The passing of Luis Aragonés is a profound loss for Spanish football. The esteemed coach, who led La Roja to victory in Euro 2008, has succumbed to a long illness at the age of 75. Dr. Pedro Guillén announced the sad news on the National Radio of Spain (RNE).
Aragonés enjoyed a distinguished football career, spending a decade at Atletico Madrid from 1964 to 1974, during which he secured three La Liga titles (1966, 1970, 1973) and a top scorer title. Transitioning to coaching, he achieved further success with Atletico, winning another La Liga title in 1977 and three Copa del Rey trophies (1976, 1985, 1992). He also secured the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona in 1988.
However, Aragonés truly left his mark on Spanish football as the coach of La Roja from 2004 to 2008, culminating in the historic Euro 2008 victory, which marked Spain’s first major international title since 1964.
Despite announcing his retirement in early December, Aragonés later reconsidered, expressing his continued interest in coaching if the right opportunity arose. As a player, he earned 11 caps for Spain.
Aragonés’ legacy extends beyond his coaching achievements, encompassing a distinguished playing career and coaching tenures at various Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla, among others. His contributions to Spanish football will be remembered and cherished for generations to come.
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