Former Barcelona keeper dies in car crash

Former Barcelona goalkeeper Javier Urruticoechea -- more widely known as "Urruti" -- died in a car accident on Thursday, Spanish media reported.

The 49-year-old died after his car hit the central barrier of a ring road in Barcelona in the early hours of Thursday morning, a spokesman for the Catalan regional police told reporters.

"He was one of the most influential keepers in the history of the club," said Barcelona coach Carles Rexach, who played alongside Urruti.

"Apart from his skill as a keeper, he possessed the perfect temperament to play football in a big team. He never seemed to be affected by the pressure, was always in a good mood and was able to maintain his technique in the most testing conditions."

The Basque-born keeper began his professional career at his local club Real Sociedad, signed for Espanyol in 1976 and then moved across the city to Barcelona in 1981.

Urruti was capped five times for Spain and won the Zamora trophy, awarded to the keeper who concedes fewest goals in a season, in 1984.

He retired from professional football in 1988, shortly after the arrival of another Basque keeper, Andoni Zubizarreta, at the Catalan club.

Urruti lived in the Barcelona area and was still involved in coaching goalkeepers in the club's youth teams.