Former Spanish football star Di Stefano dies

Former Real Madrid star Alfredo Di Stefano dies after suffering a heart attack in the Spanish capital at the weekend, the EFE news agency quotes family members as saying.

A file picture dated 02 December 2010 shows Argentinian-Spanish soccer legend and Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano in Madrid, Spain. Di Stefano died July 7, 2014 after suffering a heart attack in Madrid, Spain. Photo by EPA/JUAN M. ESPINOSA
A file picture dated 02 December 2010 shows Argentinian-Spanish soccer legend and Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano in Madrid, Spain. Di Stefano died July 7, 2014 after suffering a heart attack in Madrid, Spain. Photo by EPA/JUAN M. ESPINOSA

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

Di Stefano had 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.