Real Madrid

Real Madrid President of Honor, Alfredo di Stefano turns 83 today. The club's best player of all time received congratulations wishes from the club, friends, former teammates, cohorts from the football world and fans.

The Blond Arrow is celebrating his birthday today with friends and relatives who have made their way to his house; no doubt a special day for Di Stefano, who in recent days has seen the transformation of the club. Di Stefano was on hand for the presentations of Kaka and Albiol, to whom he handed their new shirts as Real Madrid players, and he will do the same for Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and whoever else may arrive.

Alfredo di Stefano was born on 4 July 1926 in the neighborhood of Barracas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He began playing Fourth Division football at the age of 18 and in 1945 made his top flight debut against Huracan, the same team he was loaned to the following season. He returned to River Plate in 1947 and led the team to the league title as the top scorer of the competition. A strike paralyzed football in Argentina and Di Stefano signed for Millonarios in Bogota, the best team in Colombia, where he played alongside the likes of Rossi, Beez and Pedernera. 

Real Madrid signed Di Stefano in 1953 after beating Barcelona to the punch. He debuted on 23 September 1953 against Nancy in what would be his first of 510 matches with Real Madrid. Di Stefano scored 418 goals as a Madridista. He won eight leagues, five European Cups, one Spanish Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, two Latin Cups, one Mini World Cup, three Carranza Trophies and one Benito Villamarin Trophy among others, and was a five-time Pichichi award-winner.