It was impossible for Juan Carlos Unzué to attend the ARA celebration where he was symbolically presented with the sixth Carles Capdevila award for his work in raising awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the dreaded ALS, a disease that the former player has suffered from for over five years. Although he sent an emotional and assertive message of gratitude, We were finally able to present him with the award in person during an interview in which he reflects on his fight to improve care for people with illnesses like his, as well as his sporting life and, above all, his perspective on life and the values he uses to cope. Unzué, whose illness has already forced him to give up his work as a sports commentator, has used his fame to help bring the issue of care and the enormous cost of this debilitating illness to the forefront of the political agenda, which has contributed to the approval of [the relevant legislation]. a law that specifically guarantees financial support for the most serious cases, It streamlines procedures and ensures better training for healthcare personnel. He welcomed us a few days before Christmas to his apartment on the outskirts of Barcelona. He was accompanied at all times by his wife, with whom he has shared his life since they were very young, and by a family that is about to grow with a grandchild. In Unzué's home there are many difficulties, but also great humor and a lot of generosity. The former goalkeeper excitedly described the car trip to Pamplona to spend the Christmas holidays with his large family, headed by his mother, Camino. Unzué made it very easy for us: he is exactly as he was. Precise, generous, a fighter. And he has a common sense that leaves you speechless with useless words.

It's hard to find warmer people than Juan Carlos Unzué. Listening to him is a joy. His gaze and voice embrace everyone he meets, even through a small screen. With this spirit, the former goalkeeper and coach dedicates a message of gratitude on the occasion of receiving the sixth Carles Capdevila Award, a prize he is receiving this year for his extraordinary work raising awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the dreaded and cursed ALS, a disease he has suffered from for more than five years. He is now 58.

It's been almost six years since Juan Carlos Unzué (58, Navarra) received life-changing news: he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since then, the former football coach has managed to bring new meaning to his daily life and turned misfortune into a reason to fight. He left the First Division coaching benches to lead the movement for the dignity of ALS sufferers and has reaped rewards: after repeated attempts, Congress approved the long-awaited ALS law a few months ago. Now, after years on the front lines, he has decided to step back and announced that he will stop broadcasting on DAZN. He also explained that, in the end, he will not perform a tracheotomy, the surgical procedure that allows ALS sufferers to continue breathing. He is responding to ARA in writing.

Juan Carlos Unzué announced at the beginning of the month which brought his career as a commentator to a close in front of DAZN's microphones. Following this news, the former Girona manager has explained to various media outlets that he has recently seen the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which he has suffered from for the past five years, worsen. Specifically, Unzué is experiencing increasing difficulty breathing, one of the common symptoms of the disease's progression.

Sports broadcasting is losing one of its most beloved names, with a strong Barcelona accent. The DAZN platform connected yesterday with Juan Carlos Unzué's home so that the former goalkeeper and coach could announce that, after three seasons, he would stop doing his technical commentary on matches. The reason is the progression of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that he suffers from and that, at the current stage, causes him breathing difficulties and a greater than normal effort to be able to speak. "You have given me the possibility of watching the matches with this coach's gaze," Unzué explained. "I want to announce to you that, due to a respiratory limitation that makes me need more effort to speak, I think the time has come to stop commenting on DAZN matches, no matter how serious I know it is."