February 3 – Tributes have poured in from around the world for Luis Aragones, the man who ended Spain’s 44-year wait for a major international trophy by winning Euro 2008.
Aragones, whose death at 75 was announced at the weekend, is reported to have asked those around him to keep his worsening medical condition a secret after apparently suffering from a form of leukaemia.
Aragones played 13 times for Spain and made more than 370 appearances for Atletico Madrid before returning as coach a few years later, leading them to the La Liga title in 1977 as well as three Copa del Rey trophies. He also coached Barcelona and most recently reached the Turkish Cup final with Fenerbahce.
Aragones will best be remembered as the man who turned around Spain’s fortunes in 2008 after decades as the nearly-men of world football. He left the post soon afterwards, but the foundations were laid for Spain to go on and win the 2010 World Cup and then retain their European title in 2012.
The Spanish Football Federation issued a statement that “expressed its grief and shock” at his death adding that he was responsible for starting the country’s “glorious success on the worldwide stage.”
Atletico said in a statement that “one of the greatest Rojiblancas legends has left us” while Aragones’ goalkeeper-captain, Iker Casillas, summed up his achievements. “Luis Aragones changed the history of Spanish football and for that we will always be thankful.”
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