Dani Jarque: siempre con nosotros!

We have all seen the famous goal by Iniesta in the world cup final! 9 years back today we also saw
the famous celebration where he takes off his jersey to show to show his tribute to his departed
friend Dani Jarque.

Not everyone knows the Espanyol captain and Iniesta’s close friend – who dies a year before in 2009!

This is the story of Dani Jarque who at 26-years age had the world at his feet, but it was snatched
away so quickly and unexpectedly!

It is also the story of exorcising the demons of depression haunting Iniesta!

Dani was born in 1983 in the Barcelona suburb of Sant Boi de Llobregat. His first football club were
playing for the local team in his ‘barri’, CF Cooperativa de Sant Boi. It didn’t take long for the scouts
of professional clubs to come calling and at the age of only 12, he was incorporated into the ranks of
RCD Espanyol.

Dani stood out as a leader imeediately both on and off the pitch, and with his obvious talent he
progressed quickly through the ranks. His dream of making his first-team debut came true in 2002,
when he played for the final 10 minutes of a game against Recreativo de Huelva.

Dani’s rapid progression at the heart of the team’s defence continued. Dani slowly became
invaluable to the team and was instrumental in Espanyol’s Copa Del Rey victory in 2006 and it’s run
to the final of the UEFA Cup in 2007.

In total Dani Jarque played 212 times for Espanyol.

His final game was against Liverpool, which was also the inauguration of the club’s new stadium at
Cornellà-El Prat.

Prior to the game, his peers and the coaching staff had voted unanimously that he should replace
Raul Tamudo as the club’s captain next season.

It was a great time for him!

He'd just be named captain of his beloved Espanyol - a club he'd joined as a 12-year-old - and his
girlfriend was eight months pregnant with their first child.

Tragically after a pre-season training session, Jarque went back to his room phoned his girlfriend and
mid-conversation collapsed. He died of heart failure.

He was 26 at the time!

Mauricio Pochettino was still the Espanyol manager then. In his autobiography called ‘A New World’,
there is a shocking section where Pochettino recalled the horror he lived on the day that Dani Jarque
passed away!

From the book –

“After eating I told the players that they could take a nap for a short while and then walk around the
streets of Florence for a bit.”

“Dani walked by my side and addressed the doctor who was right in front of me: ‘Doctor, can I get an
aspirin or paracetamol? I have a slight headache.’ I immediately jumped and told him: ‘You should
walk around Florence, have a cup of coffee and the headache will pass.'”

“But he said no, he said he wanted to rest because he was tired. Those were the last words I heard
from him.”

“While I was in the Florence square with my assistant Feliciano di Blasi, our best player Ivan de la
Peña, called me. He was crying, he asked me to go back to the hotel because something was wrong
with Jarque.”

“When we got there, the medics were in the hotel room trying to bring him back to life with CPR.
They tried for three hours but he never woke up, it was a coronary at 26.”

“What happened was very hard for all of us, it’s was a collective dramatic moment. The doctors were
trying to do their job and the players were around them, crying on the floor, everybody in shock…”

“You feel impotent because a boy you love is leaving you, a person who is part of your life, I had just
given him the skipper’s armband, he reminded me so much of a younger me… and I couldn’t do
anything. He was gone.”

“The frustration is huge. The silence on the plane back from Florence on the same day was deeply
hurtful, it was deafening. But we had to carry on, we had to protect the group, we had to keep it
together.”

Daniel Jarque González was hard-working, humble and friendly. Many who knew Dani personally
have gone on record as saying that despite being a great footballer, he was an even better person,
such was his humility, personality and willingness to help his friends out.

It shocked the entire football fraternity. Whole country specially his beloved city of Barcelona went
into mourning.

A player in his prime, happy with his life and in love with his girlfriend, about to become a father until
fate intervened much too cruelly. Tributes poured in for a wonderful footballer and an even better
human being.

for Barcelona legend Iniesta, it was a devastating blow. His season had been plagued by injury till
then as it is and the mental anguish of losing one of his closest friends haunted him throughout. The
magical midfielder had to seek psychological help in his pursuit of catharsis.

In the 116th minute of the final, 4 minutes from penalties, Andres Iniesta got a pass from the man
who had already paid tribute to Dani, Cesc Fabregas. Iniesta put a deft touch on the ball, let it bounce
in front of him, and then thumped it in across the goalkeeper. It was brilliant.

In that moment, when the entire Spain celebrated and his teammates ran to him, he could only think
of one thing, his friend. His friend, Dani.
He had scored a World Cup-winning goal, Spain had created history, but for him it was something
much more personal. As soon as he scored the goal, he took off his jersey. His expression said it all
and the t-shirt inside, even more so.

It read - "Dani Jarque: siempre con nosotros”! When translated to English, it means, "Dani Jarque,
always with us."

Iniesta fell to his knees when the final whistle blew just minutes later. He had found his catharsis. He
was able to something he thought was worthy enough of his departed friend.

Such was Jarque’s impact at the club that he still lives fresh in the memory of Espanyol supporters
everywhere and the fans have their own special way of remembering their late captain. When it
comes to minute 21 (the number Dani traditionally wore), supporters start chanting his name in
unison and without fail, clapping and displaying banners in his memory.

For Iniesta, it was the most important moment of his career and his gesture has not been forgotten.
No matter when he travelled with his club, Barcelona to play against Espanyol, the home club of
Daniel Jarque, he got a standing ovation from all opposition fans

Andres' dedication to his friend was considered so beautiful that till date, he remains the only
Barcelona player who is applauded by Espanyol fans every match.

Even though his story has such a tragic ending, Iniesta’s tribute helps him to live among everyone’s
memory!

Dani Jarque: siempre con nosotros! RIP.