Canito

José Cano López (23 April 1956 – 25 November 2000), known as Canito, was a Spanish professional footballer who played during the 1970s and 1980s.

In his career, amongst others, the defensive midfielder represented both major clubs in Barcelona, Español and FC Barcelona. Abroad, he appeared for Belenenses in Portugal.

Club career Born in Llavorsí, Province of Lleida, Catalonia, Canito began playing professionally with RCD Español. After serving two loans, at UE Lleida and Cádiz CF, he moved permanently to the first team. He helped the side to win the Copa del Rey in his second year, but was also ostracised following an incident involving his main club Español: as they were fighting to avoid relegation from La Liga against Hércules CF, he was warming up on the sidelines for Barcelona, and celebrated when the Pericos scored the goal which led to salvation to the fury of the crowd at the Camp Nou.

Canito then rejoined Español as part of the deal that sent Urruti in the opposite direction, but left one year later after falling out with coach José María Maguregui.

Death After retiring, Canito fell into a severe drug addiction. Even though he was aided psychologically and economically by Barcelona and Espanyol's Veterans Associations, he could not recover, and was found dead in his sister's home in La Pobla de Montornès, Province of Tarragona, on 25 November 2000; he was 44 years old.