkeeper would normally change to the left, so I went to the right. And that was best seen on the third penalty, when I was 100% sure Pichi Alonso would aim to the right as well ..."
Steaua's triumph marked the first time a team from Eastern Europe had won the continent's elite club competition.
"When we returned home the next day, more than 15,000 people were waiting for us at Otopeni airport," said Duckadam, who later became Steaua's club president.
"Leaving the airport, there were tens of thousands of people who applauded us until we arrived at the stadium. It was a fantastic atmosphere – something that you only experience once in a lifetime, or never."
Duckadam, who made two appearances for Romania in his career, was named Romanian Footballer of the Year and finished eighth in the Ballon d'Or rankings that year.
His heroics in the European Cup final at the age of 27 came in his last game at the highest level.
Duckadam's career was interrupted shortly after the final due to a rare blood disorder, resulting in a three-year break from the game before he eventually retired in 1991.
"FCSB (Steaua Bucharest) expresses the regret of all players and employees of the club for the loss of the legendary Helmut Duckadam, who passed away today," Steau said on Instagram. "Our club offers condolences to the grieving family."
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
