Amancio Amaro Varelaformer player and honorary president of Real Madrid and Spanish soccer legenddied at dawn this Tuesday at the age of 83.
“A benchmark for Real Madrid and current honorary president of our club, he was a Real Madrid player from 1962 to 1976. Throughout those 14 seasons he played 471 games, scored 155 goals and became one of the great legends of our team”recalls in a statement the club chaired by Florentino Pérez about this historic striker who was born in La Coruña in 1939.
With a “So long Amancio”Real Madrid says goodbye to a player who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu in 1962 from Deportivo, with the stripes of having been the top scorer in the Second Division.
Amancio won the sixth European Cup with Real Madrid, 9 Leagues and 3 Spanish Cupsin addition to being the top scorer in 1969 and 1970, and was an absolute international on 42 occasions with the national team, with which he was part of the team that won the first Euro Cup in 1964 at the Santiago Bernabéu against the Soviet Union. That year he was third in the Ballon d’Or after the Scotsman Denis Law and his friend Luis Suárez.
He even participated with the FIFA world team that faced Brazil in the Maracana in 1968.
The Galician winger, who retired in June 1976, was also an important man on the Real Madrid bench, especially at the head of the first subsidiary, Castilla, with whom he won the Second Division championship in the 1983/84 campaign , a true historical landmark, and with which fHe was considered the ‘father’ of the famous Quinta del Buitre.
His death comes just over a year after the death of the previous honorary president of the Santiago Bernabéu entity, Paco Gentowith whom he shared many moments, including the 1966 continental title and in which the Galician opened the scoring in the win against Partizan, and a few months after being unanimously elected for said honor at the club’s Extraordinary General Assembly held on October 2, 2022.
“This appointment is an honor. I am very excited. I can only thank everyone. My colleagues and friends Alfredo Di Stéfano and Paco Gento have been my predecessors and it is an honor to hold this position. Above any name there is always the team and that is the greatness of the club. This is the dream brooch to my career. Thanks from my heart”he said then.
The news, which has caused a notable impact on Real Madrid and Spanish football, was received by the Real Madrid first team in Liverpool, where this Tuesday they will face the German side Jurgen Klopp in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.
goodbye messages
The world of football and sport in general has joined in messages of condolences and condolences in an emotional farewell to Amancio Amaro Varela.
Former players, pupils of Amancio himself, leaders, institutions, clubs, have agreed to express their regret over the death of the Sorcerer.
“LaLiga regrets the death of Amancio Amaro and sends its most sincere condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace”publish on your official account LaLigawhich offers a photo gallery of Amancio as a footballer, coach and honorary president.
Likewise, most of the clubs, including big rivals such as Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona, and their country’s veterans’ associations have been quick to send their condolences to Real Madrid, family and friends. Deportivo, the team from which he came to Real Madrid, assures that he will be remembered as “sportsmanlike and from A Coruña”, highlights the “national and international recognition he had” and shows his “most sincere and affectionate condolences”.
“The RFEF regrets the loss of Amancio Amaro, Spanish soccer legend, Honorary President of Real Madrid, and sends a very heartfelt hug to his family and friends. He was 42 times international and European champion with @sefutbol in 1964. RIP “publishes the Spanish Federation, while FIFA reports that they are “deeply saddened by his death” and notes that he is a “legend” of the Spanish national team and Real Madrid, as well as asserting that his “thoughts and condolences are with his family and your friends in these difficult times. Rest in peace.”
Galician like Amancio and madridista, Alexander Whitepresident of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), is “saddened by the death” of El Brujo, whom he describes as “a true reference as a footballer, an excellent representative of the values of Real Madrid and a good friend”, apart from sending his “deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the world of sport”.
The Association of Spanish Soccer Players (AFE) indicates that it is a “very sad day for the world of football” and for the organization itself. “We say goodbye to Amancio Amaro, one of the best footballers our country has produced, one of the greatest in history. Our condolences to family, friends, @RealMadrid and @RCDeportivo”.
The group of ex-internationals of the selection, LegendsSpainalso expresses its “deep condolences to the family and friends of Amancio Amaro, our #LeyendasEspaña 301, absolute international 42 times and European champion with @SEFutbol in 1964, who died at the age of 83. Farewell to one of the greats. DEP” .
The Italian Charles Ancelottiwho not long ago had the opportunity to share a good time with Amancio and other former Real Madrid players, did not want to miss the opportunity to also publish his memory.
“Hasta Siempre Brujo. Always in our hearts”indicates the French Karim Benzemathe current captain of the first team, who wore the armband for many years, affirms: “Today our honorary president left us. One more star in the sky will illuminate all Real Madrid fans. Rest in peace Bruxo”.
The former striker Alfonso Pérez Muñozalso present at that meeting, which was attended by José Martínez Pirri, Carlos Santillana, Emilio Butragueño, José Antonio Camacho, Isidoro Sanjosé, Rafael Martín Vázquez and Fernando Sanz, affirms that he feels “very saddened by the death of Amancio, our friend, teammate and honorary president of Real Madrid. A legend of Madridismo. DEP”.
The former basketball player Jose Luis Llorenteformer player of the white club and nephew of the former honorary president of Real Madrid, Paco Gento, assures that he is “dismayed” by his death and recalls that he had “the fortune of speaking on numerous occasions” with Amancio, “a simple man, honest , an extraordinary footballer. A distinguished symbol of Real Madrid, of its history and its virtues. DEP”.
Another great referent of Spanish and world basketball, the ex-Barcelonista Pau Gasolsends his “deepest condolences to his family and friends”
Source: EFE
