( R.i.p ) - MIKLOS FEHER - ( R.i.p )

CAREER...

Miklós Fehér, born on the 20 of July 1979, was a striker in the Hungarian football team. He started playing at Győri ETO FC before moving to SL Benfica. Fehér was first seen by F.C. Porto scouts while playing in Hungary at Győri ETO FC. He was signed in 1998 but he never really made a breakthrough in the team, and being relatively young he was loaned to gain experience. He joined another Porto club, SC Salgueiros on loan. Having an average season he was loaned this time to S.C. Braga where he had his best season scoring 14 goals in 26 matches. After the F.C. Porto chairman Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa quarreled with agent José Veiga (Fehér's agent amongst other players), Fehér refused to let go his agent and left. He joined Lisbon side S.L. Benfica scoring 7 goals in 28 matches.


DEATH...

On 25 January 2004, Benfica travelled to Guimarães to play Vitória S.C.. The game was being broadcast live on television and Benfica were leading 1-0. Fehér received a yellow card in injury time and suddenly bent forward seemingly in pain and then fell backwards to the ground. Team mates rushed immediately to aid Fehér before medical personnel arrived on the pitch. CPR was performed as players looked on in visible distress, as well as the match official who tragically still held in his hand the yellow card with which he had booked Fehér only moments earlier. An ambulance arrived on the pitch and Fehér was rushed to hospital. His condition was covered by the Portuguese media throughout the day but before midnight Fehér's death was confirmed. The Public Prosecutor (the Portuguese agency responsible for the release of autopsy details) announced that Fehér died from ventricular fibrillation brought on by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was 24 years old.

In memory of him, Benfica have retired the number 29 shirt which he wore during his time at the club. This shirt number will never be worn again by a Benfica player. He was remembered by many and his death caused a profound shock in Portuguese sport. Although Fehér left the FC Porto for their big rivals of Lisbon, after his death, Reinaldo Telles - Director of Football of FC Porto - and José Mourinho - the manager at the time - paid their respect at the Estádio da Luz, where his body was.