This Friday the difficult state in which ex-soccer player Henry Viáfara finds himself was once again in the news. Central defender who once shone with América de Cali and was part of the Colombian National Team. This, during the eighties.
In context: The ex-soccer player of the Colombian National Team who wanders plunged into destitution).
A video by journalist Jaime Dinas recalled that the former player remains practically destitute after several years fighting drug addiction and a precarious life after his sports retirement.
Like Viáfara, there have been several international soccer stars who, unfortunately, have come to live in misery. Some ended up in it, others were able to resurface.
Henry Viafara
In an interview with ‘El País’, from Cali, Viáfara had stated in 2014 that he was experiencing a difficult situation in which he depended on the support that people gave him.
“For a few years I have been living with my mother in Villarrica, but everything fell apart when I separated from my wife. There were many disappointments and later, with bad luck, I fell into drug addiction. That was the final point. Later, when I retired from football, there came a time when I had too much time left over, I had nothing to do and I was already going to a farm, somewhere else, with friends, the rumba… From a person who was judicious to get to being lazy afterwards, anyone goes crazy. When I realized everything, I was already deep in vice, there was nothing to do“, he said at the time.
At the time, Viáfara said that he lived in Puerto Tejada (Cauca) and did not have a stable situation.
“I walk the streets up and down. Sometimes I collaborate with the Notary with some laps and he gives me food. I also dig around unloading the soda carts”he said in 2014.
Now, as has been known, it seems that Viáfara lives in Dosquebradas, Risaralda, in a state of destitution.
(You can read: Piqué: the story of ‘revenge’ behind the photo with supposed ‘conquest’).
George Best
George Best, who began his career in 1963 at Manchester United, is considered one of the greatest British footballers. ANDhe Ballon d’Or 1968 had a life full of problems due to drugs and alcohol: he spent three months in jail and received a liver transplant, among other things. The ‘Fifth Beatle’, as he was called, spent his fortune on parties, women, vehicles, drugs and alcohol. Five days before he died, on November 20, 2005, Best gave his followers a message and advice: “Don’t die like me.” He passed away from excessive alcohol consumption.
Paul Gascoigne
Gascoige is a former English player considered one of the best midfielders of the 1990s in British football. He started out at Newcastle United and later played for Tottenham Hotspur, SS Lazio and Glasgow Rangers. The consumption of alcohol and drugs was always present in his career, however, it became more recurrent when he was transferred to Lazio and later, when he retired in 2004. Various media claim that to date he has spent more than 17 million euros in detoxification clinics (sum of money he earned throughout his career).
(His story, in detail: From touching glory in the Premier to surviving in poverty and excess).
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos, better known as Garrincha, was a Brazilian soccer player considered one of the greatest representatives of this sport in the world. Together with Pelé, he became the most beloved player of Brazilians, who nicknamed him ‘The joy of the people’. He was key in Brazil’s first two world titles: 1958 and 1962. He died on January 20, 1983, at just 49 years old and in extreme poverty, due to liver cirrhosis. He was addicted to alcohol and tobacco from an early age.
Ailton
Aílton Gonçalves da Silva is a former Brazilian soccer player remembered for being the top scorer in the Bundesliga League in 2004. In addition to this, it was at the time the most expensive transfer in the history of the German club Werder Bremen, for which 5, 2 million euros to the Tigres de Monterrey. According to the magazine ‘Sport Bild’, Aílton spent around 100,000 euros a month on clothes alone. Now, at 48, he is bankrupt.
Jean Marc Bosman
The Belgian Jean-Marc Bosman, known for denouncing the restrictions on the transfer of players from clubs in Europe, which triggered the Bosman case, also squandered his entire fortune on excesses and alcohol. In addition, he lost the more than 200,000 euros that he received as compensation for the trial that made him famous. In 2013, he spent a year in jail for assaulting his partner and his daughter.
More news
TIME
#Henry #Viáfara #great #soccer #players #ended #misery