Luis Aragonés, the coach who led Spain to victory at Euro 2008, has died at the age of 75. Aragonés was a prominent and sometimes controversial figure – notoriously sparking controversy with a racist jibe at Thierry Henry in 2004 – but was also a successful coach at club level, most notably with Atlético Madrid, leading them to the La Liga title in 1977 as well as three Copa del Rey trophies. Reports in the Spanish media said Aragonés had been admitted to a Madrid clinic in the early hours of Saturday morning but died soon after.
Atlético posted a tribute on their website, and will mark his death with a minute's silence before today's match against Real Sociedad. The statement read: "One of the greatest Rojiblancas legends has left us. There have been condolences from around the footballing world. Our president, Enrique Cerezo, expressed his sorrow saying: 'Luis Aragonés was a great player and coach, but above all a great person and a friend. On behalf of the whole club, I want to express our condolences to his family'."
Aragonés made his name as a player with Atlético between 1964 and 1974, making more than 350 appearances, winning three league titles and also representing Spain 11 times before hanging up his boots.
He then took up the reins with the Madrid club, the first of four spells at the helm in which he led them to six trophies and promotion from the Segunda Division in 2002. Aragonés also guided Barcelona to Copa del Rey success during his one season in charge of the Catalan club in 1987-88.
He took charge of the national team in 2004 and was immediately the subject of controversy when he was caught on camera using racist language about Thierry Henry in a training ground conversation with Arsenal's José Antonio Reyes, saying: "Tell that black shit that you are much better than him." He was fined £2,060 by the RFEF for the incident, but later had it overturned and insisted he was not a racist.
Aragonés went on to lead Spain to their first major title in 44 years at Euro 2008 the start of a hat-trick of tournament triumphs that continued under his successor, Vicente Del Bosque, at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
An ill-fated spell at Turkish side Fenerbahce followed, which came to an end in the summer of 2009, before Aragonés officially announced his retirement in December last year – four years after leaving his final coaching post.
#RIP Descansa en Paz
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