Luis Suarez Miramontes, a former Barcelona and Inter Milan midfielder, passed away at the age of 88. He was the only male footballer born in Spain to win the Ballon d’Or, receiving the prestigious award in 1960. Suarez was affectionately known as “The Architect” and had a successful career as a player and coach.
Born in La Coruna in 1935, Suarez began his career at Deportivo La Coruna before joining Barcelona in 1954. He played for Barcelona until 1961 and then moved to Inter Milan, where he became a legend. Suarez was highly regarded in Italy, particularly for his exceptional skills as a midfielder under coach Helenio Herrera.
Suarez’s passing was announced by both Barcelona and Inter Milan, who paid tribute to his contributions to the clubs. Barcelona described him as one of the best players in the history of Spanish football, praising his superior technique, vision of the game, and elegant style of play. He scored 112 goals in 216 appearances for Barcelona and won numerous trophies during his time at the club.
After his stint at Barcelona, Suarez joined Inter Milan in 1961 for a then-world record fee. He achieved remarkable success with the club, winning two European Cups, three Serie A titles, and other honors during Inter Milan’s golden era. Suarez also had international success, winning the European Championships with Spain in 1964 and making 32 appearances for the national team.
Following his retirement as a player, Suarez pursued a career in coaching, leading clubs such as Sampdoria, Genoa, Inter Milan, Como, and Cagliari. In 1988, he took over as coach of the Spanish national team and guided them to the 1990 World Cup.
Suarez’s passing was mourned by various football clubs, including Sampdoria, who posted a tribute on Twitter. The Spanish football federation expressed their condolences, and Suarez was recognized as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time.
It’s worth noting that Luis Suarez Miramontes is not related to the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who also played for Barcelona. The Spaniard humorously mentioned that the Uruguayan Suarez’s father told him that if his son is named Luis, it’s his fault.
