The former head coach of Sliema Aquatics Sports Club Beto Fernandez has passed away, the club announced on social media on Sunday.

“It is with great sadness that the Club has to announce the passing away of our beloved Beto. The qualities of the man and the coach need no introduction. Beto was one of a kind,” the club announced.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, who we ask you to respect in such a difficult time. Rest in Peace Coach,” the club wrote.

Fernandez served as the Sliema ASC head coach between August 2021 and last April, when he stepped down from the post for and stepped away from the club due to personal reasons and returned to Spain.

During his time at the club, Fernandez led Sliema to winning the Enemed Cup and the Winter League before also finishing runners-up in the BOV National League last summer.

Prior to his arrival at Sliema ASC, Beto Fernandez had an 11-year stint as Head Coach of CN Mataro in the Spanish top-flight.

The tributes to Fernandez were quick to come.

“The President and Executive Committee are saddened by the news of Beto Fernandez's demise and would like to send sincere condolences to his family and friends. Beto was greatly respected for his commitment to Water Polo. May he rest in peace,” the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta wrote on social media.

SportMalta CEO Mark Cutajar meanwhile also paid tribute, saying that Fernandez was “an inspiration to me and to my kids.”

“You gave a great contribution to SportMalta with your lessons. The fact that I cannot communicate with you any more is for me hard to absorb,” Cutajar wrote.

“The Waterpolo Community and the world in general has just lost a great person.  A humble man with waterpolo wisdom and academical knowledge of the game that he was happy to share with everyone,” Mario Cachia, a member of the Sliema club, wrote on Facebook.

“Soft spoken and kind hearted, never criticizing but always encouraging.  It was indeed a privilege to have him at our club Sliema Aquatic Sports Club and an even bigger one for me to have had the chance to sit with him on many occasions and discuss various topics but most of all learn from his expertise. Such a shock, having been in contact with him only a few days ago and so lost for words,” he wrote.