Today is the 30th anniversary of the death of Juan Gómez, Juanito, one of Real Madrid's greatest legends. The former madridista died in a road traffic accident on his way back to Mérida on April 2, 1992, after attending a match at the Santiago Bernabéu against Torino F.C. He was 37 years old at the time and the head coach of Mérida.

Juanito was born on November 10, 1954, in Fuengirola, Malaga, and played for Real Madrid between 1977 and 1987. He scored 121 goals in 401 competitive appearances for our club, winning two UEFA Cups, five LaLiga titles, two Copas del Rey, one Copa de la Liga, and one Pichichi Award.

Since that tragic day, madridismo has chants, "Illa, illa, illa, Juanito maravilla," in the seventh minute of every game at the Santiago Bernabéu. Juanito's playing style was a perfect blend of quality and raw determination, and he was at the center of countless memorable moments in Real Madrid history, including his joyous leap after a huge comeback against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1985/86 UEFA Cup.