Marco Angulo, midfielder for FC Cincinnati and Ecuador, dies at the age of 22

FC Cincinnati midfielder Marco Angulo has died at the age of 22, five weeks after being seriously injured in a car accident.

Angulo, on loan this season to Ecuadorian club LDU Quito, was involved in a crash in the Ecuadorian capital on October 7 and died 35 days later in a local hospital.

FC Cincinnati said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Marco – a husband and father, a brother and son, a friend and teammate.

“He was a cheerful, friendly young man who lit up every room he entered. Our entire club mourns this tragedy, and we remember and pray for his family. He was a beloved member of the FC Cincinnati family and he will be missed.”

Angulo was one of five people in the car that crashed into a metal structure on the highway and is the third to die after the incident. Independiente Juniors fullback Roberto Cabezas Simisterra and Victor Charcopa Nazareno were also killed.

“It is with deep pain and sadness that we bring you the news of the death of our player, Marco Angulo,” an LDU Quito statement said on Tuesday.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. His departure is an irreparable loss that will leave an indelible mark on our hearts. May he rest in peace.”

Angulo was capped three times by his country, with the Ecuadorian Football Federation insisting in a statement that “he was not only a great player, but also a great teammate.”

📍Descansa and paz Marco 🕊️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/SCPEIpkXTR

— LigaPro (@LigaProEC) November 12, 2024

Angulo started his career with Independiente Juniors in his native Ecuador before joining Independiente del Valle and then FC Cincinnati, where he was under contract until 2025.

He made 30 first-team appearances for the MLS club before being loaned out to LDU Quito this season, with the last of his 18 appearances coming on October 6.

Angulo is survived by his wife and son.

(Franklin Jacome/Getty Images)