In the memory of Antonio Valencia, "the smile and motivation" of Segundo Castillo, former teammate at El Nacional and the Ecuadorian national team who announced his retirement as a professional soccer player on Saturday, will be eternal.
"My brother, it was a pleasure to play with you. I will never forget your smile and motivation. In this new stage of life for you, I wish you the best," wrote the Mexican Querétaro player on social media in honor of Mortero, who is heading to join Fabián Bustos' coaching staff at Barcelona Sporting Club.
Valencia (35 years old) and Castillo (38) coincided for the first time at El Nacional in 2003. The former defensive midfielder had made his debut in the Primera-A with Espoli in 2000 and remained with the police team until joining the Rojo. Also, 18 years ago, the Amazonian made his professional debut.
2004 was the year of greatest prominence for both players at El Nacional. According to records from the Ecuadorian Football Federation, that season Valencia played 41 games and scored 5 goals in Serie A, while Castillo made 32 appearances. The capital team finished fourth in the title playoff.
My brother, it was a pleasure to play with you. I will never forget your smile and motivation, in this new stage of life for you, I wish you the best. @elmortero_puro_chocolate pic.twitter.com/MzVwLQ76sN
— Antonio Valencia (@anto_v25) January 17, 2021
Although the Amazonian has never been a national champion, he came close to achieving it along with el Mortero in 2005. That year, Ecuadorian soccer was divided into two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura. The military team was crowned in the second semester (2005-B, between July and December), but Valencia did not play any matches, as he had joined Villarreal from Spain weeks before the start of the competition in June.
They did coincide in the historic participation of the Tricolor in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Valencia and Castillo were starters in the midfield of the team led by Luis Fernando Suárez, which reached the round of 16 in the global tournament. It is Ecuador's best historical participation in the FIFA tournament.
El Mortero left El Nacional in August 2006 to join Estrella Roja de Belgrado (Serbia). (D)