Fans Honor Former Guo'an FC Player's Death With Huge Memorial at Workers' Stadium

The death of former Guo'an footballer Walter Julián Martínez has triggered an outpouring of grief among the Beijing's football fans, culminating in a huge makeshift memorial outside of Workers' Stadium that is growing by the day.

The Honduran striker, who represented his country in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and played with Guo'an for a total of three and half seasons between 2007 and 2010, died suddenly on Sunday in New York from a heart attack. He was 37 years old.

As news of the footballer's death reached Beijing, fans began traveling to Workers' Stadium to place Guo'an memorabilia, flowers, and well wishes as well as an unhealthy amount of cigarettes and bottles of erguotou and beer in various states of consumption at the memorial. By Tuesday evening, tributes had almost engulfed the statue on the north side of the stadium.

Guo'an posted news of the former player's death to their fans via Weibo on Monday, saying, "Our former player Walter Martinez passed away after a heart attack early on Sunday in New York. The club sends its deepest condolences to Martinez's family. May there be football with you in heaven and no pain at all. Beijing will always miss you!"

Although Martínez, who also went by Pery, didn't win any trophies during his time at Guo'an, he had an impressive run at the club, scoring 30 goals overall and placing him 10th in the club's all-time top scorers. He also became a fan favorite for his sportsmanship, particularly enamoring supporters China-wide after donating USD 3,000 for victims of Sichuan's Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008, according to ECNS.

READ: Can a Frenchman Save Guo'an FC's Season?

Photos: Anna Pellegrin Hartley