BARCELONA’S FIRST EVER BALLON D’OR WINNER, Luis Suárez Miramontes, has died.
He is also the only Spanish male Ballon d’Or winner.
Inter Milan mourned their former star and manager in a statement released via the club website on Sunday morning.
The statement partly read: “Saying goodbye to Luisito leaves us with a deep melancholy: the nostalgia of his perfect and inimitable football, which in fact inspired generations, joins the memory of a unique footballer and a great, great Inter player.”
FC Barcelona also mourned the legend in a tweet. In 1961, and not long after winning the prestigious individual award, the Club’s financial difficulties led to his transfer to Inter Milan for 25 million Spanish pesetas.
His spell at the Italian side was very fruitful, winning two European Cups, among other trophies. No other Spanish player had shone so brightly when playing abroad, apart from the nationalised Alfredo Di Stéfano. He joined Sampdoria in 1970, going on to retire three years later. He played his final game for the Spanish national side – a goalless draw against Greece – on April 12 1972, aged almost 37 years old.
Suárez won the Ballon d’Or in 1960 and was runner-up in 1961 and 1964. He played on Spain’s team that won the 1964 European Championship, its first major title.
After retiring in 1973, Suárez had three spells coaching Inter. He also managed Spain’s national side from 1988-91.
Suárez downplayed his Ballon d’Or, a trophy that eluded subsequent Spanish superstars including Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Raul Gonzalez.
“So much depends on the era you find yourself living in,” Suárez told FIFA’s website. “You need the slice of luck that comes when another great player of your time doesn’t perform quite so well. There have been truly great players who have never won that award. It’s not that big a deal.”
Real Madrid forward Alfredo di Stefano, who won the award in 1957 and 1959, was born in Argentina.
Discover more from KossyDerrickent
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
