Alfredo di Stefano, whose biography is described below, is rightfully considered the person who has most influenced the history of Real Madrid. This footballer has become a key figure, ensuring the dominance of the team in the European arena for five years. It should be noted that in all the final matches of that period, he always managed to score a goal. Being able to play at any position on the field, this player always remained the main striking force in his club. Not surprisingly, according to France Football, the Argentinean was in fourth place in the list of the best players of the last century. It is impossible not to mention another outstanding individual award of Alfredo di Stefano - “Super Golden Ball”, which was awarded to him by the same edition in 1989. Despite everything, for fans of Real Madrid, he will forever remain the best player in the team in history. All this will be discussed further in more detail.
early years
The future legendary football player was born in one of the districts of the Argentine city of Buenos Aires on July 4, 1926. His grandfather was the first in the family who went to conquer Argentina from Italy in search of a better life. Father married a girl with Irish-French roots. Thus, we can safely say that the guy had a triple origin. Despite everything, he himself repeatedly admitted that he had considered himself an Argentinean all his life. In total, in the family, besides Alfredo di Stefano, whose photo is located below, there were two more children.
The area in which the guy grew up was near the port. It was from here that football brought to the country by British sailors spread in the city. The childhood of a football player, according to him, can be called happy. Since his grandfather was successful in trade, the family boasted a good financial position. She lived in the area in which the Boca Juniors football club was stationed. Despite this, the hearts of the family belonged entirely to its main competitor, River Plate. Papa Alfredo even for some time acted as part of this team as a striker, but the injury did not allow him to develop further in this direction. The son dreamed of doing everything possible to surpass the achievements of his father.
First football steps
Children's games with the guys on the street were the first in the career of di Stefano. Alfredo then received from his grandfather the nickname "Stopit", which for a long time was fixed to the guy and among friends. At that time, the boys used leather balls worth two centavos. The first club of the future star was the team "Unidos and Veseremos." Later, the footballer recalled that at that time there were many guys who played much better than him. Along with this, someone had to study, someone to work, and some did not even have the opportunity to buy shoes.
First move
In 1940, the whole family moved to a suburb of Buenos Aires and settled on a small farm in Los Cardales. It was a difficult period in the life of di Stefano. Alfredo was forced to drop out of school and work hard. His father was engaged in the cultivation and sale of potatoes, as well as beekeeping. The guy was assigned to look after 80 workers who worked on the plantation. This work cannot be called complicated, but it took a lot of time. Despite this, the refusal of football was out of the question. Every Sunday, he certainly found time to play as part of the local village team with his brother Tulio, and also attended games with the participation of his beloved club.
River Plate
As Alfredo di Stefano recalled more than once later, his biography as a professional footballer began at the age of seven. It was then that he became a member of the River Plate Club. The style of play that the young man demonstrated did not leave anyone indifferent to her. As a result, his mother recommended a son to a friend, a former River Plate player. He was convinced that the guy had exceptional talent, and therefore, in 1944, Di Stefano was invited to the fourth team of the club. Alfredo has repeatedly stated that if it were not for this act of his mother, he would remain an agronomist for life. Since the Second World War was raging in Europe at that time, the country's leading players remained playing in their own championship. This fact greatly contributed to the formation of the legendary and very strong River Plate team. In 1945, he made his debut in his composition in a match against Hurricane.
Ironically, it was on this team that he went on loan a year later. The fact is that an eighteen-year-old guy lost in competition to his idol - Adolfo Pedernere. The football player received the coveted game practice, as a result of which his star very soon lit up over the horizon. The leaders of River Plate could not help but notice this, so the player was returned the next season. Immediately after returning with his club, he won the championship of Argentina, and he became the best sniper, distinguishing himself with 27 goals scored. In the same year, the football player made his debut in the national team of his country, with which he became a triumph at the South American Championship, which was held in Ecuador. Then he received the nickname that has been preserved throughout the entire professional career of Alfredo di Stefano - “Arrow”. The player played for the club for three years. During this time, he spent 72 matches, in which he scored 53 goals.
Strike
During the height of the championship of Argentina, June 3, 1949, a strike of professional players began. Their main requirements were related to salary increases and fulfillment of contractual obligations by clubs. It was Di Stefano who became one of the active participants and ideological inspirers of these protests. Alfredo, whose quotes were then massively published in the Argentinean press, sharply criticized the position of clubs, especially those representing the lower divisions, in relation to football players. The fact is that they were often not paid wages. In addition, the contracts were drawn up in bad faith.
Footballers of large clubs, according to Alfredo, simply had to respond to this. Therefore, they decided not to play. The only exception was charity games, which were supposed to draw public attention to the current situation.
Leaving River Plate
As of the end of May 1949, certain agreements were reached with most of the players. In this regard, the general strike gradually subsided. Be that as it may, there were players who continued to demand better conditions for their professional activities. Among them were Alfredo di Stefano and several of his teammates. The management of River Plate agreed in the end to make certain concessions, namely, salaries were increased for the players. At the same time, one of the main requirements - the right to freely transfer to other clubs at the end of the season - was not guaranteed. A little later, during charity performances in Italy, Alfredo received information that the club was in talks and about his transfer to Liberty. Requesting explanations from the club president about why this was done without his knowledge, he received a rude answer that he could clean up anywhere. On August 9, 1949, the football player secretly went to Colombia, where he signed a contract with the capital club Millionarios. A few more River Plate players did likewise.
