ALFREDO DI STEFANO

Played in the Argentine club River Plate "and" Huracan, "the Colombian club Milonarios, Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Espanyol. In the years 1947-1961 spent 39 games in the teams of Argentina and Spain.

Since Di Stefano played his last game, passed for more than four decades. This means that the vast majority of today's fans, alas, never seen him on the field. Few, unfortunately, are familiar with the extant films, which capture fragments of the great matches with his participation - at least the first in football history European Cup Final 1956, in which Real Madrid won the French "Reims".

In that memorable tense finale, won by a score of 4:3, a goal is scored, and Di Stefano. And scoring in each of the following four finals, where once again celebrated the victory of "Transformers". Fantastic, nobody since then has not repeated series continues - since 1956 the Club of Madrid won the European Cup five times in a row! And beyond that, for those 11 years, Di Stefano played at Real Madrid, the club won the Intercontinental Cup once, 8-times national champion and once won the Spanish Cup. For comparison - in the previous 25 years, "Real" only twice won the Spanish championship.

As far as personal achievements, Di Stefano for these 11 years he spent in the "Real" 510 games and scored 418 goals, 5 times was the best scorer in the Spanish championship, has 49 goals scored in matches at the European Cup, twice received the prize " Golden Ball as the best footballer in Europe.

Even a simple list that shows what a great football talent, was endowed with Alfredo di Stefano. Those who are still lucky enough to see him play first hand, believe that it can be compared with Pele himself. He was endowed with brilliant South American technique, artistry, exact a heavy blow, but beyond that, and great devotion to football. In his autobiography, "Thanks, old man!" You can find these lines: "Often, even with high temperatures I was able to convince the coaches that I have to enter the field. Football - a great game, and when you're in a great club, then every game for you - a privilege. And exactly the same privilege - give the game everything you have. " These principles, Alfredo Di Stefano followed his long football career.

It began in Argentina, the grandfather of the future great player was Italian, in his early youth who moved to Buenos Aires from the island of Capri. By the end of his life he has grown rich, owned a fleet barges transporting goods from Argentina, Paraguay and back, but his grandson was born when the family still lived in a poor suburb of Buenos Aires Barrakase. The mother of Alfredo were Irish roots, and therefore her son was born a blonde to light, and noticeably different from the majority of Argentines.

Father Di Stefano as a young man, too fond of football and played in a leading Buenos Aires club River Plate at the amateur level. Football was his only amusement, recreation. He stopped playing when the seriously injured his knee. In addition, just this time, River Plate became a professional club, and his father di Stefano had other occupations: he grew potatoes, and fields of his ranch worked dozens of laborers.

When Alfred was fifteen, his father decided to make him a manager, and almost all the time next player spent at the ranch. But when could hit the city, all the free time gave the football team. Football field served as a street, the gate is a pair of trees, or frame, painted on the wall. Since the pocket money for a young manager father was generous, the boys folded and bought the cheapest cast a ball of light rubber. He was able to rebound the most incredible, to cope with them, required considerable skill, but it is well elaborated Excellent technique.

In 1943, when Alfredo was seventeen, he plucked up courage and went on view in "River Plate".

Photo — «Alfredo Di Stefano»

On the day the club was joined by several dozen young players, but coaches have selected only two, and one was Di Stefano. So he ended up in the fourth division club, where they played football from sixteen to eighteen years. And on Aug. 7, 1944 first appeared on the field in the core team in a match against Huracan. Debut, admittedly, was a failure - Alfredo injured ankle in the second half, was forced to withdraw from the field and replace if not resolved.

After the match, special perspectives to gain a foothold in the core team he did not have, so Alfredo gladly accepted the invitation to play in another club - Urakane. "River Plate" is not arguing, gave it on lease. In "Urakane" di Stefano spent 25 games and scored 10 goals. In 1946, when the lease term is over, "River" introduced a young football player in the first team.

In 1947 he made his debut in the Argentina national team. True, to speak for the national team he happened only 6 times, but it's enough to make that same year dvadtsatiodnoletny player together with a team won the championship of South America - the world's oldest tournament for national teams.

