Kevin Castro death leaves Portuguese football in mourning after Real Sport Clube match

Portuguese footballer Kevin Castro has died aged 25 after suffering a sudden health problem during a pre-season match between Real Sport Clube and Estrela da Amadora.

Castro reportedly became unwell at the start of the game. Medical staff treated him on the pitch, using a defibrillator, before he was taken to hospital. His death was later confirmed there.

Real Sport Clube announced the news in an official statement, expressing its “deep sadness and profound regret” at the loss of a player it regarded as much more than a member of its squad.

The club said Castro had been an important part of the Real Sport Clube family and had made an unforgettable impression both on and off the pitch.

His death has shocked Portuguese football, with the circumstances of the incident leaving team-mates, opponents and those connected with the club facing the sudden loss of a young player at the beginning of his career.

Castro spent most of his playing career in England, where he represented several clubs. Among the sides he played for were West Bromwich Albion and Notts County. He was also part of Chelsea Under-23s before returning to Portugal this season to join Real Sport Clube.

His move back to Portugal marked the latest stage of a career that had largely developed in the English game. Castro had built experience with a number of clubs before taking up the opportunity to continue playing in his home country.

Real Sport Clube paid tribute to him in emotional terms, stressing that his importance to the club extended beyond his role as a footballer.

“Castro was not just a player,” the club said, describing him as a cherished member of its family. It added that he had left a significant mark on everyone who knew him and shared his brief journey in football.

The incident occurred during a match intended to prepare the teams for the season, but it was overshadowed by Castro’s sudden illness and the subsequent confirmation of his death.

Initial reports from the Portuguese press said he required urgent treatment after feeling unwell during the opening phase of the game. A defibrillator was used before emergency assistance continued and he was transported to hospital.

Despite those efforts, his death was confirmed after he arrived at hospital.

Real Sport Clube’s statement underlined the sense of loss felt within the club, where Castro had quickly become part of the wider footballing community. The club said his memory would remain with those who had met him, worked alongside him and followed his short career on the pitch.

At 25, Castro’s death has brought an abrupt end to the life of a footballer whose career had taken him from England back to Portugal, and has prompted mourning across the Portuguese football scene.