TEMPO.CO, Madrid - Former Spain national soccer coach, Luis Aragones, has died at the age of 75, in Madrid, Saturday morning local time.
Aragones was considered the founding father of Spain success as soccer champion in 2008 European Championship, and led to the subsequent successes at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
He was assigned to engineer La Furia Roja in 2004 and straightly showed a radical change by ruling out big names such as Raul and Michel Salgado from his list. He also initiated the tiki-taka strategy typical to Barcelona's. The strategy was proven success in sending Spain to their first major title at the European Championship in 2008.
"Luis has responsibility for what I am as a footballer and he taught us the path to glory. Big hug to all his family," tweeted Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid defender. The Spanish Football Federation issued a statement that "expressed its grief and shock at the death of Luis Aragones".
Nicknamed 'The Wise Man from Hortaleza' during his coaching career, Aragones also played more than 370 games for Atletico, winning three La Liga titles from 1966 to 1973 and lifting the Pichichi prize for top scorer in 1969-70. He also earned 11 caps for Spain.
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