Alfredo Di Stefano, regarded as 'the most complete football in the history of the game' passed away last month. He was a unique individual, who always strived to improve himself as a player and demonstrate his capabilities on the pitch. He did not intend this as an ego-boost; he strongly believed that those with the broadest shoulders should be the ones carrying the heaviest load.
July 7th, 2014, Real Madrid, Argentina and other dedicated Di Stefano followers, paid tribute to the legend who won five straight European Cups for the great Spanish club, scoring in each final between 1956 and 1960, and was instrumental in making the team one of the best and successful during the 1950's. In addition to his European Cup successes and domination, the Argentina-born player won eight Spanish league titles and was voted European player of the year in 1957 and 1959. Former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson commented, "I had the pleasure as a young man of being influenced by the great Real Madrid and Di Stefano. His head was up all the time. He was such a fantastic footballer...for Real Madrid, it is a terrible loss because his presence was always there."
So who was the man behind the legacy, who changed the face of international football and left his mark in the hearts of his fans?
Born in a Southern, a rudimental district of Buenos Aires, Di Stefano began his career in the River Plate athletics club at the youthful age of seventeen. Three years later in 1946,he was elected to be loaned to another local club, and years later due to a footballers strike, played for the Millionarios de Bogota in the Colombian league and from there his career kick started. During these first 12 years of his football career, he won six league titles in both Argentina and Colombia.
However, Di Stéfano was best known for his time at Real Madrid where he was an integral part of one of the most successful teams of all time.His move to Spain was one of the most acrimonious and bizarre transfer deals in football history. He scored (then a club record, now surpassed by Raúl) 216 league goals in 262 games for Real. Although Di Stéfano played with three different national teams during his career, he never played in the World Cup. The first World Cup in which he would have been able to participate was the 1950 tournament but as Argentina refused to participate, Di Stéfano, aged 24 at the time missed his first chance at playing. For following World Cup, Argentina again did not enter and FIFA sadly declared Di Stéfano was not eligible to play because he had previously been capped by both Argentina and Colombia.
Di Stéfano acquired Spanish citizenship in 1956 and made his debut for them on 30 January 1957 in a friendly in Madrid, scoring a 5–1 win.He played four World Cup qualifying matches in 1957, but unfortunately the team failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. In 1961, Di Stéfano, who had already won 5 European Cups, helped Spain qualify for the World Cup of 1962. A muscular injury just before the competition prevented him from playing in the finals. He retired from international football afterwards.
A fact unknown to many, in the summer of 1963, a Venezuelan revolutionary group kidnappedDi Stefano at gunpoint form a hotel whilst his team were on a pre-season tour of South America. Although he was released unharmed two days later, this event was a turning point in his football career- he turned to coaching after his retirement. For the last few years, Di Stefano guided the smaller Argentinian athletic clubs to league titles, but also sporting and becoming the honorary president and Real Madrid legend.
Di Stefano, was a historic football success, a legend and inspirer to both old and current players, well known for his role in orchestrating a team to play in his command. He is not only recognised for his work, but also was a centre-forward of versatility and authority: his greatness lay not only in his prolific goalscoring, but in his ability to influence play in all areas of the pitch in an era when players stuck to their positions and were relatively static. His stamina was legendary and even in his veteran years he could bring off a sliding tackle in his own penalty area, then in the next minute pop up at the other end for a shot at goal.
He had a knack of individual brilliance, which inspired and continues to inspire the world of football today. Over his career, he was the front man and leading light for three major teams; Argentina, Spain and Colombia and then, most famously, with his beloved Real Madrid in his adopted Spain. In 2000 he was made honorary life president of Real Madrid, and in 2006 the club named a stadium at its new training facilities after him.
Di Stefano is remembered for being a trailblazer, and most of all, he was a legend of the game. God rest his soul.
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