Former CD Tenerife striker Gonzalo Díaz Beitia dies at 89

Gonzalo Díaz Beitia, the former left‑winger who helped CD Tenerife secure its first seasons in Spain’s top division, died on Saturday at the age of 89. Born in Sestao, Vizcaya, in 1937, Beitia began his senior career with Athletic Club Bilbao, winning the 1958 Copa del Generalísimo before moving to Tenerife in the summer of 1961. During the 1961‑62 and 1962‑63 campaigns he appeared in 54 league matches and scored 11 goals, including a decisive strike against UD Las Palmas that secured a historic victory for the island club.

The club announced that players will wear black armbands for the upcoming match against UD Tamaraceite and that a minute of silence will be observed at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López. Beitia later worked as a youth coach at Athletic’s Lezama academy, contributing to the development of future generations of players.

His death was confirmed by Athletic Club, which highlighted his contributions both on the field and as a mentor after retirement.