Remembering Spain’s football icon Luis Suárez
Sunday, July 9, 2023
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Spanish and world football is mourning the death at the age of 88 of Luis Suárez Miramontes, one of the country’s most acclaimed footballers who remains the only Spanish-born male player to have won the Ballon d'Or.
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Suárez became one of Spain's most revered football legends and was a much-loved figure both at home and in Italy, where he spent much of his career as a player and coach.
Nicknamed 'The Architect,' the skilful and inspirational midfielder won a wealth of honours in a superb playing career, reaching his zenith in the 1960s when he helped Spain win the 1964 European Championship on home soil and took Inter Milan to two successive European Cup titles in 1964 and 1965.
'A unique talent'
In paying tribute, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) described Suárez as "one of the greatest legends of our football. Rest in peace, Luisito". Inter spoke of "a unique talent - the number 10 of the Grande Inter who brought our colours to the summits of Italy, Europe and the world."
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said Suárez was “A monument of Italian and international football. He has given pearls of beauty to all fans, while inspiring generations of footballers."
Born in A Coruña on 2 May 1935, Suárez embarked on his playing career in the 1953/54 season with his hometown team, RC Deportivo La Coruña, before signing for FC Barcelona in 1954. In seven seasons with Barça, he won two league titles, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups and two Spanish Cups.
In 1960, he was awarded the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first and, until now, only Spanish-born male player to be awarded the prize.
1960s peak
Following this important accolade, Suárez's career progressed to another level when he joined Inter Milan in 1961. He won, among others, two European Cups (1964 and 1965), three Italian domestic titles and two Intercontinental Cups with the Milan club.
Suárez also became a pillar of the Spanish national team, winning 32 caps and scoring 13 goals. He helped his country to glory in 1964, when Spain captured the European title by defeating the holders USSR 2-1 in Madrid.
After leaving Inter in 1970, Suárez finished his playing career with Italian club Sampdoria in 1973.
Suárez began his career as a coach in Italy, working with Inter, Sampdoria, Como and Cagliari. After returning home to coach Deportivo for one season, he was appointed Spain's Under-21 coach in 1980, and guided his young side to the European Under-21 title in 1986.
He then went on to manage the Spanish senior national team from 1988 to 1991, leading them to the FIFA World Cup in Italy. He then had brief stints managing Inter twice (1992 and 1995) and Albacete Balompié (1994) in Spain, before retiring from coaching and occasionally working as a radio co-commentator.