Thursday, January 13, 2022
Heart attack in an opponent
Ex-Bayern star helps save a life
James Rodriguez is not exactly at the peak of his career in terms of sport, but he is in the right place at the right time for a game in the Qatari League: in the event of a dramatic medical incident, he does exactly the right thing at the crucial moment.
James Rodriguez is a highly decorated soccer star: The Colombian won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid, he was German champion with FC Bayern, and in 2014 he was the top scorer of the World Cup. He’s a superstar in his home country. Lately, the 30-year-old is apparently something even bigger: In a league game, he probably saved an opponent’s life.
Rodriguez, whose career has long since stalled and led him to the Qatari league, witnessed a medical drama shortly before the end of the first half in his club Al-Rayyan’s game against Al-Wakrah: The Malian Ousmane Coulibaly was on the Platz collapsed and then lay motionless on his back. The former international had suffered a heart attack.
Rodriguez immediately rushed to Coulibaly to take care of the opponent. Apparently, the Colombian was doing crucial work for Coulibaly’s life: Al-Rayyan announced via Twitter that Rodriguez “took the important step of positioning Ousmane Coulibaly’s head so that he could breathe properly as soon as he collapsed.” This was confirmed by Al-Wakrah’s team doctor. Paramedics then rushed into the field and continued the measures initiated by Rodriguez.
The drama brought back unpleasant memories of the Dane Christian Eriksen, who collapsed at the European Championship against Finland and had to be revived. The Argentine Sergio “Kun” Agüero from FC Barcelona recently ended his career as a professional footballer at the age of 33 because of his heart problems.
Start in Qatar is mixed
A spokesman for Al-Wakrah said after the game that Coulibaly had been taken unconscious to a hospital. Meanwhile, his condition is stable, said his wife on Instagram. The game that was canceled had already been played to the end on Monday: In Al-Rayyan’s 3-0 win, the successful first aider scored two goals and prepared another.
Rodriguez had played on loan for FC Bayern in the Bundesliga for two years from 2017 and left an extremely mixed impression: Initially quite complacent, the brilliant footballer quickly disappeared into the back rows of the Munich matchday squad, and the highly talented had discipline problems again and again. In 2019, the club decided not to withdraw the € 42million purchase option and send the player back to Real Madrid.
Rodriguez only moved to Qatar from Everton in September after the offensive player had maneuvered himself on the sidelines in the Premier League. The offensive player, for whom Real Madrid paid 75 million euros after his triumphant 2014 World Cup, his former coach Rafa Benitez shouted unflattering: “James prefers money and a comfortable life. That is more important to him than competition and success in football . ”
In Qatar, too, he made negative headlines for a long time: In terms of sport, it was anything but intoxicating, the former Munich player was sent off in his third game. He recently caused a stir because of his blue-dyed hair than because of his great football art. But now the attacker shone twice: as a footballer and as a lifesaver.
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