Former Barça player Joan Bautista Llopis passes away at the age of 106 years old
Ex-azulgrana Juan Bautista Llopis passed away on Tuesday at the age of 106 years old. The ex-Barça keeper was the oldest living ex-player, having played in six friendly games for the Club.
Son of citric fruit farmers and a football fan from a young age, he spent two years at the Club from 1941 to 1943. This was a period when he left home in Carcaixent to complete military service in Barcelona once the Civil War ended.
Formed in the Escuela Pía de Alzira, the youth teams of Valencia, and UD Carcaixent, his goalkeeping skills while on military service led to him signing for Barça Amateur, the Club's amateur team at the time. He wore blaugrana for two seasons (1941-42 and 1942-43), playing six friendly games for the first team.
Goalkeeping quality
Fierce competition for the goalkeeping position and his obligation to play for the military Fourth Region team meant he never got the chance to debut in a competitive game for Club, however. He was there at the time of other famous players from the past, such as his good friend, Josep Seguer, and Llácer and Gonzalvo III, among others.
Almost 76 years since he played his final game for Barça on January 24, 1943, he was honoured for the first time, aged 102 years old, and he attended his first game at Camp Nou months later.
Last season and coinciding with the Levante v Barça LaLiga match, a Barça delegation led by the vice-president Elena Fort visited Joan Bautista Llopis at his home, where he was presented a personalised Barça jersey.