Cholo Sotil, Barça and Peruvian Football Legend, Passes Away

Hugo 'Cholo' Sotil, a revered figure in both Barça and Peruvian football, has passed away at the age of 75 in Lima. The former forward, considered a legend in his homeland, played for the Catalan club from 1973 to 1977, during which he won a League title while forming an unforgettable partnership with Johan Cruyff.

Sotil, who had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Dos de Mayo Hospital in Lima since December 19, was instrumental in Barça's 1974 league triumph. His contributions were crucial in ending the club's 14-year title drought. That season, he played a pivotal role in the historic 5-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, scoring the fifth goal.

As a Barça player, the Peruvian attacker played 70 matches, scoring 18 goals. He represented his national team in the 1970 and 1978 World Cups and was part of the squad that won the 1975 Copa América.

Sotil began his football career at Municipal de Lima, playing there from age 19 to 24. In his debut season with Barça, he featured in every match of the 1973-74 League, showcasing extraordinary skills alongside stars like Rexach, Asensi, Cruyff, and Marcial.

Veteran Barça fans will never forget the heartwarming anecdote from when Barça won the League at El Molinón. On April 7, 1974, Sotil called his mother from the dressing room of the Sporting stadium to tell her a phrase that became part of Barça's folklore: “Mamita, we are champions!”

The arrival of Dutchman Johan Neeskens saw Sotil's prominence in the team diminish. During the 1974-75 season, he was considered the third foreign player and did not play any matches while awaiting Spanish citizenship. In the 1975-76 season, he returned to official matches with Barça, but he was never the same. In 1977, he returned to Peru, where he won two league titles with Alianza Lima.

On May 17, 1984, a tribute was held for him at the Miniestadi with a veterans' match between the 1974 team and a South American selection. Last November, Cholo visited his beloved club for the 125th Anniversary celebrations of the Catalan club.