’55 years ago my life changed forever’: Julio Iglesias recalls the accident that left him semi-paralyzed for almost a year and a half, ended his dream of becoming a footballer and made him discover his passion for music

Julio Iglesias is one of the few artists who can boast of more than 50 years in the music field. He is, to say the least, one of the most successful Latin artists in history with millions of records sold in his long career.

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But none of that was in his plans six decades ago, when he was focused on his own studies law at the University of Madrid and in the sport he was so passionate about, soccer, which even brought him closer Real Madrid when he signed as a goalkeeper for Juvenil B club Barça.

In September 1962, just before his 19th birthday, Julio Iglesias He starred in one of the worst experiences of his life, a car accident that forced him to abandon his studies and football.

Today, the great artist was semi-paralyzed for almost a year and a half, reports La Vanguardia citing a recent post by Julio Iglesias on Instagram recalling the event.

The worst day in the life of Julio Iglesias

In total, 61 years have passed since that dramatic episode that forever changed the life of the Madrid native and brought him closer to music, since in the midst of recovery therapy he devoted himself to writing songs and turning them into songs with the help of the guitar he was given.

Almost six years after the tragedy that ended his dream as a footballer, Julio Iglesias performed the song “Life goes on” at the festival in Benidorm in 1968, which opened the door to the world of music and boosted his career.

“55 years ago my life changed forever, I was studying law, I was playing football in my team with young teams and an accident thwarted all my illusions. But that accident, as I always say, connected my soul to my head and I began to live an adventure that has not yet ended,” Enrique Iglesias’ father said in a post published on July 17.

In his post, he recalled the creation of this song in which he says that “there is always something to live for”, as he says in one of the sentences of the composition.

“I wrote this song thinking about what I felt in those moments after the surgery. I drew strength that I didn’t have with the music that the guitar gave me and I wrote these little verses not knowing where they would end or where they would begin, and they ended up in Festival in Benidorm from 1968″, Iglesias recalled that event in which he was the winner.

It was just when he was singing the melody in the National Song Festival that his dream was transformed. Forced to leave football forever, Julio Iglesias focused on the songs he had been writing little by little and that’s when he discovered his true calling, “a dream that continues to this day”, as he says.

“Thank you to all of you and all of you for giving me so much strength to live,” said the artist who will turn 80 on September 23, more lucid than ever, but far from the stage as he is currently writing his autobiography.

“I have never had a clearer mind, writing my memoirs and I thank you with all my soul for your love,” he said in another post published on May 30, despite speculation about his health, which he fully enjoys today, although it could have ended in a tragic accident 61 years ago. (AND)