Real Madrid Legend, Alfredo Di Stefano dies at 88!
Former Real Madrid star, Alfredo Di Stefano, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has died at the age of 88 after admission to the hospital on Saturday, having suffered a heart attack near Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium.
A statement published on the La Liga team’s website confirmed that Di Stefano had passed away Monday at a hospital in Madrid.
“Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the club’s board of directors would like to express their deepest condolences and their love and affection towards his children, friends and family,” the club’s statement read.
“Real Madrid extends these condolences to all the Madridistas of the world and those who feel the loss of the best player of all time.”
Di Stefano who has been a Honorary president of the Spanish giants since 2000,was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He led Los Blancos to five consecutive European Cup triumphs from 1956 to 1960 and was named European Footballer of the Year twice in 1957 and 1959. He also won eight Spanish league titles and one Copa del Rey.
Di Stefano played at international level for three nations but never appeared at the World Cup. He won six caps for Argentina and played four times for Colombia, though his Colombian caps are not recognised by FIFA.
In 1957, FIFA gave Di Stefano permission to play for Spain after he gained Spanish citizenship and the Real star went to win 31 caps for the Spanish Team.