In "River Plate" Di Stefano played until 1949, spent 66 games, scoring 40 goals. For speed and efficiency, as well as hair color, journalists dubbed him "White Arrows". When the players of Argentina, dissatisfied with low salaries, have gone on strike, di Stefano, together with another player, "Rivera" thought it best to move to Colombia, the club Milonarios. In the first season the club became the national champion. Colombian newspaper did not stint his praise: "Di Stefano - the fastest and most formidable frontline in the continent. "

Landmark event in the career of Alfredo di Stefano was in 1952. Then "Milonarios, as well as several other clubs from different countries, was invited to Spain - for a tournament on the 50 th anniversary of Real Madrid. Games were held in several cities and became a real holiday. The tournament has become the Colombian team - during a meeting with the jubilee, she won 4:2, and two goals scored by Di Stefano. After the game, the president of Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu delivered his "historical phrase, which then often reminisced Spanish journalists:" Di Stefano should be taken. "

In 1952, Real Madrid has not been so stellar superclub, which became in later years, but now seriously preparing for this. The club has a long history. Founded his group of students in Madrid - soccer enthusiasts. First he called the "Madrid football club. " The name "Real" - "royal" - was given to him in 1920 the King of Spain Alfonso XIII.

During the civil war in Spain, the stadium of Real Madrid "Chamartin in Madrid was completely destroyed, and the club ticket office is empty. Revive the "Real" seems no longer possible. But at that time the club was headed by a successful attorney Santiago Bernabeu. Before he was a player of Real Madrid, then worked at a club coach. In 1942 he became president of the Bernabeu Real Madrid. This energetic and enterprising people managed not only to return the club to life, but also to bring to the first position in European football.

First of all Madrid at the Bernabeu appealed to the entire country to help the club build a new stadium. Was declared by subscription, and collected an amount of 41 million pesetas has surpassed all expectations and has shown how, even in those years was the popular "Transformers" in Spain.

The donations collected by the fans of Real Madrid, was bought by a vast plot of land on the Castellana, one of Madrid's most prestigious streets. Bernabeu swung not only the stadium, but on superstadion. Initially it was called "Nuevo Chamartin. By the end of 1947, the stadium was built.

Photo — «Alfredo Di Stefano»

Then he could hold 75,000 spectators. Soon the Santiago Bernabeu proceeded to reconstruction, after which the stadium would have to take 100,000 viewers. Now the football arena "Real" has become not only one of the largest in Europe, but also the most beautiful. A little looking ahead, I must say that in 1955 in honor of the president of Real Madrid, who managed to revive the club, "El Nuevo Chamartin" has been renamed the Santiago Bernabeu.

Games at Real Madrid stadium is never empty. Revenues have allowed the club president to start buying the best players from all over the world. This is the way he intended to turn their "Real" in the strongest clubs in the world, and to start to become at least a champion of Spain. Indeed, despite his fame and love of the audience, "Transformers" could not do it since 1933.

In 1953, Alfredo Di Stefano and his family moved to Madrid. However, his life began with the Spanish legal case. In addition to Real Madrid, Argentine footballer interested in Barcelona, ??immediately transfer the money for his club River Plate, which is formally still remain the owner of Di Stefano. Real Madrid also paid for it "Milonariosu. As a result, FIFA banned him speak at all in Spain, while Real Madrid and Barcelona do not come to some agreement. Eventually a solution was found: two years of Di Stefano will have to play for Real Madrid, and then two years at Barcelona.

But, starting at Real Madrid, Di Stefano did not immediately adapt to new conditions, and Barcelona has sold its share of the rights to football to Real Madrid. A few days later, Real Madrid played against Barcelona, ??Di Stefano scored a hat-trick and the match ended with the score 5:0. Thus began his legendary career with the Club of Madrid.

In 1954 and 1955, Real Madrid became the champion of Spain. And in June 1955 began drawing a new international tournament - the European Cup, which was destined to become the most prestigious competitions of the best football clubs in Europe. Real Madrid has been included in the number of participants as the champion of Spain.

First opponent, "Royal Club" on the way the tournament was the Swiss "Servette". At an away match in Geneva together with the team was Prince Juan Carlos, the future king of Spain. Ascent Real Madrid to the finals began with a win over Servette "2:0.

The second club, the finalists was "Reims", the strongest team at that time in France. But the final was held not at a neutral field, namely in Paris. Such a symbolic gesture FIFA returned thanks to France, because it is the French have put forward the idea of ??the European Cup.

