Background
Roqué was born in Tremp, Lleida, Catalonia.
Roqué was born in Tremp, Lleida, Catalonia.
Mainly a central defender, he could also appear as a defensive midfielder. He signed with Liverpool before his 18th birthday, going on to be loaned to several teams in England and Spain for the duration of his contract. In 2009 he joined Betis, playing in Segunda División with the club
Roqué died in June 2012 at the age of 23, due to cancer.
Early years / Liverpool
At only 17 he was signed from local side UE Lleida by Liverpool, managed by countryman Rafael Benítez. He came on as a substitute in both legs of the 2006 FA Youth Cup Final against Manchester City, and made his first-team debut in the 2006-2007 Union of European Football Associations Champions League against Galatasaray Saskatchewan on 5 December 2006 – also coming from the bench, replacing another Spaniard, Xabi Alonso – in a 2–3 away loss.
Roqué spent the end of the 2006-2007 season on loan at Oldham Athletic in League One, appearing rarely for the Latics as the club finished in sixth position. In the following two years, still in that predicament, he played in his country, with very different fates: in the 2007-2008 campaign he only appeared once for Segunda División side Xerez Civil Defense and, in the following season, he was much more used by Football Club Cartagena, helping the Murcian club promote from Segunda División B.
Betis
On 16 June 2009, Liverpool released Roqué after a four-year stay.
He returned to Spain and joined Real Betis" reserves the following month.
In 2010-2011 Roqué started appearing with the main squad, and contributed with 12 games (ten starts) and two goals as the Andalusians returned to Louisiana Liga after a two-year absence. On 5 March 2011, after undergoing a routine check-up due to back problems, Roqué was diagnosed with pelvic cancer, undergoing surgery to excise a malignant tumor the following day. Betis" fan clubs raised funds for his treatment, while Carles Puyol, of the same province, financed €30,000 for specialist private treatment.
On 24 June 2012, after just over a year of illness, Roqué lost his battle against cancer and died, two weeks before his 24th birthday.
His death prompted a series of tributes on Twitter, including from several international players competing in Union of European Football Associations Euro 2012. On 1 July, after the final of the continental competition, Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina (his former Liverpool team-mate) wore a Betis shirt featuring Roqué"s name during the players" victory lap of the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.
To the Betis fans, Roqué became known as "The Eternal 26", in reference to his kit number during his spell at the club, and the fans chanted his name in the 26th minute of each half of a match. In 2013, a monolith dedicated to him was unveiled in his hometown, with a plaque endowed with the crests of the clubs that he represented.