Vice-president of Villarreal Jose Manuel Llaneza passed away on Thursday at the age of 74 following a battle with leukaemia. He was a key player in the club's success for close to three decades.
“The club wishes to manifest its profound and immense pain, sadness and dismay for the irreparable loss and our most sincere love and care to his family and relatives,” said Villarreal in a statement.
Since Llaneza's arrival at Villarreal in 1994, the "Yellow Submarine" has twice advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League, won the Europa League in 2021, and finished second in La Liga in 2007–08.
The vice-president was given a blood cancer diagnosis in February, and Villarreal players supported the Spaniard by wearing special t-shirts against Granada. Encarna Carceller, his wife, passed away in September.