Argentine football is going through deep sorrow after the death of Fernando Gayoso, historic goalkeeper coach of Boca, who passed away this Tuesday at the age of 55 after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The news was confirmed by his family and quickly generated a strong shock in the football world, especially in Xeneize, the club where he left an indelible mark both for his professional work and for the affection he built within.
His son Franco was the one who publicly announced the death with an emotional message on social media. "A legend has left us, someone who taught me everything in this life, who fought with all his soul, against everything, and, above all, against this disease. You suffered so much and still stood your ground. I always said you were, are, and will be my idol, my role model. Our last name will remain in history for your achievements,” he wrote.
Gayoso had made his ALS diagnosis public in 2024. The neurodegenerative disease progressively deteriorated his health, and in recent days he had been hospitalized due to a pneumonia condition. Even so, he never completely distanced himself from football.
"Nowadays, it doesn't allow me to be on the field because I really don't feel fit to be there. I was lucky that the club gave me the opportunity to work in another area, to stay close to the goalkeepers," he had said months ago when Boca decided to keep him within the structure as the goalkeeper coordinator for the youth divisions.
During his various stints at Xeneize, Gayoso worked alongside coaches such as Miguel Ángel Russo, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Sebastián Battaglia, Hugo Ibarra, and Jorge Almirón. His figure gained enormous recognition especially for his work in penalty shootouts, a facet in which he became a true specialist.
