Renowned Spanish football icon Luis Suarez, who made a name for himself as a midfielder for Barcelona and Inter Milan, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Suarez, affectionately known as “The Architect,” clinched the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 1960 and later served as the coach for Spain’s national team during the 1990 World Cup.
In a statement, Barcelona confirmed the sad news, stating, “Luis Suarez Miramontes has passed away today in Milan at the age of 88. He graced the field for Barcelona from 1954 to 1961 before making his mark at Inter Milan, where he is revered as a legend.”
Suarez garnered immense adoration in Italy for his exceptional skills, emerging as one of Serie A’s most celebrated midfielders while playing for Inter Milan under the guidance of coach Helenio Herrera in the 1960s.
His association with Herrera began during his tenure at Barcelona.
Expressing their grief, Inter Milan issued a statement saying, “Bidding farewell to Luisito fills us with deep melancholy—the reminiscence of his flawless and inimitable style of football, which inspired generations, is intertwined with the memory of an exceptional footballer and an outstanding Inter player.”
Born in La Coruna in 1935, Suarez kick-started his career with Deportivo La Coruna before joining Barcelona in 1954.
During his time at the Catalan club, he secured two La Liga titles and numerous other accolades, culminating in the prestigious Ballon d’Or recognition.
The only other Spaniard to claim the Ballon d’Or is Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner in the women’s category.
It’s worth noting that Alfredo Di Stefano, who represented both Argentina and Spain, secured the award twice but was born in Buenos Aires.
In one of his final interviews before his passing in 2014, Di Stefano commented, “Suarez was a marvelous player, one of the greatest Spaniards in history, alongside Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.”
Barcelona hailed Suarez as one of the greatest players in the annals of Spanish football, praising his comprehensive skill set, impeccable ball control, exceptional game vision, and potent shooting ability.
The club emphasized that his elegance on the field set him apart from others.
Suarez’s seven-year stint at Barcelona witnessed him netting 112 goals in 216 games, with his outstanding performances earning him the Ballon d’Or while donning the Catalonia jersey.
However, Suarez humbly downplayed the significance of the award, stating, “Many Spanish players have deserved that accolade, but it greatly depends on timing—luck plays a role, as you need another contemporaneous player not to perform as well as you do. There have been incredible players who never lifted the trophy.”
In 1961, Suarez made a momentous move to Inter Milan, commanding a then-world record fee of 250 million lire (£142,000).
His time with the club during their golden era resulted in two European Cups, three Serie A titles, and numerous other triumphs.
Moreover, Suarez contributed to Spain’s victory in the 1964 European Championships, earning 32 appearances for the national team.
He eventually retired from professional football in 1973 while playing for Sampdoria.
Following his retirement, he ventured into coaching, managing teams such as Genoa, Inter, Como, and Cagliari.
Sampdoria bid farewell to Luisito on Twitter, sharing a tribute photo of the esteemed Spaniard.
In 1988, Suarez assumed the position of coach for the Spanish national team, guiding them to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where they were eliminated by Yugoslavia in the round of 16.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation conveyed their condolences via Twitter, expressing sympathies to Suarez’s family and close friends. In his later years, Suarez served as a commentator on Spanish radio.
It is important to note that he shared his name with Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who also had a remarkable stint with Barcelona.
The elder Suarez humorously revealed in a 2016 interview with So Foot that his father held him accountable for the shared name, remarking, “His father told me that if he’s called Luis, it’s my fault.”
