The former great Spanish international coach Luis Aragones past away yesterday at the age of 75, and have many colleagues like Napoli coach Rafa Benitez paid tribute to ”the wise man of Hortaleza”.
Aragones was an idol for many Spanish managers around the world, and he was a tactician seen as one of the best when he helped Spain dominate a whole era of international football.
He was especially known for his tiki-taka approach and for winning Euro 2008. Aragones has had a huge managerial career, expanding through 35 years, managing 9 teams; Atletico Madrid four times, Real Betis and Mallorca twice, Espanyol, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Oviedo and his latest job as manager for Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Former Liverpool and current Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, paid tribute to his mentor on his official website: “I have just received the news of the sad passing of Luis Aragonés this morning in Madrid.
“Both as a player and coach he was one of the great football legends. He was a reference point for many generations of football players, for coaches and fans of our sport.
“My condolences and thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and fans. Rest in peace, the great ‘wise man of Hortaleza’.”
Footballers around the world have also paid their tribute, as Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero tweeted: “He changed the mentality of Spanish football. Rest in peace, great one.” Former Real Madrid and now Napoli striker Jose Callejon also stated that Aragones would never be forgotten: “What a sad day, thank you for all you have left to European Spaniards. I’ll Never forget you, Don Luis Aragonés”
Current manager of Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, spoke on the day of Agagones’s death, saying: “From here I want to send a very strong message to his family. Everyone at Atletico is hurting at the loss of such an important part of the club and for Spanish football.”
