Luis Suarez, the former Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner, has died at the age of 89.
Suarez, a goal-scoring midfielder, won the Ballon d’Or in 1960, defeating the likes of Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano. The Spaniard, considered to be one of the best the country has ever produced, spent six years at Barcelona, earning two league titles before leaving in 1961.
After leaving Barcelona, he was a member of the famed Inter Milan team that won back-to-back European Cups under Helenio Herrera. During his stay in Italy, Suarez won three Serie A titles and made over 300 appearances with Il Grande Inter.
Inter Milan paid a moving tribute to their idol, concluding with the sad statement: “Saying goodbye to an icon.”
“The nostalgia of his perfect and inimitable football, which in fact inspired generations, joins the memory of a unique footballer and a great, great Inter player. We will miss him, because as Helenio Herrera preached, ‘If you don’t know what to do, give the ball to Suarez’.”
A second added: “The only Spanish Ballon D’or winner, Barcelona legend Luis Suárez Miramontes has unfortunately passed away today. May he rest in peace.”
“RIP Luis Suárez Miramontes he was one of the best passers ever,” a second tweeted. And a third added: “I’m fortunate enough to have been able to admire him. Immensely talented, he was undoubtedly one of the strongest midfielders of all time.”
He was nicknamed El Arquitecto – The Architect – and played 32 times for Spain, scoring 14 goals. When he went from the Nou Camp to the San Siro, he became the world’s most expensive player and the first £100,000 transfer.
In a statement, Real Madrid said: “Real Madrid wants to express its condolences and affection to its relatives, its teammates, its loved ones and all its clubs… Spanish football and world football mourn their loss. Rest in peace.”
While his final professional club, Sampdoria, tweeted a photo of Suarez with the caption: “Ciao Luisito.”
