MADRID: Former Barcelona and Inter Milan midfielder Luis Suarez, the only male footballer born in Spain to win the Ballon D’Or died at 88 on Sunday. The Spaniard became the first player born in the country to win the Ballon d’Or in 1960 and later coached La Roja at the 1990 World Cup.
“From the RFEF, we want to convey our condolences to all relatives and close friends of Luis Sua-rez Miramontes,” wrote the Spanish football federation on Twitter.
Suarez was loved in Italy, too, after becoming one of the league’s most celebrated midfielders at Inter Milan under coach Helenio Herrera in the 1960s.
“Saying goodbye to Luisito leaves us with a deep melancholy—the nostalgia of his perfect and in-imitable football, which inspired generations, is combined with the memory of a unique footballer and a great, great Inter player,” wrote Inter in a statement.
Suarez, born in La Coruna in 1935, began his career at Deportivo La Coruna before moving to Bar-celona in 1954.
He won two La Liga trophies with the Catalan giants, among other silverware, and earned the Ballon d’Or.
The only other player born in Spain to win the Ballon d’Or is Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas, who has won the women’s trophy twice.
Alfredo Di Stefano, who played for Argentina and later the Spanish national team, won it twice but was born in Buenos Aires. Agencies
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