The match started for the "Real" daunting: cheering spectators, the players, "Reims" in 10 minutes won 2:0. But as soon as Di Stefano played for a ball, then another Argentinian Madrid - Real, equalized. In the second half, the French again took the lead, but Real Madrid again equalized. And 10 minutes before the end of the same material with a brilliant delivery Spaniard Gento scored the winning goal. Since Madrid, the club won the European Cup for the first time.

Also in 1956, Alfredo di Stefano has Spanish nationality. This meant that henceforth he would play for Spain. Debut in her place on Jan. 30, 1957 in a charity match against Holland. The money intended for victims of the Hungarian events of 1956. The Spaniards won - 5:1, and the three goals scored by Di Stefano.

In 1957 became a great football player one of the most stellar career. Real Madrid re-champion Spain, Di Stefano - the best sniper championship, scored 31 ball. Again won the European Cup, this time in the final play of the Italian Fiorentina 2:0. Goals were scored by Di Stefano and Gento. This year, di Stefano first receives from the weekly magazine "France Football" prize "Golden Ball award as the best footballer in Europe.

Photo — «Alfredo Di Stefano»

In 1958, Real Madrid once again the champion of Spain and is now a three-time winner of the European Cup. Now in the final match victory won over the Italian "Milan" - 3:2. One of the goals in the account di Stefano.

However, that year there were disappointments. Spanish team was unable to break into the World Championships held in Sweden. Opportunity was missed after a farcical defeat in the qualifying match against Switzerland.

But the cast of "Real" constantly amplified football stars of the first magnitude. Back in 1956, immediately after his victory over "Reims", Santiago Bernabeu eye on the French team star Raymond Kopa. In 1958 the club came the great Hungarian Ferenc Puskas.

In 1959, the fourth in a row have their final European Cup Real Madrid met again with the "Reims", and victory again - 2:0. Again, one goal scored by Di Stefano. The national championship of Spain he was again top scorer. "France Football" this year gave him a second Golden Ball.

The following year, Real Madrid won the European Cup for the fifth consecutive time. The final match with Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt, held in Glasgow, went to the football history as one of the most beautiful and exciting. Di Stefano scored a hat-trick, Ferenc Puskas scored 4 goals. The match ended with an unprecedented for the final match score of 7:3.

However, the most powerful clubs can not win always, and great players to play forever. In 1961, the European Champions Cup Real Madrid lost the match Octafinal his bitter rival Barcelona. In 1962, though, and went to the finals, but lost to the Portuguese Benfica 3:5, although initially led 2:0. The winners of the five two-goal scored by Eusebio. I defeated all three were on the account Puskas.

Poorly formed that year and for the Spanish national team. Di Stefano went along with it to the World Cup in Chile, but has not played a single match due to injury. Spaniards could not even pass the group stage.

But in 1963 it was Di Stefano trusted captain the world team, which conducted the match against England after 100 years of English football. In the star-studded team, besides himself, consisted of Kopa, Puskas, Eusebio, Lo . . . Gates in the first half defending Lev Yashin, do not miss a single ball, the second Yugoslav M. Shoshkich. Won Community-British 2:1.

In 1964, after Real Madrid lost again in the final match of the European Cup the Italian Inter - 1:3, great player left the club, which spent eleven years old. He offered a very lucrative contract Scottish Celtic, but Di Stefano did not want to leave Spain, to which he was accustomed. Two seasons, he has come to grief in Barcelona, ??Espanyol. In 1965 he again played in the world team in a farewell match in honor of the great English footballer Stanley Matthews. And finally, when he was already forty, decided to switch to coaching.

In his coaching career had ups and downs. He went from Spain to Argentina, back then to leave again and go back. Traveled to Lisbon, where he was coach of Sporting. In Argentina, at various times he led a club champions Boca Juniors and their mother, "River Plate". In Spain, won the championship with Valencia, twice while head of Real Madrid.

The last time this happened was in 1990. And now Alfredo di Stefano is honorary president of Real Madrid. He - the recognized patriarch of Spanish soccer, the real pride of the country.

International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) included Alfredo Di Stefano in the top ten outfield players of the XX century under the number four - after the Brazilian Pele, Johan Cruyff Dutch and German Franz Beckenbauer.