Ex-Real Madrid star Di Stefano suffers heart attack

Former Real Madrid star Alfredo Di Stefano was in a critical condition Saturday after suffering a heart attack in the Spanish capital.

5 July 2014, 8:51pm
by Staff Reporter

A file picture dated 02 December 2010 shows Argentinian-Spanish soccer legend and Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano in Madrid, central Spain. Di Stefano, who turned 88 on 04 July 2014, was on 05 July 2014 hospitalized to Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid as a result of a cardiac-respiratory arrest he has suffered in the surroundings of Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Photo by EPA/JUAN M. ESPINOSA

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The 88-year-old honorary president of the club was rushed to a Madrid hospital after suffering a heart attack in a street close to the club's Estadio Bernabeu, according to Spanish media reports.

Di Stefano has been suffering from heart problems since undergoing an emergency bypass operation in Valencia in 2005.

Born in Buenos Aires, he started his career with River Plate then left for Millionarios in Colombia. He played for Real from 1953 to 1964, helping them to win the first five European Champions Cups.

He coached Real from 1982 to 1984, without much success. He has been an honorary president since 2000.