Hugo Sotil lifeless aged 75: Tributes pour in for Barcelona legend and Johan Cruyff’s unimaginable strike accomplice after passing away with ‘well being downside’

Former Barcelona forward Hugo Sotil has died at the age of 75 the club announced on Sunday.

Sotil had been hospitalised under intensive care in his native Peru on December 20, with a reports stating that he was suffering with a ‘health issue’.

Born in the city of Ica, Sotil emerged as a promising sporting talent and helped Deportivo Municipal to promotion top flight in his first senior season at the club.

Nicknamed ‘El Cholo’ he would go on to become one of the most recognisable names in Latin American football during the early 1970s before taking his fame to new heights when he joined Barcelona in 1973. 

In his first season with the Catalan club Sotil would form an formidable partnership with Johan Cruyff as Sotil netted 17 goals in all competitions.

Barcelona would be crowned champions of Spain for the first time in 14 years during his maiden campaign, and Sotil’s shouting ‘Mum, we are champions’ on a phone call to his mother after the title was secured has gone down in the club’s folklore.

Former Barcelona forward Hugo Sotil has died at the age of 75 following a ‘health issue’

A team-mate of the legendary Johan Cruyff, Sotil was part of the Barcelona side that were crowned champions of Spain in his first season at the club 

Sotil also earned 62 caps for Peru, and was part of the team that reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1970 and 1978

Despite an impressive debut season at the club, Sotil would subsequently be frozen out as the arrival of Dutch midfielder Johan Neeskens took up one of the club’s allocations for foreign players.

He later returned to action for the Blaugrana and ended his four-year stint in the Catalan capital having made 111 appearances for the club.

Sotil’s love for Barcelona never wavered, and in 2014 he said: ‘The love of the people of Barca is unforgettable. The day I die I hope they bury me in a Barca shirt.’

Sotil also won 62 caps for his country and was part of the team that reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1970, which remains the country’s join-best performance in the competition.

He was also part of the 1975 Copa America-winning side, joining up with his international team-mates for the final of the tournament and scoring the winning goal against Colombia.

After the news of Sotil’s passing spread online, tributes to the former star were posted on social media.

Barcelona’s official X account wrote: ‘Farewell to Hugo ‘Cholo’ Sotil, one of the best South American players of his era, and one of the fan favorites at Barca during his time at the Club.’

Another user wrote: ‘One of the legends of our Peruvian football, Hugo Sotil, has passed away, leaving us a wonderful legacy.’

A third added: ‘Thanks to Barca for remembering and giving a place to such an outstanding Peruvian as Hugo ‘El Cholo’ Sotil.’