Spanish sports journalist Luis Fermoso dies at 53 after illness
Spanish television journalist Luis Fermoso, known for directing Informe Robinson and El Dia Despues, died following an illness, broadcaster Movistar Plus announced on 5 September 2026.
Broadcaster announcements and career beginnings
Spanish sports journalist Luis Fermoso died following an illness involving a tumor, broadcaster Movistar Plus announced on Saturday, 5 September 2026. Outlets including 20 minutos, ABC, and El Periodico reported his age as 53 and his death on Saturday afternoon, while one report from La Razon stated his age as 56 with a death date of Friday, 4 September. Born in Valladolid in 1973, Fermoso relocated to Salamanca at the age of seven, where he began his interest in sports communication. A sociologist by academic training, he completed the Master of Journalism at El Pais before entering professional broadcasting.
In 1996, Fermoso joined the Canal+ newsroom as an intern, starting a career across the network and its subsequent platform, Movistar Plus. Over three decades, he worked as a screenwriter, producer, director, and assistant director across flagship sports programmes including El Dia Despues, Reportajes Vamos, and Informe Robinson. Colleagues and peers credited him with establishing a distinct narrative style that prioritized personal narratives, visual pacing, and behind-the-scenes perspectives over standard match analysis.
Today is a very sad day for Movistar Plus. Our beloved Luis Fermoso has passed away. An exceptional person and an admirable professional who was from the first day the soul of sport in this house. His generosity and optimism will always be among us. Rest in peace.
Collaboration with Michael Robinson and documentary features
Fermoso was the long-time right-hand collaborator of British presenter Michael Robinson on Informe Robinson, which was later rebranded as Informe Plus+. Together, they produced long-form sports documentaries known for cinematic framing and human focus. Fermoso conducted Robinson's final recorded interview before the former footballer died six years earlier in 2020, and he later directed the retrospective tribute film Michael Robinson: Good, better, best.
His documentary catalogue also included La leyenda de Tittyshev, Yo vi jugar a Nate Davis, and a retrospective covering the Spanish national team's first FIFA World Cup title. In addition, Fermoso directed the documentary series Colgar las alas, which examined the life, medical recovery, and retirement of former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas following a heart attack in 2019.
- Luis Fermoso is born in Valladolid before moving to Salamanca at age seven.
- Fermoso enters the Canal+ newsroom as an intern after completing a master's degree in journalism.
- Iker Casillas suffers a heart attack, the subject of Fermoso's documentary series Colgar las alas.
- Michael Robinson dies six years before Fermoso, who conducted Robinson's final interview.
- Movistar Plus announces the death of Luis Fermoso following an extended illness.
Tributes across Spanish sports broadcasting
Broadcast figures across Spain paid tribute to Fermoso following the announcement. On Cadena COPE's programme Tiempo de Juego, presenter Paco Gonzalez recognized Fermoso as the driving force behind El Dia Despues's segment Lo que el ojo no ve, noting his influence on television production techniques.
He left his teaching on how a story is built, how a video is narrated, how everything is done.
On Cadena SER's Carrusel Deportivo, presenter Dani Garrido dedicated Saturday's transmission to Fermoso, addressing listeners who appreciated the Informe Robinson documentaries. Garrido noted that Fermoso worked away from public attention while functioning as Robinson's essential partner and establishing a lasting standard for Spanish television journalism.
