The Betics are in mourning. Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, businessman and former president of Real Betis, died this Saturday night in Seville at the age of 79. The one who was president of the club between 1992 and 2010 left us due to diverticulitis, as confirmed by his family.
Ruiz de Lopera, known by those close to him as ‘Don Manué’, has not been able to overcome the latest medical problems, which caused him to be admitted to the ICU of the Santa Isabel clinic in Seville on January 5 due to a chronic intestinal ailment.
The most prominent figures of the Betic club have said goodbye to the legendary president, among them Joaquín Sánchez, with whom he had a special relationship. The man from Cádiz, whom he almost sent to Albacete before signing for Valencia, has dedicated some emotional words to his teammate on social networks.
“Rest in peace, Don Manuel,” the Betis legend shared on Instagram along with an image in which both appear hugging. Likewise, the club itself mourned the death of Lopera: “Condolences for the death of Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, the club’s largest shareholder and president during the period 1992-2010.”
Lopera starred in countless anecdotes during his presidency, one of the most popular being the one he lived with Joaquín. When the man from Cádiz decided to leave Betis, he told Lopera, who stated that he could send him to any team that wore white, which is why he told him that he would play for Albacete or he would be fined several million.
Joaquín ended up making the journey to La Mancha, where there was no one waiting for him. Of course, the trip was not in vain, since he returned loaded with some high-quality Manchego cheeses.
