Spanish football has been in mourning after the sudden death of Espanyol Captain Daniel Jarque, aged 26. The centre back passed away on Saturday night at 8pm local time after suffering heart failure at the Barcelona side’s training camp in Coverciano, Italy.

Reports suggest the Espanyol youth product was on the phone to his fiancée, who is eight months pregnant, when the tragedy occurred. He was found by his team-mates who noticed his absence at dinner. Club doctors and Italian paramedics tried to revive Jarque, but without success.

Jarque joined Espanyol at the age of 12, making his debut in 2002. He was a highly-rated defender with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both strongly linked to him. Jarque succeeded Raul Tamudo as captain just one month ago. Under his leadership, the club were moving in a new direction, with their new stadium recently completed and celebrated with a 3-0 win over Liverpool in which Jarque played.

Tributes from several leading footballing personalities have come flooding on after this tragedy. Spain legend Raul said:

“As captain and in representation of Real Madrid I want to show all our sympathy and to be by the side of the player’s family. We want to give encouragement to all the Espanyol family at such a hard time, which has left us all filled with dismay and pain. That such a young lad, a great professional and sportsman suffered this has left us all very hurt. From here our most sincere sympathies.”

Fans have been flocking to Espanyol’s stadium since the news broke last night and have been in mourning outside gate 21 - Jarque’s squad number. Former Espanyol coach Ramon Moya, who handed Jarque his debut against Rayo Vallecano, was deeply shocked:

“I feel like I have lost a son. Jarque was a footballer, but he was also my friend. This situation is very difficult for a person. It was as if he was family. I knew him for many years. I gave him his debut when he was a very young footballer and I shared many moments with him. It’s very difficult to explain how I feel at the moment in words.”

Jarque was a very healthy player, based on the exhaustive medicals Espanyol give to all their players at the beginning of pre-season. Valencia players sported black armbands in the second half of their friendly against Arsenal in the Mestalla, while a minute’s silence was also held, after this sad news broke. Espanyol, who had been due to face Bologna in a friendly today, have suspended their pre-season tour and returned to Spain.

Jarque’s death comes two years after that of Sevilla and Spain defender Antonio Puerta, who suffered multiple organ failure in hospital, three days after a cardiac arrest during a league match against Getafe. In an awful coincidence, Puerta’s girlfriend was also expecting their first child.

Real Madrid’s Ruben De La Red has also stopped playing professional football for two seasons now on medical advice after collapsing in a match for Real. He will not take the risk until his rare heart condition can be verified. Football has been in mourning recently with the passing of managing legend Sir Bobby Robson and it is awful to see one so young pass away with his whole life ahead of him.

LiberoFootball would like to express our deepest condolences at this difficult time to the family and friends of Daniel Jarque and Espanyol football club, with whom Jarque spent his entire career with.