Born on this Day: Alfredo Di Stefano

[drgriffen]

Seen as part of the trident at the top of the game in Argentina Di Stefano is one of the all-time greats.

The 5 times winner of the European Cup started his career with the great River Plate team, La Maquina. Unable to get a starting role, though, he moved to Huracan on loan where he played as a winger. On his return to River, a year later, he evolved, like Thierry Henry, into a quick, technical forward. When he moved to Colombia to play for Millonarios he came under the tutelage of Adolfo Pedernera who made him into the player that would dominate Europe. No longer was he solely a striker. Now he would collect the ball from the defence, make the play then finish the move off.

In Scotland he is remembered most for his performance in the European Cup Final against Eintracht Frankfurt. Those who saw him said he was phenomenal.

Alfredo Di Stéfano - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Alfredo Di Stéfano obituary

Centre-forward of the all-conquering Real Madrid football team of the 1950s, which won five European Cups in a row

www.theguardian.com

The kidnap of Alfredo Di Stéfano

ON 5 APRIL 2015, Venezuelan painter and sculptor Paul del Río turned a gun on his own chest and pulled the trigger. A single bullet pierced the artist’s

thesefootballtimes.co

1960 European Cup final - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[drgriffen]

 

[htws]

Him and Puskas were unbelievable for RM in the final against Eintacht at Hampden in 1960

 

[napierblue]

Never seen any footage of him playing but if Real Madrid have him as a legend then that’s good enough for me. Elite of the elite

 

[Jedi]

Could do with this level of celebration around some of our ex players when the new museum opens. Madrid legend

 

[Carltonblue]

Him and Puskas were unbelievable for RM in the final against Eintacht at Hampden in 1960

Mind as a kid about 1970 our Scout troop put on a fundraising film show in the local church hall. They showed the full match on an old reel to reel projector. Remember to this day the goals by Di Stefano and Puskas. Frankfurt were a good side but were blown away.

 

[Tom1974]

Ah but could he have played
a) On a cold Wednesday night at Dunfermline?
b) Against all the super fit robots around playing today?

 

[Lairdo]

Bobby Charlton opined he was the greatest player he faced, greater than Pele.

 

[gordon_blue]

Am I right in thinking that he came to Ibrox as manager of a Spanish team? When John Greig was manager?

 

[drgriffen]

Am I right in thinking that he came to Ibrox as manager of a Spanish team? When John Greig was manager?

I think he was manager of Valencia.

These were the games from which everyone still talks about Kempes.

 

[Stanley]

He was at Ibrox in the ’63 team that came over to play us in the EC 1st round. It was a privilege to watch us matching Real on the pitch. We feared no-one back then, and a team like Real Madrid you went to the match expecting to beat them. Slim Jim loved the occasion. We came close to scoring a few times. De Stefano was superb, but the player who stood out even better then him was Puskas. Btw, Jimmie Baxter would have slotted into the Real team easy-peasy.

 

[ItsInTheNet]

He was at Ibrox in the ’63 team that came over to play us in the EC 1st round. It was a privilege to watch us matching Real on the pitch. We feared no-one back then, and a team like Real Madrid you went to the match expecting to beat them. Slim Jim loved the occasion. We came close to scoring a few times. De Stefano was superb, but the player who stood out even better then him was Puskas. Btw, Jimmie Baxter would have slotted into the Real team easy-peasy.

You describe it so well!

That game was and still remains to this day as one of the greatest privileges to have witnessed. We had a wonderful side and Real Madrid were an unbelievable side.

To have watched Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano and co share the same field with the incomparable Jim Baxter was a true joy.

 

[baystatebear]

I recall listening to a youtube interview featuring George Best, in which he stated that as a kid he tried to copy and base his football style on Di Stefano.

 

[SmokieBear]

Him and Puskas were unbelievable for RM in the final against Eintacht at Hampden in 1960

Gento wasn't too shabby either

 

[Bothwell Street Bear]

Would be interesting to see how Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are remembered in 60 years time.

Puscas, Pele, Di Stefano, Eusebio. Historical giants of the game. Not many, if any, these days can say they seen them play and could appreciate their greatness. You know they were great though, by what they achieved and people’s opinions.

a day will come when there wont be any people who ever seen Messi or CR play. I wonder what they will say about them. I feel privileged to have seen the beginning, middle and end of their careers.

 

[Garrioch Bear]

The Fabulous White Arrow.

 

[Trevor Reznick]

Ah but could he have played
a) On a cold Wednesday night at Dunfermline?
b) Against all the super fit robots around playing today?

On a wet night at Hampden May 1958. Big Geordie Young had him in his back pocket as Scotland beat Spain 4-2 in a WC qualifier.

 

[drgriffen]

When Real Madrid offered Alfredo Di Stéfano to Manchester United

When Manchester United and Real Madrid locked horns in the last-16 of the 2013 Champions League, it was billed as “the game that the whole world wants to

thesefootballtimes.co

 

[drgriffen]

Yesterday (7th), Real Madrid made this tribute to Di Stefano to commemorate the 6th anniversary of his death:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1280411228712681473

 

[ItsInTheNet]

A true all time footballing great!

 

[The Barcelona Bear]

Would certainly be in my all time great eleven