A technical assistant for the Costa Rica national team died during the team’s trip to a FIFA match.

Eric Rodriguez, technical assistant for the Costa Rican senior team and junior coach, died on Tuesday. In the middle of the Costa Rica team’s FIFA date tour, the team had to face the United Arab Emirates in Zagreb, Croatia on the same day.

The sad news was announced by the Costa Rican Football Federation during the break of a friendly match via social networks:

“We regret to inform you of the death of Eric Rodriguez Santamaria, Technical Director of the Minor Teams and Assistant to the Men’s Senior National Team. We join in solidarity with his family and friends.”, the organization explained in its publication.

According to a statement published on the team’s official website, Rodriguez had been hospitalized since the weekend when he developed health problems on Saturday while the team was heading to Zagreb, so during a stopover in Amsterdam they decided to take him to hospital for examination. , but he remained in the hospital, accompanied by a member of the team’s senior staff.

Since then his health has deteriorated and this Tuesday finally lost the battle and He died next to his wife, who arrived at the OLVG hospital on Monday. where he was. The federation has retained details of the illness or incident that led to the death.

Finally, the statement suggests that the federation, together with the Costa Rican embassy in Holland, has already begun procedures for the repatriation of the body.

Costa Rica beat the United Arab Emirates 1-4.

While this was happening in Amsterdam, Costa Rica faced the United Arab Emirates in Croatia, where they won 1–4; However, at the end of the game, the team’s official account highlighted the sadness that engulfed the team compared to the joy that victory could bring them.

“Regardless of the outcome, today is a very sad day for us. We have lost a friend, a wonderful professional, but most of all a wonderful person. Rest in peace Professor Eric”, the message says.