Newly-appointed Espanyol captain Dani Jarque was found dead in his Coviciana hotel room tonight.
The centre-back is said to have suffered from heart failure some time after returning from training during Espanyol's pre-season tour of Italy.
The tragic news came only one month after the player - who had spent his entire professional career at the club - was appointed captain of the Parakeets.
Jarque's death comes two years after the death of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta, who collapsed on the field during his team's Spanish league match against Getafe.
The news was officially confirmed on the Liga side's official website.
