11 years without Alfredo Di Stéfano
The greatest player of all time passed away on 7 July 2014.
Today marks 11 years since Real Madrid said goodbye to Alfredo Di Stéfano, the greatest player of all time who 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 due to a cardiac arrest.
Alfredo Di Stéfano was a legend in world football during his time as a Madridista, from 1953 to 1964. Throughout those years, he spearheaded one of the best squads in the history of the sport, winning five consecutive European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, two Latin Cups, eight Spanish League 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 also scooped the greatest individual awards. This is evidenced by his two Ballon d'Or awards and the Super Ballon d'Or, which France Football awarded him in 1989. He is the only player to hold this award. He also won the Pichichi Trophy five times.
Honorary Club President
Beyond his prominence as a player, he continued to be linked to Real Madrid as a coach and symbol of the club. On the bench, he won a Spanish Super Cup and inspired the Quinta del Buitre. Alfredo Di Stéfano was the honorary club president and the Real Madrid City stadium is named after him.