Amidst the jubilation and euphoria of the first title ofl Atletico Bucaramanga, Colombian football fans are shaken by news that dampens their joy. Juan Carlos Diaz, better known as “El Nene Diaz”a historic former player for Bucaramanga and other important clubs in the country, is in critical condition. The situation of Díaz, admitted to an Intensive Care Unit, has generated a wave of solidarity and prayers in the world of football.
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“I just talked to Oscar ‘Pájaro’ Juárez and with Guada Diaz, the daughter of “Nene” Juan Carlos Diaz, who is in very delicate health in an ICU, intubated and with a reserved prognosis due to a catheterization and pneumonia.. Many prayers for him, a great player and a wonderful human being,” confirmed sources close to the player.
The news has caused great commotion among his colleagues, fans and all those who know him, not only for his talent on the field of play, but also for his human qualities. “El Nene Díaz” has been a much loved and respected figure both in Argentina and in Colombia, where he left an indelible mark on the teams he played for.
The idol’s profile
Juan Carlos Díaz was born on September 10, 1957 in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires. From a young age he showed great talent for soccer, which allowed him to make his professional debut in 1975 with Club Atlético Los Andes. During his time at this club, he played 189 games and scored 31 goals, becoming an idol for the fans.
In 1981, Díaz was signed by Atlético Bucaramangathus beginning his love story with Colombian football. During his time with the ‘leopard’ team, he scored 26 goals in 134 games, and became a reference and an undisputed idol for the fans. His talent and leadership on the field made him a key piece for the team for three and a half seasons.
After his successful stint in Bucaramanga, Díaz joined Millonarios de Bogotá in 1985.Although his time with the blue team was not as regular as in Bucaramanga, his performances were memorable, helping the team to win the 12th and 13th stars in its history. In total, he played 138 games and scored 22 goals with Millonarios.
In 1989, Diaz moved to the Deportivo Independiente Medellín, where, together with Barrabás Gómez, he contributed his experience to the team. In Medellin, he played 48 matches and scored 5 goals. However, the tragedy of the murder of referee Alvaro Ortega in 1989 and the subsequent suspension of the championship affected his continuity in the team.
Díaz returned to Argentina for a brief period before returning to Colombia in 1990 to join Once Caldas de Manizales. Despite a good campaign, his time with the team was short-lived due to technical decisions seeking a younger squad. In 1991, he joined Cúcuta Deportivo, where he again became a reference point, playing 151 games and scoring 33 goals until 1995.
His career culminated in Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela, where he played 10 games and scored 5 goals before retiring at the end of 1995. After hanging up his boots, Díaz devoted himself to coaching, playing for several teams in Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela. Since 2014, he has been the coordinator of the lower divisions of Club Atlético Los Andes, where he has worked on the development of young talents.
The news of the serious state of health of “El Nene Díaz” has generated a wave of solidarity in the world of football. Clubs, former players, colleagues and fans have expressed their support and their wishes for a speedy recovery for the former player. On social networks, the expressions of affection and messages of encouragement have not been long in coming.
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From Atlético Bucaramanga, the club where Díaz is considered an idol, to Millonarios and Cúcuta Deportivo, everyone has expressed their support for Díaz and his family in these difficult times. The Argentine Football Association and several Argentine clubs have also sent their messages of solidarity.