Millionarios
The club owner, inviting South American stars, was largely able to solve the problem of popularizing football in his country. Moreover, this allowed him to make substantial money, because fans began to go to the stadium en masse. It should be noted that other Colombian teams conducted a similar policy. That season, Millionarios won the league title. An important role in this triumph was played by Alfredo di Stefano. The Argentinean began to score goals for the new club immediately. According to the results of the championship, he spent 15 fights, in which he scored 16 goals. The following year, the team took the final second place, and Alfredo himself scored 23 goals, which became the third indicator of the championship. The new season at Millionarios has become more successful. The team regained the title of champion, and the Argentinean scored 32 goals in 34 games. In 1952, the club again won the national championship.
At the end of the year, Millionarios conducted a Chilean tour. Alfredo asked the leadership to spend some time with his family. When the time came to return to Colombia, he remained at home. The club president flew to him with requirements to fulfill obligations under the contract, but the player himself at that time had already firmly decided to part with the team. Then, on his hands appeared offers from “Barcelona” and Madrid “Atletico”. In total, he played 292 matches in Millionarios, in which he scored 267 goals.
"Real Madrid"
Initially in Spain, Alfredo di Stefano was supposed to play for Barcelona. He even had three friendly matches as part of this team. However, representatives of Real Madrid intervened in the situation, who managed to redeem the player’s contract, including offsetting part of the costs to the Catalan club. The proceedings on this transition lasted about seven months, during which the football player did not participate in official matches. He made his debut in the new team only on September 23, 1953. It should be noted that then “Real” lost 2-4 to the French “Nancy”, and one of the goals was scored by Alfredo di Stefano. The standing stadium applauded its new star, despite the slurred game of the whole team. In the future, from match to match, the footballer gradually gained shape. Throughout the season, he repeatedly pleased the club's fans with goals scored, which helped Real Madrid become the country's champion.
The following season, the Argentinean scored the most goals (24) again, and his club finished third. Along with this, Madrid became a triumph in the debut draw of the European Cup. At the same time, a prestigious individual award for football players was established - the Golden Ball. Being one of the main contenders for this title, Alfredo di Stefano was second in the poll. Winner Stanley Matthews, he lost only three votes.
The season of 1956/1957 was again a triumph for Real Madrid in the Spanish championship. At that time, the Argentine was already the main star of his team. He again became the best sniper championship with 31 goals. Real Madrid also won the European Cup, where Alfredo scored the most goals. In determining the owner of the Golden Ball that season he had no competitors. The following year, the Club of Madrid repeated its achievements. According to the results of 1958, the Argentinean was recognized as the best football player in Europe for the second time. This is not surprising, because he remained the leading player in the strongest European team at that time.
Since 1960, the game of Real Madrid has gradually begun to decline. The team, although it became the champion of Spain, but failed to perform in the international arena. Even the status of the best goalscorer of the national championship did not help Alfredo get the Golden Ball. A similar situation developed in the next two seasons. The last match of the Argentinean in the Madrid squad was the final duel of the European Cup 1963 against the Italian Inter, in which Real lost. In total, he played 396 games for the capital's club, in which he scored 307 goals. Raul broke this record only in 2009.
Espanyol and the end of his playing career
After completing his appearances for Real Madrid, the president of the royal club invited Alfredo di Stefano to end his player’s career and join the coaching team. The footballer refused the offer and went to play for Espanyol. Having made such a decision, he dreamed of bringing the Spanish middle peasant to a leading position in the championship. However, he did not succeed. The team first took the final eleventh place in the championship, and then completely became twelfth. In two years of playing for this club, he scored only 13 goals, after which he ended his career. On June 7, 1967, the player held a farewell match in which Real played with the Scottish Celtic.
Coaching career and retirement
The Argentinean did not achieve grandiose international success on the coaching bridge. His work in Boca Juniors, River Plate, Valencia and Real Madrid, with which he became the champion of the country, can be called quite successful. In addition to them, he directed Sporting, Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Castellon. According to the results of the 1990/1991 season, the specialist decided to end his coaching career.
From 2000 until the day Alfredo di Stefano passed away, he served as the honorary president of the Royal Club. At this time, the Argentinean enjoyed the successes of not only Real Madrid, but also the Spanish national team. He has repeatedly stated that these teams play the football that he had dreamed of all his life.
Death
July 7, 2014 was a black day in the history of the Club of Madrid. It was then that as a result of a heart attack, suffered two days earlier, Alfredo di Stefano died in the 89th year of life. The next day, the coffin with his body was put up for farewell at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Many legends of world football attended the funeral ceremony, including Pele, Diego Maradonna, Alex Ferguson and others.
Universal recognition
Throughout his career, the footballer has won a large number of titles. One of the most interesting awards that Alfredo di Stefano has been awarded is the Super Golden Ball. The Argentine received it on December 24, 1989. Thus, France Football marked an excellent player career. In the survey, the Argentinean surpassed Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini. Until now, he remains the only person in history to have received this award.
On May 9, 2006, another outstanding event took place in the life of Alfredo di Stefano. The stadium named after him was opened in the suburbs of Madrid. In this field, the training of football players of Real Madrid is usually carried out now.