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Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stéfano dies

Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stéfano, considered one of the greatest footballers ever, died in a Spanish hospital on Monday aged 88, drawing tributes from around the sporting world.

Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stéfano dies
The president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, called Di Stéfano (right), pictured here with Zinedine Zidane, "the most complete player I've seen". Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

A hero of the all-conquering Real sides of the 1950s and 1960s, the striker known as the "Blonde Arrow" is ranked alongside Pele, Maradona and Johan Cruyff — though unlike them he missed out on World Cup glory.

Announcing his death on Monday, Real Madrid called the Argentine-born Di Stéfano, its honorary club president, simply "the best player of all time".

"Alfredo Di Stéfano changed the history of this club and he changed the history of football," the club's chairman Florentino Perez told a news conference.

"He has left us, but his legend will live forever."

Di Stéfano had gone into a coma after suffering a heart attack on Saturday at a restaurant near Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

He died on Monday at 5:15 pm (1515 GMT) at the Gregorio Marañón hospital, Real Madrid said in a statement.

"Real Madrid extends its condolences to its fans around the world and to those who are feeling the emotion of losing the best player of all time."

Di Stéfano had previously been hospitalized for similar episodes and underwent emergency quadruple heart by-pass surgery after a heart attack in 2005.

A player capable of disorienting dribbles, pinpoint passes and a lethal threat in front of goal, Di Stéfano combined technical and tactical skill with an irrepressible spirit.

A football match without goals "is like a Sunday without sunshine", went one of his best-known sayings.

He was a two-time European Football of the Year in 1957 and 1959, but never made it to the finals of a World Cup.

Argentina did not play in the 1950 and 1954 finals and having obtained Spanish citizenship in 1956 Di Stéfano missed out on the 1958 finals as Spain failed to qualify.

Spain reached the 1962 tournament in Chile but injury prevented Di Stéfano, then aged 35, from taking part.

He was one of Real Madrid's most celebrated players, however, representing the club for 11 seasons between 1953 and 1964, winning five European Cups.

Di Stéfano was born in Buenos Aires and began his professional career with hometown club River Plate in 1945 before leaving for Colombian outfit Millonarios four years later.

He soon attracted the attention of various big European clubs.

Legends never die

After a long transfer wrangle with Barcelona, it was arch-rivals Real Madrid who won the race for Di Stéfano's signature.

He helped Real Madrid end a 21-year wait for the league title in his first season and added a further seven league crowns.

However, it was on the European stage that Di Stéfano truly cemented his status as one of the game's greats.

He helped Real win the first five editions of the European Cup between 1956 and 1960, a record that stands to this day.

Tributes and condolences poured in on Monday from sporting personalities around the world and clubs including Barcelona.

The president of world football's governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter, called Di Stéfano "the most complete player I've seen".

Others to remember him included Spain's national coach Vicente del Bosque and striker Gonzalo Higuain, who scored Argentina's goal in their 1-0 World Cup quarter-finals win over Belgium on Saturday.

Real Madrid's current star striker Cristiano Ronaldo called it "a very sad day. For me, for all the Madridistas, for the world of football", in his own Twitter message.

"Don Alfredo leaves us, but his memory will last forever in our hearts. Legends never die. Thanks for everything Maestro."

Perez said Di Stéfano's body would lie in state in the Bernabeu from 0830 GMT on Tuesday, as the deceased himself requested.

"This stadium was his factory, his sacred ground, his home and his life," Perez said.

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FOOTBALL

Black Lives Matter: Marcelo ‘takes the knee’ to celebrate Real Madrid win

Marcelo celebrated by taking a knee as Real Madrid returned from three months away following the coronavirus suspension by beating Eibar 3-1 on Sunday.

Black Lives Matter: Marcelo 'takes the knee' to celebrate Real Madrid win
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo kneels on the field to celebrate his goal. Photo: AFP

After scoring Madrid's third goal in the 37th minute, Marcelo dropped onto his left knee and raised his clinched right fist into the air, apparently in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Madrid's win may have come at a cost as Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos were both substituted early in the second half and were seen with ice packs strapped to them while sitting in the stands.

Hazard was making his first start since February and his ice pack appeared to be around his troublesome right ankle, which he injured in November and February, before undergoing surgery in March.

“We knew Eden would lack a bit of rhythm playing the whole game,” coach Zinedine Zidane said.

“He played well for an hour, he took a knock which was a scare but at half-time he said he was fine. He is happy with what he has done and we are happy with him.”

Madrid's win means they reduce the gap behind league leaders Barcelona back to two points after the Catalans thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday.    

Madrid struck in the fourth minute after a superb strike from Toni Kroos before Ramos tucked away Hazard's pass on the counter-attack.    

Eibar pulled one back in the second half through Pedro Bigas but never found the second to make Madrid nervous, despite a brief spell of pressure.    

Before going off, Hazard was busy, the Belgian involved in all three goals.    

His weaving run through midfield led to Kroos' shot and it was his effort that was cleared out to Marcelo, who drove into the corner.    

After a miserable opening season in Spain, it was a bright start for Hazard, who could now redeem himself by playing a crucial role in the run-in, if he can stay injury-free.

Perhaps even more impressive though was Karim Benzema, who linked up brilliantly with Hazard and was unfortunate not to get the goal an excellent all-round performance deserved.

Gareth Bale started on the bench but came on and could start against Valencia on Thursday.

Zidane is likely to rotate heavily over the next few weeks, with the games coming thick and fast.

New surroundings

Madrid's coach will also have been pleased to get off to a positive start in their new training ground home, which was the 100th different stadium to be used in La Liga.

They will be playing all their remaining home matches at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium to allow renovation work at the Santiago Bernabeu to continue this summer.

“We know the situation, it's all a bit strange,” said Zidane. “But the players are all champions and we have to get our heads around it.”    

Barca had needed less than two minutes to score against Mallorca and Madrid were only slightly later, as Hazard broke through Eibar's midfield and Casemiro set Benzema free.

The ball was cleared to Kroos on the edge of the area, who struck first time, sidefooting perfectly into the far top right-hand corner.   

Ramos doubled their advantage after starting, and finishing, a ruthless counter-attack. In between, Benzema and Hazard were involved again, the former picking out the latter, who generously gave Ramos an open goal.

Marcelo put Eibar all but out of sight before half-time as Benzema played through for Hazard and his shot spilled out to Marcelo to lash into the corner.

Eibar were better after the break as Edu Exposito forced a full-stretch save from Thibaut Courtois and then Sergi Enrich headed against the crossbar. 

Bigas did score after diverting in Pedro Leon's shot but Madrid held on.    

Earlier, Diego Costa scored his first goal since October but Atletico Madrid missed the chance to move into La Liga's top four by drawing 1-1 away at Athletic Bilbao.

Costa celebrated by holding up the shirt of Virgina Torrecilla, a player from Atletico's women's team, who underwent surgery on a brain tumour last month.

His equaliser came two minutes after the excellent Iker Muniain had given Bilbao the lead towards the end of the first half and neither side could find a winner at the empty San Mames, with Atletico defender Santiago Arias missing the best chance late on.

Diego Simeone's side stay sixth, level on points with Getafe and one behind Real Sociedad, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.

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