Tributes to the Colombian soccer legend, Miguel Calero seemed unending as 5,000 people attend a wake in his honor after his death on Tuesday.
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The Colombian goalkeeper died after suffering a stroke caused by a blood cloth in his arm, he fought for eight days in a hospital in his home of Mexico City before being officially declared brain dead Monday evening. He was kept alive via life support until his family could come to a decision on his fate, however at midday on Tuesday, he was pronounced dead, aged 41.
A wake was held for Calero in Mexico City, attended by dozens of friends, former colleagues and an estimated 5,000 fans who all paid tribute by lighting candles and chanting “He came to Pachuca to be a champion” on the streets.
The soccer legend’s body arrived in a black coffin marked with his soccer clubs logos and the term “Tuzo forever” in reference to the nickname of his team, Pachuca, the Mexican club who he played 395 matches with before his retirement in 2011.
His club then went on to thank the fans for “all their displays of affection, support and solidarity for [Calero] and his family,” going on to say “today and forever we mourn the loss of Miguel Calero, he will be irreplaceable.”
The coffin will be displayed on Wednesday night at Hidalgo stadium, Mexico City, allowing everyone to get a chance to pay their respects.
The family has disclosed they will have his body cremated however they have not yet reported on where the ceremony will take place.
In stadiums across Colombia and Mexico, upcoming matches will include a minutes silence in honor of the late goalkeeper.
As well as thousands of tributes in Mexico and across social networking sites, the Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos paid his respects via twitter, saying ‘’It hurts a lot what happened to Miguel Calero. Our Hearts go out to his family. The football world mourns his death’’
Nos duele mucho a todos los colombianos lo sucedido con Miguel Calero. Acompañamos de corazón a su familia. El fútbol está de luto.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) December 4, 2012
Miguel Calero is survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons Miguel Angel, 20, and Juan Jose, 14.