07 July 2014
Juventus Football Club is today mourning the sad loss of one of the game’s all-time greats, Alfredo Di Stefano, who has passed away in Madrid at the age of 88.
After signing for Real from Millonarios in 1953, he helped Los Merengues scale scintillating new heights, winning five straight European Cups and scoring in each final between 1956 and 1960.
During his 11-year stint in the famous white shirt, Di Stefano also lifted eight Spanish league titles and was voted European player of the year twice, in 1957 and 1959.
He came up against Juventus on no less than three occasions throughout his career, scoring the winner in the European Cup quarter-final first leg in February 1962, before Omar Sivori took the tie to a decider with the only goal in the return fixture.
The Bianconeri may have kept Di Stefano at bay in the third and final contest, won 3-1 by Real Madrid, but he was soon back amongst the goals, becoming the competition’s top scorer after netting the first of four against Standard Liege.
After hanging up his boots, Di Stefano embarked on a career as a manager, winning league titles with Boca Juniors, River Plate and Valencia before returning to take charge of Real Madrid in two separate spells (1982-84 and 1990-91).
In November 2000, in recognition of his standing in Real Madrid’s history, president Florentino Perez appointed him as the club’s honorary president and world ambassador.
All associated with Juventus Football Club wish to send their condolences to the Di Stefano family and Real Madrid.
