Musings of a former football great: Alfredo Di Stefano

Alfredo Di Stéfano

The current edition of Spanish magazine Don Balon has a long and detailed interview with ex-former football star Alfredo Di Stefano, one of the greatest footballers of all time and a prominent idol in the history of Real Madrid.

At 84 years old and winning 5 UEFA Champions Leagues and 8 Spanish championships as player, the Argentinean gave an interesting statement.“If I could start my life again I would not be a footballer. I would prefer to go to the countryside to take care of cows and sheeps” said.

Di Stefano told about his beginnings in the River Plate team, from Argentina, in 1940′s, and his fear to travel by plane in his days as football player. He said that star Lionel Messi, from Barcelona, is the best player in the world today and criticized players with little objectivity. “Some players just juggle the ball, that thing belongs in a circus, not in football. The game flows better when you pass the ball quickly” examined Di Stéfano.

At the end of the interview, the eternal idol said “I’m 75% Spanish and 25% Argentinean”. Di Stefano was born in Buenos Aires, in Argentina, but became a Spanish citizen when he went to play in Europe in the 1950s.

Di Stéfano and the 5 Champions League trophies: 1956, 57, 58, 59 and 60