Ten years without Alfredo Di Stéfano
The greatest player of all time passed away on 7 July 2014.
Today marks ten years since Real Madrid bid farewell to Alfredo Di Stéfano, the greatest player of all time and the man who forever changed the history of the club. On 7 July 2014, La Saeta Rubia passed away at the age of 88 at the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, where he had been admitted two days earlier following a cardiac arrest.
Alfredo Di Stéfano became a legend in world football during his spell with Madrid, from 1953 to 1964. During those years, he spearheaded one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport, winning five consecutive European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, two Latin Cups, eight LaLiga titles, one Copa de España and one Small Club World Cup. Di Stéfano also made 396 appearances and scored 308 goals for Real Madrid.
The greatest player of all time was born in Buenos Aires on 4 July 1926 and has also garnered the most prestigious individual awards. This is reflected in his two Ballon d'Or awards and the Super Ballon d'Or, which France Football awarded for his career in 1989. He is the only player to hold this award. He also bagged the Pichichi Trophy five times.
Honorary club president
In addition to his prominence as a player, he stayed involved with Real Madrid as a coach and an emblem of the club. As coach, he won the Spanish Super Cup and inspired the Quinta del Buitre. Alfredo Di Stéfano was honorary president and the Real Madrid City stadium is named after him.