FORMER player for CD Tenerife and Wigan FC Juan Carlos García has died from leukaemia at the age of 29 in his home city of Tegucigalpa, according to the National Autonomous Football Federation in Hondurás.
García (pictured), who played for Hondurás in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, was forced to take a break from football the following year when he was diagnosed with leukaemia, then aged 27.
His team at the time, the British side Wigan FC – whom Juan Carlos joined in 2013 – offered him help and, after he was first pronounced 'cured' in 2016, was looking forward to the Central American's return to playing.
But before the 2016-2017 season started, Juan Carlos' leukaemia came back, and he returned to Hondurás to concentrate fully on his recovery with his family nearby, always intending to go back to the sport once he was better.
But he lost his battle last night (Tuesday) at the Hospital Escuela in Tegucigalpa, his family revealed.
García played at least 30 matches for his national team in defence and as midfielder, and his performance contributed to the Central American nation's qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, largely thanks to his scoring during the knock-out round against the USA.
He has played for Marathón Tegucigalpa, where he started out, as well as FC Olimpia Hondurás, before signing up with Club Deportivo Tenerife – a team which is currently at number 11 in Spain's Second Division.
