Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano died two days after suffering a heart attack and being admitted to the intensive care unit at the Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid.
The 88-year-old is heralded as having revolutionised Real Madrid and turning it into a power house in the 1950s and ’60s.
Emergency services in the Spanish capital said that Di Stefano had suffered an 18-minute respiratory arrest.
He had suffered a number of health problems over recent years and was fitted with a pacemaker in 2005.
Di Stefano was born in Argentina and represented its national team on six occasions before he became a naturalised Spaniard three years after joining Real Madrid and featured for Spain on 31 occasions, netting 23 goals.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said that at the request of his family, Di Stefano will be laid to rest at the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
“Today is a day that we never thought could come, a day of absolute sadness for the Madrid family and the world of football,” Perez told a news conference.
“The greatest Real Madrid player and the best of all time has left us,” he added.
“His legend will last forever. Alfredo Di Stefano changed the history of this club. He is a myth and he is Real Madrid.”
Current Real Madrid forward and world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo tweeted: “It’s a very sad day. For me, for all the madristas, for the world of football.” #EternoAlfredo (eternal Alfredo).
Source: ABC, Sydney Morning Herald
