Madrid: Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Spain star Jose Antonio Reyes has been killed in a car crash, his hometown club Sevilla said yesterday. He was 35.
Reyes, who shot to fame at Sevilla before a switch to Arsenal, followed by spells at Real and Atletico Madrid, was on the books with second-tier Spanish club Extremadura.
"Beloved Sevilla star Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic collision. Rest in peace," Sevilla, where he spent two four-year spells, said on Twitter.
The emergency services in Andalusia and the authorities in the player's home town, Utrera, said Reyes died in an accident on the main road from Sevilla to Utrera. They said another member of his family also died and a third person was injured.
Spain captain Sergio Ramos, who is also from the province of Seville, came through the youth team just after Reyes and later played with him at Real Madrid also tweeted his grief.
"Broken. Shattered," wrote Ramos. "I have no words. All the affection for the family. We will always remember you, my friend! RIP brother."
Reyes won a European U21 title with Spain in 2002 and went on to play 21 times for Spain between 2003 and 2006, scoring four goals.
He won Premier League and FA Cup medals at Arsenal. He helped Sevilla win the Spanish second division in his first stint at the club.
He won the Europa League five times, twice with Atletico and three times in his second spell at Sevilla. He also won domestic league titles with Real Madrid and Benfica
Arsenal described the accident as "awful news".
"Reyes was, of course, a member of the Invincibles," Arsenal said on their website.
"[He] made a significant contribution to that unbeaten season. Thanks for what you gave us, and rest in peace."
