Full Name: Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé
Profession: Football Player and Coach
Biography: Alfredo Di Stéfano is considered one of the best footballers of all time.
After playing the first 12 years of his career in Argentina and Colombia, Di Stéfano moved to Spain signing with the powerhouse Real Madrid club that was one of the most successful teams of all time. He scored 216 league goals in 282 games for Los Blancos.
He also scored in 5 consecutive European Cup finals for Real between 1956 and 1960 and struck up a famous partnership with Hungarian star Ferenc Puskás.
He was awarded the Ballon d'Or for the European Footballer of the Year in 1957 and 1959.
In international football Di Stéfano earned 6 caps for his native Argentina, 4 for Colombia and 31 for Spain.
He had a mixed career in management but guided Boca Juniors to an Argentine league title, and also won La Liga and the European Cup Winners' Cup with Valencia.
Born: July 4, 1926
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Tiger
Star Sign: Cancer
Died: July 7, 2014 (aged 88)
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Historical Events
- 1956-12-18 Ballon d'Or: Blackpool & England winger Stanley Matthews wins inaugural award for best football player in Europe; beats Real Madrid pair Alfredo Di Stéfano & Raymond Kopa
- 1957-05-30 European Cup Final, Madrid: Alfredo Di Stéfano and Francisco Gento score as defending champions Real Madrid beats Fiorentina, 2-0
- 1957-12-17 Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Alfredo Di Stéfano wins award for best football player in Europe ahead of Englishmen Billy Wright and Duncan Edwards
- 1959-12-15 Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Alfredo Di Stéfano wins his second award for best football player in Europe ahead of teammate Raymond Kopa and Juventus' Welsh utility John Charles
- 1960-05-18 European Cup Final, Glasgow: Ferenc Puskás scores 4, Alfredo Di Stéfano 3 as Real Madrid routs Eintracht Frankfurt, 7-3; 5th consecutive title for Los Blancos
Biographies and Sources
- Di Stéfano on his five European Cup wins - UEFA.com
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