Biography of Alfredo Di Stefano
July 7, 2014
Alfredo Di Stéfano Laulhé Stéfano, one of the greatest champions that the history of soccer memories, was born on 4 July 1926 in Buenos Aires, in the neighborhood of Barracas, son of Alfredo and nephew of DOM Miguel, Italian emigrated from Capri; his mother, Eulalia Laulhé Gilmont, has Irish and French. Came to the ball from an early age, enters the second team River Plate at the age of fifteen, and next year will reach the first team, helping to lead to success in the League in 1945 and in 1947. He made his debut with the national team argentina in 1947, playing and winning the America's Cup and scoring six goals. In 1948 has the opportunity to take part in the champions of South America (the one that later will become Copa Libertadores) with the River, scoring four goals in six matches. The following year he moved to Colombia, where he played in 182 games and scored well Millionarios 157 goals and helping to make his team win three Championships and a cup of Colombia in four years. At that point the outcry from his play arrives in Europe: and so at the beginning of 1953 Alfredo Di Stefano was bought by Real Madrid.
His debut with the blancos dates back to 23 September 1953, in a losing game for 4 to 2 against Nancy. But, in spite of the initial defeat, with the Spaniards of Stephen vince of all: eight league titles and five European cups, scoring at least one goal in each final (record still unbeaten). To palmares you add two Latin cups (in 1955 and in 1957), Intercontinental Cup (in 1960) and, at the individual level, two golden Balls (in 1957 and in 1959), and the title of the Liga Pichichi (top scorer) for five times (in 1954 with 27 goals, in 1956 with 24 goals, in 1957 with 31 goals, in 1958 and 1959 with 23 networks with 19 goals). All over Alfredo Di Stefano played 11 years with Real Madrid, scoring 332 goals in 372 matches. During his Iberian land acquires Spanish nationality, in 1956; so, switch from argentina to that of Furie Rosse, who however does not qualify for the World Cup in 1958. The next edition of the competition World Championship, in 1962 will prove unsuccessful: Di Stefano, in fact, is the victim of a muscle injury that prevented him from taking the field. His last game with Real to play the 27 May 1964, Champions Cup final against Inter; afterwards, Pryce moved to Espanyol, where he will close his career after two seasons, in 1966, at the age of 40 years.
Shoes hanging on a nail, Alfredo Di Stefano began his coaching career: in 1967-68 is on the bench of Elche, then at the helm of Boca Juniors in 1969 (the year won the Primera División Nacional). In the 1970s, trains the Valencia (with which he won a Spanish League), Sporting CP, Rayo, Castellòn and still the Valencia (where it triumphs in Cup Winners Cup), before returning to his first Club, River Plate, in 1981, leading to the conquest of the Metropolitan Championship. In 1982 has the chance to manage Real Madrid, which will leave two years later: his coaching career ends after experiences yet to Boca, at Valencia (where he won a tournament to Segunda Division) and the Real (which leads to success in Spain Super Cup in 1990). On 5 November 2000 Alfredo Di Stefano was named, along with Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's Honorary President; in May 2006, instead, is inaugurated in Valdebebas Sports Center, the stadium of Real's reserve team Real Madrid Castilla, named after him.
In May of 2013, at the age of 86 years, now a widower, expresses the intention to marry Gina Gonzalez, employee of the Real Madrid of origins of Costa Rica fifty years younger, who helped him achieve his autobiography. The Union between the two, however, is opposed by the sons of former footballer. Nicknamed "La saeta rubia", Alfredo di Stefano was posted by Pele in the list of the best living 125 soccer players; the magazine "World Soccer" placed it sixth among the best players of the 20th century, while the Association of Football Statisticians has placed 22° in their list of the 100 greatest footballers of all time. Suffering from heart problems since 2005, July 7, 2014 dies of a heart attack--which occurred two days earlier while walking around the stadium Bernabeu-Madrid, a few days after 88 years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.