The situation
Miguel Angel González Suárez, former Real Madrid international goalkeeper in the 1970s and 1980s, announced this Saturday to EFE that he suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) , a disease of the central nervous system, and from now on he expressed that he will support the movement global that fights to find the cure or arrest of the degenerative process, through research. Miguel Angel, who played 18 seasons for Real Madrid (1968/1986), played 346 games with his team, won 8 Leagues, 5 Spanish Cups, 2 UEFA Cups and one League Cup. Zamora Trophy in the 75-76 season, he was international 18 times, started with the Spanish team in the World Cup in Argentina’78 under the orders of Ladislao Kubala and member of the national team in Spain ’82, summoned by José Emilio Santamaría. Surrounded by his family and friends, Miguel Angel lives his illness with strength, has the infinite support of his environment and is treated at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital from where he receives rigorous and professional treatment, which helps him live his illness with integrity and knowing from the outset the harsh reality of the adverse situation he is going through. ALS is a disease of the central nervous system, characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex (upper motor neurons), brainstem, and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). It threatens motor autonomy, oral communication, swallowing and breathing, although the senses, intellect and eye muscles remain intact, according to the Spanish Association that brings together those affected. Miguel Angel González is pure Real Madrid. In addition to being a player, he was a goalkeeping coach, first team delegate, director of the club’s Sports City, and a Spanish soccer legend. 360 degrees around the Bernabéu stadium.
The details
A great conversationalist and analyst of current football, the former Galician goalkeeper enjoys these days at his home with the World Cup in Qatar. Real Madrid scouts captured his talent at Atlético Orense, he fought for ownership when he arrived in his first two years with Junquera and Betancort. Subsequently, his career went up until he made his debut with the Spanish team in 1975 against Denmark, in a qualifying match for the Eurocup. Miguel Angel took the place of the injured, José Angel Iríbar, his great idol. Miguel Angel is a born athlete. He is a sports guy.He was a professional footballer, but veterans also remember his skill as a basketball player, his effective mid-range shot when both Real Madrid teams played in the old Ciudad deportiva. His elasticity gave him the affectionate nickname of ‘the cat’. Reflexes, determination and a special virtue praised by the professional world: his fight for the goalkeepers to block the ball and not solve the danger by clearing. One of the goalkeepers and students who followed his school was Santi Cañizares, a former goalkeeper for Real Madrid, Celta and Valencia CF. Cañizares always speaks of the Spanish ‘school’ ‘when he illustrates the great legacy of Miguel Angel, who insisted day by day on the obligation to stop the ball and thus give security and peace of mind to the team. Admiration was the common denominator among the goalkeepers who came up from Castilla like Agustín Rodríguez, the starter for Castilla in the Cup final against Real Madrid in 1980. Miguel Ángel created a school in the Madrid youth academy. Miguel Angel, in a relaxed conversation with EFE, highlighted the work of the experts in Spain who are fighting to stop the consequences of this serious disease and now lends his absolute collaboration so that future generations, who suffer from ALS, can find a remedy to this arduous fight for survival.
