Monday, July 07, 2014

RIP Alfredo di Stefano

Alfredo di Stefano, one of the greatest players of all time, has just signed for the team of angels in heaven, where he will play along other of the greats, but will surely be among the greatest.
Alfredo Di Stefano was born in Argentina, and developed his skills in one of greatest football generations ever, when Argentina in the 1940s had developed some of the best football in the world at the time. He won two leagues with River Plate before going to Millionarios, in Colombia, where he also got a few matches in their national team.
He finally went to Real Madrid, where the legend was born. Twice European player of the year, he also led Real Madrid to five European champions titles, scoring in five finals in a row.
After his retirement he was both a pundit and manager for various teams, and ended as honorary president of Real Madrid. 
Alfredo di Stefano was not only one of the best players the world has seen. He was a man of the world, having played for three national teams that he never forgot, but showed that love for peoples and countries does not have borders. He knew football moved passions, but that it is nothing more than a game. From this came his strong sense of humility and fair play.
At a time when we are playing a World Cup that contains the worst elements of nationalism, narrow-minds, greed and filth, the memory of Alfredo di Stefano should remind us of what football should really be about: a beautiful game between friends.

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