The 88-year-old Luis Suarez Miramontes, widely considered one of Spain’s all-time finest players, has died.
From 1953 to 1973, he played as a midfielder for Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Sampdoria. By winning the Ballon d’Or in 1960, Miramontes’ abilities were acknowledged.
Before becoming famous at Barcelona, where he played from 1955 to 1961, Miramontes began his career with Deportivo La Coruna. While at Barca, he assisted the club in capturing two La Liga championships.
His greatest accomplishment was winning the Ballon d’Or in 1960 by defeating Ferenc Puskss of Real Madrid. He continues to be the lone male winner from Spain.
In 1961, he transferred to Inter Milan, where he spent the following nine years playing in 328 matches.
The ‘Architect’ Miramontes was a key member of the legendary ‘Grande Inter’ squad that won three Serie As and two back-to-back European championships.
He spent the final three years of his playing career with Sampdoria before switching to management.
Miramontes had a successful club career and also played 32 times for Spain, participating in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups and scoring 14 goals.
Following his retirement, he managed Spain between 1988 and 1991, guiding his team to the World Cup second round in Italia 90. Additionally, he managed Inter three times as well as Como, Cagliari, and Deportivo.
Inter Milan wrote in a statement: “FC Internazionale Milano, its president Steven Zhang, Vice President Javier Zanetti, the CEOs Alessandro Antonello and Giuseppe Marotta, the coach Simone Inzaghi and his staff, the players and the entire Inter world join in mourning the loss of Luis Suarez and, in remembering him, they embrace his family members.”
It added: “Saying goodbye to Luisito leaves us with a deep melancholy: the nostalgia of his perfect and inimitable football, which inspired generations, joins the memory of a unique footballer and a great, great Inter player.
“We will miss him, because as (legendary coach) Helenio Herrera preached, ‘If you don’t know what to do, give the ball to Suarez’.”
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