The Architect: What to know about the only male Spaniard to win Ballon d’Or
Luis Suarez Miramontes, widely regarded as one of Spain’s greatest ever players, has passed away aged 88.
He was a midfielder for Barcelona, Inter Milan and Sampdoria during his playing career that ran from 1953 to 1973. Miramontes’ talents were recognised in 1960 when he won the Ballon d’Or.
Miramontes started out at Deportivo La Coruna before making his name at Barcelona, where he played from 1955 to 1961. He helped Barca win two LaLiga titles during his time there.
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His crowning personal achievement came in 1960 when he beat Real Madrid star Ferenc Puskss to the Ballon d’Or. He remains Spain’s only male winner of the award.
He moved on to Inter Milan in 1961 where he made 328 appearances over the next nine years, scoring 55 goals from midfield.
Miramontes, who was nicknamed ‘The Architect’, played an important role in the famous ‘Grande Inter’ team which won three Serie As and two consecutive European cups.
He concluded his playing career with three years at Sampdoria before going into management.
As well as a stellar club career, Miramontes made 32 appearances for Spain, appearing in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, and scoring 14 goals.
After retiring, he managed Spain between 1988 and 1991, leading his side to the second round of the World Cup at Italia 90. He also took charge of Inter on three occasions, as well as Como, Cagliari and Deportivo.
Inter Milan wrote in a statement: “FC Internazionale Milano, its president Steven Zhang, the Vice President Javier Zanetti, the CEOs Alessandro Antonello and Giuseppe Marotta, the coach Simone Inzaghi and his staff, the players and the entire Inter world join in mourning the loss of Luis Suarez and, in remembering him, they embrace his family members.”
It added: “Saying goodbye to Luisito leaves us with a deep melancholy: the nostalgia of his perfect and inimitable football, which in fact inspired generations, joins the memory of a unique footballer and a great, great Inter player.
“We will miss him, because as [legendary coach] Helenio Herrera preached, ‘If you don’t know what to do, give the ball to Suarez’.”